Arcanist Skills - ESO

Learn more about all the available Arcanist skill-lines in the Elder Scrolls Online.

Learn more about the Arcanist Class in ESO. The Arcanist class is the seventh class to launch in The Elder Scrolls Online.

The Arcanist Class has three class based skill-lines, the skills all have a greenish look to them with a lot of different looking runes. The Arcanist also adds the unique Crux mechanic to the game. A Crux is a charge that empowers usage of skills.

Please visit the Build Editor to create Arcanist Builds or you can also find community created Arcanist Builds on the site.

Skill lines

This category contains 3 skill lines

Curative Runeforms skills

Vitalizing Glyphic icon
Vitalizing Glyphic
Summon an Apocryphal glyphic, which you and your allies can heal. The glyphic spawns at 30% Health and grows stronger the more you heal it. The power within the glyphic grants up to 200 Weapon and Spell Damage and heals you and your allies around it for up to 927 Health every 1 second in proportion to its Health.
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Glyphic of the Tides icon
Glyphic of the Tides
Summon an Apocryphal glyphic, which you and your allies can heal. The glyphic spawns at 53% Health and grows stronger the more you heal it. The power within the glyphic grants up to 200 Weapon and Spell Damage and heals you and your allies around it for up to 928 Health every 1 second in proportion to its Health. At full Health the glyphic grants Major Protection, reducing damage taken by 10%.
The glyphic spawns at a higher Health percentage and grants additional damage reduction when it is fully powered.
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Resonating Glyphic icon
Resonating Glyphic
Summon an Apocryphal glyphic while in combat, which you and your allies can damage. The glyphic spawns at 70% Health and grows stronger the more you damage it. The glyphic grants up to 200 Weapon and Spell Damage and heals you and your allies around it for up to 958 Health every 1 second in proportion to its Health.
Dealing damage to the glyphic powers it up instead of healing it, but requires you to be in combat to activate.
Runemend icon
Runemend
Craft a series of precise Apocryphal runes, then propel them at yourself or an ally in front of you. The runes heal for 1161 Health three times and generate Crux. Each active Crux reduces the cost of this ability by 3%.
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Audacious Runemend icon
Audacious Runemend
Craft a series of virtuous Apocryphal runes, then propel them at yourself or an ally in front of you. The runes heal for 1199 Health three times and generate Crux. Healing a target under 50% Health grants them Minor Heroism for 6 seconds, generating 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds. Each active Crux reduces the cost of this ability by 3%.
Healing low Health targets grants them Ultimate.
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Evolving Runemend icon
Evolving Runemend
Craft a series of adaptive Apocryphal runes, then propel them at yourself or an ally in front of you. The runes heal for 1161 Health three times, an additional 1302 Health over 6 seconds, and generate Crux. Each active Crux reduces the cost of this ability by 3%.
Heals for an additional amount over time.
Remedy Cascade icon
Remedy Cascade
Channel the abyssal sea to coalesce a beam of restorative energy. The beam heals you and your allies in its path for 11310 Health over 4.5 seconds. Consume Crux to also restore 728 Magicka and Stamina per Crux spent to your allies over 4.5 seconds.
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Curative Surge icon
Curative Surge
Channel the abyssal sea to coalesce a beam that heals you and your allies in its path for 11674 Health over 4.5 seconds. The beam gradually grows stronger the longer you channel it, healing for up to 192% more at the end of its duration. Consume Crux to also restore 728 Magicka and Stamina per Crux spent to your allies over 4.5 seconds.
The beam gradually heals for more the longer you channel it.
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Cascading Fortune icon
Cascading Fortune
Channel the abyssal sea to coalesce a beam that heals you and your allies in its path for 11674 Health over 4.5 seconds. The beam heals for up to 50% more in proportion to the severity of the target's wounds as you reweave fate itself. Consume Crux to also restore 728 Magicka and Stamina per Crux spent to your allies over 4.5 seconds.
Heals for more on low Health targets.
Chakram Shields icon
Chakram Shields
Carve the runes of the Blind Man to call forth spinning mystical discs. Discs surround you or up to 4 allies in front of you, granting a shield that absorbs 3159 damage for 6 seconds. Discs prefer your reticle target, or low-Health targets without shields.
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Tidal Chakram icon
Tidal Chakram
Carve the Baron of Breakers' runes to create spinning discs. Discs surround you or up to 4 allies in front of you, granting a shield that absorbs 3264 damage for 6 seconds. Consume Crux to cause the shields to heal for 33% of the shield's remaining strength every 1 second per Crux spent. Discs prefer your reticle target, or low-Health targets without shields.
Consumes Crux to heal based on the shield's strength every second it persists.
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Chakram of Destiny icon
Chakram of Destiny
Carve the Fate Crone's runes to create spinning mystical discs and generate Crux. Discs surround you or up to 4 allies in front of you, granting a shield that absorbs 3160 damage for 6 seconds. Recasting on a target already shielded grants a new shield that is 30% stronger. Discs prefer your reticle target, or low-Health targets without shields.
Creates a Crux. Recasting the shield on a target increases the maximum strength of the shield.
Arcanist's Domain icon
Arcanist's Domain
Draw forth your tome and invoke the vigoratum of Hermaeus Mora to conjure a vortex of eldritch power. Standing in this vortex grants you and your allies Minor Courage, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, and Minor Endurance, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215 and your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 15%.
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Reconstructive Domain icon
Reconstructive Domain
Draw forth your tome and invoke the leviathanum of the Abyssal Sea to conjure a vortex of eldritch power. Standing in this vortex grants you and your allies Minor Courage, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, and Minor Endurance, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215 and your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 15%. The vortex also heals you and your allies for 4631 Health over 20 seconds.
Heals you and your allies in the area over time.
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Zenas' Empowering Disc icon
Zenas' Empowering Disc
Draw forth your tome and invoke the enigmatum of Morian Zenas to conjure a vortex of eldritch power. Standing in this vortex grants you and your allies Minor Courage, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, and Minor Endurance, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215 and your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 15%. These effects cling to you and your allies for up to 10 seconds after leaving the vortex.
The effects remain on you and your allies for a short duration after leaving the area.
Apocryphal Gate icon
Apocryphal Gate
Breach the world walls to create a portal at a target location. Its twin appears directly before you. Crossing the threshold allows you to teleport from one to the other for as long as the portals remain open. Apocryphal Gate generates Crux each time you teleport.
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Fleet-Footed Gate icon
Fleet-Footed Gate
Breach the world walls to create a portal at a target location. Its twin appears directly before you. Crossing the threshold allows you to teleport from one to the other for as long as the portals remain open. After teleporting, you gain Major Expedition for 5 seconds, increasing your Movement Speed by 30%. Fleet-Footed Gate generates Crux each time you teleport.
Increases your Movement Speed after teleporting.
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Passage Between Worlds icon
Passage Between Worlds
Breach the world walls to create a portal at a target location. Its twin appears directly before you. Crossing the threshold allows you to teleport from one to the other for as long as the portals remain open. Allies standing within either portal can activate the Passage synergy, allowing them to teleport to the opposite portal. Passage Between Worlds generates Crux each time you teleport.
Grants a synergy to allies allowing them to teleport from one portal to the other.
Healing Tides icon
Healing Tides
Your mastery of weaving fate and abyssal water increases your healing done by 3% for each active Crux.
Hideous Clarity icon
Hideous Clarity
You've stared too long into the abyss. When you generate Crux, you restore 225 Magicka or Stamina, whichever maximum is higher.
Erudition icon
Erudition
Knowledge is power. Your excessive scholarship increases your Magicka and Stamina Recovery by 18%.
Intricate Runeforms icon
Intricate Runeforms
Your status as illuminatus reduces the cost and increases the strength of your damage shields by 10%.

Herald of the Tome skills

The Unblinking Eye icon
The Unblinking Eye
Tear open the fabric of the Aurbis to summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora. This being casts forth a beam that rends asunder reality for 6 seconds and deals 1115 Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters every 0.5 seconds. The scion's beam can be repositioned by recasting The Unblinking Eye.
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The Tide King's Gaze icon
The Tide King's Gaze
Tear open the fabric of the Aurbis to summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora. This being casts forth a beam that rends asunder reality for 8 seconds that deals 1151 Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters every 0.5 seconds. The scion's beam automatically follows the initial target, and hunts for a new one within 8 meters if it is slain.
Beam duration is increased, automatically follows the initial target, and searches for new targets if it is slain.
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The Languid Eye icon
The Languid Eye
Tear open the fabric of the Aurbis to summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora. This being casts forth a beam that rends asunder reality for 6 seconds that deals 1115 Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters every 0.5 seconds and snares them by 50% for 3 seconds. Every 0.5 seconds, the beam's damage increases by 7%. The scion's beam can be repositioned by recasting The Languid Eye.
Also applies a snare to enemies hit and damage increases over time.
Runeblades icon
Runeblades
Craft a series of Apocryphal runes before launching them at a foe, dealing 695 Magic Damage three times and generating Crux. This ability deals 3% increased damage for each active Crux when cast.
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Writhing Runeblades icon
Writhing Runeblades
Craft a series of Apocryphal runes before launching them at a foe, dealing 718 Magic Damage three times and generating Crux. This ability gains between 1095 and 2191 Weapon and Spell Critical rating and deals 3% increased damage for each active Crux when cast.
Has increased Critical Chance for each active Crux.
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Escalating Runeblades icon
Escalating Runeblades
Craft a series of Apocryphal runes before launching them at a foe, dealing 696 Magic Damage 766 Magic Damage, and 917 Magic Damage and generating Crux. The last rune explodes, dealing damage to all enemies within 8 meters of the target. This ability deals 3% increased damage for each active Crux when cast.
Deals increased damage and the last rune deals damage in an area.
Fatecarver icon
Fatecarver
Harness pure knowledge into a beam of energy that scars the world in front of you. Channel the beam for up to 4 seconds, dealing 820 Magic Damage every 0.3 seconds. Casting Fatecarver consumes all Crux and increases damage done by 33% per Crux spent.
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Exhausting Fatecarver icon
Exhausting Fatecarver
Harness pure knowledge into a beam of energy that scars the world in front of you. Channel the beam for up to 4 seconds, dealing 820 Magic Damage every 0.3 seconds and snaring enemies hit by 15%. Casting Exhausting Fatecarver consumes all Crux and increases damage done by 33%, duration by 0.3 seconds, and snare by 15% per Crux spent.
Applies a snare to damaged enemies. Consuming Crux also increases the duration and snare strength.
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Pragmatic Fatecarver icon
Pragmatic Fatecarver
Harness pure knowledge into a beam of energy that scars the world in front of you. Channel the beam for up to 4 seconds, dealing 820 Magic Damage every 0.3 seconds. While channeling, you also gain a damage shield that absorbs up to 3137 damage and grants interrupt immunity. Casting Pragmatic Fatecarver consumes all Crux and increases damage done by 33%, and decreases cost by 16% per Crux spent.
Gain a damage shield while channeling and immunity to interrupts while the shield is active. Consuming Crux also reduces the cost.
Abyssal Impact icon
Abyssal Impact
Infuse your arm with abyssal magic to form tentacles that lash out at your foes, dealing 1939 Physical Damage. Enemies are immobilized for 3 seconds and marked with Abyssal Ink for 20 seconds. You deal 5% increased damage to enemies drenched in Abyssal Ink.
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Cephaliarch's Flail icon
Cephaliarch's Flail
Infuse your arm with abyssal magic to form tentacles that lash out at your foes dealing 1939 Physical Damage and generating Crux. Enemies are immobilized for 3 seconds and marked with Abyssal Ink for 20 seconds. If an enemy is hit, you for heal for 1000 Health, once per cast. You deal 5% increased damage to enemies drenched in Abyssal Ink.
Generates Crux. Heals you if an enemy is damaged.
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Tentacular Dread icon
Tentacular Dread
Infuse your arm with abyssal magic to form tentacles that lash out at your foes, dealing 2002 Frost Damage. Enemies are immobilized for 3 seconds and marked with Abyssal Ink for 20 seconds. You deal 5% increased damage to enemies drenched in Abyssal Ink. Consume all Crux and increase Tentacular Dread damage by 33% and damage to foes drenched in Abyssal Ink by 2% per Crux spent.
Converts into a Magicka ability and deals Frost Damage. Consume Crux to increase the base damage and Abyssal Ink strength.
Tome-Bearer's Inspiration icon
Tome-Bearer's Inspiration
Etch a series of runes onto your weapon that pulse with power once every 5 seconds. Each pulse enhances your class abilities, and striking an enemy with one deals an additional 1161 Magic Damage and generates Crux if you have none. While slotted on either ability bar, gain Major Brutality and Major Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%.
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Inspired Scholarship icon
Inspired Scholarship
Etch a series of runes onto your weapon that pulse with power once every 3 seconds. Each pulse enhances your class abilities, and striking an enemy with one deals an additional 935 Magic Damage and generates Crux if you have none. While slotted on either ability bar, gain Major Brutality and Major Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%.
Increases the frequency of damage.
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Recuperative Treatise icon
Recuperative Treatise
Etch a series of runes onto your weapon that pulse with power once every 5 seconds. Each pulse enhances your class abilities, and striking an enemy with one deals an additional 1161 Magic Damage, restores 600 Magicka and Stamina, and generates Crux if you have none. While slotted on either ability bar, gain Major Brutality and Major Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%.
When dealing damage, restore Magicka and Stamina.
The Imperfect Ring icon
The Imperfect Ring
Summon a flawed rune under an enemy that etches foes nearby with scrawled glyphs, dealing 4631 Magic Damage over 20 seconds. An ally near the initial target can activate the Runebreak synergy, dealing 2698 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters.
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Fulminating Rune icon
Fulminating Rune
Summon an explosive rune under an enemy that etches foes nearby with scrawled glyphs, dealing 4642 Magic Damage over 20 seconds. The rune lingers on the initial target for 6 seconds before detonating, dealing 1438 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters. Rune detonation cannot be primed with Fulminating Rune again for 6 seconds. Up to 3 allies near the initial target can activate the Runebreak synergy, dealing 2698 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters.
Deals additional area damage after a delay. Up to 3 allies can use the Runebreak synergy.
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Rune of Displacement icon
Rune of Displacement
Summon a discharging rune under an enemy. After 2 seconds the rune pulses, pulling in foes between 2 to 10 meters and etching them with scrawled glyphs that deal 4780 Magic Damage over 18 seconds. An ally near the initial target can activate the Runebreak synergy, dealing 2698 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters.
Places a rune under the target that deals damage and pulls nearby enemies after a delay.
Fated Fortune icon
Fated Fortune
Warp fate when you generate or consume Crux, increasing your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 12% for 7 seconds.
Harnessed Quintessence icon
Harnessed Quintessence
You master the warp and weft of your very soul. When you are restored Magicka or Stamina, increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 5% for 10 seconds.
Psychic Lesion icon
Psychic Lesion
Your attacks wound the mind with heretical knowledge, increasing damage dealt by Status Effects by 15% and Status Effect Chance by 55%.
Splintered Secrets icon
Splintered Secrets
What they don't know can kill them. Increase your Physical and Spell Penetration by 991 per Herald of the Tome ability slotted.

Soldier of Apocrypha skills

Gibbering Shield icon
Gibbering Shield
Gather the true strength of Apocrypha around you, forming protective tentacles and a damage shield that absorbs 60% of all damage for 10 seconds, up to a max of 31732 damage, scaling off your Max Health. When the shield collapses you lash out, dealing all of the damage absorbed as Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters over 10 seconds.
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Gibbering Shelter icon
Gibbering Shelter
Gather the true strength of Apocrypha, forming a tentacle damage shield that absorbs 60% of all damage for 10 seconds, up to a max of 31733 damage. When the shield absorbs damage, pseudopods cascade out at up to 11 allies within 15 meters, granting them a damage shield for 4 seconds that absorbs up to 5462 damage. These shields can be applied once every 4 seconds. Both shields scale off your Max Health.
No longer deals damage to enemies and grants allies a damage shield when you are hit.
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Sanctum of the Abyssal Sea icon
Sanctum of the Abyssal Sea
Gather the true strength of Apocrypha as protective tentacles rise from the Abyssal Sea around you. The tentacles form a damage shield that absorbs 60% of all damage for 10 seconds, up to a max of 37697 damage, scaling off your Max Health. When the shield collapses you lash out, dealing all of the damage absorbed as Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters over 10 seconds.
Damage shield gains an increase in strength.
Runic Jolt icon
Runic Jolt
Craft a defensive Apocryphal rune that deals 1161 Magic Damage and applies Minor Maim for 15 seconds, reducing their damage done by 5%. The rune also taunts for 15 seconds if it would not cause taunt immunity, and generates Crux. While slotted, damage taken is reduced by 2% per active Crux.
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Runic Sunder icon
Runic Sunder
Craft a defensive Apocryphal rune that deals 1161 Physical Damage. The rune steals 2200 Armor and applies Minor Maim for 15 seconds, reducing their damage done by 5%. The rune also taunts for 15 seconds if it would not cause taunt immunity, and generates Crux. While slotted, damage taken is reduced by 2% per active Crux.
Converts into a Stamina ability and deals Physical Damage. Reduce your target's Armor and gain Armor.
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Runic Embrace icon
Runic Embrace
Craft a rune that deals 1161 Magic Damage and heals you for 1706 Health, scaling off your Max Health. You apply Minor Maim and Minor Lifesteal for 15 seconds, reducing enemy damage done by 5%, and healing you and your allies for 600 Health every 1 second when damaging them. The rune taunts for 15 seconds if it would not cause taunt immunity, and generates Crux. While slotted, damage taken is reduced by 2% per active Crux.
Heal yourself and apply Minor Lifesteal.
Runespite Ward icon
Runespite Ward
Like the rune knights of old, summon a shield that absorbs 4800 damage for 6 seconds, scaling off your Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates and deals 0 Magic Damage to the attacker, scaling off your Armor. Consume Crux to heal yourself for 1600 Health, scaling off your Max Health, per Crux spent.
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Impervious Runeward icon
Impervious Runeward
Like the rune knights of old, summon a shield that absorbs 9916 damage for 1 second, and then 2203 damage for 5 seconds if the first shield persists. Both shields scale off your Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates and deals 0 Magic Damage to the attacker, scaling off your Armor. Consume Crux to heal yourself for 1600 Health, scaling off your Max Health, per Crux spent.
Drastically increases the size of the damage shield for the first second but reduces the size of the shield after.
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Spiteward of the Lucid Mind icon
Spiteward of the Lucid Mind
Like the rune knights of old, summon a shield that absorbs 4800 damage for 6 seconds, scaling off your Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates and deals 0 Magic Damage to the attacker, scaling off your Armor. Consume Crux to heal yourself 1600 Health, scaling off your Max Health, and refund 30% of Spiteward of the Lucid Mind cost per Crux spent.
Consume Crux to refund cost.
Fatewoven Armor icon
Fatewoven Armor
Forge defiant runic armor around you, granting Major Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 5948. While the armor persists, taking damage applies Minor Breach, reducing the Armor of your attacker by 2974 for 6 seconds.
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Cruxweaver Armor icon
Cruxweaver Armor
Forge defiant runic armor around you, granting Major Resolve for 30 seconds, increasing your Armor by 5948. While the armor persists, taking damage applies Minor Breach, reducing the Armor of your attacker by 2974 for 6 seconds. Blows against your armor also generate Crux, up to once every 5 seconds.
Increases the duration and when damaged, creates a Crux.
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Unbreakable Fate icon
Unbreakable Fate
Forge defiant runic armor around you, granting 5% Block Mitigation and Major Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 5948 for 20 seconds. Consume Crux to gain 5% additional Block Mitigation per Crux spent. While the armor persists, taking damage applies Minor Breach, reducing the Armor of your attacker by 2974 for 6 seconds.
Gain bonus Block Mitigation and consume Crux to increase the bonus.
Runic Defense icon
Runic Defense
Cast forth a complex rune granting you and your group members Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 2974. You gain Minor Protection for 20 seconds, reducing your damage taken by 5%. The first time you are damaged while below 50% Health, the Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 4800 Health, scaling off your Max Health.
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Runeguard of Freedom icon
Runeguard of Freedom
Cast forth a complex rune granting you and your group members Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 2974. You gain Minor Protection for 20 seconds, reducing your damage taken by 5%. The first time you are damaged while below 50% Health, Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 2400 Health, scaling off your Max Health, and gain 3300 Armor and Crowd Control Immunity for 7 seconds. This immunity can occur once every 30 seconds.
Coverts a portion of the healing into Armor and Crowd Control Immunity.
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Runeguard of Still Waters icon
Runeguard of Still Waters
Cast forth a complex rune granting you and your group members Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 2974. After 1 second, the spellweave immobilizes enemies within 7 meters for 3 seconds. You gain Minor Protection for 20 seconds, reducing your damage taken by 5%. The first time you are damaged while below 50% Health, the Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 4800 Health, scaling off your Max Health.
Immobilizes nearby enemies.
Rune of Eldritch Horror icon
Rune of Eldritch Horror
Etch an incomprehensible rune on your enemy's mind, paralyzing them in fear after a 1 second delay, stunning them for 4 seconds. This terror applies Minor Vulnerability for 10 seconds, increasing their damage taken by 5%. If used against a monster, the paralyze lasts for 8 seconds. This ability cannot be dodged.
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Rune of the Colorless Pool icon
Rune of the Colorless Pool
Etch an amorphous rune on your enemy's mind, paralyzing them in fear after a 1 second delay, stunning them for 4 seconds. This undimensioned phenomenon applies Minor Vulnerability and Minor Brittle for 20 seconds, increasing their damage taken by 5% and their Critical Damage taken by 10%. If used against a monster, the paralyze lasts for 8 seconds. This ability cannot be dodged.
Applies Minor Brittle to the target.
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Rune of Uncanny Adoration icon
Rune of Uncanny Adoration
Etch a blasphemous rune on your enemy's mind, charming them after a 1 second delay for 4 seconds. This eldritch attraction causes them to move towards the player and applies Minor Vulnerability for 10 seconds, increasing their damage taken by 5%. If used against a monster, the charm lasts for 8 seconds. This ability cannot be dodged.
Charms the target and causes them to move towards you.
Aegis of the Unseen icon
Aegis of the Unseen
Form a secret soldier within your mind, a defense against arcane forces without. While a beneficial Soldier of Apocrypha ability is active on you, increase your Armor by 1980.
Wellspring of the Abyss icon
Wellspring of the Abyss
Apocryphal knowledge bubbles up from the depths of your psyche, increasing your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 129 for each Soldier of Apocrypha ability slotted.
Circumvented Fate icon
Circumvented Fate
Casting an Arcanist ability warps the weave of fate around you, granting you and your group members Minor Evasion for 20 seconds and reducing damage from area attacks by 10%. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.
Implacable Outcome icon
Implacable Outcome
The will of an Arcanist is absolute. When you consume Crux, gain 4 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds.

The Arcanist Class in ESO

The Arcanist is the seventh class in ESO (The Elder Scrolls Online).

Playing as an Arcanist, you will be able to cast powerful new abilities, drawing your powers from Apocrypha, Hermaeus Mora's realm of Oblivion.   

The Arcanist will also add a unique mechanic for players of the class to get to grips with. This new mechanic is known as Crux. 

Cruxes are essentially points, or charges, that empower some of your abilities when consumed. Some abilities in the Arcanist class will generate Crux, and others will spend them (if available) to empower the skill. You can store up to three Crux at a time. 

The Arcanist Class in ESO
The Arcanist Class in ESO

The ESO Arcanist comes with three class based skill lines:

  • Herald of the Tome: Manipulate arcane energies to bombard your foes with damaging blasts, beams, and more. This will be the main offensive skill line for the Arcanist and you'll probably be using it a lot if you're playing as a DPS role. 
  • Curative Runeforms: Make use of healing runes to keep yourself and your group healthy and shield your allies from damage. This skill line is primarily focused on support and healing, so it will probably see the most use by healers and tanks. 
  • Apocryphal Soldier: This skill line helps you to play defensively and protect your allies, and also allows you to dominate your foes' attentions and buff yourself and your group's defensive capabilities. It is likely that this skill will contain a taunt ability and be used mostly by tanks. 

Arcanist's unique Crux Mechanic in ESO

The Arcanist Crux mechanic can be viewed somewhat similarly to a "combo" mechanic, rewarding players for certain ability combinations. However it is not exactly the same as that - it's more flexible than many combo systems in other games. 

Crux is basically a "charge" that you can accumulate by using some abilities on your Arcanist. Then, you can cast other abilities to spend the Crux points. You can still cast these abilities if you don't have any Crux, but consuming the Crux will empower the ability. Some Arcanist abilities are independent from Crux and do not generate or spend any Crux points. You can store up to three Crux points at a time.

We have a couple of examples of skills that will make use of Crux. Runeblades is a skill that launches harmful projectiles at an enemy, and casting this spell will also generate Crux. On the other hand, Runespite Ward is a skill that conjures a damage shield that explodes after some time, and it can be empowered by consuming Crux. 

As mentioned earlier, Zenimax have designed the Crux system to be easy to use, and the Arcanist class can operate perfectly fine without making active use of Crux at all. However to get the most out of the class it will be important to get to grips with this new mechanic and be conscious about which abilities use Crux and how much of it you have accumulated at any given time in combat.