The new subclassing system in Elder Scrolls Online is seriously going to change the way we build characters. If you’re planning a DPS-focused build, choose these lines first to maximize your DPS!
Best Skills Lines For Subclassing DPS Builds In ESO
The new subclassing feature for ESO is shaking things up in this game massively, letting players choose new skill lines from different classes to add to their build. With that in mind, I wanted to help you by breaking down my picks for the best and worst class skill lines for DPS builds so you know exactly how to update your favorite builds for subclassing.
1. Herald of the Tome – Arcanist
This is, hands down, the best subclass skill line for pure DPS right now. Herald of the Tome from the Arcanist Class gives you the most damage possible when it comes to AOE and cleave damage thanks to Fateccarver, plus a great sustain and buff skill in Recuperative Treatise. Even your support abilities here such as Cephaliarch’s Flail can do great damage while also buffing your other skills thanks to Abyssal Ink.
But the passives are where this skill line pulls ahead. Fated Fortune gives you a 12% bonus to critical damage just by spending or generating Crux – that’s the biggest passive Crit bonus in the game currently. Splintered Secrets also gives you extra penetration based on how many Herald of the Tome skills you slotted. That’s bonus damage before you even hit the enemy. This skill line is just stacked top to bottom, and if you’re going to build around a main subclass for damage, this is currently the best option out there.
2. Assassination – Nightblade
Next up is Assassination from the Nightblade class, and this line is pure damage. You’ve got great skills here like Killer’s Blade or Imaple for your single-target execute, Concealed Weapon or Surprise Attack for single target DPS, and Relentless Focus, which now passively gives you up to 400 weapon and spell damage after 10 stacks, even if you don’t fire the spectral bow proc! That’s free damage just for being in combat. Then there’s Soul Harvest or Incapacitating Strike, one of the best single-target ultimates in the game, and it can generate ultimate on kill if you go with the Soul Harvest morph.
And don’t even get me started on the passives. Hemorrhage gives you 10% bonus crit damage and Minor Savagery, which offers more critical chance. Pressure Points adds crit chance for every Assassination skill slotted. Executioner refunds 1000 magicka and stamina on kill, and Master Assassin adds 7% crit chance from flanking, which you should be able to take advantage of in a coordinated group. This is one of the few skill lines where you could use just one or two abilities and get massive value from the passives alone, so you’ll definitely want to consider Assassination as a supporting skill line for your DPS Build.
3. Dawn’s Wrath – Templar
Dawn’s Wrath from the Templar class comes in next on this list due to the strength of it’s execute skill, Radiant Destruction, which is hands down the most powerful execute in ESO right now. Running this skill on any build will result in a notable increase to overall DPS when used properly to end a fight, plus players can take advantage of the Radiant Glory morph for free healing too!
Then you’ve got Vampires’ Bane and Solar Barrage, both of which apply strong buffs like Major Prophecy and Empower along with more damage. Purifying Light can also heal you, which is nice for groups.
The passives here give you even more bang for your buck, like Illuminate, which provides Minor Sorcery to your group, and Restoring Spirit, which reduces the cost of all your abilities. Prism gives you a bonus ultimate generation. The synergy here between active damage and support is super clean, and if you want a line that helps you hit hard while giving you some healing and sustain, this one’s for you.
4. Grave Lord – Necromancer
The Necromancer Grave Lord skill line is next on our list, as it’s one of the most complete DPS kits in the game. You’ve got excellent damage sources, DOTs, buffs, debuffs – basically, it’s all here. Skeletal Mage, for example, gives you Major Sorcery and Brutality. Unnerving Boneyard applies Major Breach to shred enemy armor. Detonating Siphon deals more AOE damage while buffing your Crit Chance. And the Colossus ultimate applies Major Vulnerability to everything in range, which is huge for group efficiency. In terms of raw damage, any build can also pump up their AOE toolkit massively by running Blighted Blastbones for huge explosions every 3 seconds.
Even the passives here are great. Death Knell gives you 20% bonus crit chance in execute range, which is very helpful in improving DPS for the final stages of a fight. Dismember also adds penetration, which is a solid bonus. And Rapid Rot boosts your DOT effects by 10%. So, if you’re looking for a good all-around DPS skill line that can add to any group then definitely consider Grave Lord
5. Aedric Spear – Templar
Templar makes a strong showing on this list, and Aedric Spear is easily one of the most complete DPS lines you can subclass into. First off, Puncturing Sweep is still one of the best all-purpose damage skills in the game—it deals AOE, it heals you back, and it scales great into endgame content. Then you’ve got Blazing Spear for AOE damage and a synergy resource restore, which is awesome!
But again, what makes the Aedric Spear skill line stand out among the pack are the passives. Balanced Warrior is the best here, as it now gives you 6% increased Weapon and Spell damage AND 6% increased armor. Burning Light is another great damage passive for the extra magic damage it procs. Spear Wall gives you Minor Protection and Minor Berserk, which pairs well with Sweep as a spammable, and Piercing Spear adds a unique 10% critical damage buff to your build, which is fantastic.
6. Storm Calling – Sorcerer
Up next, we have Storm Calling from the Sorcerer Class, which brings a ton of value for AOE-heavy builds and lightning or physical damage-focused builds. Critical Surge is definitely a nice perk here – it heals you every second while dealing damage, which makes it amazing for survival and taking some pressure off your group’s healer. Hurricane gives you damage, armor, and movement speed all in one, which is a powerful combo.
A sleeper skill in this line is the Ultimate Power Overload which can be stacked at 500 Ultimate to burn through bosses at the start of a fight. You can even use a second ultimate cast right away as long as you have enough left over!
The passive in this skill line are great for damage too. Amplitude boosts your damage based on total enemy health, which is especially strong in early phases of fights. Expert Mage gives you bonus spell and weapon damage for each slotted Sorcerer ability. And Energized buffs your shock and physical damage. All in all, this is a great supporting skill line for DPS, even if it’s not your primary choice.
7. Animal Companions – Warden
Animal Companions from the Warden Class is a mixed bag, but the highs are really good. Deep Fissure can be quite nice for pick up groups if you need another source of consistent Major Breach, plus it also applies Minor Breach at the same time for a combined 10k resistance shred, which is huge! That said, Subterranean Assault may be better for consistent DPS if your tank is already taking care of armor debuffs. Netch can be a nice skill for sustain and also a bit of extra damage, and the Bear Pet is also a nice consistent source of DPS that’s very easy to manage.
Passive-wise, Flourish is excellent for sustain with a whopping 20 percent bonus to magicka and stamina recovery. Savage Beast helps generate ultimate. And Advanced Species provides extra Critical Damage for each Animal Companions skill slotted, so the more you have on your bar the more damage you can do!
8. Ardent Flame – Dragonknight
Ardent Flame from the Dragonknight class is a DOT-heavy skill line that definitely has its place in some groups, but it’s a little more niche. Burning Embers for example is a solid damage over time skill for single-target fights that also has a strong healing effect – perfect for keeping your health topped off.
Engulfing Flames is highly recommended for group content as it will increase your entire team’s fire-based DPS. Flame Whip itself can be awkward as a spammable skill – one morph costs both stamina and magicka, and the other needs immobilized or off-balance enemies, which this skill line doesn’t even provide, so there are definitely better spammable skills out there which is an unfortunate down side here.
Ardent Flame’s passives like Searing Heat are also limited to just Ardent Flame abilities, which makes them less valuable for subclassing in general. So while this skill line may not be for everyone, there are definitely places where it can fit into a DPS role.
9. Daedric Summoning – Sorcerer
The Sorcerer’s Daedric Summoning Skill Line is all about pets, and while it can work for DPS builds, it’s not without its problems. Daedric Prey boosts pet damage, and combining the Unstable Familiar and Twilight Tormentor can give you some decent DPS, but both pets need to be double-barred, which is a huge drawback for subclassing where bar space is already tight. Hardened Ward is still a strong shield which is nice to have on hand for defensive needs, and Bound Aegis gives you Minor Protection and Resolve along with a ton of max stats, so that’s a solid skill too.
Your Ultimate skill here, Greater Storm Atronach is a nice option for group content though, especially considering it’s synergy effect of providing Major Berserk to the team.
Passives skills here are decent too, but are also very pet focused. Expert Summoner gives you more max stats, and Power Stone reduces ultimate cost, but others like Rebate could still use work. Overall, it’s flexible, but the double-bar requirement really holds it back.
10. Winter’s Embrace – Warden
Finally, we have Winter’s Embrace from the Warden Class. This is a more defensive, frost-themed skill line that has some interesting tools but doesn’t quite deliver on raw DPS. Ice Fortress is a great armor buff of course, and you can even take the other morph to support your team. Arctic Blast provides healing and a stun, and Winter’s Revenge is a decent AOE DOT. Northern Storm as an ultimate can be decent but may not perform even the Destruction Staff Ultimate. The biggest downside is the lack of direct damage or burst, which makes it hard to build around for a DPS-focused setup.
The passives are strong though. Piercing Cold gives you 10% more frost damage, and Glacial Presence buffs the chilled effect, so if you want to build around Frost, this is definitely the skill line for that. It’s thematic and can work with the right setup, but it’s definitely more niche than the other lines on this list.
The Final Word
So that’s my full breakdown of the best subclassing skill lines for DPS in ESO. Herald of the Tome and Assassination are at the top for a reason—they just give you so much value for every slot you invest. But there’s a lot of great options depending on your build and playstyle. If you want to see how these lines perform in actual builds, I’ve got full subclassing builds linked below. Be sure to check those out and I’ll see you there!
