Whether you’re brand new to Tamriel or a returning player, we have the answer you’re looking for in ESO: Which Class Should You Play in 2024?
As the Elder Scrolls Online nears its 10th anniversary this coming spring, the game has changed and expanded with new zones, dungeons, and classes. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the realm, deciding on the right class for your journey is crucial to unlocking the full potential of your character. In this guide, ESO Which Class Should You Play in 2024, we’ll delve into the unique attributes, playstyles, and abilities of each class in ESO.
ESO: Which Class Should You Play in 2024?
The Elder Scrolls Online currently has a total of 7 classes to play, and you should choose one that suits your playstyle, experience, and preferred aesthetics. Four classes are available in the base game: Dragonknight, Templar, Nightblade, and Sorcerer. The other three classes (Arcanist, Necromancer, and Warden) have all been added to the game with new chapters and DLC. You’ll have to purchase these classes through the Crown Store if you wish to have access to them.
Here are all of the classes currently available in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO):
- Arcanist – a new class that relies on building crux resources and ancient magic
- Necromancer – raise and command corpses and ghosts to do damage and provide healing
- Warden – use the power of nature to supply buffs and heals to allies and debuffs to enemies
- Dragonknight – Fire breathing, sturdy, durable with an emphasis on damage over time
- Templar – a great beginner class, with lots of healing and defensive abilities
- Nightblade – stealth provides survivability and the ability to one-shot enemies straight from the shadows
- Sorcerer – Lighting and mobility class
The following is an overview of all of the classes in ESO – how they look, how they feel to play, are they difficult/easy/fun. If you’re looking for a more in-depth analysis of skills and abilities, combat mechanics, and more you can check out the PvP Tier List or the Solo PvE Tier List.
ESO Classes & RPG Classes
If you’ve played other RPGs and MMOs, you might be familiar with different class names and archetypes. While not a direct comparison, below is a list of classes from other RPGs that are similar in ESO:
- Druid = Warden
- Fighter = Dragonknight
- Paladin = Templar
- Rogue = Nightblade
- Sorcerer = Arcanist
- Summoner = Necromancer
- Wizard = Sorcerer
Let us continue on our quest to find the answer to ESO Which Class Should You Play in 2024?
Why You Should Play Arcanist
Arcanist Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Tomes and Arcane Magic
- Playstyle: Ranged
- Strength: Versatility
- Con: Requires Necrom
- Requires DLC: Yes, Necrom Chapter
- Best Role: Damage Dealer, solo or group
You should play as an Arcanist if you are looking for a unique appearance, powerful combat capabilities, and ease of play. The Arcanist has a strong class identity built around tomes and ancient knowledge, and the class mechanics are one-of-a-kind in ESO. The Arcanist uses abilities to create and consume Cruxes, which are small triangular glyphs floating around the character. You will use specific skills to generate Cruxes. Once created, additional abilities consume them, amplifying their effects and triggering important class passives.
An Arcanist character is going to want to play at range for maximum effectiveness. Many of the damage-dealing abilities such as Fatecarver, Abyssal Impact, and Runeblades can be cast from a distance and have a channel time. Solo builds for the Arcanist have provided great damage and are effective for leveling up in ESO. You’ll need to master timing, positioning, and your ability rotation when playing in PvP, however, as channeling can leave you vulnerable to bash and enemy crowd control.
Players should choose an Arcanist in ESO for their combat power, unique playstyle, and simplistic rotation.
Arcanist Availability in Game
The Arcanist class was added to ESO in the summer of 2023 with the new chapter called Necrom. The story expansion was set in the Telvanni Peninsula and the Dark Elf city of Necrom. Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Fate and Forbidden Knowledge features prominently, having a direct hand in the Arcanist class. The Arcanist uses the powers of Apocrypha (Hermaeus Mora’s realm of Oblivion) and the class is heavily themed after this Daedric Prince and his unique green and shadowy look.
Currently, in order to play the Arcanist class you must purchase the Necrom chapter. It will likely not be available as a separate purchase in the crown store until the summer of 2024. The Arcanist is one of the strongest and easiest classes to play in ESO and will likely stay that way for the foreseeable future.
Why You Should Play Necromancer
Necromancer Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Corpses and Undead
- Playstyle: Medium-range
- Strength: Utility and damage
- Con: Difficulty to play
- Requires DLC: Yes, 1,500 Crown Upgrade
- Best Role: Group damage dealer
You should play as a Necromancer if you want to summon undead corpses and emphasis on challenging combat. The best part of The Necromancer is you feel the class’s strong identity constantly casting and consuming corpses. However, this class is notoriously complex and is difficult to play at a high level. The Necromancer starts out strong with multiple ways to heal yourself directly and is easy to pick, but hard to master.
Another factor to consider is that casting certain Necromancer abilities is considered a Criminal Act. Doing so in front of NPCs such as guards will incur a bounty. The skills this applies to are marked in their tooltip as a Criminal Act. This can be annoying while accidentally or purposefully clicking skills in town.
In summary, the Necromancer fits the name, a unique and interesting class focused on the undead for combat power. Its complexity can be a turn-off for newer players, however.
Necromancer Availability in Game
The Necromancer was added to ESO in the summer of 2019 with the Elsweyr chapter and can now be purchased directly with 1,500 Crowns. This story expansion was set in the kingdom of Anequina, or Northern Elsweyr. The antagonist of this chapter, Euraxia Tharn seized control of the Kingdom and allied with necromancers and dragons to cement her control over the region.
In order to play the Necromancer class you must purchase it separately from the Crown Store for 1500 Crowns. It is no longer available as part of Elsweyr. That chapter now sells separately as a DLC and does not include the Necromancer class.
Why You Should Play Warden
Warden Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Frost and Ice
- Playstyle: Melee and Support
- Strength: Buffs and Survivability
- Con: Weak Resource Sustain
- Requires DLC: Yes, 1,500 Crown upgrade
- Best Role: Healer
You should play as a Warden if you are looking for a great support class with something of a Druid flavor. Unlike in Dungeons & Dragons, you won’t be transforming yourself into beasts. However, the Druid can summon powerful animal companions and other nature elements to assist and protect you in battle. The Warden has some of the most unique buffs in the game and is a welcome addition to group content. This class’s appearance and emphasis are on frost and nature.
Wardens are particularly strong healers. Every group wants a Warden for their unique group buffs that amplify damage or resource sustain. The class also performs well in Player vs. Player environments though can struggle in Solo PvE.
The main reason you pick a Warden is your character resonates with nature, frost, and or ice, or you like the support role.
Warden Availability in Game
The Warden was added to ESO in the summer of 2017 with the Morrowind chapter and can be purchased directly for 1,500 Crowns. This story expansion was set on the island of Vvardenfell.
In order to play the Warden class you must purchase it separately from the Crown Store for 1500 Crowns. It is no longer available as part of Morrowind. That chapter is now available as a free DLC to all players and no longer includes the Warden class.
Why You Should Play Templar
Templar Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Holy Warrior
- Playstyle: Melee and Healing
- Strength: Easy and survivable
- Con: Slow mobility
- Requires DLC: No, base game
- Best Role: Solo questing and arenas
You should play as a Templar if you are looking for a holy warrior or the best beginner build in the Elder Scrolls Online. The Templar class is the gold standard for beginners in ESO. Easy to pick up and play, with early access to a self-heal which will carry you through the main story content as you learn mechanics, enemy telegraphs, and more.
As a Templar, you have some of the best solo PvE potentials with the ease and simplicity that make it a joy to play. Not only is it great for PvE but it’s also a great starter class for those nervous about PvP. Stack your Templar up with healing and defensive abilities and you’ll learn how to stay alive and survive in a frantic Cyrodiil.
Overall, the Tempart is the strongest beginner build to play in ESO 2024.
Templar Availability in Game
The Templar is part of the base game of Elder Scrolls Online. Purchasing and installing the game will grant you immediate access to this class.
Why You Should Play Dragonknight
Dragonknight Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Fire and Dragon
- Playstyle: Melee aggressive
- Strength: Second best all around
- Con: Weak range options
- Requires DLC: No, base game
- Best Role: Player vs. Player Focused
You should play as a Dragonknight if you want an aggressive fire-breathing monster with a focus on Player vs. Player (PVP) content. Dragonknights start slow, without the helpful healing provided by other classes. However, as the class progresses, you gain access to powerful active skills and passives. Moreover, the end-game Dragonknight has some of the highest damage and survivability of every class in ESO. The downside is, you start slow and it can be frustrating at first.
Dragonknights have great defense and survivability and can make great tanks. Keep in mind that when you’re leveling in ESO you don’t want to start out by choosing all of the tank/defensive abilities. Trying to go through the story content that way will be slow and agonizing because you won’t be doing any damage. Wait to spec your DK out as a tank until you’re ready to jump into group content.
The main incentive to play a DK is someone who’s focused on end-game PvP or large group PvE content. If you can get past the initial 30 levels, you will start feeling very powerful and enjoy the transition to end-game content.
Dragonknight Availability in Game
The Dragonknight is part of the base game of Elder Scrolls Online. Purchasing and installing the game will grant you immediate access to this class.
Why You Should Play Nightblade
Nightblade Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Rogue and Stealth
- Playstyle: Melee sneaking
- Strength: High Damage
- Con: Difficult to play
- Requires DLC: No, base game
- Best Role: Group damage dealer
You should play as a Nightblade if you enjoy the sneaky assassin type of gameplay, attacking your enemies from range before they know what hit them. Many new players coming to ESO have probably spent numerous hours playing a bow sniper in Skyrim. While the Nightblade has something of that flavor, fights in the Elder Scrolls Online are more sustained and involved. Don’t expect to softly sneak from one enemy to another, taking enemies down quietly with single headshots.
In ESO, you’ll need a full rotation of abilities, using some for damage, some for resource sustain, and some for healing. The Nightblade rotation can be difficult to learn and successfully execute, however. You’ve got to stay aware of your situation in any given combat encounter. While a base game class, the Nightblade remains one of the most interesting and fun playstyles in ESO. The combat is fluid, aggressive, and rewarding.
If you’re looking for a challenge with a high-risk/reward kind of gameplay, then the Nightblade is a great ESO class to play in 2024.
Nightblade Availability in Game
The Nightblade is part of the base game of Elder Scrolls Online. Purchasing and installing the game will grant you immediate access to this class.
Why You Should Play Sorcerer
Sorcerer Class Features and Mechanics in ESO:
- Theme: Lighting spellcaster
- Playstyle: Ranged
- Strength: High speed
- Con: Single-target damage focused
- Requires DLC: No, base game
- Best Role: Solo player
You should play as a Sorcerer if you enjoy ranged, magic casting type of gameplay. Sorcerers can be incredibly hard-hitting damage dealers, with an emphasis on speed and lightning damage. Additionally, they have abilities that help with survivability and self-healing. Not necessarily as powerful as what is found in the Templar’s toolkit, but enough that the class can still be a viable choice for beginners. The Sorcerer provides great single-target damage and the summoned pets from the Daedric Summoning are incredibly powerful and effective.
Additionally, the Sorcerer has some of the best mobility in the game. Particularly in PvP, this ability serves as a great ‘getaway’ button when needed and it also doubles as a damage-dealing stun. The optimal play style of the Sorcerer in PvP is a ‘hit and run’ where you deal burst damage and then peel away before getting caught in a bunch of melee.
Players should choose a Sorcerer in ESO if they like the typical range of Wizard classes from other RPGs and MMOs.
Sorcerer Availability in Game
The Sorcerer is part of the base game of Elder Scrolls Online. Purchasing and installing the game will grant you immediate access to this class.
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