Uploaded August 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Here we have a Stamina Dragonknight vMA Dual Wield PVE build and Iron Atronach Parse for the Scalebreaker patch.


There have been loads of changes across the board for combat in ESO. I would recommend you to read the relevant patch notes.

This is the main important one; very relevant to this video and rotation:
The bonus spell/weapon damage from the Maelstrom Dual Wield is now set at 1000 (previously 2003). However, this bonus will apply to qualifying DOTs cast within 4 seconds of the bonus being applied, rather than being consumed by only the next DOT. This means we can use Rapid Strikes, then apply up to 3 DOTs in succession (for example Rending then Consuming Trap then Barbed Trap).

I am using the Max Stam/Stam Regen food, with 64 points into Stamina for all Stamina Setups in these rotations. This is simply for comparison purposes in this test environment.


Stamina Dragonknight has certainly benefitted from the changes in Scalebreaker. A few class buffs and the direction towards stronger single target DOTs have made, in my opinion, the Stamina Dragonknight a really fun class to play again, if you didn't already enjoy it. The Stam DK has two class abilities which are able to be empowered by the vMA daggers. No other Stamina class can claim to have even one extra.


Gear:
5x Lokkestiiz Body, 5x Relequen Body, 1x vMA Axe, 1x vMA Dagger, 1x Master's Bow. (See build screenshot for full details).

CMX Parse - https://i.imgur.com/ZQR3muA.png
CMX Build Screenshot (Skillbars, Gear, CPs) - https://i.imgur.com/NoxGO0U.png


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Rotation

This is probably my favourite rotation out of all classes when it comes to using the vMA daggers.

This rotation is a fairly simple one. It is a 10-second rotation because Arrow Barrage, Poison Injection, Rending Slashes and Consuming Trap are each 10 seconds long. Noxious Breath and Venomous Claw are 12-seconds long, so you could probably also make a case to do a 12-second rotation with Endless Hail instead.

Cruel Flurry actively affects Rending Slashes, Consuming/Soul Splitting Trap, Barbed Trap, Poison Injection, Venomous Claw and Noxious Breath.

The minimum backbar rotation is: Arrow Barrage - Poison Injection. Roughly every other rotation, you would also cast Barbed Trap. Flames of Oblivion can also be recast every other rotation, or, as I prefer, just whenever is convenient, even if I am halfway through my frontbar rotation.

On the front bar, I have a few variations that I like to use. If, for example, I cast Flames of Oblivion or my Ultimate in the previous rotation, I would most likely do Rapid Strikes - Rending - Consuming Trap - Venomous Claw - Noxious Breath - Rapid Strikes. This means I will not empower Noxious Breath, which is ok, because it's the weakest DOT, yet allow me to empower Poison Injection (and Trap) on the following backbar rotation. If I have more time, then I might either do Rapids - Rending - Consuming - Venomous - Rapids - Noxious - Rapids, Or Rapids - Rending - Consuming - Rapids - Venomous - Noxious - Rapids. Both have a similar outcome, though the second one may allow you to gain an extra tick of Venomous.

Nothing much changes in execute, just keep going. On your last rotation, if you know you won't get great value out of recasting DOTs, then keep spamming Rapid Strikes until the end!

On the backbar, you have a flex spot where I put Ring of Preservation in the video.


Proposed Static Rotation:

Start
Flames of Oblivion (FOO) - Barbed Trap

Arrow Barrage - Poison Injection - Barbed Trap/FOO (alternate it each time, skip it the first time)
Rapids - Rending - Soul Trap - Rapids - Venomous Claw - Noxious Breath - Rapids

Skip the middle rapids if you use your ultimate.


That's StamDK with vMA daggers. Any questions? Let me know in the comments!

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