The general balance of each of the six classes in The Elder Scrolls Online is pretty even across the board. While some classes might be more suited to a particular role, each class can take on a mix of support, damage, and defensive skills. Classes aren't locked into a specific build – that means a Necromancer can be the party Healer, and a Sorcerer can be a Tank.
When it comes to dealing damage, every class has strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, and the differences between the six are apparent in their playstyles. A Sorcerer can reliably deal high damage from range, while a Nightblade is generally much more suited to close-quarters movement-based fighting. Despite these differences, though, no one class outshines the rest in ESO.
Updated October 12, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: The vast variety of builds in The Elder Scrolls Online gives each class plenty of paths to take to find their favorite build. The max DPS output for each class differs and changes with every update, but currently, Magicka-based builds tend to fare better than Stamina-based ones. Dual-wielding Destruction Staffs is a great way to boost DPS while sacrificing melee-oriented skills, and the skill line also grants several useful abilities to classes otherwise without access to similar effects. The Dragonknight and Nightblade classes, for example, might seem like melee fighters, but ultimately they do much more DPS when using Magicka morphs and wielding two Fire Staffs rather than Stamina morphs and close-combat weapons.
Dragonknight: "Valakas"
The Dragonknight is arguably the best Tank-oriented class in the game, and likewise one would expect their melee prowess to extend to DPS builds too. In fact, Magicka-based Dragonknights tend to deal far more damage than their Stamina-based counterparts, and the "Valakas" build from AlcastHQ lays out a great way to capitalize on this with two Fire Staffs instead of any martial weapons. It helps that class abilities like Burning Embers, Engulfing Flames, and Molten Whip can be used with Destruction Staffs more effectively at a range.
The Destruction Staff skill tree also gives the Dragonknight a variety of powerful boons like Inner Light, Harness Magicka, and Unstable Wall of Elements, and the Mage's Guild skill line gives the Ultimate ability Shooting Star for damage and CC. The Mothers Sorrow and Medusa sets are used for this build thanks to their increased Spell Critical, alongside the Zaan set for its huge DPS increase and the Perfected Arms of Relequen for its increase to Wall of Elements damage.
Necromancer: "Death's Grasp"
The Necromancer is one of the more unique classes in The Elder Scrolls Online for two reasons. Firstly, some spells unique to Necromancers are considered crimes. Secondly, this class is equally proficient in each of the three classic RPG party roles. The "Death's Grasp" build by RealWaywardGaming guides players down a pure damage route for this class.
The Elemental Catalyst set and Medusa set are instrumental to this build's combat prowess. These both increase critical chance hugely, and offer additional stacking effects. Interestingly, Inferno Staffs take both front and back bars. The front bar focuses on dealing damage. Meanwhile, the back bar has multiple support and defensive abilities, like Unnerving Boneyard and Harness Magicka. These can keep the Necromancer alive long after they should have died.
Nightblade "Azure"
The Nightblade in The Elder Scrolls Online is typically played as a Stamina-based melee fighter with a focus on Dual Wielding and Bow; it just fits the class aesthetic. However, the Nightblade's highest potential DPS is actually found in Magicka-based builds, as their class abilities work on all equipped weapons, including Destruction Staffs. The "Azure" build from AlcastHQ capitalizes on this potential very effectively.
With a Fire Staff in both the main and back bars, the Nightblade has access to a powerful damage-oriented frontline and a self-sustain and CC-based backline. Nightblade abilities like Siphoning Attacks and Merciless Resolve and the Ultimate Incapacitating Strike imbue the Destruction Staffs with special properties, and Impale can be used without a blade equipped. Its back bar spells, like Twisting Path and Harness Magicka, maintain the Nightblade's DPS while providing other benefits. The armor sets Mother's Sorrow and Medusa are recommended for this build thanks to their increased Spell Critical.
Sorcerer: "Mystic"
The Sorcerer is one of the more combat-oriented classes in the game. Though it has access to support and tank-like abilities that give it access to every role in dungeons, it excels when it comes to DPS output, especially burst DPS. For this reason, the "Mystic" build from Alcast HQ is a great go-to for setting up a winning Sorcerer build.
The build is described as a "glass cannon" approach. It takes player damage to new extremes at the cost of little to no defense. The build uses a Destruction Staff in both the front and back bars. These work in tandem with a smattering of direct damage, AoE, and minion spells like Summon Volatile Familiar and Summon Twilight Tormentor. As for armor, the Mother's Sorrow set is a simple upgrade to several stats, but it's an important one for Sorcerers to flesh out fully for its benefits.
Templar: "Radiant Justice"
Templars in The Elder Scrolls Online are comparable to Amazons from Diablo 2 in many ways – and it's not just because of their iconic use of spears. They are great at self-sustaining and have a lot of variety in their builds. Templars function just as well taking blows as they do standing back to deal damage from afar.
The "Radiant Justice" build by Pelle412 and Dottz Gaming is a Magicka-based Templar build designed to stay a little further back and play the support role in addition to dealing huge damage from a distance. The Destruction Staff in both front and back slots grants access to several ranged specialty spells not normally associated with the Templar. However, the class abilities from Dawn's Wrath and Restoring Light also provide party-wide buffs and support. It's great for solo play, and it's finely tuned for party play too.
Warden: "Ice and Fire"
The Warden, like the Necromancer, is an incredibly varied class able to take on multiple roles in The Elder Scrolls Online. When a player specs fully into the Animal Companions and Winter's Embrace skill trees, it almost feels like playing a one-man army. Combine this with a mix of the Undaunted and Destruction Staff abilities for an unstoppable character.
The "Ice and Fire" build by Alcast HQ does exactly this. The main hand and back bar are, like many top-ranked builds, Destruction Staffs that complement the class' skills. The build is Magicka-based and takes skills from the Undaunted skill line, specifically Mystic Orb, to add to its damaging repertoire. Add that to the Bird of Prey ability, the Eternal Guardian ultimate, and the Harness Magicka skill. With this build, the Warden becomes practically unstoppable in a 1v1 setting.
The Elder Scrolls Online is available on PC/Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S