How to Choose the Best Class in Elder Scrolls Online 2024

Ethan Clarke011 mins

How to Choose the Best Class in Elder Scrolls Online 2024

Hey there, fellow adventurer! 🌍⚔️ So, 2024 is upon us and the world of Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is as vibrant and thrilling as ever. With so many quests to embark on and battles to fight, choosing the best class for your journey can be both exciting and daunting. Fear not! I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to help you navigate these seven powerful classes and their unique skill lines. Let’s dive in, shall we?

The Magnificent Seven: An Overview of ESO Classes

In ESO, you’ve got seven main classes to choose from: Dragonknight, Sorcerer, Nightblade, Templar, Warden, Necromancer, and Arcanist. Each class comes with its own flavorful lore and, more importantly, unique skill lines that can drastically change your gameplay experience. Let’s break it down, class by class.

Dragonknight

As fierce as their name suggests, Dragonknights are the quintessential tanks of ESO. If soaking up damage and controlling the battlefield is your idea of a good time, this class is calling your name. My first ESO character was a Dragonknight, and let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like standing toe-to-toe with the biggest baddies Tamriel has to offer.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Ardent Flame: Focuses on fire-based attacks.
  • Draconic Power: Enhances defense and health.
  • Earthen Heart: Provides utility and support through earth-based abilities.

Sorcerer

Do you enjoy flinging spells and summoning daedric creatures to your aid? Then the Sorcerer is your go-to class. Sorcerers can deal massive damage from a distance, making them ideal for players who enjoy a more hands-off, strategic approach.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Daedric Summoning: Summons daedric creatures to fight for you.
  • Dark Magic: Offers control and support through crowd control and healing.
  • Storm Calling: Electrifying (literally) damage dealer with lightning-based spells.

Nightblade

Sneaky and lethal, Nightblades are masters of stealth and assassination. If you love sneaking around, striking from the shadows, and disappearing before enemies know what hit them, this class will fit you like a glove.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Assassination: Delivers powerful strikes and executes.
  • Shadow: Enhances stealth and debuffs enemies.
  • Siphoning: Drains life and resources from foes to heal and empower you.

Templar

Templars are the paladins of ESO; they heal, deal damage, and act as beacons of holy light. If you see yourself as a righteous warrior, healing allies while smiting foes with divine wrath, the Templar is your perfect pick.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Aedric Spear: A mix of offensive and defensive abilities.
  • Dawn’s Wrath: Deals radiant damage and applies debuffs.
  • Restoring Light: Focuses on healing and protective spells.

Warden

Wardens serve as stewards of nature, bringing the power of the wild into battle. With animal companions by their side and the ability to manipulate the elements, Wardens provide a versatile playstyle with both offensive and defensive options.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Animal Companions: Summon creatures to aid in combat.
  • Green Balance: Heals and supports with nature-based spells.
  • Winter’s Embrace: Utilizes frost magic for defense and crowd control.

Necromancer

If you have a penchant for the dark arts and aren’t squeamish about raising the dead, the Necromancer is an enticing class. Necromancers can resurrect fallen foes and use corpses to fuel their macabre magic.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Grave Lord: Offensive spells using the power of death.
  • Bone Tyrant: Defensive spells that harden your defenses using bone magic.
  • Living Death: Healing and support through life and death manipulation.

Arcanist

New and shrouded in mystery, the Arcanist class taps into forbidden knowledge and arcane energy. If you’re an explorer at heart, driven by curiosity and the call of the unknown, the Arcanist will ignite that spark.

Key Skill Lines:

  • Unseen Forces: Summons entities from beyond.
  • Mystic Wisdom: Augments abilities with arcane secrets.
  • Temporal Guard: Manipulates time for tactical advantages.

Matching Classes with Playstyles

Choosing the right class isn’t just about power—it's about matching your personal style and perception of fun. Let’s look at some pointers to find your perfect fit.

For Damage Dealers (DPS): If you’re all about dishing out damage, look towards Sorcerer, Nightblade, or Dragonknight. These classes have potent DPS build options that let you revel in high damage numbers and explosive effects.

For Healers: Love keeping your teammates alive? Templar and Warden are stellar choices. Their healing abilities are top-notch, and they offer great support to keep the team pushing forward.

For Tanks: If you love being the wall that enemies crash against, Dragonknight and Necromancer are fantastic picks. They’ve got the defensive skills to endure the worst and keep your allies safe.

For Hybrid Players: Enjoy a bit of everything? Arcanist and Warden offer hybrid builds that can adapt to multiple roles, letting you switch your playstyle as the situation demands.

Popular Builds for Each Class

Having an idea of popular builds can help kickstart your journey. Here are some tried-and-true setups players love:

Dragonknight:

  • Stamina DK DPS: High damage melee build.
  • Magicka DK Tank: Exceptional tankiness with fire-based crowd control.

Sorcerer:

  • Pet Sorc: Uses daedric pets to deal and absorb damage.
  • Lightning Mage: Pure magic damage with shock spells.

Nightblade:

  • Stamblade: Stealthy, stamina-heavy build focusing on melee attacks.
  • Magblade: Uses magicka for spells and siphoning life.

Templar:

  • Stamplar: Stamina-based build for melee or bow damage.
  • Healer Templar: Focuses on group heals and support.

Warden:

  • Beastmaster: Uses animal companions for combat.
  • Ice Tank: Uses frost spells to mitigate damage and control enemies.

Necromancer:

  • Magcro DPS: Heavy on magic spells and corpse utility.
  • Bone Tank: Defense-focused with bone spells.

Arcanist:

  • Temporal Mage: Uses time manipulation for both offense and defense.
  • Arcane Hybrid: Flexible build mixing offensive and supportive roles.

Final Thoughts: Your Journey Awaits

Choosing a class in ESO is like choosing your path through the rich tapestry of Tamriel’s lore. It’s more than just stats and skills—it’s about finding what resonates with you. So, whether you’re stepping into the battlegrounds as a fiery Dragonknight or a shadowy Nightblade, make sure it feels right to you.

Now, it’s your turn! Jump into Elder Scrolls Online and start your adventure. Experiment with different classes, try out various builds, and most importantly, have fun. Remember, the best class in ESO is the one you enjoy playing the most.

Happy adventuring, and may the stars of Tamriel guide your path! 🌌✨

Ready to plunge into the immersive world of Elder Scrolls Online? Share your experiences and favorite builds in the comments below, and let’s get a conversation started! Whether you’re a veteran player or a newcomer, your insights are gold here. Until next time, stay epic! 🚀🎮

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