Online:Destruction Staff

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ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff Fire.png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff Ice.png ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff Lightning.png

Destruction Staff is one of the six weapon skills available in Elder Scrolls Online. You can advance through this skill line by equipping a Destruction type staff. Each staff has an elemental type associated with it:

an Inferno Staff will only deal fire damage;
an Ice Staff will only deal frost damage;
a Lightning Staff will only deal shock damage.

All staves use the same skills, and the effects of those skills vary based on the type of staff being used. One example of this is the skill Destructive Touch, which always deals damage, but also applies an effect based on the type of staff. An Inferno Staff causes an enemy to be knocked back, an Ice Staff immobilizes an enemy, and a Lightning Staff causes an enemy to be stunned.

Learning[edit]

The Destruction Staff skill line is granted the first time you kill an enemy with a destruction staff equipped. You can increase your skill by engaging in combat with a destruction staff equipped, or by having Destruction Staff skills slotted. The more skills you have slotted, the faster your skill will increase. High Elves are naturally gifted with Destruction Staves, and will learn the ability more quickly than other races. In addition, you can earn free levels in the skill line by reading Skill Books, which may be found randomly on bookshelves anywhere. The skill books which increase Destruction Staff are:

  • Note that some of these books were likely intended to be for Restoration Staff, which currently has only 1 skill book.

Skill Perks[edit]

Destruction Staves have an associated skill line that is revealed through use of a Destruction Staff. Known abilities are listed below.

Notes

  • The numbers displayed here are the base values for the skills. Magicka/Stamina Cost is based on a character of Level 50 Champion Points160. Damage values are based on Max Magicka/Stamina 12000, Max Health 16000, and Weapon/Spell Damage 1000. The actual numbers you see in the game may depend on a variety of factors, including skill line rank, your equipped weapons and armor, other skills, enchantments, etc. As such, they should only be used as a comparative reference.
  • While the descriptions for Elemental Storm, Wall of Elements, Destructive Touch, and Impulse say they deal Magic Damage, when slotted, this will change to the type of elemental damage (Flame, Frost, Shock) that matches your staff

Ultimate Abilities[edit]

These abilities must be activated manually, for a cost of Ultimate.

Name Line Rank Cast Time Target Range Radius Duration Cost
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Storm.png Elemental Storm 50 Instant Ground 28 meters 8 meters 7 seconds 250 Ultimate
Create a cataclysmic storm at the target location that builds for 2 seconds then lays waste to all enemies in the area, dealing [4610 / 4660 / 4711 / 4761] Magic Damage every 1 second for 7 seconds.
Morph ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Rage.png Elemental Rage Increases the damage and gains a new effect depending on your staff type.
Create a cataclysmic storm at the target location that builds for 2 seconds then lays waste to all enemies in the area, dealing [5953 / 6018 / 6084 / 6150] Magic Damage every 1 second for 7 seconds. Fiery Rage increases the damage by 15%. Icy Rage immobilizes enemies hit for 3 seconds. Thunderous Rage increases the duration by 2 seconds.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Eye of the Storm.png Eye of the Storm The storm is cast above you instead, and follows you wherever you move.
Target: Area.
Create a cataclysmic storm above you that builds for 2 seconds then lays waste to all enemies nearby, dealing [4766 / 4817 / 4870 / 4922] Magic Damage every 1 second for 7 seconds.

Active Abilities[edit]

These abilities must be activated manually, while a destruction staff is equipped, for a cost.

Name Line Rank Cast Time Target Range Radius Duration Cost
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Force Shock.png Force Shock 2 Instant Enemy 28 meters 2700 Magicka
Focus all the elemental energies with your staff and blast an enemy for [1844 / 1863 / 1883 / 1904] Flame Damage, [1844 / 1863 / 1883 / 1904] Frost Damage, and [1844 / 1863 / 1883 / 1904] Shock Damage.
Morph ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Crushing Shock.png Crushing Shock Interrupts spells, putting the caster Off Balance. Reduces cost as ability ranks up.
Cost: [2700 / 2610 / 2520 / 2430] Magicka.
Focus all the elemental energies with your staff and blast an enemy for 1905 Flame Damage, 1905 Frost Damage, and 1905 Shock Damage. Enemies hit while casting are interrupted, set Off Balance, and stunned for 3 seconds.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Force Pulse.png Force Pulse Damages nearby enemies if they are under the effects of a status effect.
Area: 8 meters.
Focus all the elemental energies with your staff and blast an enemy for 1905 Flame Damage, 1905 Frost Damage, and 1905 Shock Damage. Up to 2 nearby enemies will take [6351 / 6421 / 6491 / 6560] Magic Damage if they were already afflicted with a status effect.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Wall of Elements (Frost).png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Wall of Elements (Shock).png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Wall of Elements (Fire).png
Wall of Elements 4 Instant Area 18 meters 10 seconds 2970 Magicka
Slam your staff down to create an elemental barrier in front of you, dealing [745 / 753 / 760 / 770] Magic Damage to enemies in the target area every 1 second. Wall of Fire deals additional damage to Burning enemies. Wall of Frost costs more, but snares and reduces armor against Chilled enemies and grants damage shields. Wall of Storms sets Concussed enemies Off Balance.
Morph ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Unstable Wall of Elements.png Unstable Wall of Elements The wall explodes when it expires, dealing additional damage.
Create an unstable elemental barrier in front of you, dealing 769 Magic Damage to enemies in the target area every 1 second before exploding for an additional [3176 / 3211 / 3245 / 3280] Magic Damage. Unstable Wall of Fire deals additional damage to Burning enemies. Unstable Wall of Frost costs more, but snares and reduces armor against Chilled enemies and grants damage shields. Unstable Wall of Storms sets Concussed enemies Off Balance.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Blockade.png Elemental Blockade Increases the size and duration of the wall.
Duration: [12 / 13 / 14 / 15] seconds.
Slam your staff down to create an elemental barrier in front of you, dealing 769 Magic Damage to enemies in the target area every 1 second. Blockade of Fire deals additional damage to Burning enemies. Blockade of Frost costs more, but snares and reduces armor against Chilled enemies and grants damage shields. Blockade of Storms sets Concussed enemies Off Balance.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destructive Touch (Frost).png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destructive Touch (Shock).png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destructive Touch (Fire).png
Destructive Touch 14 Instant Enemy 15 meters 20 seconds 2970 Magicka
Devastate an enemy with an enhanced charge from your staff, dealing [3073 / 3107 / 3140 / 3174] Magic Damage and an additional [9224 / 9317 / 9421 / 9518] Magic Damage over 20 seconds. The initial hit always applies the element's status effect.
Morph ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destructive Clench.png Destructive Clench Converts the damage over time into a new effect based on your staff type.
Devastate an enemy with an enhanced charge from your staff, dealing 3176 Magic Damage. The initial hit always applies the element's status effect. Flame Clench also knocks the enemy back. Frost Clench deals less damage, has increased range, applies Major Maim, immobilizes, and taunts the enemy. Shock Clench converts the attack into an area of effect explosion.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destructive Reach.png Destructive Reach Increases the range. Reduces the cost as the ability ranks up.
Cost: [2970 / 2880 / 2790 / 2700] Magicka, Range: 28 meters.
Devastate an enemy with an enhanced charge from your staff, dealing 3176 Magic Damage and an additional 9525 Magic Damage over 20 seconds. The initial hit always applies the element's status effect.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Weakness to Elements.png Weakness to Elements 20 Instant Enemy 28 meters 30 seconds Free
Duration: [27 / 28 / 29 / 30] seconds.
Send the elements to sap an enemy's defenses and afflict them with Major Breach for [27 / 28 / 29 / 30] seconds, reducing their Physical and Spell Resistance by 5948.
Morph ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Susceptibility.png Elemental Susceptibility Applies each elemental status effect periodically while active and increases the range.
Range: [32 / 33 / 34 / 35] meters.
Send the elements to sap an enemy's defenses and afflict them with Major Breach for 30 seconds, reducing their Physical and Spell Resistance by 5948. Every 7.5 seconds the enemy is afflicted with the Burning, Chilled, and Concussion status effect.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Drain.png Elemental Drain Also applies Minor Magickasteal to the enemy and greatly increases the duration.
Duration: [57 / 58 / 59 / 60] seconds.
Send the elements to sap an enemy's defenses and afflict them with Major Breach for [57 / 58 / 59 / 60] seconds, reducing their Physical and Spell Resistance by 5948. Also applies Minor Magickasteal to the enemy for [57 / 58 / 59 / 60] seconds, causing you and your allies to restore 168 Magicka every 1 second when damaging them.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Impulse (Frost).png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Impulse (Shock).png
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Impulse (Fire).png
Impulse 38 Instant Area 6 meters 3780 Magicka
Release a surge of elemental energy, dealing [4610 / 4660 / 4711 / 4761] Magic Damage to nearby enemies. Fire Impulse hits Burning enemies with Impulse Afterburn, which deals more damage based on their missing Health. Frost Impulse also provides Minor Protection. Shock Impulse's damage increases based on the number of enemies hit.
Morph ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Ring.png Elemental Ring Deals damage at a target location instead of around you.
Range: 28 meters, Target: Ground.
Release a surge of elemental energy, dealing [4765 / 4816 / 4869 / 4921] Magic Damage to enemies at the target location. Fire Ring hits Burning enemies with Ring Afterburn, which deals more damage based on their missing Health. Frost Ring also provides Minor Protection. Shock Ring's damage increases based on the number of enemies hit.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Pulsar.png Pulsar Applies Minor Mangle to non-boss enemies, reducing their Max Health. Triples the innate chance to apply the respective status effect.
Release a surge of elemental energy, dealing 4765 Magic Damage to nearby enemies and afflicting them with Minor Mangle, reducing their Max Health by 10% for [7 / 8 / 9 / 10] seconds. Flame Pulsar hits Burning enemies with Pulsar Afterburn, which deals more damage based on their missing Health. Frost Pulsar also provides Minor Protection. Storm Pulsar's damage increases based on the number of enemies hit.

Weapon Sets[edit]

These sets add effects to abilities.

Ability Name Weapon set name Description
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Force Shock.png Force Shock Concentrated Force
Perfected Concentrated Force

2 items: Every second cast of Force Shock will always apply the Burning, Concussion, and Chilled status effects. The Force Shock casts must be made within 5 seconds of each other for this effect to occur.

ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Wall of Elements.png Wall of Elements Crushing Wall
Perfected Crushing Wall

2 items: Increases the damage Wall of Elements deals by 29-1250.

ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destructive Touch.png Destructive Touch Destructive Impact
Perfected Destructive Impact

2 items: Reduces the cost of Destructive Touch by 10% and increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 13-600 for 4 seconds after activating it.

ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Weakness to Elements.png Weakness to Elements Wrath of Elements
Perfected Wrath of Elements

2 items: Casting Weakness to Elements on a target within 15 meters of you causes a surge of elemental energy to tether between you for 10 seconds. While the tether persists, enemies touching the tether take 331 Flame Damage, 331 Shock Damage, or 331 Frost Damage every 1 second, which increases by 1% each time it deals damage, up to 20%. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds, and scales off the higher of your Weapon and Spell Damage.

ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Impulse.png Impulse Wild Impulse
Perfected Wild Impulse

2 items: Reduce the cost of Impulse by 10%. Impulse places lingering elemental damage on your targets, dealing 605 Flame, 605 Shock, and 605 Frost Damage over 8 seconds. Each element ticks once over the duration and its damage scales off the higher of your Weapon and Spell Damage.

Passive Abilities[edit]

Passive abilities are active all the time, so long as a destruction staff is equipped.

Name Line Rank Skill Rank Description
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Tri Focus.png Tri Focus 5 1 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Fully-charged Inferno Staff Heavy Attacks deal an additional 6129 Flame Damage over 20 seconds. Fully-charged Lightning Staff Heavy Attacks damage nearby enemies for 50% of the damage done. Fully-charged Ice Staff Heavy Attacks grant you a damage shield that absorbs 2640 damage. This effect scales off your Max Health. While an Ice Staff is equipped, blocking costs Magicka instead of Stamina.
34 2 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Fully-charged Inferno Staff Heavy Attacks deal an additional 12287 Flame Damage over 20 seconds. Fully-charged Lightning Staff Heavy Attacks damage nearby enemies for 100% of the damage done. Fully-charged Ice Staff Heavy Attacks grant you a damage shield that absorbs 5280 damage. This effect scales off your Max Health. While an Ice Staff is equipped, blocking costs Magicka instead of Stamina.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Penetrating Magic.png Penetrating Magic 10 1 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Your Destruction Staff abilities ignore 1487 of the enemy's Spell Resistance.
17 2 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Your Destruction Staff abilities ignore 2974 of the enemy's Spell Resistance.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Elemental Force.png Elemental Force 25 1 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Increases your chance to apply status effects by 50%.
30 2 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Increases your chance to apply status effects by 100%.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Ancient Knowledge.png Ancient Knowledge 28 1 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Inferno Staves increases your damage done with damage over time and Status Effects by 6%. Lightning Staves increases your damage done with direct damage and channeled effects by 6%. Ice Staves reduce the cost of blocking by 18% and increases the amount of damage you block by 10%.
46 2 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) Inferno Staves increases your damage done with damage over time and Status Effects by 12%. Lightning Staves increases your damage done with direct damage and channeled effects by 12%. Equipping an Ice Staff reduces the cost of blocking by 36% and increases the amount of damage you block by 20%.
ON-icon-skill-Destruction Staff-Destruction Expert.png Destruction Expert 41 1 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) When you kill an enemy with a Destruction Staff ability, you restore 1800 Magicka. When you absorb damage using a Destruction Staff Damage Shield, you restore 900 Magicka. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.
50 2 (With Destruction Staff Equipped) When you kill an enemy with a Destruction Staff ability, you restore 3600 Magicka. When you absorb damage using a Destruction Staff Damage Shield, you restore 1800 Magicka. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.