The Elder Scrolls Online provides an extensive character customization system, allowing players to develop unique builds tailored to their playstyle. This guide provides an in-depth overview of the best ESO builds for every class, including meta group builds, solo builds, ESO PvE Builds, ESO PvP builds, and optimized one-bar setups. Each section will cover the strongest builds, recommended skills, gear choices, and key strategies for excelling in ESO.
Best ESO PvE Builds for Each Class
Each class in ESO can fulfill multiple roles (DPS, Tank, Healer), but some
classes specialize in certain playstyles. Below is an overview of how each class performs across different roles after Update:
ESO PvE Builds
Class
Best Roles
Recommended For
Arcanist
DPS (S-Tier), Healer (S-Tier), Tank (A-Tier)
Powerful burst damage and shields. A top-tier choice for all roles, including solo play and meta group content.
Dragonknight
Tank (S-Tier), DPS (A-Tier), Healer (C-Tier)
The best tanking class with fire-based skills and superior resource management. Great for PvE dungeons and trials.
Necromancer
Tank (S-Tier), DPS (A-Tier), Healer (A-Tier)
Summons minions, provides crucial group buffs (like Major Vulnerability), and strong support. A top pick for tanks and a solid healer.
Nightblade
DPS (S-Tier), Healer (S-Tier), Tank (B-Tier)
Top-tier damage dealer with complex rotations. Now also a meta S-Tier healer due to unmatched ultimate generation for group support.
Sorcerer
DPS (S-Tier), Tank (B-Tier), Healer (A-Tier)
Lightning-based magic, summonable pets, and shields make this class one of the easiest and strongest for solo and group DPS.
Templar
DPS (S-Tier), Healer (A-Tier), Tank (A-Tier)
Powerful AoE damage and strong sustain. A fantastic class for beginners, dungeon content, and a reliable A-Tier healer.
Warden
Healer (S-Tier), Tank (S-Tier), DPS (A-Tier)
Nature-based abilities, animal companions, and unique group buffs (like Minor Toughness) make this class a versatile meta choice for tanks and healers.
To create the best ESO builds, you’ll need a strong combination of skills, Champion Points, and, most importantly, top-tier gear. The right equipment can significantly enhance your performance. However, farming for rare weapons, powerful armor sets, and crafting materials can be time-consuming. With ESO Items Boost, you can skip the grind and instantly acquire legendary gear, monster masks, and high-value rewards.
Tanks in ESO are responsible for absorbing damage, controlling enemies,
and protecting their group. These builds focus on high resistances, crowd control, and sustain. With Update, the core tanking abilities of each class remain, but the meta has shifted based on new gear sets from the latest dungeons and trials.
Class
Best Tank Builds
Build Description
Dragonknight
Catalyst Dragonknight Tank Build
Still the S-Tier benchmark for tanking. Dragonknights offer exceptional resource management (helping the group), strong self-healing, and powerful crowd control like Unrelenting Grip. Their ultimate, Magma Armor, remains a key tool for surviving extreme damage.
Necromancer
Anubis Necromancer Tank Build
A meta S-Tier tank focused on group support. Necromancers provide the unique and essential Major Vulnerability buff. Skills like Spirit Guardian (damage mitigation) and Beckoning Armor (pull) make them incredibly durable and useful.
Warden
Frost Shaman Warden Tank Build
A top S-Tier tank. Wardens are meta due to their unique group buffs, like Minor Toughness from Frost Cloak, which increases group health. They offer strong crowd control with Gripping Shards and excellent self-sustain.
Arcanist
Rune Knight Arcanist Tank Build
A powerful A-Tier tank with fantastic group utility. Arcanists provide strong buffs and debuffs via the Crux system. Skills like Runic Ward provide massive shields, and Apocryphal Gate offers unparalleled group mobility.
Templar
Divine Crusader Templar Tank Build
A strong A-Tier tank, especially good for beginners and dungeons. Templars offer excellent group support through heals and resource restore (Luminous Shards). Blazing Shield remains a powerful personal damage shield.
Sorcerer
Capacitor Sorcerer Tank Build
A viable B-Tier tank with a unique playstyle. Sorcerers use strong shields, mobility from Boundless Storm, and self-sustain by converting Magicka to Stamina with Dark Deal. They offer a dynamic and active tanking experience.
Nightblade
Darkness Nightblade Tank Build
A niche B-Tier tank with a high skill ceiling. Nightblades excel at self-healing through abilities like Dark Cloak and provide unique group support with high ultimate generation. A challenging but rewarding build for experienced players.
Each of these builds emphasizes the strengths of their respective classes. For detailed information on the newest gear setups for Update 48, skill allocations, and champion point distributions, refer to the provided build guides.
Best DPS Builds for Each Class
In ESO, each class can be optimized for high damage per second (DPS). With Update 48, many builds now use "hybrid" stats, blending Stamina and Magicka. While we list common "Stamina" or "Magicka" builds, know that the best setups now often use the highest offensive stats regardless of resource type.
Class
Best DPS Builds
Build Description
Arcanist
Stamina Arcanist DPS Build
Remains S-Tier for its powerful burst damage and strong self-sustain. The Crux system provides massive AoE damage, making them top contenders in all content.
Nightblade
Stamina/Magicka Nightblade DPS
Now a top S-Tier DPS class. Changes to skills like Grim Focus have improved them significantly. They offer complex rotations but incredible damage potential.
Sorcerer
Magicka Sorcerer DPS Build
A consistent S-Tier choice, especially the pet-focused build. Easy to play, with strong shields, great sustain, and high ranged damage. Ideal for solo and group play.
Templar
Magicka Templar DPS Build
A powerful S-Tier melee DPS. Known for their "Jabs" (Puncturing Sweeps), they deal strong AoE and burst damage with excellent self-healing. Very beginner-friendly.
Dragonknight
Stamina Dragonknight DPS Build
A very strong A-Tier DPS. Dragonknights rely on powerful damage-over-time (DoT) effects and melee attacks. Highly durable and provide great sustain in long fights.
Necromancer
Magicka Necromancer DPS Build
A solid A-Tier class, essential in groups for providing Major Vulnerability. Uses minions and corpse abilities for high AoE damage. Great sustain.
Warden
Magicka Warden DPS Build
A strong A-Tier DPS. Wardens use ice-based magic and animal companions to deal consistent damage (DoTs). Their abilities provide solid team support and great solo potential.
Best Healer Builds for Each Class
In The Elder Scrolls Online, healers are crucial for restoring health, buffing allies, and debuffing enemies. The Update meta has shifted significantly, moving away from Templar-dominated groups. The best healer builds now focus on high healing output, resource sustain, and vital group buffs, with Warden, Nightblade, and Arcanist being the new S-Tier choices for trials.
Class
Best Healer Builds
Build Description
Warden
Nature’s Embrace Warden Healer
S-Tier meta healer. Wardens provide essential unique buffs (like Minor Toughness) and powerful healing-over-time effects. They are the foundation of most trial group compositions.
Nightblade
Life Leech Healer
S-Tier meta healer. Prized for their unmatched Ultimate generation, allowing them to fuel the group's resources. They offer surprisingly strong burst healing and group mobility.
Arcanist
Runic Arcanist Healer
S-Tier meta healer. Arcanists use the Crux system for massive shields, powerful unique buffs (like Minor Courage), and strong, intelligent healing. A top-tier choice for group support.
Templar
Lightbringer Templar Healer
A-Tier healer. No longer the "best" but still fantastic for beginners and 4-player dungeons. Offers the strongest "oh-shit" emergency heal (Breath of Life) and great resource sustain.
Necromancer
Undying Necromancer Healer
A-Tier healer. A strong support class that provides powerful group utilities, including Major Vulnerability and a unique resurrection ultimate. Great for trials and dungeons.
Sorcerer
Stormcaller Healer
B-Tier healer. A niche pick that excels at burst healing and providing shields. Their lightning-based support abilities offer great mobility for high-movement fights.
Dragonknight
Flame-Touched Healer
C-Tier healer. A very niche, challenging build. Can provide unique damage shields, but lacks the raw healing output and group buffs of other classes.
Healing in ESO requires strong situational awareness, efficient resource management, and group support synergy, especially in the Update 48 meta.
Best ESO PvP Builds for Each Class
PvP in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) requires a balance of damage, survivability, and mobility. However, the meta for PvP builds was fundamentally changed by Update 47's standardization of ultimate generation. This means many old builds focused on "proc" sets for ultimate gain are no longer viable. The best Update builds now focus on new gear combinations and sustained pressure.
ESO PvP Builds
Class
Best PvP Builds / Playstyle
Build Description
Arcanist
Runic Shadow Arcanist (Burst)
High burst damage, great sustain, and Rune-based healing shields. Excellent for mid-range fights and strong AoE damage.
Dragonknight
Impact Stamina DK (Brawler)
Tanky "brawler" playstyle, strong melee damage, excellent DoT pressure. Great for solo PvP and holding points in groups.
Necromancer
Undying PvP Necromancer (Tank)
Extremely hard to kill. Strong AoE crowd control, self-healing, and unique ultimate abilities. Ideal for team fights and duels.
Nightblade
Stealth Assassin Nightblade (Gank)
The classic PvP stealth class. Insane burst damage, high mobility, and self-healing. Perfect for ganking lone enemies in Cyrodiil.
Sorcerer
Boundless Magicka Sorcerer (Mobility)
Ranged burst caster with unparalleled mobility via Streak. Excellent sustain and shields make them famously difficult to catch.
Templar
Executioner Stamina Templar (Burst)
Incredible burst damage (especially with Radiant Oppression) combined with strong self-healing. Ideal for solo PvP & small groups.
Warden
Smite Stamina Warden (Versatile)
The "jack-of-all-trades." High mobility, great healing, tank-like durability, and strong burst damage. Perfect for both Cyrodiil and Battlegrounds.
PvP in ESO requires the right balance of burst, defense, and sustain. Always check the linked guides for the latest gear sets, as the ultimate generation changes have made previous builds obsolete.
Best ESO Solo Builds for Each Class
Playing solo in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) requires a self-sustaining build
that balances damage, survivability, and sustain. The best solo builds ensure high damage,
self-healing, and crowd control. Many modern solo builds are also "hybrid," using both Stamina and Magicka skills and gear to maximize their effectiveness.
Powerful pets, strong shields, high sustain. Top pick for ranged & pet-based solo gameplay (especially the "Pet Sorc").
Templar
The Centurion – Stamina Templar The Cleric – Magicka Templar
The best self-healing class (via Puncturing Sweeps), AoE solar damage, great sustain. Perfect for beginners & soloing tough enemies.
Warden
The Ranger – Stamina Warden Cryomancer – Magicka Warden
Animal Companions & frost-based tanking, good mix of healing, defense, and damage. Best for hybrid melee/magic users.
Conclusion
There are countless build options in ESO, from powerful PvE DPS builds to tank-heavy PvP setups. The key is to choose a build that fits your playstyle. Test different skills, gear sets, and Champion Points to find what works best. The meta may change, but a build that feels powerful and fun will always be the right choice.
But why struggle through endless grinding when you can focus on the fun? With ESO Boosting Services, you can skip the tedious farming, level up faster, and unlock the best gear effortlessly.
FAQ
ESO builds are optimized character setups in The Elder Scrolls Online, combining skills, gear sets, Champion Points, and abilities to maximize effectiveness in PvE, PvP, or solo play.
There is no single best ESO build – it depends on your class, role (DPS, Tank, Healer), and playstyle. Some builds excel in PvE dungeons, while others dominate PvP battles. Here, we’ve gathered a selection of the best builds for every aspect of the game.
PvE builds focus on high DPS, survivability, and sustain for dungeons, trials, and overland content. Top PvE classes for DPS currently include Arcanists, Nightblades, Sorcerers, and Templars. For healing, Wardens, Nightblades, and Arcanists are the meta choices.
ESO PvP builds prioritize burst damage, mobility, and sustain. Key playstyles include the stealthy Nightblade 'ganker', the durable Dragonknight 'brawler', and the highly mobile Sorcerer. Recent balance changes have affected how builds manage resources and ultimate abilities.
Solo builds need self-healing, AoE damage, and sustain. Sorcerers (Pet builds), Templars (using Puncturing Sweeps), and Arcanists are often considered the easiest and strongest solo classes due to their all-in-one skillsets.
Stay in touch
Don't miss out on special deals exlusive to Discord users⚡
