TL;DR
- Subclassing lets you replace two of your three class skill lines with those from other classes
- Each class offers unique synergies: Sorcerer for mobility, Warden for utility, Necromancer for minions
- Strategic combinations outperform random mixing – focus on complementary abilities
- Avoid common mistakes like ignoring role conflicts and overlooking skill line cohesion
- Advanced players should prioritize skill concentration and resource management
With Update 46, The Elder Scrolls Online introduces the long-anticipated Subclassing system, fundamentally changing how players approach character customization. This revolutionary feature enables adventurers to incorporate skill lines from classes beyond their original selection, creating unprecedented build diversity. Jakeclip delivers expert analysis to help you navigate these new possibilities effectively.
The Subclassing framework requires maintaining at least one skill line from your base class while allowing substitution of the remaining two slots. For instance, a Sorcerer character must retain one Sorcerer skill line but can integrate abilities from Dragonknights, Nightblades, or any other available class.
While this system dramatically expands creative options, developers have implemented crucial restrictions to preserve class identity and game balance. These carefully designed limitations ensure that while customization flourishes, each class maintains its distinctive gameplay characteristics.
Core System Limitations:
1. Players must preserve at least one original class skill line, preventing complete class identity replacement.
2. Equipping multiple subclass skill lines from the same class is prohibited unless you originated from that class.
3. Selection occurs at the complete skill line level only; mixing individual skills across classes remains restricted.
Accessing Warden, Necromancer, and Arcanist subclass skill lines requires purchasing their associated DLC content. Base game classes remain accessible to all players without additional purchases.
Sorcerer
The Sorcerer represents an excellent choice for players prioritizing mobility and pet-based combat strategies. Their teleportation abilities significantly outperform Vampire line movement skills, offering superior positioning control in both PvE and PvP scenarios. Beyond the popular Crystal Fragments spammable, Sorcerers provide reliable shielding mechanics that synergize well with glass cannon builds from other classes.
Strategic Insight: Select Sorcerer subclassing for enhanced mobility, pet synergies, and defensive utility integration.
Dragonknight
Dragonknights dominate fire damage specialization with extensive damage-over-time capabilities that complement burst-focused classes. Their tanking utilities, including crowd control and defensive buffs, make them invaluable for hybrid builds requiring survivability enhancements.
Strategic Insight: Dragonknights excel as subclass choices for characters needing fire DOTs, tanking support, or PvP utility packages.
Nightblade
Nightblade subclassing offers transformative stealth mechanics and critical damage amplification, though their value varies significantly depending on your base class. The spectral bow execute and ultimate generation capabilities can dramatically alter your damage rotation efficiency.
Strategic Insight: Nightblade utilities—stealth infiltration, burst damage windows, and crit enhancement—deliver substantial impact when properly integrated.
Templar
Templars provide exceptional versatility across all gameplay aspects, from solo adventuring to group content roles. Their self-sufficient healing and impressive spammable abilities create strong foundations for diverse build archetypes.
Strategic Insight: Templar subclassing enhances solo capability, healing support, and tanking flexibility simultaneously.
Warden
Often underestimated, the Warden delivers arguably the most valuable subclass utility package available. Their Minor Brittle application, damage shielding, Minor Toughness buffs, and healing capabilities create synergistic value across numerous build types.
Strategic Insight: Wardens emerge as top-tier subclass selections for frost damage specialization, pet utility, and comprehensive support toolkits.
Necromancer
Necromancer subclassing provides powerful minion-based damage through the Grave Lord line and exceptional tanking capabilities via Bone Tyrant skills.
Strategic Insight: Necromancers dominate minion warfare and defensive role enhancement, making their skill lines highly desirable acquisition targets.
Arcanist
The Arcanist presents a complex subclassing proposition with skill lines distributed across multiple combat roles. The Herald of the Tome concentrates offensive capabilities, Soldier of Apocrypha focuses on defensive tanking, and Curative Runeforms specializes in healing support.
Strategic Insight: While native Arcanists face efficiency challenges, their DPS-focused skill line offers tremendous value for damage-oriented subclassing combinations.
The fundamental challenge with classes like Sorcerer involves their skill distribution across multiple lines. Pet abilities and Hardened Ward occupy one line, Crystal Fragments damage in another, while teleportation and execute skills reside elsewhere. This fragmentation necessitates careful planning to maximize subclassing effectiveness.
Classes exhibiting concentrated skill distribution—such as Arcanist’s Herald of the Tome or Necromancer’s Grave Lord—simplify optimization decisions.
Wardens demonstrate partial concentration but retain some scattering similar to base game classes including Dragonknight, Templar, and Nightblade.
Common Subclassing Mistakes to Avoid:
• Overlooking role conflicts between base class and subclass selections
• Failing to consider resource management across mixed skill lines
• Ignoring ultimate generation synergy between class combinations
• Underestimating the value of defensive utilities for glass cannon builds
Optimization Techniques:
• Prioritize skill lines that complement rather than duplicate your base class strengths
• Consider global cooldown management when mixing active abilities
• Evaluate passive skill synergies that work across class boundaries
If you found Jakeclip’s analysis valuable, consider sharing this guide with fellow adventurers. Additional updated content will follow the official patch release, providing deeper insights into optimal subclassing configurations.
Action Checklist
- Analyze your base class’s weaknesses and identify complementary subclass utilities
- Research skill line concentrations – prioritize classes with abilities focused in single lines
- Test subclass combinations on the PTS before live implementation
- Verify DLC requirements for your chosen subclass lines
- Optimize skill rotations considering global cooldowns across mixed class abilities
No reproduction without permission：GameCDjnh » ESO Update 46: Which Class to Choose for Subclassing Master ESO's new Subclassing system with strategic class combinations and optimization tips