ESO Best Subclasses Tier List

Welcome to our complete ESO best subclasses tier list, adventurers of Tamriel. The introduction of the new subclass system in Elder Scrolls Online has significantly transformed the way builds function. With the ability to combine class skill lines, the game now offers more subclass options than ever before, giving you incredible freedom to customize your character's strengths and preferred playstyle.

Whether you're aiming to become a damage powerhouse, an unstoppable tank, or a top-tier healer, each role has standout subclasses. In this guide, we’ll explore the best subclasses in Elder Scrolls Online across DPS, Tank, and Healer roles. We’ll also highlight the top picks for solo players who want to conquer content on their own terms.

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How Our Subclass Tier List Works

Our ESO subclass tier list evaluates the most powerful combinations currently available. Each subclass is ranked according to its performance in PvE content, synergy with groups, versatility, and overall effectiveness. We use a tier system ranging from S to D:

• S-Tier: Best of the best. These subclasses dominate in nearly all situations.
• A-Tier: Strong and reliable. Great performance with solid utility or survivability.
• B-Tier: Good choices but a step behind the best options.
• C-Tier: Situational picks that can shine with effort or niche setups.
• D-Tier: Weak picks that struggle to keep up with the rest.

We also consider how beginner-friendly each subclass is, how well it fits in group compositions, and its solo viability. The meta can change with each update, so we’ll make sure to keep this tier list updated throughout 2026.

Best DPS Subclasses

Assassination, Herald of the Tome, and Grave Lord lead the pack as the most effective DPS subclasses in ESO. These options deliver top-tier damage and are filled with excellent passives, powerful synergy, and versatile skills that fit a wide variety of builds.

A-Tier subclasses still hold their own, offering strong uptime and damage potential. B-Tier can be viable with the right setup, but anything lower usually lacks consistency.

Here’s what our ESO subclass ranking for damage dealers looks like:

Tier	Subclasses
S-Tier	Assassination, Herald of the Tome, Grave Lord
A-Tier	Storm Calling, Dawn's Wrath, Aedric Spear
B-Tier	Ardent Flame, Animal Companion
C-Tier	Daedric Summoning
D-Tier	Winter's Embrace

S-Tier DPS Subclasses Explained

The three subclasses we placed in the S-Tier for DPS are:

• Assassination
• Herald of the Tome
• Grave Lord

Let’s dive deeper into what makes them so dominant in the current meta.

Assassination

This subclass stands out due to its focus on critical damage. With powerful passives that boost crit chance and crit damage, it's ideal for burst-heavy builds. Surprise Attack, Concealed Weapon, and Grim Focus are staples in many top-tier DPS setups.

Herald of the Tome

Herald of the Tome offers consistent damage through abilities like Fatecarver and the Unblinking Eye. Its passives improve sustain, status effect application, and penetration, making it a versatile pick for all types of content.

Grave Lord

This subclass thrives with abilities like Blastbones and Colossus. It boosts team damage with Major Vulnerability and delivers strong execute damage and AoE through its toolkit. Its passives add even more utility and damage, cementing its S-tier status.

Best Tank Subclasses

Soldier of Apocrypha, Bone Tyrant, and Earthen Heart are the best subclasses for tanking right now. S-Tier subclasses in this role offer unmatched durability, group utility, and crowd control, which are essential in dungeons and trials.

A-Tier subclasses still provide excellent defense and support, while B-Tier and below may require more effort or specific builds to be viable.

Here's our full subclass tier list for Tanks:

Tier	Subclasses
S-Tier	Soldier of Apocrypha, Bone Tyrant, Earthen Heart
A-Tier	Winter's Embrace, Aedric Spear
B-Tier	Daedric Summoning
C-Tier	Siphoning

S-Tier Tank Subclasses Explained

The top picks for tanking are:

• Soldier of Apocrypha
• Bone Tyrant
• Earthen Heart

Soldier of Apocrypha

This subclass is a favorite for tanks due to its strong taunts, shields, and defensive passives. It fits seamlessly into most group builds and offers consistent value in any PvE content.

Bone Tyrant

Built for survival, Bone Tyrant thrives in chaotic fights with abilities like Ravenous Goliath and Beckoning Armor. Its passives improve healing and tankiness, making it perfect for heavy damage scenarios.

Earthen Heart

This subclass is a staple for tanks thanks to its utility-driven abilities and powerful passives. Igneous Shield and Petrify keep your team safe, while resource regeneration passives help with sustain during long fights.

Best Healer Subclasses

Green Balance and Curative Runeforms are currently the strongest healing subclasses in ESO. They offer amazing healing output, excellent support abilities, and easy rotations that make them ideal for beginners and veterans alike.

A-Tier subclasses provide solid healing but may lack burst or flexibility. B and C-Tiers can still be used but often need specific builds to perform well.

Here’s the full tier list for Healers in Elder Scrolls Online:

Tier	Subclasses
S-Tier	Green Balance, Curative Runeforms
A-Tier	Restoring Light
B-Tier	Siphoning, Living Death
C-Tier	Daedric Summoning

S-Tier Healer Subclasses Explained

The best healer subclasses include:

• Green Balance
• Curative Runeforms

Green Balance

A staple subclass for group healing. Its skills like Bursting Vines and Enchanted Growth offer reliable burst and area healing. The passives further enhance survivability for your entire group, making it one of the best all-around healer picks.

Curative Runeforms

This newer subclass has quickly become a top choice. With powerful support tools like Apocryphal Gate and Vitalizing Glyphic, plus passives that aid group sustain and buffing, it’s perfect for challenging content like veteran trials.

Best Solo Subclasses

Solo builds in ESO require a mix of damage, sustain, healing, and defense. The best solo subclasses provide all of this without requiring complex rotations or perfect gear. These options were tested across solo arenas, open world, and dungeons:

• Aedric Spear
• Assassination
• Herald of the Tome
• Dawn's Wrath
• Grave Lord

Aedric Spear

This subclass provides solid AoE, healing, and passives that improve damage and defense. Puncturing Sweeps, Radiant Ward, and Blazing Spear form the core of a self-sustaining solo build.

Assassination

With high crit damage, efficient passives, and flexible skills like Surprise Attack and Impale, this subclass lets you clear enemies quickly and recover resources effectively. Perfect for solo speed clears.

Herald of the Tome

This subclass offers AoE burst, sustain, and excellent utility through Krux management. Fatecarver, Runic Flail, and Languid Eye handle both trash mobs and bosses, while passives amplify damage and survivability.

Dawn’s Wrath

A balanced solo subclass with burst potential and healing. Radiant Glory and Vampire’s Bane give great execute damage and sustain, while Solar Barrage buffs your overall power. It’s great for longer solo fights.

Grave Lord

A versatile pick with strong AoE, execute bonuses, and defensive debuffs. Grave Lord abilities such as Skeletal Mage and Blighted Blastbones keep pressure high while healing and empowering your attacks through passives.

What Influences ESO Subclass Meta

The meta is shaped by a combination of factors, including raw damage, utility, and synergy with popular builds. As subclass balance continues to evolve, keep in mind what helps top builds stay ahead:

Factor	Description
Strong & Versatile Skills	Subclasses with flexible tools usually rise to the top. If a line offers reliable damage, utility, or healing in one setup, players will keep slotting it.
Powerful Passive Bonuses	Some skill lines shine not because of actives, but passives. Extra crit damage, better sustain, or stat boosts can carry a subclass into meta even with average skills.
Ultimate Value	A solid ultimate can change a fight fast. Subclasses with cheap, high-impact ultimates tend to dominate in both group and solo play.
Synergy with Meta Builds	Subclasses that blend well with popular setups naturally get more use. If a skill line boosts beam builds, heavy attacks, or execute damage, expect it near the top.
Patch Buffs and Nerfs	Every update shakes things up. Small tweaks to numbers or status effects can completely shift what works best. That’s why subclass rankings can shift from one patch to the next.

F.A.Q.

What is the highest DPS subclass in ESO?

Assassination currently leads the charts for damage, offering unmatched critical strike potential and efficient skill combinations.

What is the strongest subclass in ESO 2026?

Herald of the Tome is considered the most dominant overall due to its balanced mix of burst, sustain, and flexibility.

What is the best damage subclass in Elder Scrolls Online?

Assassination and Herald of the Tome provide the highest damage output with reliable performance across all content types.

What is the best beginner subclass in ESO 2026?

Aedric Spear is ideal for newcomers thanks to its intuitive mechanics, built-in healing, and easy-to-understand toolkit.

What is the easiest subclass in ESO?

Herald of the Tome offers a user-friendly playstyle, especially when centered around its Fatecarver beam skill and passive synergy.

How many subclasses are in ESO?

There are 21 distinct skill lines, and when combined, they allow for hundreds of unique subclass setups and personalized builds.

What is the best Healer subclass in ESO?

Green Balance tops the healing options by providing efficient healing abilities, resource management, and reliable group support.

What is the best Tank subclass in ESO?

Soldier of Apocrypha stands out with its defensive abilities, crowd control tools, and superior sustain for endgame tanking.

What is the best solo subclass in ESO?

Herald of the Tome is highly effective in solo play due to its powerful AoE damage, defensive passives, and resource sustain.

What is the hardest subclass in ESO?

Siphoning is one of the most challenging to master because of its hybrid design and reliance on specific timing and synergies.

Conclusion

That wraps up our Elder Scrolls Online best subclasses tier list. With the subclass system, builds now offer more creativity, flexibility, and raw power than ever before. Whether you want to top DPS charts, tank for your team, or heal with efficiency, there's a subclass that fits your goals.

Try out new combinations and experiment with different builds to find what fits your playstyle. Use this tier list as a roadmap to guide your choices. The future of ESO is bright, and the new subclass system ensures there’s always something fresh to explore.