Builds
While not a build guru I do have a few that work for me. These are builds that are used under specific circumstances and are not suitable for general content.
GROUP SORCER DPS (VETERAN DUNGEONS AND TRIALS)
This build is designed for running group veteran content, such as Veteran difficulty trials and dungeons. This build is based of the Alcast Group Sorc build. With this build I can get about 52K+ DPS on a training dummy (considerably less in actual combat). Other players may be able to get more.
Mother's Sorrow and Medusa are both easily available (though requiring farming). The Maelstrom staff can be farmed first from Normal Maelstrom Arena (for the non-perfect version), then from Veteran Maelstrom Arena after. See the below build for what I used to run vMA.
SOLO SORCER DPS (VETERAN ARENAS)
This build is designed for solo veteran content, such as Veteran Maelstrom Arena and Veteran Vateshran Hollow. This build is based of the Alcast Solo Sorc build. This build has a lot of self sustain and allows sufficient self heals and regen.
False God's is from the Sunspire Trial (Perfected from Veteran Difficulty) and Mother's Sorrow from Overland Deshan. The Maelstrom staff can be farmed first from Normal Maelstrom Arena (for the non-perfect version, use two Mother's Sorrow weapons till then), then from Veteran Maelstrom Arena after.
BATTLEGROUND STAMINA SORCERER
This build is suitable for both battlegrounds and small group PvP in overland Cyrodiil (no-CP campaigns). It is a variation on a snipe build and designed for high penetration. The DPS focus is bow damage with poison. The back bar can be swapped between dual-wield or healing staff, depending on group composition and situation. Note the healing staff passives are mostly combined with Vigor for healing. These sets used would also work for a Nightblade sniper.
Basic Gear
Use these if the advanced gear is not available to you. Substitute monster helms if neededSets
5 piece Spriggan's Thorns (Medium)
Drops in Bangkorai or can be found in Guild Traders
Max Stam, Max Stam, Weapon Dam, Physical Penetration
5 piece Leviathan (Medium)
Drops Crypt of Hearts Dungeon
Max Stam, Weapon Crit, Weapon Crit, Double Weapon Crit
2 Piece Stormfist (Monster Helm)
Help drops Vet Tempest Island Dungeon, Shoulder from Giliron's Undaunted chest
Stam recovery, 10% chance to call thunderfist dealing shock dam every sec for 3 sec to all within 4m and final physical damage, every 8 sec
Armour
5 medium, 1 light shoulder, 1 heavy helm (assuming Undaunted passives unlocked) otherwise 7 medium.
Infused on 2 of Helm, Chest, or Legs. Impenetrable on 3 of Shoulders, Waist, Hands, or Boots. Divines on remainder.
Max Stamina enchants on armour with max Health enchants on Infused pieces as required.
Jewellery
Max weapon damage enchants.
Weapons
Main-hand Bow with Infused trait and Oblivion Damage enchant.
AND
Off-hand Dual-wield Axe and dagger with Infused traits and poison and disease enchants.
OR
Off-hand Healing staff with Powered trait and crushing enchantment.
OR
Off-hand Bow with Infused trait and crushing enchantment.
Advanced Gear
These sets are harder to farm. Subsitute monster helms if neededSets
5 piece Twice-Fanged Serpent (Medium)
Drops in the Sanctum Ophidia Trial
Weapon Dam, Max Stam, Weapon Crit, When you deal damage your Physical Penetration is increased for 3 sec, stacking up to 5 times
5 piece Tzovgin's Warband (Medium)
Drops in the Frostvault DLC Dungeon
Weapon Crit, Weapon Crit, Physical Penetration, When you deal damage you gain a stack of Precision, increasing Weapon Crit for 10 sec, up to 10 stacks max. At max stacks gain Minor Force
2 piece Velidreth (Monster Helm)
Helm drops Vet Cradle of Shadows DLC Dungeon, Shoulder from Urgalarg's Undaunted chest
Weapon Dam, 20% chance to spawn 3 disease spores every 9 sec
Armour
medium, 1 light shoulder, 1 heavy helm (assuming Undaunted passives unlocked) otherwise 7 medium.
Infused on 2 of Helm, Chest, Legs. Impenetrable on 3 of Shoulders, Waist, Hands, Boots. Divines on remainder.
Max Stamina enchants on armour with max Health enchants on Infused pieces as required.
Jewellery
Max weapon damage enchants, 1 bloodthirsty trait.
Weapons
Main-hand Bow with Infused trait and Oblivion Damage enchant.
AND
Off-hand Dual-wield Axe and dagger with Infused traits and poison and disease enchants.
OR
Off-hand Healing staff with Powered trait and crushing enchantment.
OR
Off-hand Bow with Infused trait and crushing enchantment.
Skills
Most of these skills are required. Flexible spots are marked, but do experiment and find what works for youMain-hand Bow
Razor Caltrops (Alliance War morph Caltrops)
Acid Spray (Bow morph Arrow Spray)
Lethal Arrow (Bow morph Snipe)
Poison Injection (Bow morph Poison Arrow)
Camouflaged Hunter (Fighter's Guild morph Expert Hunter)
Flawless Dawnbreaker (Fighter's Guild morph Dawnbreaker)
Off-hand Dual-Wield
Shrouded Daggers (Dual-Wield morph Hidden Blade)
Whirling Blades (Dual-Wield morph Whirlwind)
Hurricane (Storm Calling morph Lightning Storm)
Crit Surge (Storm Calling morph Surge)
Charging Maneuvers (Alliance War morph Maneuvers)
Flawless Dawnbreaker (Fighter's Guild morph Dawnbreaker)
Off-hand Healing
Rapid Regeneration (Restoration Staff morph Regeneration)
Resolving Vigor (Alliance War morph Vigor)
Hurricane (Storm Calling morph Lightning Storm)
Crit Surge (Storm Calling morph Surge)
Charging Maneuvers (Alliance War morph Maneuvers)
Flawless Dawnbreaker (Fighter's Guild morph Dawnbreaker)
Mundus Stone
Focus on your critDepending on your racial passives, you may either need the Thief Stone to push your total critical rating above 60% or the Shadow Stone if your natural critical is already above 60%.
Champion Points
While this build is designed for Battlegrounds/Non-CP campaigns, it can be used in CP Cyrodiil. This CP allocation is unsuitable for high level PvE such as TrialsTower - Warlord 23, Sprinter 21, Siphoner 23
Lover - Mooncalf 75, Healthy 45
Shadow - Befoul 43, Tumbling 40
Atronach - Master-at-Arms 56
Ritual - Thaumaturge 56, Precise Strikes 66, Piercing 17, Mighty 75
Steed - Ironclad 51, Spell Shield 12, Medium Armour Focus 12, Resistant 48
Lady - Hardy 43, Thick Skinned 61, Elemental Defender 43
Food
Never go into battle without your foodEat your food. Don't have less than 22K health in Cyrodiil/battlegrounds. Recommend any food that gives you Max Health and Stamina Regen, or Max Health and Max Stamina.
How to play
Never go into battle without your foodCast Hurricane and Crit Surge buffs before approaching combat.
Cast Rapid Regen or Vigor as needed before heading in into combat, if on the healing bar.
Switch to the bow bar and use Caltrops and Acid Spray as needed, then Tab-target a healer or low health player, then fire Lethal Arrow followed by Poison Injection (which has an execute component).
If using Dual-Wield, close to melee range while re-casting buffs, throw Shrouded Daggers, and follow up with Whirling Blades.
If using a healing back bar, re-cast buffs but attempt to stay at range.