Elder Scrolls Online is a very controversial game when you compare it to other MMOs. We personally like the game a lot since we are huge fans of Skyrim. Yes, the game has its issues, but you can’t say that the game is bad because of one single problem you have with it. If you enjoy Skyrim and MMOs, then you probably enjoy Elder Scrolls Online.
One thing most players have when getting the game for the first time is choosing a class. It can be very frustrating to determine what you want to play because there are many options. If you are interested in finding out which class you should play, we will help you out with this article.
Classes work differently in Elder Scrolls Online. You can choose 1 of the 6 options in the game. You can then choose a skill tree that you can go down. Each class has 3 skill trees for you to choose from, so that makes a total of 18 variations that you can choose from.
It sounds like you have a big choice to make, but it is actually easier than you think. Are you going to play with a group, solo, or just casually want to play with your friends? Then there is a class for you. Not all classes are made for you, so we are here to help you determine which class best suits your playstyle.
How many classes can you choose from?
As we said before, you can choose from a total of 6 classes. You can choose Dragonknight, Necromancer, Nightblade, Sorcerer, Templar, or Warden. Each one has 3 skill trees that you can choose from. If you want to be a Sorcerer with a melee weapon, you can do that.
If you want to be a tank with magic abilities, you can also do that. There are just soo many variations that you can choose from. You could even make new characters for new areas you can go to. There are also a ton of campaigns you can play within each area.
Keep in mind that 2 of the 6 classes are locked behind a DLC or upgrade in the shop, and we have put the availability of each class underneath each one. Obviously, the DLC classes are some of the best in the game, so make sure to use those if you have the DLCs.
Which class should you choose?
Choosing a class might be one of the more important decisions in the game. We will go over each class and what the pros and cons of each of them are. We will also give you information on the best class for each situation. Some are better at soloing, and others are better in groups. So make sure you choose the correct class for your specific playstyle.
Here are the 6 classes you can choose from in Elder Scrolls Online:
1. Dragonknight
Burn your foes in cleansing flame and withstand almost any assault with the Dragonknight, a fiery, unrelenting Class that thrives in the heart of battle. The Dragonknight Class allows you to win the war of attrition with abilities that draw power from both the earth and the beasts of myth while overpowering your foes with ferocious Fire spells.
Availability – Available with The Elder Scrolls Online base game
This class is a tank. It is one of the best classes to use if you are playing with a group. The three skill trees for this class are Ardent Flame, Draconic Power, and Earthen Heart. Each one relies heavily on taking abilities from ancient Dragons. It makes you an unstoppable force.
The class is very fire damage based, so if you like to have a ton of fire abilities then you might really enjoy this class. Keep in mind that this class isn’t a good one if you are going to play solo. It is a class that is best used in a group since you don’t have the best healing.
- Pros – They are one of the best classes if you are looking for a tank. They have some seriously good group buffs and some of the highest close-range damage in the game with the right equipment.
- Cons – They have some of the lowest long-range damage in the game. You also have slow healing; it is not a good class to use if you are a solo player.
2. Necromancer
All of Tamriel’s dead are a resource for you to manipulate and exploit, as nothing is forbidden for those who seek to master the dark arts. The Necromancer Class brings a unique style of play to The Elder Scrolls Online, allowing you to summon the undead and make use of corpses to overwhelm your enemies and empower your attacks.
Availability – Available with the Elsweyr Chapter or Necromancer Class upgrade
This is a Summoner class. It is a great class if you enjoy bringing the dead back to life to help fight with you. The three skill trees for this class are Grave Lord, Bone Tyrant, and Living Death. It is actually one of the best classes in the game.
The downside to this class is that it is a DLC class. You will have to spend some money to be able to use this class, so that is why it is a controversial class. It is also a difficult class to learn since you have to play a certain way to be able to use the abilities correctly.
- Pros – It is a paid class, so it is a great class to choose. They have some seriously good AoE attacks and can call the dead to help them fight. It is a great class to choose for both solo and groups.
- Cons – The only con is the lack of buffs on all three non-class skill lines. Besides that, this is one of the best classes in the game.
3. Nightblade
Attack from the shadows, drain your foes’ health, and vanish into the void with the Nightblade Class. The shadows truly are your greatest weapon as you wield abilities that deal devastating damage at any range and siphon your victim’s lifeforce to your allies.
Availability – Available with The Elder Scrolls Online base game
This is a stealthy class. It is a great class if you enjoy playing solo. The three skill trees for this class are Assassination, Shadow, and Siphoning. As we said before, this class has the best stats for players who want to play solo. You could also play with a group if you are wondering about that as well.
It is also a class that deals a ton of damage no matter if you are close-range or long-range. You will rely heavily on slower combat since you deal more damage to enemies that haven’t detected you yet. It is actually one of the best classes in the entire game.
- Pros – They are by far the best class to use from the base game if you are a solo player. They have amazing healing regeneration, and movement, and are all-around a great class.
- Cons – They really don’t have that many cons to them although they don’t get all the good gear that other classes obtain. If you get caught out in a horde, you will probably die.
4. Sorcerer
The horrors of Oblivion and the power of lightning itself are yours to command with the Sorcerer Class. As a Sorcerer, unlimited power is at your fingertips, allowing you to call powerful lightning strikes from above, support your allies, suppress your enemies, or overwhelm your foes with Daedric monsters.
Availability – Available with The Elder Scrolls Online base game
This is a Mage class. It is a great class if you enjoy using a bunch of Spells and Sorceries to take out your enemies. The three skill trees for this class are Daedric Summoning, Dark Magic, and Storm Calling. It is great for solo and group play.
The Sorcerer is the one class that looks the coolest. You always have glowing objects on you and the more sets are also very cool as well. For some reason, this class isn’t very good at long-range attacks even though you can throw spells around.
- Pros – They have a ton of spells and sorceries for you to choose from. They also have insane healing spells that can help you and your group if you play with one.
- Cons – They have some of the lowest health out of the other classes. They are more of a class that forces you to have other people deal most of the damage. Not a good class for soloing.
5. Templar
Seeking darkness whether it might be found, the Templar is a beacon to their allies and a blinding threat to their foes. As a Templar, you must bring justice to Tamriel in the form of cleansing light. Call forth the limitless power of the sun to obliterate your enemies and restore yourself and your allies in radiant light.
Availability – Available with The Elder Scrolls Online base game
This is a Support class. It is a great class if you enjoy helping out your teammates while also having a ton of ways to deal damage to your enemies. The three skill trees for this class are Aedric Spear, Dawn’s Wrath, and Restoring Light.
The Templar is one of the best classes that do best with helping out other players. They have some of the best healing spells that help you and your teammates. They are also insanely good at keeping the crowds of enemies at bay.
- Pros – They are a great class to use if you want an amazing class for crowd control. They also are very similar to the Dragonknight because they deal insanely good close-range damage.
- Cons – They don’t have as much stamina as other classes. They are also very bad at long-range combat. It is one of the more challenging classes to choose.
6. Warden
Manipulate the wilds and summon powerful beasts with the Warden, a versatile Class that draws from the power of nature itself. When playing a Warden character, you can unleash the fury of the wilds upon unsuspecting intruders, wrap your allies in the healing power of the Green, and encase yourself in impenetrable, protective frost.
Availability – Available with the Morrowind Chapter or Warden Class upgrade
This is another Tank class. It is a great class if you enjoy tanking a ton of hits and using nature to help you fight your enemies. The three skill trees for this class are Animal Companions, Green Balance, and Winter’s Embrace. Each one has its pros and cons.
They are actually an insanely good class, but this is another class that is actually locked behind DLC. Yes, it is annoying, but it is worth using because of all the new abilities you get with it. You literally get to command animals to help you fight; who doesn’t want that.
- Pros – It is another DLC class. It isn’t as good as the Necromancer, but it is very close to the Dragonkight. You get access to many new skill abilities, making this a great class to choose.
- Cons – It is the best class to choose if you play with a group. So, it is not the best class to play solo. There aren’t that many cons to this class.
Why is choosing a class so important?
Choosing a class is extremely important since you will spend a ton of time building up that character. Once you choose a class, you can’t change to any other classes after. Yes, you can swap around to the different skills within each class, but you are stuck with that specific class.
It is not like you are going to spend only 10 hours on each character. The average player spends 50-100 hours on a single character if they play every day. You will want to be ready if you want to spend that much time on a single character.
The best thing we can tell you is to make a couple of characters that look interesting to you and play with each of them for about 5-10 hours. That will give you a good idea of which class you will enjoy using. Just experiment and you should be fine.