ESO Dragonknight Class Overview

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!

Table of contents

Dragonknight Overview

Dragonknight Class

The Dragonknight class in The Elder Scrolls Online is renowned for its mastery of fire-based attacks and formidable defensive capabilities. Drawing upon ancient martial traditions and draconic powers, Dragonknights can dominate the battlefield with a combination of melee prowess and destructive magic. They are versatile combatants, excelling in various roles such as tanking, damage dealing, and support.

With three distinct skill lines—Ardent Flame, Draconic Power, and Earthen Heart—Dragonknights can tailor their abilities to suit their preferred playstyle. Whether incinerating foes with searing flames, bolstering defenses with draconic might, or empowering allies through earthen strength, the Dragonknight offers a dynamic and engaging experience for players seeking a powerful and adaptable class.

Dragonknight Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✅ High Survivability: Dragonknights possess strong defensive abilities and self-healing options, making them durable in combat situations.
  • ✅ Strong Damage Over Time (DoT): They excel in applying fire-based DoT effects, allowing for sustained damage output over time.
  • ✅ Excellent Tanking Capabilities: With abilities that enhance damage mitigation and crowd control, Dragonknights are well-suited for tanking roles.
  • ✅ Resource Management: The Battle Roar passive restores resources when using ultimate abilities, aiding in sustained combat effectiveness.
  • ✅ Versatility: Capable of fulfilling multiple roles, including damage dealer, tank, and support, providing flexibility in group compositions.

Cons

  • ❌ Limited Mobility: Dragonknights may struggle with mobility, making it challenging to escape or chase enemies in certain situations.
  • ❌ Complex Rotations: Optimizing damage output can require managing multiple DoT abilities, leading to complex skill rotations.
  • ❌ Melee Range Dependency: Many of their abilities are most effective at close range, which can be a disadvantage in encounters requiring ranged attacks.
  • ❌ Resource Management Challenges: Balancing stamina and magicka resources can be demanding, especially in prolonged fights.
  • ❌ Less Effective Healers: Compared to other classes, Dragonknights have fewer burst healing options, making them less optimal for primary healing roles.

Dragonknight Skill Lines

View all Dragonknight skills
Dragonknight Standard icon

Ardent Flame

The Ardent Flame skill-line is part of the Dragonknight toolkit and has a focus on offensive abilities. In addition to the powerful skills, you can also select passives that boost your power even further. The Ardent Flame skill-line is the first out of three Dragonknight focused class skill-lines.

  • Dragonknight Standard: Call down a battle standard, dealing 870 Flame Damage every 1 second for 16 seconds to enemies and applying Major Defile...
  • Flames of Oblivion: Activate an aura of flames which launches a fireball at 3 enemies every 5 seconds, dealing 1799 Flame Damage. While slotted on either bar, you gain M...
  • Chains of Devastation: Launch a fiery chain to grasp and pull yourself to an enemy, dealing 1438 Flame Damage. Hitting the target grants you Major Expedition and Major Bers...
Dragon Leap icon

Draconic Power

The Draconic Power skill-line is part of the Dragonknight toolkit and has a focus on defensive abilities. The passives in the Draconic Power skill-line are boosting your defense capabilities even further. The Draconic Power skill-line is the second out of three Dragonknight focused class skill-lines.

  • Dragon Leap: Launch yourself at an enemy, dealing 4241 Physical Damage to all enemies in the area, knocking them back 4 meters, and s...
  • Green Dragon Blood: Draw on your draconic blood to heal for 33% of your missing Health and an additional 511 Health every 1 second over 5 seconds. The heal over time scal...
  • Burning Talons: Call forth talons from the ground, dealing 1799 Flame Damage to enemies near you, an additional 1635 Flame Damage over 5 seconds, and immobilizing the...
Magma Armor icon

Earthen Heart

The Earthen Heart skill-line is part of the Dragonknight toolkit and has a focus on support abilities. The passives allow you to increase the power of yourself and your allies in combat. The Earthen Heart skill-line is the third out of three Dragonknight focused class skill-lines.

  • Magma Armor: Ignite the molten lava in your veins, limiting incoming damage to 3% of your Max Health and dealing 336 Flame Damage to...
  • Obsidian Shard: Slam an enemy with molten rock, dealing 448 Flame Damage and causing the rock to explode, splashing magma around. You then pull back on the magma to...
  • Magma Armor: Ignite the molten lava in your veins, limiting incoming damage to 3% of your Max Health and dealing 336 Flame Damage to nearby enemies each second for...

Dragonknight Recommended Builds

View ESO Builds Database

DPS Builds

Focuses on fire-based damage and high burst potential.

Tank Builds

Maximizes defense and crowd control abilities.

Healing Builds

Uses Earthen Heart for sustain and support abilities.

Solo Builds

Versatile builds for your solo adventures across Tamriel.

PvP Builds

Face off with other players on the battlefield.

Top Dragonknight builds on ESO-Hub

View ESO Builds Database
Powerful One Bar Dragonknight Tank Build for ESO - With Oakensoul Ring
49
Dragonknight
PvE
Powerful One Bar Dragonknight Tank Build for ESO - With Oakensoul Ring
Alcast
Firestorm
10
Dragonknight
PvP
Firestorm
Thorin-III
Dragonknight Grind Build, 50 Ultimate per second, high AoE damage, fast EXP farming
13
Dragonknight
PvE
Dragonknight Grind Build, 50 Ultimate per second, high AoE damage, fast EXP farming
Alcast
Best Zen Build for u46 | Dragon Arc Warden Subclass
5
Dragonknight
PvE
Best Zen Build for u46 | Dragon Arc Warden Subclass
Geldis1306
Dungeon Tank
3
Dragonknight
PvE
Dungeon Tank
beachmango_
Renewing Pillar
3
Dragonknight
PvE
Renewing Pillar
galahorn

Top Dragonknight Subclassing Builds on ESO-Hub

View ESO Builds Database
Best Zen Build for u46 | Dragon Arc Warden Subclass
5
Dragonknight
PvE
Best Zen Build for u46 | Dragon Arc Warden Subclass
Geldis1306
Dungeon Tank
3
Dragonknight
PvE
Dungeon Tank
beachmango_
Perfected Subclassing Main Tank
2
Dragonknight
PvE
Perfected Subclassing Main Tank
TronAresFanboy
Subclassing werewolf
2
Dragonknight
PvE
Subclassing werewolf
PISTOLIZER714
Flameboy Antfureverinheat
1
Dragonknight
PvE
Flameboy Antfureverinheat
daemondamian
DK/Den/Arc MT
1
Dragonknight
PvE
DK/Den/Arc MT
.tyrantterror

Dragonknight Beginner Tips & Guides

If you're new to The Elder Scrolls Online and looking to start with the Dragonknight class, this guide will help you build a strong foundation. Dragonknight is very versatile, capable of dealing high damage, tanking, and even offering some support capabilities. Here are a few key tips to get started:

Tips for New Dragonknight Players

  • Focus on leveling up your skill lines early to unlock essential abilities.
  • Use heavy armor if you plan to tank and light or medium armor for damage-dealing roles.
  • Experiment with different abilities to determine your ideal playstyle.
  • Manage your resources efficiently—Dragonknights can be stamina- and magicka-hungry.
  • Join a guild or a community to get help with dungeons, builds, and gear.
  • Complete daily quests and participate in events to gain experience and rewards.

Essential Beginner Guides

For more in-depth beginner guides, check out the following resources:

Welcome to the ESO Dragonknight class overview page. 

As all schoolchildren know, northern Tamriel was invaded by a legion of Akaviri raiders in 1E 2700. Mighty warriors with potent powers, these Akaviri cut a swath through Skyrim, defeating all opponents, until they were met at Pale Pass by a Cyrodilic army under the command of General Reman. After a brief battle, the Akaviri surrendered en masse to Reman, saying that in him, they had found what they had come to Tamriel to seek. With the Akaviri added to his own army, Reman marched on, pacifying most of Tamriel, becoming Emperor, and founding the Second Empire. The best and wisest of the Akaviri became the Dragonguard, under the Emperor Reman's personal command.

For the next two centuries the Dragonguard protected the Reman Dynasty, defending the Emperors with abilities said to have been learned from the Dragons themselves, which persisted in Akavir far longer than they did in Tamriel.But when Reman III was assassinated in 2920, that was the end of the Reman Dynasty (as well as the First Era). Officially the Dragonguard was disbanded, some said in shame at having failed to protect the Emperor. However, when the Potentate Versidue-Shaie assumed the Ruby Throne, the Dragonguard was unofficially reactivated, more as an intelligence network than as an honor guard.Other former members of the Dragonguard followed different pursuits. Some joined their former centurion, Dinieras-Ves, when he founded the organization that would come to be known as the Fighters Guild. Others became roving adventurers, selling their services as combat trainers or swords-for-hire.

One of these was a former Dragonguard whose name is now lost, and is known only to this chronicler as the Grandmaster. He took it upon himself to ensure that the martial and mystical arts of the old Akaviri would survive into the new and turbulent Second Era. However, he would teach his skills only on condition that those he taught would go on to teach others. This was the origin of those whom we now call "the Dragon Knights."

Ardent Flame: Draconic or Endemic?

Author: Gabrielle Benele, Wizard

Last night I was sitting in the Anchor's Point taproom, nursing a mug of rum posset while poring over Ralliballah's Eleven Ritual Forms, when suddenly my quiet corner was invaded by a tall, armored figure. I asked if he would stand somewhere else, as he was blocking the light, but he replied something to the effect that a handsome woman shouldn't be wasting a moons-lit evening on reading, set a frothy tankard on the table and sat down next to me.

Before I could protest he launched into the story of his life, the subject of which—himself—he seemed very enthusiastic about. He was a product of the north-coast port town of Farrun, where he'd grown up with the conviction he was destined for bigger things. When he was old enough he'd left and made his way to central High Rock, where he'd fallen in with an old half-Akaviri arms-trainer who had taught him the ways of the so-called "dragonknights." It was then that he finally found his true calling perfecting the form of magical combat that the dragonknights refer to as "ardent flame."

Blowhard or no, once he brought up the arcane arts he piqued my interest. I asked him to tell me more about this discipline of martial magic, as I was unfamiliar with it, and he was only too happy to oblige. With ardent flame, he explained, the dragonknight could set his enemies afire, draw them to him with a flaming lasso, wreath himself in a cloak of flame, even breathe fire just like the legendary dragons of yore. And this was, he asserted, because a dragonknight used actual dragon magic handed down from those mighty warriors who fought and won a war with the dragons back before the First Era.

It was this last claim where he lost me. Did he really expect me, a Mages Guild sorcerer of the first rank, to believe that an unlearned lout like him was casting spells using on long-lost dragon magic? I held up a hand, rather peremptorily, and to my surprise (and perhaps his own) he actually stopped talking. I told him I'd heard quite enough about his dragon magic, thank you very much, and that as far as I was concerned it was no more than a variant of our standard repertoire of flame spells, what the Shad Astula curriculum categorizes as "Destruction Magic." I desired him to withdraw and allow me to return to my reading.

He sputtered for a moment, but then gave a condescending smile and said there was no need for the "little lady" to be afraid, as a dragon could be gentle as well as fierce. Perhaps I didn't understand just how ardent his flame could be.

I warned him to be on his way, but he scoffed and persisted. It was when he offered to show me his "lava whip" that I finally lost all patience. It's a shame, because the proprietor of the Anchor's Point told me I would no longer be welcome there, and I liked that place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from other players
What role is best suited for a Dragonknight?
Dragonknights are highly versatile and can effectively perform as tanks, damage dealers (DPS), or even support roles. Their strong defensive abilities and self-healing make them excellent tanks, while their fire-based damage-over-time skills allow them to excel as DPS. Choosing a role depends on your preferred playstyle.
Which race is ideal for a Dragonknight?
The optimal race for a Dragonknight depends on the role you wish to play:
  • For tanking, Nords and Imperials are favored due to their health and stamina bonuses.
  • For stamina-based DPS, Orcs and Redguards offer beneficial stamina and weapon damage passives.
  • For magicka-based DPS, Dark Elves and Bretons provide advantages with their magicka bonuses and spell damage.
Ultimately, while racial passives can enhance performance, any race can successfully play as a Dragonknight.
What weapons should a Dragonknight use?
Weapon choice for a Dragonknight varies based on role:
  • Tanks often use a one-handed weapon and shield for defense and taunting abilities.
  • Stamina DPS players may opt for dual wielding or two-handed weapons to maximize damage output.
  • Magicka DPS players typically prefer staves, such as destruction staves, to enhance their spellcasting capabilities.
Selecting the appropriate weapon complements your build and enhances your effectiveness in combat.
How should I distribute my attribute points?
Attribute point allocation depends on your chosen role:
  • Tanks should focus on health and stamina to increase survivability and blocking capabilities.
  • Stamina DPS characters should invest primarily in stamina to boost damage output.
  • Magicka DPS characters should allocate points into magicka to enhance spell effectiveness.
Balancing your attributes to match your role ensures optimal performance.
What are the key skills for a beginner Dragonknight?
For those new to the Dragonknight class, focusing on the following skills can be beneficial:
  • Ardent Flame: Lava Whip, Searing Strike, Fiery Breath
  • Draconic Power: Spiked Armor, Dark Talons, Dragon Blood
  • Earthen Heart: Stonefist, Obsidian Shield, Molten Weapons
These skills provide a solid foundation for understanding the class mechanics and excelling in various combat scenarios.