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PvP Loadout Guide

Overview

Sets in the Elder Scrolls online help you define your character. They allow you to shape a unique build, amplify strengths or address areas of weakness (see class summaries). There are different types of sets you can aquire and use:

5 piece sets - these sets scale in power with the 5th piece giving a powerful bonus. Some sets can be dropped by overland enemies, others crafted and some are exclusive to dungeons and trials.
Monster sets - sets obtained by completing daily pledges and veteran dungeons. These take 2 slots (shoulders/head) and provide strong bonuses.
Mythic items - a unique 1 piece item that gives a lot of power with a downside. You can only equip 1 of these at a time.
Ability altering weapons - these weapons alter a skill often giving it a bonus. These take 2 slots and are only on weapons.
3 piece sets - these are pvp sets that have bonus stat values vs the 2-3 piece bonuses on typical armour. These are often found in PvP and include sets like willpower.

NOTE: 2 handed weapons and staffs give x2 set bonuses.

Load out types

When building your character you have a maximum of 14 slots available with 12 active at one time (Oakensoul builds have a maximum of 12 slots). Traditional setups work on a 5-5-2 build with two 5 piece sets active at all times and a monster set.

With some optimisation you can create setups that utilise all 14 set bonuses and can even include use of a mythic! This often results in a more powerful build but requires greater understanding and awareness of set bonuses and durations.

It is common for most semi-optimised builds to put damage sets on the front bar and defensive ones on their back bar. For example you may see spinners garments / spriggans thorns (penetration) thorns front bar and Mark of the Pariah back bar.

The most min-maxed and optimised builds use sets that give bonuses which carry over when bar swapping such as wretched vitality or ralling cry.

Loadouts
While there are many ways to create a loadout, below are the most common and effective loadouts you can create. There are slight variations of these as noted.

Traditional Build

This loadout is designed give you the bonuses all of the time. Simply equip and know you have no conditions to meet. This however is the weakest setup.

Monster set (always active)

1x 5 piece bonus set (always active)

Total 12 slots

1 Bar Oakensoul Build

This loadout is designed to maximise your stats with Oakensoul. You aim to have a 5 piece set active at all times with a monster set. You can then use a 3 piece pvp set like ancient grace or an ability altering weapon and 2x trainee.

2x Monster set (always active)

1x 5 piece bonus set (always active)

1x Mythic (always active)

3x PvP set like ancient grace OR 1x ability altering weapon and 1 extra trainee piece

1x trainee

Total 12 slots

Front Bar Push (more damage)

This loadout is designed to push all of the damage to the front bar resulting in large damage spikes. You need sets that carry their buff from the back bar to do this like clever alchemist.

2x Monster set (always active)

1x 5 piece bonus set (always active)

1 x 5 piece bonus set (3 pieces always active and 4/5 when on front bar)

Ability altering weapon / 2x piece (active on front bar only)

Total 14 slots

Back Bar Push (extra defence)

This loadout is designed to gain bonus stats on the back bar from the front bar. This can allow you to create more defensive builds or gain bonus sustain. You need sets that carry their buff from the front bar to the back bar to do this like wretched vitality.

2x Monster set (always active)

1x 5 piece bonus set (always active)

1 x 5 piece bonus set (3 pieces always active and 4/5 when on back bar)

Ability altering weapon / 2x piece (active on front bar only)

Total 14 slots

x2 Ability Weapon stack

This loadout is designed to allow 2x ability altering weapons to give unique effects. You can maintain both a 5 piece set and monster set as well as adding either a 3x pvp set like willpower or some trainee and a mythic.

Monster set (always active)

1x 5 piece bonus set (always active)

1x Mythic (always active)

Ability altering weapon / x2 piece (active on front bar)

Ability altering weapon / x2 piece (active on back bar)

2x trainee

NB: 3x Trainee if no mythic OR use pvp set like willpower

Total 14 slots

Front Bar/Back Bar Push (fully optimised)

This loadout is designed to push stats as high as they can go. You take advantage of 2 sets that have buffs which carry between bars. You then add extra stats with a 1x trainee and a mythic. You can swap the mythic out for 2x trainee or add a ability altering weapon doing a front bar or back bar push.

Monster set (always active)

1 x 5 piece bonus set (3 pieces always active and 4/5 when on front bar)

1 x 5 piece bonus set (3 pieces always active and 4/5 when on back bar)

1x Mythic (always active)

1x trainee

NB: 2x Trainee if no mythic OR use pvp set like willpower/ability altering weapon

Total 14 slots