Category: Best ESO Builds, Best Arcanist Builds, ESO PVP Builds
This PVP build for the Stamina Arcanist class in The Elder Scrolls Online focuses on applying powerful status effects to your enemies, leaving them severely weakened and ripe for the picking!
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
Our main 5 piece set on this build is Way Of Fire, which applies a fire-based proc to your target with a short 2-second cool down. This set applies constant damage pressure.
Next is the Ward Of Cyrodiil set, which debuffs your target’s healing with Major Defile. The Arcanist can also easily apply Minor Defile through weapon glyphs, making it difficult for your opponent to out-heal your damage.
For the monster set on this build, Balorgh is recommended for the burst damage it can apply when combined with the Tide King’s Gaze ultimate.
Way Of Fire
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 damage with a weapon, you deal an additional 619 Flame damage. This effect can occur once every 2 seconds and scales off the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage.
Ward Of Cyrodiil
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(3 items) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery
(4 items) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery
(5 items) When you deal Martial melee damage, you apply Major Defile to the enemy for 4 seconds, reducing their healing received and Health Recovery by 16%. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.
Balorgh
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(1 item) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
(2 items) When you use an Ultimate ability, you gain Weapon Damage and Spell Damage equal to the amount of total Ultimate consumed, and Physical and Spell Penetration equal to 23 times the amount for 12 seconds.
Alternative Sets
For alternative sets, I also recommend using the Sword Dancer set to boost your Dual Wield damage or the Master’s Dual Wield to boost the damage of Rending Slashes.
Basic Gear Loadout
| Weapon/Armor | Set | Trait | Weight | Glyph |
| Main Hand | Ward Of Cyrodiil | Nirnhoned / Charged | Daggers | Poison Damage / Disease Damage |
| Backup | Any | Infused / Reinforced | 1h/Shield | Weapon Damage / Stamina |
| Head | Balorgh | Reinforced | Medium | Stamina |
| Shoulder | Balorgh | Reinforced | Medium | Stamina |
| Chest | Way Of Fire | Reinforced | Heavy | Stamina |
| Waist | Ward Of Cyrodiil | Well-Fitted | Medium | Stamina |
| Gloves | Ward Of Cyrodiil | Well-Fitted | Medium | Stamina |
| Legs | Way Of Fire | Reinforced | Heavy | Stamina |
| Feet | Ward Of Cyrodiil | Well-Fitted | Medium | Stamina |
| Necklace | Way Of Fire | Triune | NA | Weapon Damage |
| Ring 1 | Way Of Fire | Triune | NA | Weapon Damage |
| Ring 2 | Way Of Fire | Triune | NA | Weapon Damage |
Attributes
Most of our skills cost Stamina to cast, so putting all of your Attribute Points into the Stamina stat makes the most sense.
0 Magicka
0 Health
64 Stamina
Race, Mundus, and Consumables
Orc will be a powerful and flexible option for this Stamina-based Arcanist build. You will greatly benefit from the extra speed this race has access to when closing the distance to strike an enemy.
The Lover
Increases Physical and Spell Penetration by 2744
With 7 Divines armor pieces
Increases Physical and Spell Penetration by 4489
Jewels of Misrule
Increase Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 357 and Max Health by 3927 for 2 hours.
These effects are scaled based on your level.
Tri-Stat Potions
Sample Skill Loadout
Main Weapon: DUAL WIELD – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
- Cephaliarch’s Flail
- Whirling Blades
- Rune Of Colorless Pool
- Rending Slashes
- Camouflaged Hunter
- ULT: The Tide King’s Gaze
Backup Weapon: ONE HAND AND SHIELD – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
Combat Basics
Buffs: Maintain Recuperative Treatise and Cruxweaver Armor at all times. You can also cast Resolving Vigor for Minor Resolve.
Damage Combo: Start with Rending Slashes to get your procs and glyphs active. Next, immobilize with Cephaliarch’s Flail. If your ultimate is ready, drop this then immediately stun with Rune Of Colorless Pool. Finish with Whirling Blades if needed.
Healing/Defense: Always start with Impervious Runeward shield, then use Evolving Runemend plus Resolving Vigor if needed while trying to gain line of sight to avoid damage.
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
- Slaughter
- Dual Wield Expert
- Controlled Fury
- Ruffian
- Twin Blade And Blunt
- Fortress
- Sword And Board
- Deadly Bash
- Deflect Bolts
- Battlefield Mobility
Armor Passives
Guild Passives
Racial
Other
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 TREE
The Green Craft Constellation is focused on crafting and utility-centered upgrades.
Warfare TREE
The Blue Warfare Constellation focuses primarily on increasing player damage, healing and defenses
Fitness TREE
The Red Fitness Constellation is focused on character survival and sustain.
– 300 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
RED
– 600 Champion Points –
GREEN
– 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)
– 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 Resilience (Slot)
- 20 Eldritch Insight
- 20 Tireless Discipline
- 20 Quick Recovery
- 20 Preparation
- 20 Elemental Aegis
- 20 Hardy
- 40 Flawless Ritual
- 30 War Mage
RED
How To Create Powerful ESO Builds
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More Arcanist Builds For ESO
Want more Arcanist Builds? Check out our dedicated Arcanist Builds overview page for even more great options!
