arcanist beginner
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ByArzyeL

Arcanist Beginner Guide

This Arcanist Beginner Guide will teach you everything you need to know about the Class in ESO! The Arcanist is the class of Eldritch Horror and Magic Damage in The Elder Scrolls Online! The Arcanist Class is available for purchase and does not come with the base game. It relies on Magic Damage and the Crux system to destroy its enemies! It can deal massive damage to single targets but also groups of enemies thanks to its powerful abilities. A flexible Class with strong offensive skills that use your primary resource. If you wish to learn more about every available ESO Class, you can read my ESO Class Guide!

Table of Contents

Why Choose Arcanist in ESO

The Arcanist is an interesting Class in ESO, with its own unique feature, the Crux System! Certain abilities can generate a special resource for the Arcanist called Crux. You can then use other abilities that consume Crux in order to enhance your capabilities and deal more damage, heal for more or apply a different effect. Crux is a unique system and the Arcanist is the only ESO Class that utilizes it! As a Class, the Arcanist also relies a lot on Magic Damage based skills and effects. Focusing on another type of elemental damage or status effect might not be very productive for your Arcanist Build! Because of this the distinction between Magicka and Stamina Arcanist is not that clear. Both types of Arcanist use similar abilities to achieve the best results.

It is possible to differentiate your Magicka and Stamina Builds by using weapon, guild and other lines abilities or simply follow a more Hybrid approach. Both Magicka and Stamina Arcanists seem to be potent as damage dealers but they shine more at support roles. This is because of the several buffs and debuffs they can provide a group with their skills! To maximize your efficiency as an Arcanist, in any role, it is important to take advantage of the Crux System though.

arcanist beginner

Arcanist Beginner Builds:

What Skills are the Best for Arcanist – Arcanist Beginner

Before we can talk of the most important Arcanist skills, you have to decide what kind of Arcanist you wish to play! A Magicka based or Stamina based Arcanist. This will determine the type of gameplay and the morphs of skills you should choose as you level up. To create a Magicka based Arcanist(DD or Healer) allocate all your available attribute points to Magicka. To create a Stamina one, allocate your points to Stamina. You can also mix them up if you wish to make a Tank character.

Leveling an Arcanist and its skills is similar to leveling any other class in the game. There are several methods you can follow to level up fast and efficiently, like grinding XP at specific locations, clearing Dolmens and completing group content. You can find a lot more info on how to level up a character fast and efficiently in my ESO Leveling Guide.

There are several important skills you should unlock and level up as soon as possible. Class, Weapons and Guild Skills that will help you create the build of your dreams! To level up skills and skill-lines, always have one or more of their skills in your active bar, even if you are not using them. So let’s start with the most important Arcanist Class skills.

Class Skills – Arcanist Beginner

The Arcanist has three unique skill lines with abilities suitable for every role in the game. Most of their offensive abilities use your primary resource which makes them perfect for Magicka but also Stamina Builds!

The Arcanist Class Skill lines are:

Herald of the Tome

arcanist beginner
Herald of the Tome Skills

Herald of the Tome is focusing on offense and is offering a variety of abilities to use! Runeblades and morphs is the Class’ main spammable that also generates Crux! You can combine this with Fatecarver or Abyssal Impact, depending on your preferred play style! Abyssal Impact and its morphs apply a powerful debuff to enemies and deal great damage, while Fatecarver fires a deadly beam that destroys enemies. You can combine two or all three of these skills as a Magicka or Stamina Arcanist and deal massive damage!

Tome-Bearer’s Inspiration and morphs offer buffs and passive damage while The Imperfect Ring is a strong Damage over Time ability! Finally The Unblinking Eye and morphs is a powerful Ultimate that deals massive damage to enemies in the area!

Soldier of Apocrypha

arcanist beginner
Soldier of Apocrypha Skills

Soldier of Apocrypha is the Tank oriented line of the Arcanist! Gibbering Shield and its morphs protects and basically reflects damage to enemies around you. Runic Jolt is a weird taunt ability that also debuffs enemies while Runespite Ward, Fatewoven Armor and Runic Defense offer defensive bonuses along with shields and passive heals! Rune of Eldritch Horror and its morphs is the Arcanist’s fear that can also debuff enemies. A pretty important skill for support roles in PVE or PVP gameplay!

Curative Runeforms

Curative Runeforms Skills

Curative Runeforms is focusing on healing and support. Vitalizing Glyphic is an interactive Ultimate that buffs and heals you and your group. The heal is stronger when you heal or damage the glyphic based on its morph! Runemend is the Arcanist’s dedicated Heal ability while Remedy Cascade offers a unique beam of healing! Chakram Shield and morphs offers a protective shield to yourself and allies while the Arcanist’s Domain can offer an area that buffs and heals you. Finally the Apocryphal Gate is an interesting new mechanism that allows you to travel fast to a target location.

Weapon Skills – Arcanist Beginner

The Arcanist requires the good use of the Crux system to work properly. This means that although you can use Weapon skills, they will not be the best for an effective build. Still there are a few nice skills you can use if you wish.

Crushing Shock and Force Pulse, morphs of Force Shock can work as a spammable for Magicka Arcanist. Wall of Elements and its morphs are important for AOE attacks while Elemental Drain(Weakness to Elements morph) will assist in solo gameplay. Finally the Elemental Storm Ultimate and its two morphs are strong enough to use in PVE or PVP.

Stamina Arcanists can use Endless Hail and Poison Injection Bow skills in their back-bar while both Arcanists can utilize Stampede and Carve from Two handed. Dizzying Swing for PVP and Wrecking Blow for PVE are going to be your spammables if you are using a Two Handed Weapon. Cleave and its morphs are great for dealing with lots of enemies while Reverse Slash and its morphs are an amazing execute ability. Stampede is another excellent skill you can use in PVE or PVP. Rapid Strikes or Whirling Blades can be a strong spammable if you are using Dual Wield. Deadly Cloak and Shrouded Daggers will also assist you if you wish to focus more on the Dual Wield play style.

One Hand and Shield is your weapon of choice if you wish to play a Tank role and Restoration Staff for Healers. If you wish to play as a Tank, then you will also need the Pierce Armor Taunt skill(Puncture Morph) to draw aggro and Heroic Slash( Low Slash Morph) to boost your Ultimate generation. For Healers, Grand Healing, Regeneration, Blessing of Protection and their morphs are very important to fulfill their role successfully. The Light’s Champion Ultimate(Panacea Morph) from this line is also a powerful PVP ability for Magicka Arcanists.

Guilds Skills – Arcanist Beginner

There are also several Guild lines in the game that offer strong and important abilities. Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Undaunted and Psijic Order skills can be quite helpful.

Barbed Trap( Trap Beast Morph) is the skill you must unlock as soon as possible from the Fighters Guild, for your Arcanist, Stamina or Magicka. The reason for this is because it provides the Minor Force buff, increasing your Critical Damage done. It is mostly a PVE skill. The alternative to this would be Accelerate and its Morphs from the Psijic Order line but this is harder to unlock.

Dawnbreaker is a powerful Ultimate with morphs for PVE and PVP gameplay while Camouflaged Hunter is helpful as well. The Mages Guild offers a few potent skills for Magicka Arcanists, including a powerful Ultimate, Meteor. Inner Light can boost Spell Critical and Max Magicka while Entropy and Fire Rune offer great offensive spells with their morphs.

The Undaunted skill line offers mostly support spells for all roles but also two powerful passives. The two passives should be your priority from this line. Finally the Psijic Order has a good spammable for Magicka Characters in general. Elemental Weapon(Imbue Weapon Morph) will boost your damage and help you achieve good DPS if you have another way to generate Crux. This is strictly a PVE skill however.

Alliance War Skills – Arcanist Beginner

Vigor and Morphs are great healing abilities for Stamina characters while Razor Caltrops(Caltrops Morph) can debuff enemies when solo and make it easier to kill them. The Continuous Attack passive will provide Major Gallop when mounted, making travel easier and faster.

Skills Priority – Arcanist Beginner

Unlocking and leveling up your Class active skills and passives, should be your number one priority. This will unlock the potential of your Class and allow you to combine them for better results. Weapon and Guild Skills should follow after. Of course everything depends on your goals and preferred play style. Getting a strong spammable and a good AOE ability early will allow you to level up faster and more efficiently. Regarding Passives, i always recommend getting everything from skill lines you are using. Again Class Passives, along with Racial ones, should come first, followed by Weapon and Guild ones.

Mundus Stones – Arcanist Beginner

Mundus Stones offer strong buffs to your character that can help you complete content faster. They are located all around Tamriel and based on their offered buff are more suitable for PVE or PVP gameplay. When you are leveling up you should get the Atronach Mundus that boosts Magicka Recovery or the Serpent Mundus that boosts Stamina Recovery. This will assist you with sustain and will allow you to use your skills for longer.

As you are getting more experienced and can sustain better, switch to the Lover Mundus. The Lover boosts your Penetration, making it easier to kill enemies. A great option for early gameplay but also Solo content.

For group PVE you want to switch to the Thief (better Critical Chance). For PVP get the Warrior(more Weapon Damage), the Apprentice(more Spell Damage) or even the Atronach/Serpent for better Sustain. Tank characters can benefit from the Atronach Mundus while Healers can use the Atronach, the Apprentice or even the Ritual(better Healing).

Champion Points – Arcanist Beginner

After level 50 you will start earning Champion Points. These allow you to unlock Passive and Slottable Stars in the Champion Points tab, that can further empower your character. You can earn Champion Points by simply playing the game and leveling up. In total there are three constellations in the Elder Scrolls Online:

  • Warfare
  • Fitness
  • Craft

Each constellation offers different Stars that can help with different roles and activities. Warfare is the constellation that is focusing more on combat and provides bonuses to Damage Dealers, Tanks and Healers. Allocating your Champion Points appropriately and unlocking the right Stars for the role you wish to fulfill is rather important. You can find more info on Champion Points and the right Passive and Slottable Stars for every Role in my Champion Points Guide.

Vampire or Werewolf – Arcanist Beginner

Being a Vampire or Werewolf is not necessary to fully enjoy your Arcanist. However a Stamina Arcanist is an excellent Class to use for a Werewolf Build. If that is something you wish. You can find a lot more info on Vampires and Werewolves in my ESO Vampire vs Werewolf Guide.

Build Examples

There are more than one ways you can setup your Magicka or Stamina Arcanist. It all depends on your favorite play style and the content you wish to complete. Some setups are better for Solo PVE, other for Group Trials content and other for Battlegrounds or Open World PVP. Here are some Builds you can use, depending on gameplay:

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