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For a long time, players have been asking for a new playable class, and the new ESO Arcanist Class is a fantastic addition to the game. Here is our guide and best builds!
After Matt Firor’s End of the Year Letter, there were many speculations on what is the most requested feature in the game. However, players had asked for a new class since the release of Elsweyr Chapter when developers added the Necromancer class. The Monk and Dwemer engineer were some of the ideas ESO players discussed. And finally, we have a new ESO class: The Arcanist! Let’s take a closer look.
Arcanist Class
The Arcanist class channels the magic of Apocrypha to create arcane, ancient runes and lost tomes of power to wild the powerful magic. The class is capable of destructive, restorative, or defensive magic. Like all other The Elder Scrolls Online classes, it has all the tools to heal, deal considerable damage and fulfil the tank’s classic role in group scenarios.
Arcanist Skill Lines:
The Arcanist class in ESO has three skill lines:
- Herald of the Tome (Offense)
- Apocryphal Soldier (Defense)
- Curative Runeforms (Healing and Support)
Also, each skill line focuses on different aspects of the game offense, defense and support. The class has similarities to the previous classes. However, this time developers took a little different approach.
Related: How to Level the Arcanist Like A Pro
Class skills have beautiful visual effects, and each animation is something we haven’t seen before. Arcanist uses the powers of Apocrypha and is heavily themed after Hermaeus Mora and his unique green and shadow look. Therefore it will attract many players to return to the game and try this robust and fascinating new class.
Arcanist Skills and Builds Playstyle
Arcanist Class has many skills to enhance a unique, never seen in ESO before playstyle. As a result, in the Builds, we try to enhance the class identity.
The following list explains shortly all you need to know about the new ESO class:
- Arcanist class identity is built around tomes and ancient knowledge.
- Class possesses complete tools within all three skill trees to fulfil all group roles and solo playstyles.
- The Arcanists’ skill:
- Fatecarver is the main damage-producing skill and a long-duration channel.
- Runeblades is the main spammable that generates Cruxes.
- The class possesses a unique, strong damage debuff, the Abyssal Impact, which increases the damage.
- Arcanist’s rotation is based on Cruxes generation, debuffing enemies and channel damage.
- Tanks and healers will enjoy this class due to the active combo system.
DPS:
The Arcanist excels in stamina DPS. Firstly, medium armor passives, dual wield passives, and medium armor choices carry damage. Can you do well as a magicka-based Arcanist damage dealer? Yes, but in group settings, medium armor is a better choice due to its passive critical damage vs light armor penetration passive. If you want optimal, high-end DPS, we recommend stamina-based Arcanist.
Tank:
Rcanist tank has good crowd control, unique buffs and debuffs. You have a built-in class taunt and major and minor breach so that you can use different gear and weapon choices. The Arcanist also has Minor Courage passive, which is exceptional for group play. Consider them one of the best tanks in PvE or PvP at launch.
Healer:
It lacks a good burst heal but makes up for it with fantastic buffs, debuffs and passives that every team wants. The Arcanist is an exceptional healer who uses Restoration Staff abilities for burst healing rather than in-class skills.
Player Vs Player:
In PvP, the Arcanist is quite weak compared to other classes. It lacks a burst heal or delayed burst damage skill. The class is based on the Fatecarver skill “beam”, which is fine in PvE, where enemies rarely stun or disrupt you. In PvP, this isn’t the case. The class has strong passives and ultimate selections, and you can make it work with either a proc heavy loadout in melee or a ranged beam build.
Opinion: we recommend playing the Arcanist, a stamina-based damage dealer for both PvE and PvP.
Race Choice
Does Race Matter in ESO? In general, no, you may get a maximum of 8% increased DPS going from an Argonian (weakest) to Khajiit/Dunmer (strongest). Most players won’t feel this unless they are trying to do bleeding-edge content. However, we do have some strong choices and recommendations for those looking to mid-max their Arcanist.
| Role | Best Race | Secondary Race Choice |
|---|---|---|
| Stamina Damage Dealer | Khajiit | Dark Elf |
| Magicka Damage Dealer | High Elf | Dark Elf |
| Tank | Imperial | Nord |
| Healer | Breton | Argonian |
Crux System and Crux Generation on Arcanist Class in ESO
The Arcanist uses abilities to create and consume Cruxes, small triangular glyphs floating around the character (3 max). You will use specific skills to generate Cruxes and additional abilities that consume them, amplifying abilities and triggering important class passives.
Crux consumption could provide more damage, longer duration, cheaper resource cost, and more healing. Additionally, it generates and activates important passives. For example, Crux-consumption can give you more weapon/spell or critical damage. The more you use Cruxes, the better.
The following brief guide explains the combat with the ESO Arcanist class in builds:
- Use one primary skill as a tank, damage dealer, or healer to generate Crux.
- Consume that Crux with one or two skills for better damage, healing, and defenses.
- Start building Crux again to use the other skill for another in-combat advantage.
- In between combing Crux, maintain your buffs, healing, and damage over time skills.
- Your build wants to find the sweet spot of constantly generating Crux and consuming it for bonuses.
- You don’t want your build to have zero Crux or constantly three without a “dump” skill.
Related Video:
Herald of the Tome
The Herold of the Tome has many good skills and passives, but let’s discuss the most important Arcanist’s damage-producing skills.
The Arcanist’s Fatecarver Skill ESO The Fatecarver Arcanist Skill ESO is the main damage-dealing tool of the class that consumes the Cruxes. This beam does mega damage with an extended 4.5 to over 5-second channel. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can either lower the skill cost or snare the enemies with the increased duration.
The Arcanist’s Abyssal Impact Skill in ESO debuffs enemies and deals damage to them. It has a reasonable range and affects all enemies in the cone area in front of you. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can either consume crux and strengthen the debuff on enemies or generate Crux and become a great execute ability, that deals more damage to low health foes.
The Arcanist’s Runeblades Skill ESO is the class’s main damage-dealing ability (spammable). Additionally, it’s the main tool for building Cruxes, which can be used for a variety of skill amplifications. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can either increase your Critical chance or increase the damage, adding a small AoE damage at the end.
The Arcanist’s Unblinking Eye Skill in ESO is the damage-dealing ultimate ability that spawns a watcher above you and channels the beam that quickly damages the enemies. This beam does significant damage with an extended 4.5 to over 5-second channel. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can either follow the target or snare the enemies.
Curative Runeforms
The Arcanist’s Apocryphal Gate Skill in ESO creates one gate at the specified location and a second in front of you. You can teleport between the portals and, each time, generate a Crux. It has a fair range, and like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can either increase your movement speed or allow your allies to use the portals.
The Arcanist’s Runemend Skill in ESO is the class’s primary burst heal that creates Crux. You can use it on yourself or allies in front of you. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can either give extra healing or generate ultimate.
The Arcanist’s Vitalizing Glyphic Skill in ESO is the main survivability ultimate healing and buffing ability in an area that spawns a cube at the target location. The healing is significant for a relatively low ultimate cost. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs where you can either heal or damage the cube, which changes the percentage when it spawns and the healing it provides.
Apocryphal Soldier
The Apocryphal Soldier is a defensive skill tree with a very powerful ultimate.
The Arcanist’s Gibbering Shield Skill in ESO is a defensive ultimate. It spawns a bubble of shadowy black tentacles around you, providing you with a massive damage shield and protection. Like all active abilities, it has two morphs that can strengthen the shield or provide it for your allies.
Best ESO Arcanist Builds:
- Beginner PvE
- PvE
- Solo PvE
- PvP
- One Bar PvE
- One Bar PvP
From the first look, it may seem like a difficult class to play. However, the developers reassured us that Arcanist is accessible to all players and won’t be too technical to play. All ESO players look at 2023 with high hopes for their favorite MMO. Thanks for reading the ESO: Arcanist Class Guide and Best Builds!
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