The Elder Scrolls Online lets you wander all of Tamriel with thousands of other players, from Morrowind's ashlands to the cliffs of Summerset. Combat rewards skill expression through weaving and resource management rather than gear score alone. You can level by questing, crafting, or grinding group content, and the whole map scales to you.
New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Templar | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Sorcerer | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Nightblade | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Dragonknight | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Warden | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our The Elder Scrolls Online tier list.
A-Tier: Templar
Templar is a top-performing option in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Champion Points | Past level 50 you earn Champion Points that fill three constellation trees for combat, crafting, and survival. |
How to Play Templar
Templar focuses on a balanced approach to content.
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Highest overall performance
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Straightforward gearing path
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Works in all content types
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Popular pick, resources may be contested
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Sorcerer
Sorcerer is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | weaving light and heavy attacks | Inserting a light attack between every ability, then cancelling its recovery into the next cast, raises your damage substantially. |
How to Play Sorcerer
Sorcerer focuses on a balanced approach to content.
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Most versatile option
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Straightforward gearing path
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Works in all content types
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Lower peak damage than S-tier
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Nightblade
Nightblade is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | set bonuses | Gear comes in sets that grant escalating bonuses at two, three, four, and five pieces. |
How to Play Nightblade
Nightblade focuses on a balanced approach to content.
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Best survivability
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Straightforward gearing path
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Works in all content types
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Slower clear speeds
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Dragonknight
Dragonknight is a specialized option in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Mundus Stones | Standing at a Mundus Stone grants a permanent passive like extra weapon damage or critical chance. |
How to Play Dragonknight
Dragonknight focuses on a balanced approach to content.
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Strong in group/team content
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Straightforward gearing path
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Excels in its niche
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Weaker solo performance
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Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Warden
Warden is a specialized option in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | veteran trials | Twelve-player veteran trials are the hardest PvE content, with score timers, hard-mode toggles, and unique gear. |
How to Play Warden
Warden focuses on a balanced approach to content.
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Unique, rewarding playstyle
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Straightforward gearing path
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Excels in its niche
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High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
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Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Sorcerer: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Templar once you understand core mechanics and have access to Two-Handed Greatsword
- Keep a Nightblade setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Warden for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Learn light-attack weaving in a target dummy session before you worry about gear, it is your biggest damage source.
- Run normal versions of dungeons first to learn mechanics, then step up to veteran for better gear.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
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