ESO classes explained: what each one actually does (new player guide)
Last reviewed 2026-06-14🎮 Works on console (no add-ons)
New to ESO and unsure which class to pick? Here is the honest part most guides skip: in ESO almost every class can do almost every role (DPS, tank, healer) — your gear and skills matter more than your class. But each class has an identity and a few things it does best. Here is what each one actually is.
Dragonknight — the durable fire bruiser
Draconic power: fire, earth and poison. The classic tanky melee class — heavy armour, strong self-healing and reliable mitigation.
Best at: tanking (a long-time meta tank) and sturdy melee DPS. Forgiving for new players who like to stand and fight.
Sorcerer — storms, pets and shields
Lightning and storm magic, summoned pets (a twilight and a clannfear), damage shields, and the iconic Streak teleport for mobility.
Best at: ranged burst DPS and very beginner-friendly pet builds where your pets do a chunk of the damage. Strong in PvE and PvP.
Nightblade — the assassin
Shadow and siphoning magic built around stealth, burst and strong self-healing.
Best at: top-tier single-target DPS and ganking in PvP. A bit less forgiving — it rewards timing — but extremely strong once learned.
Templar — the healer (and spear DPS)
Aedric spear, light-based damage and restoring light. ESO's premier healer, and also a strong, simple melee DPS with its spammable spear (Jabs).
Best at: healing groups, and easy-to-pilot DPS. A great first class if you want to heal dungeons.
Warden — nature, frost and a bear
Animal companions (including a bear ultimate), frost magic and nature healing. The most flexible class — frost tank, capable DPS, and an excellent healer.
Best at: doing a bit of everything well, plus the most beginner-friendly frost tank. Pick it if you want options.
Necromancer — death magic and corpses
Skeletons, corpses and death magic, with the screen-clearing Colossus ultimate. Capable in all three roles.
One quirk: some Necromancer abilities count as criminal — cast them in town and you get a bounty. Best at: high burst DPS and strong group support, for players who do not mind a little extra management.
Arcanist — the newest class (tome & crux)
Added in the Necrom chapter. Runs on a unique crux resource you build up and spend, with a channelled beam (Fatecarver) as its signature.
Best at: strong, relatively simple DPS plus capable tank and healer kits. A popular modern pick — it just plays differently from the older classes because of the crux system.
So which should I pick?Community-reported
For a first character, the gentlest starts are Templar (easy healer + DPS), Warden (flexible and forgiving) or a pet Sorcerer (DPS that partly plays itself). Want pure damage with a learning curve? Nightblade or Arcanist. Want to tank? Dragonknight or Warden.
Honestly, you cannot pick wrong — every class clears all the content. Pick the fantasy you like; ESO lets you respec skills and change roles cheaply later.