What is subclassing in ESO?

Subclassing is a new system introduced with the Gold Road Chapter that allows players to customize their characters further by selecting a subclass that adds passive and active abilities.

When was subclassing introduced to ESO?

Subclassing was introduced with the Gold Road Chapter in June 2025.

How many classes exist in ESO?

Currently there are seven classes in ESO: Sorcerer, Nightblade, Templar, Dragonknight, Necromancer, Warden and Arcanist.

What is the purpose of subclassing?

Subclassing offers additional ways to enhance your character’s playstyle by mixing class skill lines.

Are there any restrictions when subclassing in ESO?

Yes, while subclassing offers great flexibility, there are a few key restrictions:You must keep at least one of your original class skill lines.You cannot replace all three class lines.Only full skill lines from other classes can be used; individual skills cannot be selected.

How do I unlock subclassing in ESO?

The subclassing system in The Elder Scrolls Online becomes available once any of your characters reaches level 50.

What quest unlocks the subclass system in ESO?

You must complete the introductory quest titled “A Study in Discipline.”

How can I start the quest “A Study in Discipline” in ESO?

You can start it in two ways:By claiming it from the Quest Starters section in the Crown Store.By speaking to Bahtra at-Hunding, an adventurer near the Wayshrines in Riften (The Rift), Evermore (Bangkorai), or Dune (Reaper’s March).

Where can I find the NPC Bahtra at-Hunding in ESO?

She is located near the Wayshrines in:Riften (The Rift)Evermore (Bangkorai)Dune (Reaper’s March)Look for a special “Adventure Camp” map icon, newly added to help you easily find her.

ESO Subclassing - Everything you need to know about Subclasses!

Welcome to the ESO Subclassing overview page. On this page you can learn everything about ESO Subclasses and how the whole system works.

ESO Build Editor: Will be updated to accommodate for Subclassing.
ESO Builds Database: Community updated builds will show here (Sort after most recently updated to get fresh builds).
Skill Line Compare Tool: Compare Skill Lines with each other.
ESO Discord: For any questions or suggestions, please join our ESO Discord Server.
ESO Classes: For more information about classes.

A New Era of Customization: ESO’s 2025 Season Introduces the Subclassing System

The upcoming 2025 Season of the Worm Cult in the The Elder Scrolls Online heralds a transformative leap in character customization with the debut of the long-awaited Subclassing System. Available as part of the base game, this groundbreaking feature will be accessible to all players—empowering adventurers across Tamriel to forge deeper, more diverse character builds without the need to start anew.

What is Subclassing

The core concept of ESO Subclassing is to allow your character to access and use skill lines from classes other than their original class. It is introduced as a base game account-wide feature to provide greater player freedom, flexibility, and expression in building characters, allowing players to create unique combinations they previously could not.

With the Subclassing System, players can transcend the boundaries of their original class by integrating skill lines from other classes into their existing builds. Whether you're looking to expand your combat repertoire, experiment with hybrid playstyles, or simply refresh your character’s identity, subclassing introduces an unparalleled level of flexibility and creative freedom.

To access Warden, Necromancer and Arcanist subclass skill lines you must have purchased the specific DLC's or classes to use them. Rest of the classes are included in ESO's base game.

Browse through our ESO Classes database to find out which class's skill line you might want to subclass!

Subclassing Limitations

Players are required to retain one original class skill line—for example, a Sorcerer must keep at least one Sorcerer line intact. The remaining two class-based skill lines, however, can be replaced with those from any other class within the game, granting full access to their active skills, morphs, and passives.

It’s worth noting that while this system offers a high degree of customization, it comes with a few important boundaries. This ensures that while creative freedom is expanded, a balance is maintained within ESO’s core class identity system:

Players cannot replace all three of their original class skill lines; at least one must remain from the character's base class.
You can equip only 1 subclass skill line from each class. For example if you want two Sorcerer skill lines, you must be a Sorcerer.
Only complete skill lines can be selected—individual skills cannot be cherry-picked or mixed across multiple classes.

According to ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS), this innovation results in over 3,000 possible skill line combinations, paving the way for an extraordinary variety of builds—from highly optimized PvP juggernauts to imaginative PvE hybrids.

If you don’t understand something or t isn’t covered here you can join our Discord where you will find a helpful community!

How to Unlock ESO Subclassing

The subclassing system unlocks when one of your characters reaches level 50. To enable the system on a character after reaching level 50, you need to accept and complete a short introductory quest "A Study in Discipline".

The subclassing quest can be accepted from the Quest Starters category in the Crown Store, or you can find and speak to adventurer Bahtra at-Hunding, located near the Wayshrines at Riften in The Rift, Evermore in Bangkorai, and Dune in Reaper's March. There is a new "Adventure Camp" icon on the map to show where she is located.

Leveling subclass skill lines ESO

All ESO subclass skill lines and skills level up slower than on a normal class, but the progression is account wide meaning you only need to level them up once for your account. Keep in mind that each ESO subclass skills and passives cost (2) skill points instead of one (1) bringing the total requirement to 40 per skill line compared to the normal 20.

You can find tips for experience boost and good sources of experience in this Experience Boost Guide!

Subclass Skill Line access explained:

Having a rank 50 skill line on a character only gives you access to choose it as a subclass skill line.
ESO subclass skill line leveling progression is completely separate from regular class skill lines and skill levels.
Everyone needs to level up all subclass skill lines and skills once per account – regardless of previous character knowledge.

How to change Subclass Skill Lines

After you complete the introductory quest for the first time you can choose subclass skill lines once for free. All subsequent changes to ESO subclassing cost 1,500 gold, done the same way as skill respeccing. You will be refunded any spent skill points.

You can change your subclass skill line in the following ways:

Use a Rededication Shrine (Shrine to Stendarr) in Wayrest, Mournhold, Elden Root or any major Capital City (1,500 Gold).
Talk to Bahtra at-Hunding in Riften, Evermore or Dune (1,500 Gold).
Use a Respecification Scroll from the Crown Store.
Save your subclass setups to the Armory Station and switch between setups.

Subclass Skill Line locking explained

Common misunderstanding is that you are "locked in" to a subclass skill line and can not switch it at all when leveling. This is stated in several tooltips when choosing subclasses, but is in fact incorrect as they reference your 3 subclass leveling slots. You can see the 3 subclass leveling slots on the top right of your skills window.

Simply put: A skill line will occupy a subclass leveling slot IF AND ONLY IF you have NOT yet leveled that specific class skill line to Rank 50 on any character on your account.

Subclass leveling slots explained

A subclass skill line that will take up a leveling slot is signified with a subclass icon next to it's name. The subclass skill lines that will not use up leveling slots is shown as a regular plus sign. Once it reaches Rank 50, it becomes "mastered" for your account, frees up the leveling slot it was occupying, and can then be freely swapped like any other mastered skill line.

Being locked to a subclass skill line only means you can not choose more than 3 subclass skill lines to level. Below we will explain how the leveling slots and the locking mechanic with three account examples:

1. Account with all skill lines at rank 50 on all characters

You can switch between subclass skill lines freely.
Nothing uses up your 3 leveling slots because all skill lines are already mastered.
You will not see a "subclass" icon next to any of the skill lines

2. Account that does not have any skill lines at rank 50

You have three leveling slots and you can choose up to 3 subclass skill lines to level at a time.
Once you have leveled a subclass skill line to rank 50, you have freed a slot and can choose another subclass skill line to level.
You can switch these 3 subclass skill lines with your own skill lines and between themselves freely.
You will see a subclass icon next to subclass skill lines that will use up a leveling slot.

3. Account with 2 characters with skill lines at level 50

You can switch between the 6 skill lines from your two characters and the three subclass skill lines you are leveling.
You can choose 3 subclass skill lines to level at a time with your subclass leveling slots.
You will see a subclass icon next to subclass skill lines that will use up a leveling slot.

ESO Build Editor & Builds Database: Fully Updated for Subclassing

To support this major update, the ESO Build Editor will be enhanced to accommodate the new subclassing combinations. Players will be able to mix and match class skill lines with ease, allowing for unprecedented experimentation and optimization.

Additionally, our ESO Builds Database will be continually updated with fresh builds as players explore the possibilities of subclassing. Whether you're searching for meta-defining loadouts or just looking to create a fun, off-meta build, the creativity of the community is sure to shine once the new season launches this June.

We can’t wait to see what the community comes up with as they embrace the future of The Elder Scrolls Online subclassing.