Quick Links
Since its initial launch in 2014,The Elder Scrolls Onlinehas come a long way to become one of the strongest MMOs available today. With yearly new expansions to keep players invested, ESO continues to add new ways to enjoy the vast world of Tamriel and beyond.
RELATED:How To Play Elder Scrolls Online In Chronological Order
At the MMO’s inception, you could choose between the four classes of Templar, Nightblade, Dragonknight, and Sorcerer. Two more classes have been added to the game over the years: the Warden and Necromancer, which were added with the Morrowind and Elsweyr chapters, respectively. After them came theArcanistclass, which arrived inThe Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom.
The Lore Of The Arcanist
Magic can take on numerous formsin the world of ESO, and it gets distilled down into the categories that make up the different classes you’re able to choose from. There hasn’t been some sudden change in reality that made Arcanists appear, but ratherthey have always been there. With the Necrom chapter, it just seems that they are becoming more apparent.
Thesource of an Arcanist’s magicis tied to a mysterious book that came fromthe realm ofApocrypha, controlled byHermaeus Mora,Daedric Prince of knowledge and secrets. Somehow the book made its way to the world of Tamriel, waiting for the right person to stumble across it. Aspecial bond forms between the book and the person, and then the book can be used as a tool to control the magic that stems from Apocrypha.
In anESO Loremaster’s discussion of the Arcanist, the in-game scholar Azandar al-Cybiades sheds more light on the Arcanists. The Arcanists draw onancient forbidden knowledgeand control magic throughrunic text, sigils, and glyphs. They can alsosummon tentacles and other creatures from Apocryphato help protect themselves or aid them in battle.
After all, that is the one immutable truth I can tell you about being an arcanist: the font of my power bubbles within Hermaeus Mora’s realm.
The books that Arcanists use aren’t likethe Black Books that appeared in Skyrimthat would teleport you to the realm of Apocrypha, but they are inspired by the Black Books.The books are just tools that focus magic. Arcanists can be scholars, Daedra worshippers, or just normal adventurers.
The Arcanist Crux System
Another thing that makes the Arcanist special is aunique resource mechanictied to the class. TheCrux Systemaffects many Arcanist abilities in one way or another and is visualized asglowing green runes circling your character.
Some abilities generate Crux, whileothers consume Crux for extra benefits. Some abilities even have extra perks if you have more active Crux around you, such as more damage done with that ability.
The Crux System can be completely ignored.ESO doesn’t force you to manage Cruxor punish you for not doing so. But if you want to find the best builds and skill rotations for your Arcanist, the Crux System is a rewarding mechanic that adds more nuance to the class.
The Arcanist Skill Lines
The Arcanist class all comes together with itsthree distinct skill lines. Flexibility is key in ESO, and whileyou can mix and match abilitiesthat you want from each skill line, each of them has a role that they focus on.
Herald of the Tomefocuses on thedamage role,Soldier of Apocryphafocuses on thetank role, andCurative Runeformsfocuses on thehealer role.
ESO has been great recently about giving you the flexibility to play how you want, which is true with how the skill lines work. TheArcanist also allows for hybridization, so you don’t have to only focus on Magicka or Stamina. Some abilities use whateverresource you have that is higher in stats.
Here is a deeper dive intoall the active and passive abilities for the Arcanist class, including what rank is required in the skill line to unlock it and how the skill interacts with the Crux System.
Stat values for abilities are not included, as they can change depending on your build and could change with any game balance updates.
Herald of the Tome - Damage Skill Line
Summon creatures from Apocrypha and focus blasts of energy todeal the most damageto your enemies in theHerald of the Tomeskill line.
1
Runeblades
You launch Apocryphal runes at an enemy to deal Magic Damage.
4
Fatecarver
You aim and channel a beam of energy that deals Magic Damage consistently during its duration.
20
Abyssal Impact
You form tentacles to lash out at enemies in front of you to deal Physical Damage. This marks enemies with Abyssal Ink, which increases your damage against them for a short time.
30
Tome-Bearer’s Inspiration
You etch runes onto your weapons that deal additional Magic Damage to enemies when you attack. If this ability is slotted on either ability bar, you gain increased Weapon and Spell Damage.
42
The Imperfect Ring
You summon a rune under an enemy that deals Magic Damage over time. Allies can activate the Runebreak synergy to deal additional Frost Damage in an area.
10
The Unblinking Eye (Ultimate)
You summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora that casts a beam of energy that deals Magic Damage in an area.
Fated Fortune
Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing when you generate or consume Crux.
14
Harnessed Quintessence
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage when you restore Stamina or Magicka.
22
Psychic Lesion
You deal increased damage through Status Effects and gain increase Status Effect Chance.
39
Splintered Secrets
For each Herald of the Tome ability slotted, you gain increases Physical and Spell Penetration.
Soldier of Apocrypha - Tank Skill Line
Master the runes from your book to become a well-rounded tank in theSoldier of Apocryphaskill line. You cancommand your enemies' focusandabsorb damage that you can reflect backor even use to heal yourself.
Runic Jolt
You craft a rune that taunts an enemy, deals Magic Damage, and applies reductions to their damage dealt.
Runespite Ward
You summon a rune shield that absorbs damage and reflects some of that damage back at your attacker.
Fatewoven Armor
You create runes that increase your armor and reduce an attacker’s armor when you take damage.
Runic Defense
You cast a rune that increases your and your group’s armor, reduces your damage taken and heals you if you are below half health.
Rune of Eldritch Horror
You etch a rune in your enemy’s mind, paralyzing them after a delay. This applies a debuff that increases their damage taken.
Gibbering Shield (Ultimate)
Form protective tentacles around you to absorb damage scaling off your Max Health. At the end of the Ultimate, the tentacles lash out and deal Magic Damage to surrounding enemies.
Aegis of the Unseen
Wellspring of the Abyss
Curative Runeforms - Healer Skill Line
Draw on the power of Apocrypha toheal your allies and protect them with shieldsin theCurative Runeformsskill line. Plus, you can provide some much-needed buffs and utility to yourself and your allies.
Create runes that heal yourself or an ally.
Self or Ally
Remedy Cascade
You aim and channel a beam that heals you and allies in its path during the channel duration.
Chakram Shields
You summon mystical discs to surround you and allies to grant a shield.
Arcanist’s Domain
You create a vortex of energy that increases your and your allies' Weapon and Spell Damage, Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery.
Apocryphal Gate
You summon a portal at your location, with a twin portal further away. You can teleport between the two.
Vitalizing Glyphic (Ultimate)
You summon an Apocryphal glyph at your location that heals in an area of effect and increases Weapon and Spell Damage. You and your allies can heal the glyph to boost the healing it does.
Hideous Clarity
Each time you generate Crux, you restore Magicka or Stamina (whichever has the higher max).
You gain increases Magicka and Stamina Recovery.
Intricate Runeforms
Your damages shields have increased strength and a reduced cost.
All in all, the Arcanist class brings a whole new world of possibilities to The Elder Scrolls Online.It has exciting abilities, a nuanced resource system, and a unique visual and sound design.It might be the perfect time for former players to dive back into the game for a fresh start. For new players, it could be a great time to try a new adventure with all the MMO has to offer.
