Hello,

Not sure if this was discussed before. If so, please direct me to the relevant thread.

Since the growth of trait research time in ESO is exponential, with the last trait for each type taking up to 32 days (base, without skills). I wanted to give some thought on how to prioritize research for these traits.

Surely, not all traits are created equal and there are probably traits that give better bang for the buck for given role and function. I assume that eventually there will be a general consensus of better traits. Like, "for max DPS use X trait", "for best tanking use Y trait".

I don't have the numbers or the exact formulas. So I am looking for some feedback from players with higher theory-crafting skills. I started by dividing the traits into groups based on functionality. Along with my initial (and probably wrong) thoughts on each group. I hope to get some feedback from the community to help fill the blanks. Ultimately, I want to come up with a prioritized list of traits in order of importance and/or popularity.

Armor Traits

These two may be useful at lower levels. When you are higher up they will become less used. "Training" may be later used if you want to train a new armor skill from scratch:
Exploration: (Garnet) Increases Exploration Experience by a %
Training: (Carnelian) Increases Weapon skill line experience of this armor type by a %.

These will increase your survivability, I assume that one of these gives better return for investment for a tank:
Impenetrable: (Diamond) Increases Critical Resistance by a %
Reinforced: (Sardonyx) Increases Armor Value by a %

These two increase another effect. One of these is probably a better choice over the other and it is possible that using a more specific trait is better altogether:
Divines: (Sapphire) Increases Mundus Stone effects by a %
Infused: (Bloodstone) Increases Armor Enchantment by a %

Not sure how much this is useful, probably more PvP centric?
Well-fitted: (Almadine) Reduces the cost of Sprinting by a %

This one will only save you gold. I suspect this will become less of an issue later on. Of all the traits, this looks like the least important to me:
Sturdy: (Quartz) Reduce Armor decay by a % when defeated

Weapon Traits

These three increase DPS, there is probably a better/worse choice among these:
Precise: (Ruby) Increases weapon and Spell Critical by a %
Sharpened: (Fire Opal) Increases Weapon and Spell Penetration by a %
Weighted: (Citrine) Increases weapon attack speed by a %

For a pure tank, this will be a good choice?
Defending: (Turquoise) Increases total Armor and Spell Resistance by a %

Not useful when all desired skills are already at max:
Training: (Carnelian) Increases Weapon skill line experience of this weapons type by a %.

Depends on the enchantment, but other more specialized traits might be a better choice:
Infused: (Jade) Increases weapon enchantment effect by a %

I am not sure I fully understand what it does, which weapon enchantments have cooldown?
Powered: (Chyolite) Reduces the cooldown of weapon enchantments by a %

This is just a gold saver, probably less useful than the others:
Charged: (Amethyst) Increases Enchantment charges by a %