The general balance of each of the six classes inThe Elder Scrolls Onlineis pretty even across the board. While some classes might be more suited to a particular role, each class can take on a mix of support, damage, and defensive skills. Classes aren’t locked into a specific build – that means a Necromancer can be the party Healer, and a Sorcerer can be a Tank.
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When it comes to dealing damage, every class has strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, andthe differences between the sixare apparent in their playstyles. A Sorcerer can reliably deal high damage from range, while a Nightblade is generally much more suited to close-quarters movement-based fighting. Despite these differences, though, no one class outshines the rest inESO.
Updated Jul 11, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: The vast variety of builds inThe Elder Scrolls Onlinegives each classplenty of paths to taketo find their favorite build. The max DPS output for each class differs and changes with every update, but currently, Magicka-based builds tend to fare better than Stamina-based ones. Dual-wielding Destruction Staffs is a great way to boost DPS while sacrificing melee-oriented skills, and the skill line also grants several useful abilities to classes otherwise without access to similar effects. The Dragonknight and Nightblade classes, for example, might seem like melee fighters, but ultimately they do much more DPS when using Magicka morphs and wielding two Fire Staffs rather than Stamina morphs and close-combat weapons.
Dragonknight: “Valakas”
The Dragonknight is arguably the best Tank-oriented class in the game, and likewise one would expect their melee prowess to extend to DPS builds too. In fact,Magicka-based Dragonknights tend to deal far more damage than their Stamina-based counterparts, and the"Valakas" build from AlcastHQlays out a great way to capitalize on this with twoFire Staffsinstead of any martial weapons. It helps that class abilities likeBurning Embers, Engulfing Flames,andMolten Whipcan be used with Destruction Staffs more effectively at a range.
TheDestruction Staff skill treealso gives the Dragonknight a variety of powerful boons likeInner Light, Harness Magicka, andUnstable Wall of Elements, and the Mage’s Guild skill line gives theUltimate ability Shooting Starfor damage and CC. TheMothers SorrowandMedusasets are used for this build thanks to theirincreased Spell Critical, alongside theZaanset for its huge DPS increase and thePerfected Arms of Relequenfor its increase to Wall of Elements damage.
Necromancer: “Death’s Grasp”
The Necromancer is one of the more unique classes inThe Elder Scrolls Onlinefor two reasons. Firstly, some spells unique to Necromancers are considered crimes. Secondly, this class is equally proficient in each of the three classic RPG party roles. The"Death’s Grasp" build by RealWaywardGamingguides players down a pure damage route for this class.
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TheElemental Catalyst set and Medusa setare instrumental to this build’s combat prowess. These both increase critical chance hugely, and offer additional stacking effects. Interestingly,Inferno Staffs take both front and back bars. The front bar focuses on dealing damage. Meanwhile, the back bar has multiple support and defensive abilities, likeUnnerving Boneyard and Harness Magicka. These cankeep the Necromancer alivelong after they should have died.
Nightblade “Azure”
The Nightblade in The Elder Scrolls Online is typically played as a Stamina-based melee fighter with a focus on Dual Wielding and Bow; it just fits the class aesthetic. However, the Nightblade’s highest potential DPS is actually found inMagicka-basedbuilds, as their class abilities work on all equipped weapons, including Destruction Staffs. The"Azure" build from AlcastHQcapitalizes on this potential very effectively.
With aFire Staff in both the main and back bars, the Nightblade has access to a powerful damage-oriented frontline and a self-sustain and CC-based backline. Nightblade abilities likeSiphoning AttacksandMerciless Resolveand theUltimate Incapacitating Strikeimbue the Destruction Staffswith special properties, andImpalecan be used without a blade equipped. Its back bar spells, likeTwisting PathandHarness Magicka, maintain the Nightblade’s DPS while providing other benefits. The armor setsMother’s SorrowandMedusaare recommended for this build thanks to theirincreased Spell Critical.
Sorcerer: “Mystic”
The Sorcerer is one of the more combat-oriented classes in the game. Though it has access to support and tank-like abilities that give it access to every role in dungeons, it excels when it comes to DPS output, especially burst DPS. For this reason, the"Mystic" build from Alcast HQis a great go-to for setting up a winning Sorcerer build.
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The build is described as a “glass cannon” approach. It takes player damage to new extremes at the cost of little to no defense. The build uses aDestruction Staff in both the front and back bars. These work in tandem with a smattering of direct damage, AoE, and minion spells likeSummon Volatile Familiar and Summon Twilight Tormentor. As for armor, theMother’s Sorrow setis a simple upgrade to several stats, but it’s animportant one for Sorcerersto flesh out fully for its benefits.
Templar: “Radiant Justice”
Templars inThe Elder Scrolls Onlineare comparable to Amazons fromDiablo 2in many ways – and it’s not just because of their iconic use of spears. They are great at self-sustaining and have a lot of variety in their builds. Templars function just as well taking blows as they do standing back to deal damage from afar.
The"Radiant Justice" build by Pelle412 and Dottz Gamingis a Magicka-based Templar build designed to stay a little further back and play the support role in addition to dealing huge damage from a distance. TheDestruction Staff in both front and back slotsgrants access to several ranged specialty spells not normally associated with the Templar. However, the class abilities fromDawn’s Wrath and Restoring Lightalso provide party-wide buffs and support. It’s great for solo play, and it’s finely tuned for party play too.
Warden: “Ice and Fire”
The Warden, like the Necromancer, is an incredibly varied class able to take on multiple roles inThe Elder Scrolls Online. When a player specs fully into theAnimal Companions and Winter’s Embrace skill trees, it almost feels likeplaying a one-man army. Combine this with a mix of the Undaunted and Destruction Staff abilities for an unstoppable character.
The"Ice and Fire" build by Alcast HQdoes exactly this. The main hand and back bar are, like many top-ranked builds,Destruction Staffsthat complement the class' skills. The build is Magicka-based and takes skills fromthe Undaunted skill line, specificallyMystic Orb, to add to its damaging repertoire. Add that to theBird of Prey ability, the Eternal Guardian ultimate, and the Harness Magicka skill. With this build, the Warden becomes practically unstoppable in a 1v1 setting.
The Elder Scrolls Onlineis available on PC/Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S
