Tarnished – Infinite Archive Dragonknight Build

Tarnished – Infinite Archive Stamina Dragonknight Build

Tarnished is an Infinite Archive–specific evolution of my main character build, Toxicity. The Infinite Archive is fundamentally different from the rest of The Elder Scrolls Online , and that difference is exactly what this build is designed to exploit.

The Infinite Archive introduces buffs, bonuses, perks, and variables that simply do not exist anywhere else in ESO. Because of that, we are no longer bound by traditional PvE rules or limitations. Instead, we can build directly toward the content itself, allowing for dramatically more flexibility, build diversity, and customization. This content is a genuine game-changer for personal builds and pushes experimentation further than any other PvE activity.

If you are unfamiliar with how this content works, you can find a full breakdown here: Infinite Archive Guide .

Design Philosophy

Tarnished was originally designed around maximum single-target damage, and that core idea remains intact. You will actively manage your damage over time effects and resources, and the build rewards awareness, timing, and deliberate decision-making.

What the Infinite Archive allows us to do, however, is lean heavily into status effects and scaling bonuses. While the gameplay remains familiar to the original Toxicity setup, the ability to chase Focused Efforts means the build can escalate dramatically in power as more status effects come into play.

Status Effect Engine

Even before any Infinite Archive perks or buffs are applied, this build has access to five different status effects. Some are guaranteed, while others trigger frequently through consistent damage application.

The build can reliably apply:

• Burning
• Poisoned
• Sundered
• Haemorrhage
• Overcharged (situational)

Through Infinite Archive buffs and run-specific bonuses, additional status effects can become available depending on luck and progression:

• Chilled (Swift Gale)
• Disease (Globs and Skeever buffs)
• Shock (Storm Projection)

Under the right conditions, the build can potentially access all eight status effects, allowing Focused Efforts to scale damage into extreme territory.

How the Build Functions

The foundation of Tarnished revolves around controlling status effects and enchantment uptime. A key set guarantees a debuff, a status effect, and a damage buff on every proc — applying Sundered for Minor Breach, dealing damage on impact, and granting 100 Weapon and Spell Damage.

This is paired with a poison-based skill that guarantees status application, alongside two damage glyphs firing rapidly to increase both fire and poison uptime. Your ultimate contributes guaranteed effects, while magic damage sources provide additional status opportunities when they trigger.

Glyphs are predictable and extremely powerful, but their long cooldown can make target swapping inconsistent. To solve this, the build deliberately uses Infused weapons to reduce enchantment cooldowns while increasing their strength.

This is further enhanced by a five-piece bonus that improves enchantment cooldown and power — and these bonuses stack. The result is near-complete control over both damage glyphs, allowing them to trigger on almost every light attack.

The back bar enchantment provides Weapon and Spell Damage, effectively double-buffing all outgoing damage. When combined with attuned enchantments, this setup becomes exceptionally strong.

In ideal conditions, the build can maintain a glyph-based buff with near-infinite uptime, adding roughly 2.6k–3k Weapon and Spell Damage on top of heavy status pressure, damage over time, and rapid proc frequency.

One important note — you will burn through enchant charges quickly. Soul gems are required.

Build Strengths

• High resistances for a stamina DPS build
• All damage dealt heals you based on damage done
• Five guaranteed status effects, with up to three more available through Infinite Archive buffs
• Excellent single-target damage with the ability to maintain DoTs on multiple enemies
• Very high execute damage using spin-based attacks combined with poison application
• Strong survivability, damage, and resource control through the dual wield ultimate
• Reliable sustain when Consuming Trap is used correctly

The Infinite Archive is never the same twice. Some runs will feel incredible, others will fight you every step of the way — and that unpredictability is part of the fun. Practice matters, understanding matters, and learning how to adapt is key.

You can actively chase Focused Efforts with this build!