Class Tier List

Updated for Update 50

Introduction

This tier list serves as a comprehensive overview of all the classes in relation to eachother for PvP. The position a class gets on the ladder is decided by looking at its healing, mobility, general survivability, burst damage, pressure over time and its utility in groups.

The classes are not separated into stamina and magicka variations and are rather looked at as a whole. This is because many builds are fully hybrid now, combining the best both sides have to offer without regards to the stamina or magicka “theme”. It is still possible to build a “pure” stamina or magicka spec for any class, but often that is not the most competitive choice. And a tier list, by its very definition, has to look at what works best.

A tier list is a controversial subject, and thus it might very well be that you disagree with a part of it or with the entire thing. If you want to discuss about it, join my Discord server.

Note: this tierlist does not hold subclassing into account.

C Tier: Necromancer

Necromancer fills the weakest spot in PvP for a long time now, although due to the amount of healing and forgiving nature of the gameplay in general these days, any class is playable given the right build. That is also why this tier list starts at C tier, representing an average performance, rather than the F tier, which would mean completely unplayable.

The reason Necromancer is not absolutely terrible is that it does still have decent survivability through a lot of passive damage reduction, decent sustain and healing. Its offense is rather weak and it does not have good Crowd Control abilities, which means that this part of a build needs to be compensated by the (proc) sets, scribing skills or other non-class skills.

B Tier: Nightblade

Nightblade is a versatile, high damage class for both single target and AoE purposes (bombblade). Traditionally, it relied on a playstyle with quick, unexpected bursts of damage and a quick retreat afterwards using Shadowy Disguise and Shadow Image. Currently, these tools are often insufficient to actually defeat an enemy that knows how to defend. This makes the class often preferable in a brawler playstyle, which gives it similar damage but more survivability. A benefit of this class is the build flexibility: it can be played as a regular solo brawler or mobile build, as a bomber or a ganker and it can also be used as a damage spec in organised ballgroups.

A Tier: Arcanist

The Arcanist is the newest class added to ESO, and it performs averagely in PvP. Its defensive capabilities are good, because it has a good healing and sustain toolkit. Although on paper it should shred (pun intended) with Fatecarver having some of the highest damage tooltips in the game, in practice this skill is quite delayed and difficult to hit enemies with in PvP. Similar to Warden, it also has a good cleave burst option with Tentacular Dread. Alternatively, it can be played as a support spec in for example organised ballgroups.

A Tier: Warden

Warden is one of the easiest classes to survive on, with high max health builds and excellent healing skills. This way it can be extremely tanky. It also has access to a good Area of Effect (AoE) burst toolkit with Deep Fissure, Northern Storm and Dawnbreaker of Smiting. It is a good pick for beginners due to its straightforward healing and damage combos. Experienced players may like the cleave burst still, although it does not compare to the damage output of a dragonknight, sorcerer or werewolf. Other than that, it is also popular for healing builds and in organised ballgroups.

A Tier: Templar

Templar has good defensive options especially if a player can hold his or her ground in a specific spot. This way, it’s a rather easy class to get into but does not have the tankiness and pressure of a dragonknight or mobility and damage output of a sorcerer. Its class spammable, Jabs or Puncturing Sweeps, deals an average amount of damage that is easily dampened by Major Evasion. Furthermore, Templar lacks a good burst option in its toolkit. Power of the Light or Purifying Light deals only weak damage and is still barely viable after a recent buff. Thus, Templars are often forced into using sets like Mechanical Acuity or Balorgh (or both) to at least get some burst through their build. The class can be played on a ranged spec and is often considered a staple for a healer build in low to mid tier PvP.

S Tier: Dragonknight

This class has been up and down tier lists a lot during the game’s history, and now find themselves as S tier again after the class overhaul in Update 50. The constant damage Dragonknight offers is some of the highest pressure the game, although it can also use its ultimate (Take Flight), Shattering Rocks and whip to deal good burst damage. The survivability is much better after the class overhaul as well. It is played exclusively as a melee brawler setup, a rigidity that is basically its only conceivable drawback.

S Tier: Sorcerer

Sorcerer offers a fast and agile playstyle that requires good positioning and kiting for optimal performance. However, nowadays the class performs extremely well even without needing to use these tools all the time. For a “kite” class that can deal good ranged damage and retreat quickly, the survivability is currently easy as well. The most common variation of Sorcerer is a hybrid build using status effects for damage, with sets like Shattered Paths Signet, Serpent’s Disdain and Draugrkin. The class mastery passives can offer good healing, sustain and damage, especially Conservation of Energy.

Last but not least, it is also one of the best classes for a Werewolf build, which is another S tier spec that can be anything you want: high healing / tankiness, high damage output or both.