The Elder Scrolls Online’s Update 46 has just hit the Public Test Server (PTS), and it’s already making waves—especially for fans of heavy attack builds. Whether you’re a casual player or an aspiring one-bar legend, the upcoming changes bring new possibilities for solo and group content alike.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about heavy attack builds in Update 46, the new mythic item “Raat’s Void Mantle”, and how the subclassing system opens up exciting opportunities to maximize your DPS with less effort.
Oaken Soul Still Has a Place in Update 46

Let’s start with the staple of one-bar builds: the Oaken Soul ring.

Even with the new mythic arriving in Update 46, Oaken Soul remains incredibly viable. It passively grants a full suite of combat buffs, including:

    Major Brutality & Sorcery – for increased damage

    Major Savagery & Prophecy – for critical chance

    Major Resolve – for armor

    Empower – for significantly increased heavy attack damage

Despite its one-bar limitation, many players prefer Oaken Soul’s simplicity. With the right setup, you can hit 90k+ DPS using basic sets like Sergeant’s Mail and Highland Sentinel—no trials gear, no potions, no bar swapping.
Introducing Raat’s Void Mantle: A New Mythic for Heavy Attack Builds

Now for the big news: Raat’s Void Mantle, a mythic item coming in Update 46, is specifically designed for heavy attack playstyles.
Key Features of Raat’s Void Mantle:

    +50% Heavy Attack Damage

    Heavy attacks no longer restore resources

    Light attacks restore more resources

This new item gives a huge raw damage boost but removes one of the best benefits of heavy attack builds—infinite sustain. Still, the DPS gain can be substantial: in testing, players reported 10k+ DPS increases simply by swapping from Oaken Soul to Raat’s Mantle.
Downsides:

To use Raat’s Mantle effectively, you’ll need to compensate for lost buffs and sustain:

    Use Spell Power potions for major Sorcery and Prophecy.

    Utilize Mage’s Guild skills (like Ul’s Contingency) to proc Empower.

    Switch to magicka recovery food to offset the resource drain.

So while Raat’s Mantle is a more advanced option, it offers top-tier performance for players willing to manage their buffs and resources.
Subclassing System: Total Build Customization in Update 46

Another huge addition in Update 46 is the Subclassing System—and it’s a game-changer.
What Is Subclassing?

Subclassing allows players to swap out one or two of their class skill lines and replace them with skill lines from any other class. You’ll gain:

    Full access to active abilities

    All passive bonuses

    The class Ultimate from the new skill line

There’s no power reduction, which means you can truly mix and match the best abilities and passives for your playstyle.
Best Skill Lines for Heavy Attack Builds:

    Assassination (Nightblade) – Offers great passives like:

        Relentless Focus (+600 Weapon/Spell Damage)

        Hemorrhage (+10% Crit Damage)

        Pressure Points (Crit Chance)

        Executioner (Sustain from kills)

    Grave Lord (Necromancer) – Provides passive DoT and offensive synergy.

    Storm Calling (Sorcerer) – Even if unused actively, it provides amazing passives:

        Capacitor (Recovery)

        Energized (Shock damage)

        Amplitude (Bonus scaling damage)

        Expert Mage (Weapon/Spell damage)

Build Flexibility:

You can now build a "1.5 bar" setup, slotting passives or long-duration buffs (like Critical Surge) on the back bar while keeping your main rotation simple on the front bar.
Final Thoughts: Is Raat’s Void Mantle Worth It?

If it survives the PTS without nerfs, Raat’s Void Mantle could become a top-tier mythic for solo content and high-end parsing. It trades ease-of-use for power, which makes it a natural progression from Oaken Soul for players looking to push their performance.

Add the subclassing system into the mix, and Update 46 is shaping up to be a major win for heavy attack and one-bar players in The Elder Scrolls Online.

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