The Best Race For Stamina DPS in ESO

Looking to create the best possible Stamina DPS Build in The Elder Scrolls Online? Picking the right race is a great place to start! In this article we will explore the best Races for Stamina DPS Builds in ESO.

Best Attributes For Stamina DPS Builds

Before we dive into discussing the best races for Stamina DPS Builds in The Elder Scrolls Online, let’s briefly discuss what stats tend to work best. The primary stats you will want to focus on will be Weapon/Spell Damage and Maximum Stamina. These are the main Offensive Stats that improve the performance of a Stamina DPS build. Other stats such as Health, Critical Damage, Stamina Recovery and Cost Reduction can also be useful, though not as powerful in end-game situations.

The Best Race For Stamina DPS Builds In ESO

The best race currently for Stamina DPS in The Elder Scrolls Online is Dark Elf or Khajiit. Both of these races parse extremely close to one another in end-game DPS settings.

1. Dark Elf

The racial skills of the Dark Elves reflect their intellect and agility, giving them bonuses in dual wielding, flame and lava resistance, weapon and spell damage, and base magicka and stamina. These bonuses allow them to adapt to anything.

Dark Elves excel as a Stamina DPS due to having the highest Weapon/Spell Damage passive in the game (tied with Orc and High Elf) while also having a large Maximum Stamina pool.

Dark Elves have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Ashlander: Increases experience gain with the Dual Wield skill line by 15%. Reduces the damage taken from environmental lava by 50%.
• Dynamic: Increases your Maximum Magicka and Maximum Stamina by 1910.
• Resist Flame: Increases your Flame Resistance by 4620.
• Ruination: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258.

2. Khajiit

The racial skills of the feline Khajiit reflect their natural versatility and guile, giving them bonuses to pickpocketing, stealth, resource recovery as well as base health, magicka and stamina. These bonuses help them thrive in many aspects of life.

Unlike Dark Elves, Khajiits do not have a Weapon/Spell Damage passive, but they still have a very strong passive damage boost from the Feline Ambush passive, increasing their total Critical Damage dealt by 12 percent! They also have additional Maximum Stamina and Health.

Khajiits have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Cutpurse: Increases experience gain with the medium armor skill line by 15%. Increases your chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%.
• Robustness: Increases your Health Recovery by 100 and your Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 85.
• Lunar Blessings: Increases your Maximum Health, Magicka and Stamina by 915.
• Feline Ambush: Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 12%. Decreases your detection radius in Stealth by 3 meters.

Honorable Mentions For Stamina DPS Builds In ESO

These races in The Elder Scrolls Online have some passives that will benefit Stamina DPS Builds, particularly Weapon Damage. These races can still be a great option for a Stamina DPS build while having only slightly less parse damage overall.

3. Orc

The racial skills of the Orcs reflect their native harsh mountain environment, giving them bonuses to heavy armor use, sprinting, weapon and spell damage, inspiration gain, weapon proficiency, as well as base health and stamina.

Orcs still do very well as a Stamina DPS due to their high Weapon/Spell Damage and additional Maximum Stamina and Health.

Orcs have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Craftsman: Increases experience gain with the heavy armor skill line by 15%. Increases your crafting inspiration skill gain by 10%.
• Brawny: Increases your Maximum Stamina by 1000.
• Unflinching Rage: Increases your Maximum Health by 1000. When you deal damage, you heal for 2125 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds.
• Swift Warrior: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258. Reduces the cost of Sprint by 12% and increases the Movement Speed Bonus of Sprint by 10%.

4. High Elf

The racial skills of the High Elves reflect their magical affinity by increasing their weapon and spell damage, resource recovery, base magicka and experience gain. These innate bonuses help define the race as proud and powerful spellcasters.

High Elves are a surprising choice for Stamina DPS in The Elder Scrolls Online, but the extra Weapon Damage they receive actually places them in a decent spot overall.

Less Than Optimal Races

These races have some stamina-focused passives but have less in the way of Damage. You can still make these races work but be aware that they will parse slightly lower than the other options already reviewed.

High Elves have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• High Born: Increases experience gain with the destruction staff skill line by 15%. Increases your experience gained by 1%.
• Spell Recharge: When you activate an ability, you restore 625 Magicka and Stamina, based on whichever is lowest. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
• Syrabane’s Boon: Increases your Maximum Magicka by 2000.
• Elemental Talent: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258.

5. Wood Elf

The Wood Elves’ diversified racial skills reflect their woodland affinity. Improved archery, base stamina, stamina recovery, stealth detection, movement speed, reduced fall damage, and poison and disease resistance make them deadly foes and gifted hunters.

Wood Elves have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Acrobat: Increases your experience gain with the bow skill line by 15%. Decreases your fall damage taken by 10%.
• Hunter’s Eye: Increases your stealth detection radius by 3 meters. Increases your movement speed by 5% and your Physical and Spell Penetration by 950.
• Yffre’s Endurance: Increases your Stamina Recovery by 258.
• Resist Affliction: Increases your Max Stamina by 2000 and your Disease and Poison Resistance by 2310.

6. Nord

The racial skills of the Nords reflect their strong and hardy natures, giving them bonuses to two-handed weapons, duration of effects from drinks, physical, spell and frost resistance, ultimate generation, as well as base health and stamina.

Nords have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Reveler: Increases experience gain with the Two Handed skill line by 15%. Increases the duration of any consumed drink by 15 minutes.
• Resist Frost: Increases your Maximum Health by 1000 and Frost Resistance by 4620.
• Stalwart: Increases your Maximum Stamina by 1500. When you take damage, you gain 5 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.
• Rugged: Increases your Physical and Spell Resistance by 2600.

7. Argonian

Argonian racial skills reflect their people’s perilous swamp environment, giving bonuses to healing done, restoration staves, disease and poison resistance, resources gained from consuming potions, swimming speed, plus base health, magicka and stamina.

Argonians have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Amphibian: Increases experience gain with the Restoration Staff skill line by 15%. Increases your Swimming Speed by 50%.
• Life Mender: Increases your healing done by 6%.
• Argonian Resistance: Increases your Maximum Health by 1000 and your Disease and Poison Resitance by 2310.
• Resourceful: Increases your Maximum Magicka and Maximum Stamina by 1000. When you drink a potion you restore 3125 Health, Magicka and Stamina.

8. Imperial

The racial skills of the Imperials reflect their combat training and perseverance in battle, giving them bonuses to gold drop rate, shield proficiency, base health and stamina, and cost reduction of abilities, making them resolute fighters.

Imperials have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Diplomat: Increases experience gain with the One Hand and Shield skill line by 15%. Increases your gold gained by 1%.
• Tough: Increases your Maximum Health by 2000.
• Imperial Mettle: Increases your Maximum Stamina by 2000.
• Red Diamond: Decreases the cost of all your abilities by 6%.

The Final Word

Keep in mind that Racial Passives account for a fairly small percentage of overall efficiency in The Elder Scrolls Online. If you want to completely min/max your character then the above recommendations will help, but remember that this is a GAME, and ultimately you need to play how you want in order to enjoy it.