The BOW-CANIST Build is a simple yet POWERFUL Build option for the Arcanist class focused on using the Bow as both a primary and secondary weapon. This build does fantastic damage and is flexible enough for both Solo and Group content!
Arcanist Class Overview
The Arcanist Class is an extremely powerful way to play in The Elder Scrolls Online. Arcanists have many similarities with other classes in ESO such as dedicated Class Skill lines for DPS, for Healing, and for Tanking. Arcanists are also extremely unique in that they make use of a powerful new game mechanic called Crux. For a more detailed guide be sure to review our ESO Arcanist Class Guide located here.
Primary Sets
First, the Deadly Strike set is one of the strongest Arcanist sets you can use in the game if you intend to use the Arcanist’s channeled Beam attack as this set buffs all channels and DOTs by a whopping 15 percent!
We’ve combined this with another damage-focused set that is easily craftable in Order’s Wrath.
For the monster set, Stormfist is a powerful option that deals great damage while also providing bonus recovery.
Finally, our back bar weapon slot is open for any type of bow you want to use. I recommend using an arena weapon such as the Master’s Bow, also known as Caustic Arrow.
Deadly Strike
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(3 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(4 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(5 items) Increase the damage your Damage Over Time and Channeled Abilities do by 15%.
Order’s Wrath
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(3 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(4 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(5 items) Adds 943 Critical Chance, Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 8%.
Stormfist
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(1 item) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery
(2 items) When you deal damage, you have a 10% chance to create a thunderfist to crush the enemy, dealing 1650 Shock Damage every 1 second for 3 seconds to all enemies within 4 meters and a final 8470 Physical Damage when the fist closes. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds. The Shock Damage dealt from this set bypasses Spell Resistance.
Alternative Sets
Other offensive sets like Briarheart will also be a solid replacement if you do not have access to the sets above. If you have access to trials gear you can also use a set like Coral Riptide for even more damage.
Briarheart
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(3 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Stamina
(4 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(5 items) When you deal Critical Damage, you increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 450 for 10 seconds. While this effect is active your Critical Strikes heal you for 100 Health. This effect can occur once every 15 seconds and the heal scales off the higher of your Maximum Magicka or Stamina.
Coral Riptide
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(3 items) Gain Minor Slayer at all times, increasing your damage done to Dungeon, Trial, and Arena Monsters by 5%.
(4 items) Adds 1401 Offensive Penetration
(5 items) Increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by up to 740 based on your missing Stamina.
Gear Set Up
| Weapon/Armor | Set | Trait | Weight | Glyph |
| Main Hand | Deadly Strike | Precise | NA | Absorb Stamina |
| Backup | The Master’s Bow | Infused | NA | Weapon/Spell Damage |
| Head | Stormfist | Divines | Medium | Stamina |
| Shoulder | Stormfist | Divines | Light | Stamina |
| Chest | Order’s Wrath | Divines | Medium | Stamina |
| Waist | Order’s Wrath | Divines | Medium | Stamina |
| Gloves | Order’s Wrath | Divines | Medium | Stamina |
| Legs | Order’s Wrath | Divines | Medium | Stamina |
| Feet | Order’s Wrath | Divines | Medium | Stamina |
| Necklace | Deadly Strike | Bloodthirsty | NA | Weapon Damage |
| Ring 1 | Deadly Strike | Bloodthirsty | NA | Weapon Damage |
| Ring 2 | Deadly Strike | Bloodthirsty | NA | Weapon Damage |
Race, Mundus, and Consumables
My favorite race for this build is Khajiit thanks to their increased recovery, maximum stats, and Critical Damage. Dark Elf will be a slight improvement over Khajiit at end-game due to their increased Stamina and Magicka as well as bonus Weapon/Spell Damage.
Mundus
The Thief
Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1333
With 7 Divines armor pieces
Increases the Critical Strike rating by 2167
Food/Drink Buff
Lava Foot Soup-and-Saltrice or Dubious Camoran Throne
Lava Foot Soup-and-saltrice
Increase Max Stamina by 4936 and Stamina Recovery by 493 for 2 hours. These effects are scaled based on your level.
Potions
Basic Stamina Potion, Tri-Stat Potions, or Heroism
Skills
Main Weapon: BOW – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
- Tentacular Dread or Cephaliarch’s Flail
- Pragmatic Fatecarver
- Inspired Scholarship
- Writhing Runeblades
- Camouflaged Hunter
- ULT: The Languid Eye
Backup Weapon: BOW – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
- Poison Injection
- Endless Hail
- Razor Caltrops
- Channeled Acceleration or Evolving Runemend
- Camouflaged Hunter or Reconstructive Domain
- ULT: Sanctum Of The Abyssal Sea
Skills Discussion & Rotation
Start/Buffs
Begin by casting Channeled Acceleration, followed by Inspired Scholarship.
Rotation
Starting on the Backbar: Poison Injection, Endless Hail, Razor Caltrops -> Barswap
Frontbar: Runeblades x 2, Tentacular Dread, Runeblades x 2, Pragmatic Fatecarver
Notes
For every 2 rotations you will need to recast Inspired Scholarship, and for every 4 rotations recast Channeled Acceleration. Use your Ultimate when ready.
Passive Skills
Class Passives
- Fated Fortune
- Harnessed Quintessence
- Psychic Lesion
- Splintered Secrets
- Aegis Of The Unseen
- Wellspring Of The Abyss
- Circumvented Fate
- Implacable Outcome
- Healing Tides
- Hideous Clarity
- Erudition
- Intricate Runeforms
Weapon Passives
Armor Passives
Guild Passives
Racial
Other
Companions
If you like playing Solo, this build can benefit greatly from using Companions! This Solo build will benefit the most from the additional crowd control and defense that a Companion Tank can offer, so if you are going to use a Companion I would suggest a full Tank build to complement this build the best. I recommend Isobel Veloise for Companion on this build with the setup below. More information on Companions Builds and Skills can be found in our detailed Companion Guides section.
Recommended Gear
- All Heavy Armor – Quickened & Vigorous Traits
- One Hand and Shield
Recommended Skills
Additional Skills
The skills below may also be helpful in other situations such as trash pulls.
Check out the Full Isobel Tank guide for more information!
Champion Points
Below you will find the recommended Active and Passive Champion Point Stars for this build, broken down into 300, 600, 900, and 1200 CP ranges.
For more information on Champion Points click on a Star name below or browse our detailed Champion Points Guides.
Constellation Descriptions:
Craft
The Green Craft Constellation is focused on crafting and utility-centered upgrades.
Warfare
The Blue Warfare Constellation focuses primarily on increasing player damage, healing and defenses
Fitness
The Red Fitness Constellation is focused on character survival and sustain.
– 300 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
RED
– 600 Champion Points –
GREEN
- 50 Steed’s Blessing (Slot)
- 50 Gilded Fingers
- 10 Fortune’s Favor
- 15 Wanderer
- 40 Steadfast Enchantment
- 30 Rationer (Slot)
BLUE
RED
– 900 Champion Points –
GREEN
- 50 Steed’s Blessing (Slot)
- 50 Gilded Fingers
- 10 Fortune’s Favor
- 15 Wanderer
- 40 Steadfast Enchantment
- 30 Rationer (Slot)
- 50 Breakfall
- 50 Treasure Hunter (Slot)
BLUE
- 20 Precision
- 20 Piercing
- 50 Wrathful Strikes (Slot)
- 50 Biting Aura (Slot)
- 50 Thaumaturge (Slot)
- 50 Fighting Finesse (Slot)
- 20 Eldritch Insight
- 20 Tireless Discipline
RED
- 50 Boundless Vitality (Slot)
- 50 Rejuvenation (Slot)
- 20 Sprinter
- 16 Hasty
- 20 Hero’s Vigor
- 50 Bloody Renewal (Slot)
- 50 Fortified (Slot)
- 30 Tumbling
– 1200 Champion Points –
GREEN
- 50 Steed’s Blessing (Slot)
- 50 Gilded Fingers
- 30 Fortune’s Favor
- 15 Wanderer
- 50 Steadfast Enchantment
- 30 Rationer (Slot)
- 50 Breakfall
- 50 Treasure Hunter (Slot)
- 75 Liquid Efficiency (Slot)
BLUE
- 20 Precision
- 20 Piercing
- 50 Wrathful Strikes (Slot)
- 50 Biting Aura (Slot)
- 50 Thaumaturge (Slot)
- 50 Fighting Finesse (Slot)
- 20 Eldritch Insight
- 20 Tireless Discipline
- 20 Quick Recovery
- 20 Preparation
- 20 Elemental Aegis
- 20 Hardy
- 40 Flawless Ritual
- 30 War Mage
RED
- 50 Boundless Vitality (Slot)
- 50 Rejuvenation (Slot)
- 20 Sprinter
- 16 Hasty
- 20 Hero’s Vigor
- 50 Bloody Renewal (Slot)
- 50 Fortified (Slot)
- 30 Tumbling
- 20 Defiance
- 20 Tireless Guardian
- 30 Fortification
- 30 Savage Defense
- 20 Bashing Brutality
Similar Builds For ESO
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Ultimate PVP Stamina Arcanist Build – RANCOR
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How To Create Powerful ESO Builds
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