Magicka Templar DPS Build
Magicka Templar DPS builds are some of the strongest around, which is often surprising for a class that is oriented towards healing. Magicka Templars can deal incredibly high melee-range sustained damage that synergises very well with many different gear setups, making them strong for most content, but riskier to use than ranged classes.
Gear Sets
Deadly Strike: This set works perfectly on a Magicka Templar, boosting the damage output of all of their main skills by a huge margin. You can get this from Cyrodiil vendors, or from guild traders if you prefer.
Perfected Whorl of the Depths: This is a powerful Magicka DPS set from Dreadsail Reef that is easy to keep active. You won't see too much of a DPS drop if you use the normal version since the perfected set is difficult to get. If trials aren't your bag, try Draugrkin's Grip.
Zaan's: Since Magicka Templars fight best in melee range, there's no reason not to run Zaan's for a huge DPS boost. You can get this set from Scalecaller Peak.
Maelstrom Staff: Working perfectly on any Magicka DPS build, the Maelstrom Staff can be obtained from Maelstrom Arena. The normal version will work fine if you can't get a hold of the perfected one from vet.
Skills
Puncturing Sweep: This is your primary spammable, and is boosted by the Deadly Strike set. It has a short cast-time, but once you practise just a little, it becomes easy to weave.
Solar Barrage: While the damage that this provides is great, while active it adds 5% more damage to all Templar skills, which is a very nice unique buff.
Inner Light: We use this for access to Major Prophecy, and while you can get this from potions, it is still worth having Inner Light slotted for its passive extra Max Magicka.
Barbed Trap: This is your source of Minor Force. Since Templars already get 10% more critical damage, you can switch this to something else if you are already at the 125% crit damage cap while fighting with your group.
Radiant Oppression: Radiant Oppression is an incredible ability that deals insane amounts of damage once the target hits about 35% health. It is a bit tougher to weave due to its longer cast time, so practise.
Dawnbreaker of Smiting: We aren't using this ability, but instead just have it slotted to keep the Fighter's Guild passives active, increasing weapon and spell damage.
Unstable Wall of Elements: An incredibly powerful source of damage when used in combination with the Maelstrom staff. Make sure you keep this up at all times.
Blazing Spear: This deals damage over time in a nice wide area, along with up-front damage when the spear lands. You can spam this against trash mobs if you wish.
Ritual of Retribution: Try to keep Ritual of Retribution up at all times, but do not re-cast it early, as it deals increasing damage over its duration.
Inner Light: We use this for access to Major Prophecy, and while you can get this from potions, it is still worth having Inner Light slotted for its passive extra Max Magicka.
Power of the Light: Power of the Light is one of your main source of damage, applying Minor Breach and dealing a burst of damage when its effect ends based on how much damage you dealt while it was active. Despite its short duration, you should try to keep this up at all times.
Shooting Star: This is your primary ultimate, and it is one of the best available. We choose this morph over Ice Comet because the extra burning status effect and bit of extra ultimate return when the ability connects actually results in higher overall DPS.
Champion Points
Fighting Finesse: A welcome addition to your critical damage output that will help you get up to the 125% crit damage cap. If you are exceeding this cap in your group, choose a different perk like Wrathful Strikes.
Thaumaturge: Damage in The Elder Scrolls Online is measured in how much damage you do per second over the duration of a fight, and stacking damage over time effects is the way to increase this. Thaumaturge will boost that damage type.
Master at Arms: An essential boost to one of the primary damage types that all DPS use - direct damage. This is important on almost any DPS build in ESO.
Biting Aura: An important addition to this build that will boost the power of your area abilities substantially, which is where this class really shines.
Boundless Vitality: Every bit of health makes a difference, especially in some of the tougher content that The Elder Scrolls Online has to offer. This will help you bump yours up a little more, increasing your survivability.
Siphoning Spells: A potent addition that shines best when facing multiple enemies or boss fights with adds. Each time you kill an enemy, gain Magicka - perfect!
Rejuvenation: Recoveries are important for every role. For healers, it is essential for keeping your group alive, for tanks, it is the source of most of your buffs and debuffs, for DPS, you can't deal damage with no fuel, and in PvP, no resources means death.
Celerity: Extra movement speed is an amazing boost in all content. In PvE, it helps massively with avoiding nasty mechanics, and in PvP, it allows you to run circles around your opponents.
Mundus Stone
The go-to Mundus Stone for any DPS is the Thief. It is very rare that you will reach the optimal critical chance numbers without the Thief unless you are specifically building for it, which isn't ideal. a
Food Buff
The Ghastly Eye Bowls food buff is typically the best option for any PvE Magicka character. It offers the best combination of Max Magicka and Magicka Recovery. If you are in content that requires higher health, you can use the Withmother's Potent Brew or Clockwork Citrus Filet if you prefer.
Race
The best race to use for this build is a High Elf (Altmer). However, Dark Elves (Dunmer) have an almost negligible difference in DPS. If you struggle to reach the crit damage cap of 125%, then a Khajiit is your best option instead.
Potion
Spell power potions are required on this build to give you access to Major Sorcery, which is an important buff for reaching those top-tier DPS numbers. If you have a Dragonknight using Igneous Weapons or Molten Armaments in your group, you can run Heroism potions instead.
Mortality
Running a Vampire in PvE content will make you a liability to your tank and healer, forcing them to work much harder to keep you alive through much of the game's fiery damage in PvE content. A werewolf also offers no benefit. Therefore, it is recommended that you stick with being a Mortal.
Notes
Templar DPS builds are easy and fun to play, but the spammable can take a bit of getting used to since it is a channeled ability. With a little practise, you will be able to weave it easily enough with your light attacks, so it is strongly recommended to put in the effort.
It is also worth remembering that you must keep up Power of the Light at all times. It provides a huge boost to your overall damage output, along with a valuable debuff, so try to keep it up at all times.