Welcome to the ESO classes (Elder Scrolls Online classes) overview page. The overview page covers a summary of all six ESO classes that currently exist and we will take a look at the races, roles and pros and cons of each Elder Scrolls Online class. If you are looking for a detailed page about each of the classes please visit the link below.
Warden (was added on June 6th, 2017 with the Morrowind Chapter)
Necromancer (was added on June 4th, 2019 with the Elsweyr Chapter)
Classes and races in ESO
Choosing the right race for the right ESO class can be a very essential part in creating your character. Especially if you want to play with the highest efficiency possible. If you just want to enjoy the game though, it doesn't matter at all and in the end you can play any class with any race. Only when you want to min-max, race and class should go hand in hand.
The class race choices here covers a general approach. For a more detailed view which build uses which race please visit the individual ESO builds pages directly.
ESO classes and roles ranking
Additionally to the races, the roles can also be very important, you can find a class role ranking for ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) below in the table. In ESO every class can fulfil any role, therefore you are really free to pick whatever you want and you will manage to create a good build. However, of course there are also differences in performance, especially while playing veteran hardmode content. Not every class will be equally good, below you can find a general ranking of the different ESO roles and classes.
The takeaway here is that a good player will always be able to create a good build on any class in any role because they are aware of the strength and weakness of a class for each role. As a new player we do recommend picking one of the classes that suits best for a role, this will make your journey a lot easier and more enjoyable. Later once you are used to the game we encourage every player to actually test out other classes and roles, the challenge will be fun!
If you want to take a look at specific solo and group endgame buils please visit the ESO builds overview page.
Pros and cons of ESO Classes
Each class in ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) has its pros and cons in regards to which area they excel at or which they might not be the best choice. As this can vary strongly from PvE to PvP, we will take a look at the PvE side of things and go to take a look at how Beginner friendly these classes are and how they fare in group/endgame content later down the line.
Dragonknight Class
Dragonknights in ESO are most often seen as the prime tanking class, they have some of the best tanking passives and skills in their arsenal. They are also really good at dealing damage in melee range, but that's usually also their downfall in harder content because ranged damage dealers are usually favoured. Healing isn't really their strongest suit. They are very beginner friendly, especially if you like tanking and want to be a vital part of the group.
Pros:
Strong tank, most used tank in the game
good passives that focus on defense and sturdyness
Damage Dealers can have a high damage output in melee range
Cons:
not the greatest healers
damage dealers need to be in melee range to unleash full potential
Nightblade Class
Nightblades in ESO are the most ideal class when it comes to stealth. They have many skills that let them merge with the shadows and benefit from dealing damage out of stealth. But even without this they can deal tons of damage and are preferred members of groups, especially trial groups. Unfortunately, they are only okayish healers. Nightblades are also quite hard to master and can be extremely challenging in endgame.
Pros:
superb stealth
excellent damage dealers
great at vanishing into the shadows
great for solo play
Cons:
hard to play/master in endgame
not the greatest healers
Sorcerer Class
Sorcerers are one of the most popular classes in-game. They are pretty easy to play and with the support of their pets they also have a pretty easy time dealing damage passively. They have strong skills in regards to survival and are great for solo play. Unfortunately, they aren't the best Healers and also not very useful as Tanks compared to other classes.
Pros:
very beginner friendly
great for solo play
strong damage dealers
has pets for support/damage
Cons:
not great at tanking/healing
Stamina DPS is harder to learn than Magicka DPS
Templar Class
Templars are hands down the strongest healing class, as they also bring a lot of support to the table from which the entire group or trial group profits. They are also pretty strong damage dealers, but get repercussions from having to stand in melee range to unleash their true power. They are also one of the easiest classes to play, especially stamina builds. Even if you want to tank in group content, they make pretty decent tanks.
Pros:
excellent healers
great damage dealers
lots of support skills
great for solo gameplay
Cons:
must be in melee range to excel at DPS
Warden Class
Wardens in ESO are pretty great Tanks and Healers, but, unfortunately, in PvE only mediocre Damage Dealers. Since they rely very heavily on their pets, it can be tiresome for some players to keep an eye on recasting their netch for good sustain of their resources. Other than that though they are a pretty good class to play for solo players.
Pros:
excellent at tanking and healing
great solo class
good damage dealers
easy to learn class
Cons:
can be a bit hard in regards to managing resources
Necromancer Class
Necromancers in ESO have a lot of of great abilities for all roles. Necromancers are great at dps and also very good healers and tanks. They have a very dynamic playstyle and are surprisingly beginner friendly but hard to master in endgame. Most groups have at least one or two Necromancers because they provide one of the greatest debuffs called Major Vulnerability.
Pros:
Good at everything, excelling at DPSing
very dynamic gameplay
can summon helpers
has useful synergies
Cons:
a lot of fun, but hard to master in endgame
pets aren't permanent (they function more like normal skills)
Conclusion ESO Classes Overview
ESO Classes are vastly different from other MMOs. They aren't pushed into one playstyle. Any class can play any role, of course not every class will be able to perform the same. However, a good player can create a good ESO build with any class on any role. Mainly because you can make trade-offs with sets and skills in ESO (Elder Scrolls Online). if one class doesn't have good sustain with a certain role, you could make use of a sustain set to make up for that weakness without any problem. This is just one example, there are so many good sets and skills in ESO that you can test out and create a worthy build.
If you have any further questions about ESO classes (Elder Scrolls Online classes) you also have the option to join our ESO community discord partner server.
All you need to know about the new tutorial in ESO that was added in June 2021. From now on everyone has the same tutorial and you can easily go anywhere!
Learn all you need to know about Dragonknight Class in ESO on this page! Here you can find Skills, Guides and other important information for the Dragonknight class!
Learn all you need to know about Necromancer Class in ESO on this page! Here you can find Skills, Guides and other important information for the Necromancer class!
Learn all you need to know about Warden Class in ESO on this page! Here you can find Skills, Guides and other important information for the Warden class!
Learn all you need to know about Nightblade Class in ESO on this page! Here you can find Skills, Guides and other important information for the Nightblade class!
Learn all you need to know about Templar Class in ESO on this page! Here you can find Skills, Guides and other important information for the Templar class!
Learn all you need to know about Sorcerer Class in ESO on this page! Here you can find Skills, Guides and other important information for the Sorcerer class!
It all depends on your playstyle and what you want to achieve in ESO. There's no "one class is the best" as it all depends on the build and whether you want to play it in PvE or PvP.
What is the best tank class in ESO?
Nords, Imperials and Argonians are really great as tanks in ESO. All of them have great racial passives that support a tanking role.
What is the best healer class in ESO?
Breton, Altmer and Argonians are really great as healers in ESO. All of them have great racial passives that support a healing role.
The easiest class to play solo in ESO is the Sorcerer, as they have battle pets that support them in combat and also deal a lot of damage. Templars are also really good solo classes, as they heal by dealing damage.
Can you solo ESO?
You can solo most of ESO. The only thing you can't solo are trials and the harder 4-player dungeons. Other than that you can perfectly play ESO solo.
What is the easiest class to play in ESO?
The easiest class to play in ESO is usually the class that can easily heal itself while dealing damage, and deals a lot of damage on its own. Currently, these are Sorcerers and Templars.
What is the easiest DPS class in ESO?
The easiest DPS class in ESO is the Sorcerer, as a lot of the DPS comes from the pets that the Sorcerer has. If you don't like Sorcerers, Templars are also super strong.
Pros and cons of ESO classes
Each class in ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) has its pros and cons in regards to which area they excel at or which they might not be the best choice. As this can vary strongly from PvE to PvP, we will take a look at the PvE side of things and go to take a look at how Beginner friendly these classes are and how they fare in group/endgame content later down the line.
Dragonknight Class
Dragonknights in ESO are most often seen as the prime tanking class, they have some of the best tanking passives and skills in their arsenal. They are also really good at dealing damage in melee range, but that's usually also their downfall in harder content because ranged damage dealers are usually favoured. Healing isn't really their strongest suit. They are very beginner friendly, especially if you like tanking and want to be a vital part of the group.
Pros:
Strong tank, most used tank in the game
good passives that focus on defense and sturdyness
Damage Dealers can have a high damage output in melee range
Cons:
not the greatest healers
damage dealers need to be in melee range to unleash full potential
Nightblade Class
Nightblades in ESO are the most ideal class when it comes to stealth. They have many skills that let them merge with the shadows and benefit from dealing damage out of stealth. But even without this they can deal tons of damage and are preferred members of groups, especially trial groups. Unfortunately, they are only okayish healers. Nightblades are also quite hard to master and can be extremely challenging in endgame.
Pros:
superb stealth
excellent damage dealers
great at vanishing into the shadows
great for solo play
Cons:
hard to play/master in endgame
not the greatest healers
Sorcerer Class
Sorcerers are one of the most popular classes in-game. They are pretty easy to play and with the support of their pets they also have a pretty easy time dealing damage passively. They have strong skills in regards to survival and are great for solo play. Unfortunately, they aren't the best Healers and also not very useful as Tanks compared to other classes.
Pros:
very beginner friendly
great for solo play
strong damage dealers
has pets for support/damage
Cons:
not great at tanking/healing
Stamina DPS is harder to learn than Magicka DPS
Templar Class
Templars are hands down the strongest healing class, as they also bring a lot of support to the table from which the entire group or trial group profits. They are also pretty strong damage dealers, but get repercussions from having to stand in melee range to unleash their true power. They are also one of the easiest classes to play, especially stamina builds. Even if you want to tank in group content, they make pretty decent tanks.
Pros:
excellent healers
great damage dealers
lots of support skills
great for solo gameplay
Cons:
must be in melee range to excel at DPS
Warden Class
Wardens in ESO are pretty great Tanks and Healers, but, unfortunately, in PvE only mediocre Damage Dealers. Since they rely very heavily on their pets, it can be tiresome for some players to keep an eye on recasting their netch for good sustain of their resources. Other than that though they are a pretty good class to play for solo players.
Pros:
excellent at tanking and healing
great solo class
good damage dealers
easy to learn class
Cons:
can be a bit hard in regards to managing resources
Necromancer Class
Necromancers in ESO have a lot of of great abilities for all roles. Necromancers are great at dps and also very good healers and tanks. They have a very dynamic playstyle and are surprisingly beginner friendly but hard to master in endgame. Most groups have at least one or two Necromancers because they provide one of the greatest debuffs called Major Vulnerability.
Pros:
Good at everything, excelling at DPSing
very dynamic gameplay
can summon helpers
has useful synergies
Cons:
a lot of fun, but hard to master in endgame
pets aren't permanent (they function more like normal skills)
Conclusion ESO Classes Overview
ESO Classes are vastly different from other MMOs. They aren't pushed into one playstyle. Any class can play any role, of course not every class will be able to perform the same. However, a good player can create a good ESO build with any class on any role. Mainly because you can make trade-offs with sets and skills in ESO (Elder Scrolls Online). if one class doesn't have good sustain with a certain role, you could make use of a sustain set to make up for that weakness without any problem. This is just one example, there are so many good sets and skills in ESO that you can test out and create a worthy build.
If you have any further questions about ESO classes (Elder Scrolls Online classes) you also have the option to join our ESO community discord partner server.
