The Elder Scrolls Onlineis an expansive game. The map features just about the entirety of the continent of Tamriel, including familiar locations from the mainlineElder Scrollsgames. The game’s PvP system takes place in Cyrodiil, the setting forThe Elder Scrolls IV:Oblivion, and is built around the Alliance War.
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It’s a different system to other MMOs becausePvP takes place entirely in one locationinESO. Cyrodiil is just as big as it was in the fourthElder Scrollsgame, though. There’s just as much variety in player builds as there is room to roam the Imperial City’s surroundings. Some builds, though, clearly outshine others.
Updated July 01, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: When it comes to theESO best PvP class 2021has to offer, each of the game’s six choices has a number of builds tuned specifically for the task of killing other players. Each class variety of builds have their own strengths and weaknesses, but at the end of the day,ESO PvP buildsare made to excel at this one aspect of the game, whereas PvE builds are designed for dungeons. That isn’t to say there isn’t some overlap, though, and some powerful PvE builds are just as good, if not better, for PvP combat – especially when taking on Cyrodil with a group rather than on one’s own.
Dragonknight: “Drotoxium”
The Dragonknight isThe Elder Scrolls Online’s most distinct tank class, though it does have the potential to deal high damage as well as take it. TheDrotoxium build by Dobleis a stamina-based, semi-ranged build. It takes the best of both worlds, turning a Dragonknight into a self-sustaining force to be reckoned with.
The build uses aTwo-Handed weaponin the main action bar, featuring spells like Venomous Claw and Take Flight tolaunch the Dragonknight into a flurryof devastating attacks. The back bar uses aBow, with a variety of Support abilities to keep the Dragonknight alive. The build putsevery single Attribute Point into Staminato complement its huge reliance on Stamina-based abilities. With that back bar of self-healing and defensive abilities, though, the lack of health points rarely matters.
Necromancer: “Curse”
The Necromancer is a class able to take on any of the three classic dungeon-crawling party roles, beingfully skilled at the DPS, Tank, and Support roles equally. With that said, it tends to strive particularly strongly at DPS thanks to the number of skills available to the class that outrank other classes. The"Curse" build from AlcastHQtakes full advantage of this damage-oriented skillset. The “Curse” build gives the Necromancer not one, but two Destruction Staffs to use, effectively dual-wielding the same Destruction Staff with two completely separate ability bars in one of the most interestingESOPvP builds.
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The main bar uses the DPS abilitiesMystic Orb, Skeletal Arcanist, Richochet Skull, and Stalking Blastbonesalongside the ultimate abilityShooting Star. The back bar usesUnstable Wall of Elements, Unnerving Boneyard, Harness Magicka, and Necrotic Potencyto let the Necromancer self-buff and support their party in a damage-oriented manner, alongside theGlacial Colossusultimate to take threat off the player. The only ability shared between the two is Mystic Siphon – the build also makes use of theMother’s SorrowandMedusasets to maximize damage output.
Nightblade: “Rampage”
The Elder Scrolls Online’s Nightblade is considered by some to be thebest PvP classESOoffers, though there are plenty of skills that make it decent as aSupportPvP party member too. TheStamina-based"Rampage" build by Alcast HQputs the class to the test by giving the Nightblade aDual-Wieldweapon in the main bar and aBowin the back bar, allowing them to effectively dance between melee and Bow range in combat. TheKinras’s WrathandPerfected Arms of Relequenarmor sets are the recommended choices here for their wide-ranging benefits to the build.
The “Rampage” build puts damage-oriented abilities in both the main and back bar, though the back bar has some abilities mixed in that help keep the player alive in tough fights.Deadly CloakandRelentless Focusare two Dual-Wield abilities that should be cast as often as possible, alongside the ultimateIncapacitaing Strike. The back Bow bar uses spells like the AoE abilityEndless Hail,Consuming Trap, and the ultimateFlawless Dawnbreaker(as well asLeeching StrikesandResolving Vigor) to keep the Nightblade ready to get back into the fray without sacrificing damage output.
Sorcerer: “The Magister”
The Sorcerer is a typical spell-and-staff wielding class that has the potential for enormous damage output when played optimally. The PvP build"The Magister" by Dottz Gamingtakes advantage of the class' extremely powerful toolkit. It also dons the Sorcerer inHeavy Armorinstead of Light Armor for damage mitigation. “The Magister” takes the aspects that make the Sorcerer so good in PvE and turns it into the Sorcerer’sESObest PvP build 2021has available.
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Though the Sorcerer dons Heavy Armor for this build, they still rely onDestruction Staffs, namely the Inferno Staff and Ice Staff, for their front and back bars. TheSorcerer is typically greatfor PvE content thanks to its uninterrupted ranged attacks; however, in PvP, the class has to worry about other players. For this reason, the build makes use of theCrushing Shock spell, a damaging interrupt. Additionally, theStreak spellstuns enemies in the Sorcerer’s path to mitigate some of this.
Templar: “Warrior”
The Templar class is just as capable of taking on multiple roles in a group as any other, though it is primarily oriented towards theSupport and Tankroles over DPS. The"Warrior" build from AlcastHQmakes use of the class' great single and AoE damage skills alongside a swathe of self-sustaining abilities that make it a great build for party or solo play. As aStaminabuild, the main weapon bar uses aTwo-Handedweapon, while the back bar is filled by theBow, allowing a Templar to be effective in close combat and at a range.
One of the most important pieces of the set is in its armor bonuses. ThePerfected Arms of Relequenset grants extraStamina, Weapon Critical, and grants theMinor Slayerbuff as well as astacking damage bonus. For its abilities, the main Two-Handed bar uses a number of damage-oriented skills likeBiting Jabs, Barbed Trap, and the ultimateFlawless Dawnbreaker, while the back Bow bar uses self-sustaining and buffing skills likeResolving Vigor, Restoring Focus, andRitual of Retributionto make the Templar (and their allies) more effective.
Warden: “Nature’s Wrath”
The Elder Scrolls Online’s closest representation of a classic fantasy Ranger is found in the Warden. This class has a huge variety of spells at its disposal through three distinct class trees. What Wardens lack in damage output they more than make up for with enemy debuffs and other esoteric spells. Its not typically thought of asESObest PvP class, but it’s a different story in the"Nature’s Wrath" build by Dottz Gaming.
The build has the playerturn into a Werewolffor a huge increase to base stamina recovery. It also uses theClever Alchemist and Hunding’s Rage set, which increase weapon and spell damage significantly. The main bar usesdual-wielded weaponryand close-quarters spells likeWhirling Blades and Dawnbreaker of Smitingfor DPS bursts. On the back bar is a one-handed sword and shield.Pair these with a variety of Support and control-based abilities likeSoothing Spores and Ice Fortress, togive the Warden a tactical edge.
