New character to ESO, veteran MMO player asking for advice on class pick

Elder_Drake

I recently picked ESO back up after having tried it at launch and falling off from it after a couple days play time (move and life events putting gaming on a back burner). I am looking for a little break from WoW as me and my wife met there and still play but I want to play something new. I am asking the community for help in picking a class and I kindly ask not for the "pick the class you want and like" answer. I don't know enough about the characters, end game content, utility abilities, etc to make an informed decision. I can say that I like classes that are not squishy and do well in PvE (I do not PvP at all really). I just want to play a flashy class with nice aesthetics to animations, that pushes near top dps, and can take on groups without worry of death repeatedly (last would be a class with good utility but the previous take precedence. Researching this it seems Stamina Sorcerers fit this but I am not sure how "fun" they may be, the utility they may have, and so on.

I know this is a bit vague but my main in WoW seemed to favor pet classes (Hunter, Warlock) and when tanking I liked self healing tanks that can just take it and dish it out. Last concern I had was from watching a video, while researching for my return, and someone warning that NBs have a decided advantage with the Thieve's Guild dlc. Is this unbalancing correct or dramatized? I will pick my race based on what I like to play with a class, just looking for informed input. Thank you in for reading this far and in advance for any help.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Elder_Drake wrote: »

WarpigFunk wrote: »

Magicka Sorc.

EZ leveling
Has Pets - can be specc'd to use them or not, your choice.
Can solo anything- lots of AoE damage, snares, damage wards, burst, self heals, all the tricks.
Can push top DPS in the game
Effective at PvP
Flashy spells
Can be built and specc'd to heal, tank or DPS, so it's a versatile class.... not as versatile as Templars, but still versatile. DPS is it's natural home imo.

It was my first class, and still my fave to play.

I have a magsorc, stamsorc, magplar, and stamDK.

If I play a magsorc would I be able to solo end game content the way I am hearing stamsorc can? If so I think this pulls more to me and then I just have to nail down a race.

I want to say again that I appreciate all of the replies and input, thank you all.

Stam sorcs are very good at soloing, no question. They are a hair faster through VMA (hardest solo instance), but I think magic sorc is actually easier to clear it. On the other hand, all of the soloing feats of group content where I was like, "Holy cow, someone soloed that!?!" were done with magic sorc on a pelt build. It's hard to beat if soloing is your goal.

Things are subject to change, but it is tough to go wrong with a magic sorc right now. They are strong in just about every content you can think of. High Elf is the obvious answer for Magic Sorc. Sorcs have a lighting tree, and High Elf gets the biggest boost to lighting. Dark elf might actually be a touch ahead from straight damage standpoint now that people are running double fire staff on bosses, but its splitting hairs and High Elf has better sustain. I play a high elf and would change in an instant to dark elf if I really thought it would give me an advantage. The one thing to be said about dark elf is that if you wanted to be able to switch back and forth from magic to stam, its the best choice.

Lynx7386

Stamina sorc or magicka templar.

Reverb

Stam sorc does seem like it will fit with what you're looking for. I don't think they're much fun at low levels (certainly less fun for me than stamina nightblade or any class's mag builds) but are a blast at higher levels and end game.

Have you considered a Templar? Very flashy effects (less than sorcs, but still great) great leveling curve, and can be very good at dps or tanking in addition to the meta healer builds. Stamplar is at a disadvantage compared to mag, but still effective in the right hands.

And lastly, the Warden class will be released in June, and will have an Animal Companion line. This thread links and discusses the skills that will be available. Check it out and see if it may interest you for a future alt:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/321554/spoiler-warden-skills-leaked

WarpigFunk

Magicka Sorc.

EZ leveling
Has Pets - can be specc'd to use them or not, your choice.
Can solo anything- lots of AoE damage, snares, damage wards, burst, self heals, all the tricks.
Can push top DPS in the game
Effective at PvP
Flashy spells
Can be built and specc'd to heal, tank or DPS, so it's a versatile class.... not as versatile as Templars, but still versatile. DPS is it's natural home imo.

It was my first class, and still my fave to play.

I have a magsorc, stamsorc, magplar, and stamDK.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Stam Sorc is still very strong in 4 man content, but stamina in general is tough in end game 12 man trials. If that is your goal, I would go with a magic toon. mSorc had become my go to at this point. It fits with your pet build idea. Pets arent viable in every situation, but they got a really big buff this patch, as did magic sorcs in general.

If you want to go stam, I would suggest stam sorc. I think they are the most rounded stam class. Redguard is the ideal race IMO.

If you want to go magic, DK is the best melee and overall DPS and best tank, Sorc is the best ranged. Templar is probably easiest to play, especially out of the gate and is the best healer. They are perfecectly competitive at end game, but they got the biggest overall nerf last patch. Kind of hard to recomend nightblade as either magic or stam, unless you are trying to be a ganker in PVP. They have the toughest rotations, and the DPS doesnt make up for it.

For DK, I would go Dark Elf. For both Sorc and Templar, I would go high elf, but dark elf is also just fine. Dunmer is technically a touch more damage on a templar, but if you want to heal, you will be glad you have the sustain of high elf.

Elder_Drake

WarpigFunk wrote: »

Magicka Sorc.

EZ leveling
Has Pets - can be specc'd to use them or not, your choice.
Can solo anything- lots of AoE damage, snares, damage wards, burst, self heals, all the tricks.
Can push top DPS in the game
Effective at PvP
Flashy spells
Can be built and specc'd to heal, tank or DPS, so it's a versatile class.... not as versatile as Templars, but still versatile. DPS is it's natural home imo.

It was my first class, and still my fave to play.

I have a magsorc, stamsorc, magplar, and stamDK.

If I play a magsorc would I be able to solo end game content the way I am hearing stamsorc can? If so I think this pulls more to me and then I just have to nail down a race.

I want to say again that I appreciate all of the replies and input, thank you all.

Vildebill

I would say magicka templar. A class that can do anything in the game, best healer, OK tank or do top DPS. Can even solo a lot of things in the game easily.

By far the most versatile class I would say, and still very competitive.

AcadianPaladin

I can only speak to templar and sorc.

Sorc is very flexible. Can be respec'd magsorc with or without pets or Stamsorc, typically with bow + dual wield. I've played both and love magpetsorc for solo stuff. Very powerful and pretty safe.

Magical Templar is my true love. Makes a fabulous healer or a solid dps. And you can 'tweak' that balance between healing/dps pretty easily. Mine is healer with only enough dps focus to comfortably solo most pve content. Some people like the flashiness of the Aedric Spears, other do not. I do, so I consider it to be a neat looking flashy class in action. The same healing that can help others makes you tough as nails - it is hard to kill you when you can heal (self or others) as fast as a foe can hurt you. Simple, safe, forgiving, durable, flashy. . . yup, luvs magplars.

WarpigFunk

Elder_Drake wrote: »

WarpigFunk wrote: »

Magicka Sorc.

EZ leveling
Has Pets - can be specc'd to use them or not, your choice.
Can solo anything- lots of AoE damage, snares, damage wards, burst, self heals, all the tricks.
Can push top DPS in the game
Effective at PvP
Flashy spells
Can be built and specc'd to heal, tank or DPS, so it's a versatile class.... not as versatile as Templars, but still versatile. DPS is it's natural home imo.

It was my first class, and still my fave to play.

I have a magsorc, stamsorc, magplar, and stamDK.

If I play a magsorc would I be able to solo end game content the way I am hearing stamsorc can? If so I think this pulls more to me and then I just have to nail down a race.

I want to say again that I appreciate all of the replies and input, thank you all.

Depends what you mean by "endgame content" but bottom line, anything in the game that can possibly be solo'd can be solo'd by a magicka sorc. They can do anything a stamsorc can do, yes.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Elder_Drake wrote: »

WarpigFunk wrote: »

Magicka Sorc.

EZ leveling
Has Pets - can be specc'd to use them or not, your choice.
Can solo anything- lots of AoE damage, snares, damage wards, burst, self heals, all the tricks.
Can push top DPS in the game
Effective at PvP
Flashy spells
Can be built and specc'd to heal, tank or DPS, so it's a versatile class.... not as versatile as Templars, but still versatile. DPS is it's natural home imo.

It was my first class, and still my fave to play.

I have a magsorc, stamsorc, magplar, and stamDK.

If I play a magsorc would I be able to solo end game content the way I am hearing stamsorc can? If so I think this pulls more to me and then I just have to nail down a race.

I want to say again that I appreciate all of the replies and input, thank you all.

mSorc with pets is the ultimate solo build. Look at some of @thelon or @vaoh builds. They have soloed things I didnt think you could solo.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/315035/vet-imperial-city-prison-has-been-soloed/p1

I have both magic and stam sorcs. I have tackled all the PVE content there is in this game. If you told me I could only keep one, it would be magic sorc, no question whatsoever. Meta race is High Elf, but you will also hear solid arguments for Dunmer (single target damage), or perhaps even breton (solo build or healer). If going magic, I would certainly limit your racial choice to those three. If you go stam, redguard all day.

Reverb

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

mSorc with pets is the ultimate solo build. Look at some of @thelon or @vaoh builds. They have soloed things I didnt think you could solo.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/315035/vet-imperial-city-prison-has-been-soloed/p1
.

Seconded. @Vaoh does things on his sorc that seem completely implausible, especially on console. He is in a class by himself.

And look at @Thelon Unholy Herdsman build for a great example of how this uncommon setup can be amazingly strong. He does a good job of testing and updating it with each major change to skills or passives.

Triddle

Any class can easily do all of the things you mentioned. So as much as you don't want this answer, pick the class you like the theme of. Like yellow? Templar. Like blue? Sorc. Like red? Nightblade. Like orange? Dragonknight. Like green? Wait for warden.

Elder_Drake

I want to again thank everyone for their replies in this thread. I will indeed be going High Elf Magic Sorcerer as it fits me, I like the race, and it sounds like they are good for dps and solo'ing things.

Incredible replies from the community and I wish you all good fortune on your journeys.