Welcome to the ESO Guide: Arcanist Gameplay, Companions and Necrom Chapter! This new expansion brings many new game features and replayability.
Elder Scrolls Online Chapters are big expansions released which they release on an annual basis, usually in the summer. They typically include a new zone, a new separate storyline and one or more new game features. This year 2023, Bethesda revealed that the new chapter is called Necrom and surprised the community with the new Arcanist class.
The Arcanist class channels the magic of Apocrypha to create arcane, ancient runes and lost tomes of power to wield powerful magic. The class is capable of destructive, restorative, or defensive magic. Like all other ESO classes, it will most likely have all the tools to heal, deal considerable damage and fulfil the tank’s classic role in group scenarios.
It has three skill lines: Herald of the Tome, Apocryphal Soldier and Curative Runeforms, and each skill line focuses on different aspects of the game: offence, defence and support. The class does appear to have some similarities to the previously released Necromancer, but the developers took a slightly different approach.
The class skills shown so far have beautiful visual effects, and each animation is something we haven’t seen before. Therefore it will attract many players to return to the game and try this robust and fascinating new class.
Necrom Chapter: Arcanist Gameplay Skills and Combo Points System
One of the abilities shown in the reveal livestream, Apocryphal Gate, lets players open a pair of portals to travel through for extra mobility. Additionally, players can use it during exploration as well.
The Abyssal Impact ability summons tentacles from the abyss to thrust forward at enemies.
According to the reveal livestream, the new Arcanist Class will also introduce a unique combo system. Within this system, some abilities will build points while others will spend them – to enhance their effects to produce better healing, protection or damage. But the developers reassured the community that this new system for the Arcanist will still be accessible to all players and will not be too technical to play.
This is all the information we have on the combo point system right now, so we’ll be eager to hear more details from ZOS as we get closer to the chapter launch in June!
Related: Arcanist Class Guide and Best Builds
ESO Necrom Chapter Companions Guide
Nextly in our guide, let’s look at one of the new ESO companions, an Arcanist mage, who will further enhance our single-player experience while exploring the new Necrom Chapter and new class gameplay.
So far, we have four companions, each with a class, just like players, a characteristic set of skills. Companions classes can easily be linked to players’ classes. So two new companions will also share a bit of similarities.
Firstly we have a Redguard companion who wields the powers of runes, the new Arcanist class. He is described as a little crazy, a knowledge seeker with secrets that can match Hermeus Mora himself. Azandar Al-Cybiades is also very invested in his research of Apocrypha and he uses its powers in combat. This companion becomes a little of a cross between a father figure and an eccentric professor and to the player.
The second companion is an Argonian Warden Sharp-as-night, who as a warden uses the magic of frost and nature. He also summons animal companions to fight at their side. It’s a well-known class for players as it was introduced with the Morrowind chapter on June 6th, 2017. Sharp-as-night is originated from Black Marsh. He had a tough life and was seeking his place in the world for a long time, however why his past is lost to him and he cannot return players will yet discover. As a result, he is reserved, not talkative, and a mercenary who players can meet in the game.
What are companions?
Companions are non-player characters who can aid you on your adventures throughout Tamriel. Once called to your side, these stalwart allies will assist you in combat.
Fighting alongside your Companion will improve their effectiveness and taking actions they approve of will build rapport. As you earn their trust and strengthen your bonds of fellowship, your Companion may share personal quests with you. You may also give them Companion-specific gear and customize them in a wide variety of ways, including setting their abilities, mounts, costumes, outfits, and more.
ESO Necrom Chapter Zones and Story
Firstly, what is Necrom? On The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP), we can read about Necrom zone:
Necrom is one of the eight major cities on the mainland of Morrowind, situated along the eastern coast of the Central Highlands region overlooking the Padomaic Ocean. Necrom is known as the City of the Dead, because in Dunmeri tradition, the various families and clans of Morrowind would travel to Necrom and bring their deceased family members in urns and coffins for solemn processions that last for months. The city is composed of lofty walls and white towers, and is known for a “dark heat”. Necrom’s Great House affiliation is either Dres or Indoril, but the city itself perpetuates a religious tradition that predates the Tribunal cult and has a strong Temple presence.
Telvanni house controls Necrom city and the whole peninsula, however, it’s populated by independent Magisters, so the region doesn’t have strict rulers. The capital of Necrom is called the city of Death. The zone is big and comparable to previous Chapters like Blackwood and Elsweyr. As a result, players who love “clear the map” and sink into always rich story quests of Elder Scrolls shouldn’t be disappointed. As always, the zone is colourful and beautiful. Also, Necrom Zone has the well-known Morrowind and Dunmer vibe with sandy, arched buildings. The flora is wild and dangerous, the magical creatures hiding between giant mushrooms and green bushes. With the main Necrom city and rocky spires on the horizon, this zone is everything that Vanderfell fans could desire.
However, it’s not the only zone we will visit. The Apocrypha is a realm that belongs to Hermaeus Mora and is famous for its Forbidden Books of the Endless Library & the mind-bending wonder of Chroma Incognito. Just like its Princes, Apocrypha, it’s not good or evil. However, mortals can’t survive for long in Hermaeus Mora’s realm.
The Black Books of Hermaeus Mora
Developers used the Black Books of Hermaeous Mora as a significant source of inspiration when working on the Arcanist class. While the tome your Arcanist wields is not one of the Black Books itself, much of the magic and how abilities look, and sound are taken from the idea of these books. In the game, players will be summoning their own magic tome, in which they will have inscribed their own bits of ancient magical knowledge which they have gleaned from the Prince of Fate.
Using the tome allows an Arcanist to empower or modify their spells on the fly, making them formidable battlefield foes!
You can also find fellow Arcanists across Tamriel, not only in other player characters but as NPCs, companions, and enemies in dungeons and trials.
The Necrom Story
During the travels across Morrowind’s Telvanni Peninsula and Apocrypha, players will encounter one more Daedric Prince, Hermaeus Mora, whose realm is in danger. He seeks a champion to help him.
The Prince of Fate holds secrets too dangerous for mortals or Daedra to comprehend. Now hidden yet turbulent powers threaten Hermaeus Mora’s realm of Apocrypha, and if the Daedric Prince’s secret is uncovered, it could unravel all of reality. The player is the only one who can help him keep the secrets hidden. Others believe cultists of Hermaeus Mora use these beasts to track tomes long thought lost.
Also, Players will encounter on their travels many never seen before creatures and daedra such as Apocryphal Bookwyrms! Those shadowy-looking worms devour books to vouchsafe the knowledge for their master. Players will undoubtedly also meet watchers and many other fantastic creatures from Eder Scrolls Lore.
And let’s not forget about new and returning characters, including a powerful Dark Elf mage currently working with Mora called Leramil the Wise, the players’ favourite Morag Tong assassin Naryu, and many more!
Looking For More About ESO?
Thank you for reading ESO Guide: Arcanist Gameplay Companions and Necrom Chapter. We provide the latest news and create guides for ESO. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!