Help me pick a class

Vellandra79

Hello everyone!

I've had a looong hiatus from the game. I'm going to start playing again. Due to my lifestyle, I will be playing mostly solo, for 20 minutes here and there, fitting around other things. As such, my grouping ability doesn't need to be particularly strong, but I'd like to be able to take on the tougher solo-able content to challenge myself. I'm not sure whether this restricts me to just overland content, or whether some dungeons are possible solo (without twinking, since I don't have any gear worth passing on!).

I'm looking for some thoughts on what that class might be. I absolutely hate the kiting playstyle, no disrespect to people who enjoy it, but it's not my thing, so definitely not looking for anything that plays in this way. But beyond that, I don't mind either range or melee based play. Most of my time will be spent just exploring and wandering around, and I understand that any class can do that, but I do want sometimes to have that feeling of achievement from taking on tougher encounters solo, hence looking for recommendations.

I also don't have Gold Road, and not sure I will get it, so no Arcanist.

Also, how necessary will crafting be to get the gear I'll need?

Cheers!

BasP

You could go with a Magicka Templar. With a Magplar you have a spammable (Puncturing Sweep) and execute ability (Radiant Glory) that will heal you while you're dealing damage, which is nice for soloing. Some of the other Templar skills and passives are quite nice for soloing too.

If you have access to Scrying (and therefore Mythics), you could try to get your hands on the Oakensoul Ring and/or the Ring of the Pale Order. The Ring of the Pale Order greatly increases the survivability of every class, and with the Oakensoul ring you can create an easy Lightning Staff Heavy Attack build. A Sorcerer is most commonly used for Heavy Attack builds (like this one), but any class works. I created such a HA build for every class a while ago and actually preferred my Warden back then.

As for how necessary crafting is - there are a couple of nice craftable sets in the game, such as Order's Wrath which was introduced with High Isle. If you can't craft it yourself yet, and still have some gold, you could buy it from Guild Traders though.

Vellandra79

Thank you, that's helpful. With you mentioning Sorcerer, how are pet based Sorcs for solo stuff these days?

BasP

To be honest, I've never been a huge fan of Sorcerers in ESO because I dislike the fact that the pets take up two bar slots each, and it is my least played class because of that. So others could probably offer more insights for solo Sorcs.

That said, I believe they are considered to be one of the better classes for soloing. Critical Surge is nice, and the same goes for Hardened Ward (if you can spare a bar slot for that skill). So if you want to play as one, I'd say just go for it.

Darkmage1337

I am fond of my MagSorc, for obvious reasons. (My name.)
But, like @BasP mentioned, pet-slots are a major downside.
My main is a near-invincible Templar Tank.
My GF is a Templar Healer, so that's nice.
My favorite is probably MagNB or StamNB.
Spamming perma-invis is so satisfying. Lol.
It greatly helps cheese through solo content.
I mainly play PvP; so, yeah, everyone hates me.

Vellandra79

Thank you both!

DinoZavr

Honestly, there can be no definite answer, as there is no dramatically OP class, they are more-or-less balanced.
Most of classes have theirs pros and cons. I ll try to explain my view of the choices, though i am not a pro and very subjective.

First, dislike of kiting does not eliminate all of magicka builds for you. Two classes, even with magicka builds fight "close and personal" and these are templars and dragonknights. Also, hybrid build are also a thing nowadays.

Templar. Very easy for the casual gameplay. Magicka templar is preferrable as the spammable heals you. Stamplar hits harder and huge stamina pool is very useful for blocking and dodging, and this is my favorite class, though i play both stam and mag. i can do solo of most of dungeons on normal (including Falkreath Hold, Frostvault, BlackDrake Villa), solo arenas on veteran, though i start getting troubles at Infinite Archive after arc 3. JHartEllis (ESO Stream Team streamer, easily does Arc 4 on a stamplar (he even was so kind to explain me his build - it is base on insane health recovery, though i mistakingly prioritized glass cannon build with massive shields)). There are also beefy magplar builds to solo to Arc 7 at youtube.

Sorcerer is another best bet for new players. Great survivability, great mobility, also very valid for PVP, while templars miss bursts.

I'd suggest you watch Hack The Minotaur youtube classes videos, as he is mostly about soloing.
There are class tiers lists for coordinated group play and for PVP. A lot of these at Youtube,
which is useful, as you actually see the rotations and classes "in action".

Though, the rotations for different classes are really different, thus, anyway you have to try them all (like doing Infinite Archive on level 25+ characters - to spot this sweet "oh, this is how i prefer to play!" moment).
For respect between mag and stam there is the free Armory station from the Crown Store.

TL/DR; at first you can start with templar and sorcerer. then you may try other classes to get the complete picture.
you can test classes in the Infinite Archive (and Vateshran solo arena if you have access there, Maelstrom Arena on normal is too easy even for a low level character and you can not enter it on veteran before hitting level 50) at levels 30+ when you have enough class skills and passives unlocked.

Zodiarkslayer

@Vellandra79
First thing, I'd recommend to you is to decide whether you want to invest money in ESO and how much. Do you subscribe? Then all DLC are included and that means you have the Arcanist class, because Necrom is considered a DLC ever since Goald Road released.
If you do not wish to sub, then a purchase of the recent chapter will also unlock all previous chapters. But only if you pick the correct version.

As for the class question, you should pick Sorcerer. It is easily the best Solo class. An Oakensoul build with Dots and the Shield is the best you can get. Seriously, the shield is crazy OP atm, because it has a burst heal, too.

Arcanist is very good, too. The only let down is you kind of have to play Stamina Arcanist, because of the healing spammable and how the class mechanic works. That will limit you somewhat to Stamina oriented Races.

Magicka Templar is also S Tier for Soloing, but it is significantly more challenging than Magicka Sorcerer. Honestly. You have to watch sustain and need to keep up buffs and so on. Sorc is basically auto pilot by comparison.

One more thing. For long term fun and an engaging game experience the most important thing is to have a good character backstory and appearance. An ugly character is easily dismissed and if you do not care about him/her, you will drop ESO again. Probably for good.

Have fun.

Vellandra79

@DinoZavr Thank you for your thoughts. Unfortunately my time is so limited that trying multiple classes, particularly 25+, is probably not going to work for me, but part of your recommendation was for the Sorc, which is what I started with the other day, so I'll carry on with that.

@Zodiarkslayer Thank you. I played back in the days where a subscription was required, and then for a little bit under ESO Plus, so I have a few store points that I can use - which I'll probably use to make sure I can use Scrying. But for now, given my limited time, I think I'm hoping not to spend money. You mention a Sorc Oakensoul build, and the ring has been mentioned above, so I know enought that, but you also mention "The Shield". Which shield please?

Oh, and don't worry, I spent plenty of time making my character look exactly like me. Minus the pointy ears. And the weird big eyes. And the muscles and tattoo. And I left out the ate-too-many-cakes lovehandles too.

BasP

Vellandra79 wrote: »

You mention a Sorc Oakensoul build, and the ring has been mentioned above, so I know enought that, but you also mention "The Shield". Which shield please?

That'd probably be Hardened Ward. It used to just give you a damage shield, but as of this year it also heals you as long as you don't have a pet active. But even with pets, the damage shield itself is nice I suppose.