The Nightblade gives players ofThe Elder Scrolls Onlinethe ability to become one with the shadows. In their escapades, the Nightblade relies on their nimbleness andskill with their bladesto eliminate opponents swiftly and quietly. As such, fans ofThe Elder Scrollswith a knack for stealth games will definitely enjoy this class.
RELATED:Dungeons & Dragons: Skills Every Ranger Should Know (& Some To Avoid)
Nightblades don’t rely on chance, and instead become an agent of chaos, taking advantage of missteps and wrong moves to eliminate opponents when they least expect it. Their health-draining skills and stealth-oriented playstyle makes them primed for powerful DPS and single-target builds.ESOplayersshould try their stealth with some of the best Nightblade builds the game has to offer.
Updated May 24, 2025 by Erik Petrovich:Nightblades in The Elder Scrolls Online are known usually for their being one of the best classes for pure DPS output, though there are some notable exceptions. When it comes to damage-based builds, the use of damage over time spells and AoE is paramount to success, while Tanking and Support builds get a little bit more niche. Spend some time looking over the benefits and drawbacks of each build before choosing one so you don’t end up with a setup you don’t like (and to avoid wasting time hunting down specific item sets).
16One Bar Nightblade
One bar builds are becoming all the rage as more players jump intoThe Elder Scrolls Onlinewho want to take their time learning the game’s unique flow of combat. Thisbuild from Hack the Minotaurturns the Nightblade away from a barrage of multiple abilities and towards a more focused fusion of self-sustain and DPS. It uses a Two-Handed weapon only with the Incapacitating Strike ultimate for its sheer damage output.
Abilities used by the class include Stampede and Carve for great AoE damage as well as Dark Cloak and Relentless Focus to keep the Nightblade going. Three sets are used for this set, primarily for their increases to Critical Chance. The Medusa and Hexos Ward sets increase Critical Chance and overall damage output, with the Hexos Ward set also granting a shield. The Selene set adds Stamina and has a chance to call upon a spirit for even more damage output on one’s own.
15"Toxic Raider" Nightblade
The Nightblade is a powerful close-range class, to be certain, but the class does just as well when away from the fray as it does duking it out in close combat. The Toxic Raiderbuild from Hack the Minotauris another one bar build, this time forgoing the Dual Wielded weapons in favor of a Bow (specifically a Thunderous Volley bow).
Abilities like Poison Injection and Toxic Barrage help give the Nightblade reliable damage over time, while Relentless Focus and Killer’s Blade fuse together healing and damaging abilities. The Swamp Raider set is used for its increase to Disease and Poison damage, the Kinra’s Wrath and Slimecraw sets are used for Critical and Damage increases, and the Harpooner’s Wading Kit is used for its stacking bonuses to Critical Chance.
14"Death Star" Nightblade
Nightblades do their best when they are able to dart in and out of close combat, dealing lots of damage over time and using long-lasting AoE abilities before jumping into melee range for a barrage of attacks. The “Death Star"build from Hack the Minotaurputs together abilities, armor sets, and other build tips that turn the Nightblade into a whirlwind of death and ultimate-generating chaos, especially in PvP play.
The Dual Wield front bar uses abilities like Whirling Blades and Sap Essence for effective close-range AoE alongside Inner Light and Camouflaged Hunter for their ability to reveal invisible and stealthed enemies. The Bow back bar is more focused on multi-target, damage over time, and AoE attacks. The build uses the New Moon Acolyte set for increases to Critical Chance and overall damage output alongside the Dead-Water’s Guile set for its across-the-board resource boosts as well as its huge boost to ultimate generation when killing enemies.
13"Siphoner” Nightblade
The Nightblade strikes fear in the hearts of enemies with its uncanny ability to sap life. Mechanically, players can do the same withthe Siphoner build. This one-bar killing machine capitalizes on the Nightblade’s AOE potential with a dash of self-healing. As a result, the Siphoner becomesa decent asset in both soloand team-based encounters. Its one-bar setup needs the Lightning Staff and builds damage via Lotus Fan, Unstable Wall of Elements, Twisting Paths, and Merciless Resolve.
RELATED:Elder Scrolls Online: The Best Skills For The Necromancer Class
If fighting a single enemy, the Siphoner can use Swallow Soul and Soul Harvest Ult for maximum damage. Alternatively, the Siphoner can use Sap Essence and Soul Tether Ult to finish off mobs. In terms of items, the Mother’s Sorrow set helps the Siphoner sustain the high-Magicka costs for its rotations. Likewise, the Bahraha’s Curse can boost overall resources and comes with a handy magic-based lifesteal attack. Lastly, the Iceheart Monster Set can give the Siphoner much-needed defensive boosts through its damage shielding.
12"Blood Mage" Nightblade
Players looking for a decently-balanced Nightblade can use thethematic Blood Mageto suit their all-around needs. This build boasts decent damage potential and great sustains via self-healing. With its toolkit, the Blood Mage can hold off on its own in PVP or support teams in PVE. With the Inferno Staff, the Blood Mage can easily dish out both attacks and healing magic without much interruption. They can do this with Inner Light, Impale, Swallow Soul, and Merciless Resolve.
Depending on the situation, the Blood Mage can use Sap Essence for the nifty lifesteal or Dampen Magic for the debuff. Likewise, the Soul Harvest Ult isa massive damage dealer, whereas the Temporal Guard Ult provides decent sustain. Items-wise, the Blood Mage relies on the War Maiden to sustain its Magicka-reliant damage. Combined with Innate Axiom, the Blood Mage gets a much-needed healing and damage boost. Iceheart becomes a great asset for defenses, as its damage shielding can add sustain when going solo.
11"Catalyst" Nightblade
Players who want a Nightblade that boasts a solid offense and defense could rely onthe hybrid Catalyst PVE build. At its core, this build combines the best qualities of Blood and Shadow Magic to create a potent fighter in both PVE and PVP setups. At its core, the rotation heavily relies on certain buffs and debuffs to capitalize both lifesteal and damage. With an Inferno Staff back bar, players should start their rotations with damage-over-time via Endless Hail and Debilitate. After that, they can swap to their Dual Wield main bar with Blood Craze, Sap Essence, Deadly Cloak, and three Surprise Attacks.
All the while, players should maintain buffs via Leeching Strikes and Merciless Resolve. And with these, they should also debuff enemies with Dark Shade and Elemental Drain. In terms of items, the Catalyst Nightblade can use the Clever Alchemist and New Moon Acolyte to get that great boost to Spell and Weapon Damage. When paired with Balorgh, the Catalyst Nightblade can also enjoy decent buffs to Weapon and Spell Damage.
10"Azure" Nightblade
The Azure Nightblade boasts great damage output thanks to Incapacitating Strike as well as handy sustain and healing with Siphoning Attacks. This Magicka buildby AlcastHQbegins its rotations by activating Channeled Acceleration, Merciless Resolve, and Siphoning Attacks.
RELATED:The Elder Scrolls: Weirdest Things About Werewolves, Ranked
Its front bar skills debuffs enemies with Degeneration and Elemental Drain, with Impale providing a handy finisher. Moreover, Soul Harvest grants increased damage while reducing enemy healing. Meanwhile, its secondary skillset provides buffs with Harness Magicka and Twisting Path, with Elemental Blockade and Consuming Trap serving as AOE. Lastly, the ult Elemental Rage deals massive damage.
9"Rampage" Nightblade
The Rampage Nightblade works well as an AOE setup but unleashes devastating attacks on single targets. Nightblades take full advantage of their light attacks with buffs from Leeching Strikes and Incapacitating Strike. This buildfrom AlcastHQhas a dual wield main bar that incapacitates enemies with Barbed Trap, and buffs attacks with Relentless Focus. Deadly Cloak and Surprise Attack boost damage, with Killer’s Blade serving as a great finisher.
Meanwhile, the bow secondary bar buffs the Nightblade with Resolving Vigor, with Endless Hail and Dark Shades picking off enemies. Consuming Trap serves as a great lifesteal for weak foes, with Flawless Dawnbreaker providing massive damage as an ult.
8"Focus" Nightblade
The Focus Nightblade serves as a hybrid ranged/melee build for players, with Killer’s Blade and Incapacitating Strike serving as emergency melee maneuvers. This build fromAlcastHQcan rotate between two bows, as all its skills can be used at maximum range.
The bow main bar rotation buffs attacks with Lethal Arrow and Relentless Focus, with Leeching Strikes providing adequate lifesteal. This rotation also uses Acid Spray for decent AOE. Meanwhile, the secondary bow skillset uses Endless Hail for its AOE damage, with Shadow Image and Mirage providing defense. Poison Injection buffs attacks with poison, and Resolving Vigor giving the Nightblade significant heals. Lastly, this secondary skillset unleashes a hail of arrows with its ult Ballista.
7Werewolf Nightblade
Werewolves bring an entirely new powerset toESOcharacters, as their wolf form empowers them with ravaging strikes and buffs. The Nightblade benefits from this the most, as their werewolf form can save them in tight situations, especially when ambushed. And as ordinary humans, Nightblades have the full versatility of their build.
In essence,AlcastHQ’s Werewolf Nightblade can have alternating Dual Wield and Bow skills to accommodate multiple combat situations. Their Dual Wield skills tap into stunning targets and stealing their health, with a Werewolf Berserker to finish them off. Meanwhile, the Bow skillset deals immense damage from afar, coupled with some immobilizing spells plus an Incapacitating Strike if they get too near.
