Welcome to theDifference between Lightning-, Frost- and Fire Staff Guide for ESO(Elder Scrolls Online). The guide is made for beginners or those thatneed to brush up on their knowledge. The guide will showcase thedifferences between a Lightning Staff, Frost Staff and a Fire Staff.
Commonly used names for the different type of staves in ESO:
- Fire Staff - Flame Staff - Inferno Staff
- Lightning Staff - Shock Staff
- Frost Staff - Ice Staff
Destruction Staff
Magi
ckaDPS are really limited to one weapon type, and that is the DestructionStaff. They can also use close-range weapons and do quite some damage,but it's not very practicable. In the destruction staff skill line youcan pick from Fire, Lightning or Frost. The Fire Staff is generallybetter for Single Target damage and the Lightning Staff for AoE damage.The Frost Staff's bonuses are more defensive than offensive and it isgenerally used for support roles over DPS. The difference in these typescomes from the Ancient Knowledge passive and also from the [UnstableWall of Elements] skill that is most commonly used.
TheDestruction Staff skill lineis part of the "Weapons"category in ESO (Elder Scrolls Online). The Destruction Staff skillline has active skills that you can activate during combat and passiveskills that are always active as long as you have a Destruction Staffweapon slotted. The skill line is also often referred to as Destro Staffor Destro.
The skill line is different from most other skilllines because the skills get attuned to the element of the staff. Thatmeans almost all skills will have different effects depending on whetheryou use a Lightning, Frost or Fire Staff.
The Lightning Staff,Frost Staff and Fire Staff are weapons which basically every class canuse in the game, but which is often utilized by Magicka DPS, healers andtanks. Magicka DPS benefit extremely from the range of the staffabilities and skills, whereas tanks and healers benefit from the debuffsand support these staves offer.
Which ESO build commonly uses what destruction staff type?
- Fire Staff - Damage Dealer
- Lightning Staff - Damage Dealer and Healer
- Frost Staff - Tank and Healer
In order to be able to understand how these staffs are utilized, we will give you a few examples below.
The Fire Staff
The Fire Staff in ESO is generally the most used staff amongendgame DPS builds,as it offers a high damage output, especially for single target damage.Its biggest bonus does the Fire Staff receive through the passiveability Ancient Knowledge. The passive increases all single targetdamage by a total of 10%. Due to the Elemental Force passive, targetswill get a 100% chance to get the Burningstatus effectfrom skills. Target burns for additional damage over 4 seconds when they are under the effect of Burning.
The Fire Staff heavy attack charges up and shoots a single big fire ball at one enemy that deals a lot of damage.
Asan example, lets take a look at the skill Unstable Wall of Elements.This is the morph of the base skill Wall of Elements. If you are usinga Fire Staff the skill will deal extra damage to burning enemies. Thetooltip of the skill says the following: "Unstable Wall of Fire dealsadditional damage to Burning enemies". This type deals the most damageout of all the blockades.
Heavy Attack
Wall of elements
The Lightning Staff
The Lightning Staff in ESO is meant partially as a damage staff, partially as a support staff. Especiallysolo buildslike to use the Lightning Staff because of the channeled heavy attacks and the extra splash damage. Healer buildsoftenuse it as support back bar weapon. The most important passive is theAncient Knowledge which boosts AoE (area of effect) damage by 10% ifyou are using a Lightning Staff. Due to the Elemental Force passive,targets will get a 100% chance to get the Concussionstatus effectfrom skills. Concussion is instant damage and it appliesMinor Vulnerabilityfor 4 seconds, increasing their damage taken.
TheLightning Staff heavy attack immediately connects to the enemy andfunctions as a channeled attack which deals continuous damage to themain target and all enemies around the initial target.
Now letstake a look at the skill Unstable Wall of Elements again and what itdoes with a Lightning Staff. If you are using a Lightning Staff theskill will set concussed enemies Off- Balance (Double Resource Return onHeavy Attack). The tooltip of the skill says the following: "UnstableWall of Storms sets Concussed enemies Off Balance". Concussed is thestatus effect that can proc when someone gets hit by lightning damage.
Heavy Attack
WALL OF ELEMENTS
Frost Staff
The Frost Staff in ESO can deal a lot of damage, but its real power comes from its ability to support the group. Especiallytanks buildsfavor this staff. Due to the Elemental Force passive, targets will get a 100% chance to get the Chilledstatus effectfrom skills which appliesMinor MaimandMinor Brittle,reducing target's damage done and increasing the critical damage doneto the target. The passive Ancient Knowledge applies a huge block costreduction buff and amount of damage you can block buff, which is themain reason why tanks like to use it as an alternative to sword andboard.
Healer buildsalsooften use a Frost staff as a back bar weapon to apply the frost [Wallof Elements] to hit enemies with the minor debuffs and provide allieswith an extra shield that absorbs incoming damage.
The Frost Staff heavy attack charges up and shoots a single big frost ball at one enemy that deals damage.
Nowlets take a look at the skill Unstable Wall of Elements again andwhat it does with a Frost Staff. If you are using a Frost Staff theskill will grant a damage shield to allies and immobilize enemies. Thetooltip says the following: "Unstable Wall of Frost costs more, butgrants damage shields and immobilizes Chilled enemies"
Heavy Attack
WALL OF ELEMENTS
Destruction Staff Abilities
Below you can find all the active base abilities and the passives of theDestruction Staff skill line. It is best to read through all the tooltips yourself, there are very interesting skills in the skill line.
If you want to check out the morphs of the base skills, please visit the individual pages by clicking on the skill.
| Active Base Abilities | Passive Abilities |
| [Force Shock] | [Tri Focus] |
| [Wall of Elements] | [Penetrating Magic] |
| [Destructive Touch] | [Elemental Force] |
| [Weakness to Elements] | [Ancient Knowledge] |
| [Impulse] | [Destruction Expert] |
| [Elemental Storm] Ultimate |
Elemental Status Effects (Fire, Lightning, Frost)
Theelemental status effects are also an important part of the game butbarely any information exists about this ingame. Below you can see whatstatus effects come from which type of staff (Fire, Lightning, Frost):
- Burning Status Effect (Fire Damage): Target burns for additional damage over 4 seconds.
- Concussed Status Effect (Lightning Damage): Instant damage. AppliesMinor Vulnerabilityfor 4 seconds, increasing their damage taken.
- Chilled Status Effect (Frost Damage): Instant damage. AppliesMinor Maimfor 4 seconds, reducing target’s damage done. Also appliesMinor Brittleincreasing the critical damage done to the target.
Now lets see what can proc these status effects:
- Weapon enchants 20%
- Single Target Direct Damage 10%
- Area of Effect Direct Damage 5%
- Single Target Damage over Time 3%
- Area of Effect Damage over Time 1%
- Light and Heavy Attacks 0%
Asyou notice, light and heavy attacks actually can't proc status effects.However, the enchantments on the weapon can or any of the skills canproc status effects in ESO. Please visit theStatus Effects Guidefor a more complete list of all the status effects in ESO.
Nowyou know everything there is to know about the Lightning Staff, FireStaff and Frost Staff in the Destruction Staff skill line in ESO (ElderScrolls Online).
