Is ESO's Subclassing going to break the game? Everything we know

Showcase of Subclassing in ESO, see what it looks like in game! Subclassing allows you to equip class skill lines from other classes.

By Edenprime • Published 1 month ago

Subclassing in The Elder Scrolls Online, a new free base game feature arriving with Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 1 in June 2025, fundamentally changes your character build by allowing you to use skill lines from different classes. In this article we will give an overview of how subclassing works and showcase pictures from the Public Test Server.

We recommend our Subclassing page which will contain all relevant subclassing information as we learn more. For more information related to classes and class skills, we have an ESO Classes Database for you to browse.

Dragonknight showcasing Arcanist and Necromancer class skills on the ESO PTS.

Will ESO Subclassing break the game

Depends what each person considers game breaking. Players on the ESO Public Test Servers have created builds which have doubled the damage to previous records, but keep in mind that these builds currently utilize a bug where a skills damage increases indefinitely. We definitely will be able to do more damage and it has even been confirmed by the Game Director Rich Lambert in a Q&A, where he mentioned: "Power Level Will Go Up Some, But We're Fine Where It Is'.

ESO Build Editor will be updated to accommodate for Subclassing. Browse through builds made by the community in our ESO Builds Database (Sort after most recently updated to get fresh builds).

How to unlock Subclassing in ESO

When you reach level 50 with a character you become eligible to accept the quest "A Study in Discipline" which leads you to Bahtra at-Hunding. Completing this quest enables use of the Subclassing system on that character.

We also have a How to prepare for Subclassing guide which goes over how you can prepare your favorite character for sublassing!

A Study in Discipline quest in the ESO Crown Store

Choosing a Subclass (Discipline) for the first time is free.

What are the requirements to unlocking an ESO Subclass

Subclassing in ESO becomes available once you have reached level 50 on one character. You are required to have to achieved rank 50 on that skill lines primary class, alternatively you can unlock them through the introductory quest and level them up to 50 that way. Reaching rank 50 on a skill line means you have mastered it.

Subclass skill lines level up more slowly, but the levels are account wide so you will only need to level up a subclass skill line once per account. ESO Subclass skill line leveling is completely separate from normal class skill lines so in a sense, you need to level up the same skills twice.

For any questions or suggestions, please join our ESO Discord Server!

Subclassing UI in ESO

How many Subclass skill lines can you have

You can have two different subclass skill lines. Remember that you must always keep one skill line from your main class and can not choose two subclass skill lines from the same class.

For example: If you are a Dragonknight, you must keep one Dragonknight skill line and choose two different ones like one Arcanist skill line and one Templar skill line. You can not have two Templar skill lines as a Dragonknight, for that you need to have a Templar that picks one Dragonknight Skill Line.

Example Dragonknight class having Arcanist and Necromancer subclass skills on the hot bar.

Are the subclass skills weaker than normal class skills

No, the subclass skill line, all skills and the passives are identical to the class and are not weaker. ESO Subclass skills and passives always cost two skill points instead of one.

How to change Subclasses in ESO

You may choose skill lines to subclass via a shrine, a Respecification Scroll, or by talking to Bahtra at-Hunding. All skill points you allocated into the ESO subclass skill line will be returned, similarly how Vampire and Werewolf respeccing works.