How to get the War Machine Set in ESO
Australian ESO players grinding through the Imperial City sewers might recognise the War Machine set as a sought-after drop that elevates a damage dealer build. This medium armour set, known for its aggressive damage bonuses that scale with missing health, has remained a favourite in PvP loadouts and stamina DPS rotations for years since its introduction in the Imperial City expansion. Whether you're a veteran from the Brisbane server community or a newcomer playing from a flat in Sydney's Inner West, understanding the acquisition path for War Machine helps you plan your farming sessions efficiently and avoid wasted hours. The set drops exclusively from Imperial City content, which means your grind is tied to Tel Var Stones, a PvP currency that can be lost on death when an enemy player defeats you in the zone.
Australian players should keep timezone considerations in mind when joining farming groups, as organised sessions often work best during evening hours AEST when more local users are active and North American players are heading to bed. Server latency also plays a role in your effectiveness, so choosing the right time window can significantly improve your farming efficiency. Before diving into the sewers and districts, it's worth understanding exactly what War Machine offers and where each piece can drop, so you can target your sessions towards the most rewarding content.
Understanding the War Machine Set
War Machine is a five-piece medium armour set that grants bonuses to weapon damage based on how much health is missing. The two-piece bonus adds Weapon Critical, while the five-piece bonus increases damage by a percentage that scales as your health pool decreases, reaching maximum damage potential when you're near death. This mechanic makes the set particularly attractive for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward combat styles and aggressive open-world PvP encounters. Many veterans recommend dropping to roughly one-third health before engaging in combat to fully benefit from the bonus.
The set is highly valued in PvP scenarios because it rewards players who manage their health pools carefully and commit to aggressive plays. Many Australian Dragonknights and Nightblades have built their loadouts around War Machine for Battlegrounds and Imperial City duels. In PvE, the set sees limited use but can be viable for specific stamina DPS parses where survivability isn't the primary concern and burst damage matters. Items drop in rings, necklaces, swords, daggers, bows, and various armour pieces, following the standard medium armour distribution across all six appropriate pieces in the set.
For players interested in comparing damage sets against other endgame gear options, the best sets for a healer in ESO trials checklist offers a reference point for how different roles prioritise their gear choices in group content.
Farming in Imperial City districts and sewers
The primary source for War Machine pieces is the Imperial City itself. Both the six districts and the extensive sewer network contain bosses and elite mobs with a chance to drop War Machine items. The drop rate isn't particularly generous, so prepare for considerable time clearing rooms throughout the zone. The Tel Var Stone system in the Imperial City adds a risk-reward layer to every farming run, encouraging players to push deeper into enemy territory for better rewards but at greater personal risk.
Gaining higher ranks in Imperial City (Recruit, Soldier, Officer, General) by earning Tel Var Stones increases your drop rates on gear, including War Machine. However, carrying high amounts of Tel Var makes you a target for enemy faction players who can kill you and steal a portion of your stones. Australian players dealing with higher ping to the North American servers where Imperial City is hosted often struggle in PvP encounters within the city. Melbourne-based players sometimes form groups during Australian evening hours for coordinated safer farming runs, taking advantage of times when NA-based players are less active in the zone. Building friendships with guildmates on Australian timezone makes these coordinated runs much easier to organise.
The most efficient farming route typically involves clearing the sewers first, as they offer safer farming with vendors that can sell acquired loot. Then move to the districts during off-peak hours when fewer enemy players are active. Vendors in the Imperial City Merchant district occasionally sell War Machine pieces for Tel Var Stones, offering an alternative to random drops from mobs. Checking these vendors between runs is a good habit that can yield unexpected pieces for your collection.
Alternative acquisition through dungeons and trading
War Machine pieces can drop from the two Imperial City dungeons: Imperial City Prison and White-Gold Tower. These dungeons are accessible through the Group Finder and can be completed on Normal or Veteran difficulty. Running these dungeons repeatedly represents a more controlled farming environment compared to the open-world Imperial City zones. Each dungeon boss has a chance to drop War Machine pieces, and completing the dungeon on Veteran difficulty grants additional rewards and achievement progress.
A solid plan is to run both dungeons on Veteran with a group, then reset the appropriate gear while also farming Imperial City on the side. The dungeons offer a predictable source of the set without the PvP risk of the city zones, though the drop rate remains similar across all content sources. Australian players who prefer a calmer farming experience might focus on dungeon runs rather than the open-world grind. This approach works well for those playing during Australian weekday evenings when fewer players are available for Imperial City groups. The Group Finder makes it easy to queue for both dungeons, and completing the associated daily quests provides bonus rewards and reputation with the associated factions.
War Machine can also be purchased through player-to-player trading at guild traders. Prices depend on supply and demand, and many veteran players already own the pieces they need, which can limit availability on guild stores. Set items themselves can be found at guild traders at varying prices, with jewelry typically being the most expensive due to limited ring and necklace slots in the set. The Fliperama Nerd community offers resources for players looking to understand market trends and find reliable trading partners in the Australian gaming scene, which can save considerable time compared to browsing trader pages blindly.
Gear progression and set synergy
Once you've acquired your War Machine pieces, the next step is upgrading them to Legendary quality for maximum stats and better trait selection. Legendary gear provides additional bonuses and allows for more flexibility through the transmut station system, where you can change traits on your items. Australian players should factor in the time investment for crafting and upgrading materials, particularly given the limited availability of high-end crafting materials on Australian trading guilds and the long queue at popular locations.
Pairing War Machine with complementary sets enhances its effectiveness in both PvP and PvE scenarios. Sets that provide sustain, such as those granting health recovery or damage shields, allow you to drop more health into the missing health bonus without risking instant death. Slay Potions and other temporary boosts can also complement the set for specific encounters and boss fights where burst damage matters. A balanced approach between offence and defence lets you enjoy the burst potential without constantly dying in the middle of fights, which is a common pitfall for newer players experimenting with the set.
For detailed instructions on taking your gear to the next level, consult the how to upgrade your gear to legendary guide. This resource covers the transmutation system, the rework station, and the specific materials needed for Legendary-quality upgrades.
Comparing War Machine with alternative damage sets
When deciding whether War Machine fits your build, comparing it to similar damage sets helps clarify its strengths and use cases. The comparison below outlines how War Machine stacks up against other popular damage-oriented options in the current meta.
| Set | Acquisition | Armour Type | Primary Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| War Machine | Imperial City drops | Medium | Damage scales with missing health |
| Marksman | Crafting | Medium | Weapon Critical and Bow damage |
| Hunding's Rage | Crafting | Medium | Weapon damage and stamina recovery |
| New Moon | Crafting | Light | Spell damage and cost reduction |
| Tzogvin's Warband | PvP reward | Medium | Damage after roll dodge |
War Machine excels in situations where you can sustain low health and capitalise on burst windows. Marksman and Hunding's Rage offer more consistent damage without the missing health mechanic, making them reliable choices for extended fights where health stays high throughout the encounter. Australian players who prioritise consistency often prefer crafted alternatives, while those seeking maximum burst potential stick with War Machine for its unique scaling properties.
The choice depends on your playstyle and the content you pursue. For Battlegrounds and open-world PvP, War Machine remains a top-tier pick that rewards aggressive players willing to manage risk carefully. For trials and PvE content, crafted alternatives often provide better overall damage in prolonged fights against bosses. Choose your approach based on whether you're farming solo or running with a coordinated group, and adjust your set selection accordingly.
Balancing aggression with sustain across your entire build is essential for making the most of a War Machine setup. Time your damage bursts to capitalise on the missing health bonus, and coordinate with farming groups to share the risk of high Tel Var runs in Imperial City. Local groups on Australian Discord servers often share farming partners and complete the set in fewer sessions than solo players can manage alone. Your time in the zone becomes more productive once you learn the district patrol routes, the safest paths between boss spawns, and the most efficient vendor routes for selling unwanted loot. Consistent farming sessions of two to three hours usually yield better results than short sporadic runs, so plan your playtime accordingly and stick to a routine that fits your schedule.