What are your thoughts on our potential 3rd Class Set from the Infinite Archive?

Erickson9610 · February 7

Here's a summary of the Class Sets we have and the associated skill line for each:

Dragonknight
1. Ardent Flame — Pyrebrand
2. Draconic Power
3. Earthen Heart — Basalt-Blooded Warrior
Sorcerer
1. Daedric Summoning — Beacon of Oblivion
2. Dark Magic
3. Storm Calling — Monolith of Storms
Nightblade
1. Assassination
2. Shadow — Umbral Edge
3. Siphoning — Soulcleaver
Templar
1. Aedric Spear — Aetheric Lancer
2. Dawn's Wrath — Wrathsun
3. Restoring Light
Warden
1. Animal Companions — Aerie's Cry
2. Green Balance — Gardener of Seasons
3. Winter's Embrace
Necromancer
1. Bone Tyrant — Nobility in Decay
2. Grave Lord — Corpseburster
3. Living Death
Arcanist
1. Curative Runeforms — Reawakened Hierophant
2. Herald of the Tome — Spattering Disjunction
3. Soldier of Apocrypha

Some Class Sets have explicit links to a skill line, while others are implicit. For instance, Pyrebrand deals with damage over time effects, which is more fitting for the Ardent Flame skill line (as it also deals with damage over time) than it would be for Draconic Power, which is more of a tanking skill line.

For clarity, the skill lines which haven't received an associated Class Set are the following:

Dragonknight — Draconic Power
Sorcerer — Dark Magic
Nightblade — Assassination
Templar — Restoring Light
Warden — Winter's Embrace
Necromancer — Living Death
Arcanist — Soldier of Apocrypha

What do you all hope the third Class Set for each Class will do? When do you think we'll receive another update to the Infinite Archive that adds the 3rd Class Set? Do you think there will be a chance to receive more than 3 Class Sets for each Class in the future? If we get an 8th Class in the future, would it come with the same number of Class Sets as every other Class?

Hapexamendios · February 7

I haven't really found many of the class sets so far to be worth anything beyond a niche solo build. My expectations are very low.

MrCray78 · February 7

My assassination nightblade class set in my sweet dreams

DinoZavr · February 7

in my understanding this (3rd class IA set) shall happen eventually, when Zeni's statistics shows noticeable decrease of summary time spent by us in the Archive. and i think thats for good.

JaxontheUnfortunate · February 7

Maybe a "monster" helm style 2 PC set the provides a bonus when all 3 sets are worn together.

Fischblut · February 7

If a third set is added, it's ok. I'm personally not very interested in class sets, because they are either very weak or not good enough

But I really wish to see more style pages for all types of special glow from these sets. For example, Umbral Edge has very cool special effect aura:

But there are no style pages for it.

Or even better, I would love to have ability to apply all class special set effects at will, without the need to wear the set or specific outfit style.

Soulcleaver has very cool aura and my nightblade wears it for good looks when doing casual stuff (because the weakness of this set is not important overland). Sadly, in trials and dungeons I replace this set, and cool aura effect is lost :'(

IncultaWolf · February 7

Fischblut wrote: »

If a third set is added, it's ok. I'm personally not very interested in class sets, because they are either very weak or not good enough

But I really wish to see more style pages for all types of special glow from these sets. For example, Umbral Edge has very cool special effect aura:

But there are no style pages for it.

Or even better, I would love to have ability to apply all class special set effects at will, without the need to wear the set or specific outfit style.

Soulcleaver has very cool aura and my nightblade wears it for good looks when doing casual stuff (because the weakness of this set is not important overland). Sadly, in trials and dungeons I replace this set, and cool aura effect is lost :'(

The style pages for the second class sets should be coming later with the next IA refresh/update sometime this year.

Taril · February 7

Erickson9610 wrote: »

What do you all hope the third Class Set for each Class will do?

Ideally something cool that helps enhance the class identity and/or create build archetypes that don't exist (Such as petless Sorc)

Erickson9610 wrote: »

When do you think we'll receive another update to the Infinite Archive that adds the 3rd Class Set?

Who knows. Most likely when they want to push IA for whatever reason (Such as if they want to put more IA related tasks in events or if they decide to update IA in some way like adding more Verses/Visions, the ability to save, more diversity in IA content itself etc)

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Do you think there will be a chance to receive more than 3 Class Sets for each Class in the future?

Possibly. Though I'm not sure how it would go.

Like, it's hard to imagine they'd do some generic sets that are just locked ot class for no apparent reason and having alternate sets feels kind of strange (Especially for Warden/Necro/Arc who's skill lines are more acutely designed for a specific role. The 4 base classes have a lot more flexibility in their skill lines that crosses between roles which offers more design for alternate sets based on each skill line)

Erickson9610 wrote: »

If we get an 8th Class in the future, would it come with the same number of Class Sets as every other Class?

I'm not sure. Maybe it'll come with 2/3 sets on release, but it might also just come with 0-1 and get the rest later.

Releasing them later can be beneficial to players because the curated nature of the drops would help them acquire full sets easier. It's one of the issues that newer players have when going into IA for the sets now is that there's 2 class sets they'll be getting pieces for so it takes longer to get 1 full set.

Of course, one of the more overarching issues is that many people are showing discontent at the current set situation. Wherein there exists hundreds of sets and maybe like a dozen of them are actually worth using. Adding more sets is not really high on most people's wish list compared to addressing the myriads of trash sets that don't justify their existence in the game.

Meaning, if their new goal is to try and tackle more notable player concerns (As well as updating older content as they mentioned with revisiting old zones to provide graphical improvements alongside new additions to the existing guilds) they might be focusing more on improving many existing sets from base game before they get around to making new IA sets.

gamergirldk · February 7

To what end ? they cant seem to make viable sets.. its either trash or broken, which means it will get nerfed to the ground and then useless. But I do think will will get a 3 set for each class

BXR_Lonestar · February 7

Honestly, the class sets are a great idea in theory, but very few of them are actually functional, even on niche builds. I've found maybe 2-3 builds that I could make good use of class sets, and then I found other sets that do even better than those niche sets.

Example: I used Nobility in Decay on my block tank for a while, and it worked great (especially when stage 3 vampire gave you 30% damage reduction based on your missing health). But then Aylied's Refuge came out, and while it is less damage reduction overall than Nobility, it gives you all the damage reduction without any conditions, and so it was just simply a better choice to use it over Nobility. The ability to use myself as a corpse was far less useful on this build.

Monolith of Storms is a fun set too, but I've found it useful mainly in the archive or in places that have big trash pulls in tight quarters. Otherwise, its kind of a waste. Macabre's vintage is much better overall, IMO, because it works regardless of whether you are out in the open or in tight quarters.

tmacedo · February 7

BXR_Lonestar wrote: »

Example: I used Nobility in Decay on my block tank for a while, and it worked great (especially when stage 3 vampire gave you 30% damage reduction based on your missing health). But then Aylied's Refuge came out, and while it is less damage reduction overall than Nobility, it gives you all the damage reduction without any conditions, and so it was just simply a better choice to use it over Nobility. The ability to use myself as a corpse was far less useful on this build.

Some more examples: Aetheric lancer was alright for pvp but the proc fire seemed a little clunky, and then there is Tarnished which is a much more viable, easier to manage similar proc. Also I tried a half-healer half dps using spc and wrathsun to help with group dps in 4-man and overland, working around dropping double nova on enemies, but the dmg wasnt a big thing, which didnt surprised me anyway.

For templar i'd like to see a really good support set for Restoring light. For example: you know that cool light pillars fabled lightbringer does in IA? Why dont we have a same proc one giving us, say, major mending and allies some offensive buff?

oldbobdude · February 7

Does anybody use any of the IA sets? I don’t think any are useful. Not even in the IA.

Taril · February 7

oldbobdude wrote: »

Does anybody use any of the IA sets? I don’t think any are useful. Not even in the IA.

Some get use.

Corpseburster is being used by PvE Necros in combination with Banner Bearer + Class Mastery.

Some DK healers use Basalt-Blooded though DK healers are not particularly common.

tomofhyrule · February 7

I totally expect we'll get the 3rd lines' sets, probably at the end of the year the next time they do an IA pass.

I'm not one of those "omg too many sets!!11!1" people. It all goes in stickerbook, and I'm not forced to wear it (or even collect it). But there are some times it's just fun to wear some for-fun thing sometimes - not everything needs to be 'meta-or-bust.' One of my favorite characters is my werewolf who's in Blood Moon and Savage Werewolf (theming for the win) because I love wailing on people with the fast light attacks.

As for a potential Class #8: omg please!!!!.

There is nothing I want more than for them to release an 8th class. The release of Arcanist was probably the most fun I've had with ESO in a while, and it was all because of getting to play with the world in a whole new way.

Obviously an 8th class would end up getting the 3 sets, but I don't think all 3 would release at the same time. I'd assume that the class would release with one of the three class sets available, and then the other two lines would release within the next year or so with subsequent patches. They would have to make new motifs too - the weapons are all the same for all styles save the little emblem, but they would get a unique armor look (which should go back to being unlocked for all, please).

But yes, ZOS: please give me that Dwemer Artificer class 🙏

tmacedo · February 7

tomofhyrule wrote: »

But yes, ZOS: please give me that Dwemer Artificer class 🙏

I have my own headcanon of a witch class, especially after arcanist very Mora-inspired. My witch would be Reach magic-based. But i really like the idea of an artificer vlass, esepcially in dwemer lore, which is one of my favorites.

JaxontheUnfortunate · February 7

oldbobdude wrote: »

Does anybody use any of the IA sets? I don’t think any are useful. Not even in the IA.

I run both pyre brand on my pve DPS build and basalt on my DK healer

BasP · February 7

When it comes to class sets in general, I feel that it's too bad that only Corpseburster is really good at the moment (for my playstyle at least). I still hope that the other class sets will receive a buff sometime.

That said, the new set I'm looking forward to most is the Warden's Winter's Embrace class set. Even though that is the 'tanking focused' skill line of the class, I really hope the set will be great for DDs. Perhaps ZOS can make its effect depend on the player's Max Health, similar to Piercing Cold, or give it different effects depending on whether it's front barred or back barred or something.

I'm also wondering what the Nightblade's Assassination set will be like. Considering the class is already strong in PvP but lacking a bit in PvE, I'm curious to see how that set will be balanced.

When all classes have received their 3rd class set, I wouldn't mind it if ZOS would release "Class Weapons". Those could function like the existing ability altering weapons that drop from i.e. Maelstrom Arena and buff/alter specific class skills.

DenverRalphy · February 7

The addition of a 2nd class set already made the grind for them overly grueling for players new to IA. A 3rd set would just make the grind truly obsurd because trying to stickerbook one specific set with two other sets in the loot pool is just nonsensical. Especially with each set containing all 3 weights of the armor pieces.

If there's ever a 3rd class set, I truly hope it comes from somewhere not IA.

katanagirl1 · February 7

DenverRalphy wrote: »

The addition of a 2nd class set already made the grind for them overly grueling for players new to IA. A 3rd set would just make the grind truly obsurd because trying to stickerbook one specific set with two other sets in the loot pool is just nonsensical. Especially with each set containing all 3 weights of the armor pieces.

If there's ever a 3rd class set, I truly hope it comes from somewhere not IA.

Not only this, but if you’re after furnishing leads these gear drops and style pages can get in the way.

There is just too much different stuff dropping from this area. I’d love to get the stickerbook items but I am far from it, and I just got the first codex entry from the second to last lead I needed for IA. I only have 1 lead for each except for the Visions of Mora of which I have no complete set yet.

tomofhyrule · February 7

katanagirl1 wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

The addition of a 2nd class set already made the grind for them overly grueling for players new to IA. A 3rd set would just make the grind truly obsurd because trying to stickerbook one specific set with two other sets in the loot pool is just nonsensical. Especially with each set containing all 3 weights of the armor pieces.

If there's ever a 3rd class set, I truly hope it comes from somewhere not IA.

Not only this, but if you’re after furnishing leads these gear drops and style pages can get in the way.

There is just too much different stuff dropping from this area. I’d love to get the stickerbook items but I am far from it, and I just got the first codex entry from the second to last lead I needed for IA. I only have 1 lead for each except for the Visions of Mora of which I have no complete set yet.

Remember that leads do not compete with class sets for their drops. Having hundreds of more class sets won't affect the lead drop table at all since they are sourced differently.

Class set items only drop from Tho'at and Marauders, specifically where odd numbered Arcs drop armor and even drop weapons and jewelry. Leads drop from Gw or side area chests as well, and do not take the place of a set item drop.

Class set items are also curated to the character so you will fill your stickerbook for that class before that character starts dropping other items. If you are trying to target a specific set, then run a character on that class. This is also helped along by the fact that the sets release in a staggered fashion, so a player has time to farm sets to prevent them from dropping when a new pack is released, for any who want to keep on top of collection. The Filers also offer curated boxes to buy if farming is not going well.

I doubt that a third Class Set would come from anywhere but IA. If they decided to make a second series of class sets, then maybe those would have a different source, but as it stands it would make sense to drop the third set from IA as well.

However, the fact that there are so many leads dropping from IA is a legitimate issue, and those need to be curated better. We absolutely should not get any more leads from IA as there are way too many already.

katanagirl1 · February 7

tomofhyrule wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

The addition of a 2nd class set already made the grind for them overly grueling for players new to IA. A 3rd set would just make the grind truly obsurd because trying to stickerbook one specific set with two other sets in the loot pool is just nonsensical. Especially with each set containing all 3 weights of the armor pieces.

If there's ever a 3rd class set, I truly hope it comes from somewhere not IA.

Not only this, but if you’re after furnishing leads these gear drops and style pages can get in the way.

There is just too much different stuff dropping from this area. I’d love to get the stickerbook items but I am far from it, and I just got the first codex entry from the second to last lead I needed for IA. I only have 1 lead for each except for the Visions of Mora of which I have no complete set yet.

Remember that leads do not compete with class sets for their drops. Having hundreds of more class sets won't affect the lead drop table at all since they are sourced differently.

Class set items only drop from Tho'at and Marauders, specifically where odd numbered Arcs drop armor and even drop weapons and jewelry. Leads drop from Gw or side area chests as well, and do not take the place of a set item drop.

Class set items are also curated to the character so you will fill your stickerbook for that class before that character starts dropping other items. If you are trying to target a specific set, then run a character on that class. This is also helped along by the fact that the sets release in a staggered fashion, so a player has time to farm sets to prevent them from dropping when a new pack is released, for any who want to keep on top of collection. The Filers also offer curated boxes to buy if farming is not going well.

I doubt that a third Class Set would come from anywhere but IA. If they decided to make a second series of class sets, then maybe those would have a different source, but as it stands it would make sense to drop the third set from IA as well.

However, the fact that there are so many leads dropping from IA is a legitimate issue, and those need to be curated better. We absolutely should not get any more leads from IA as there are way too many already.

I’m not so sure. I can get a lead from Tho’at or a side area, or a scamp or a Marauder, but they are not guaranteed. I do get style pages from Tho’at so it seems you either get a lead or a style page. They seem to compete in that case, which is really the only place I see lead drops since the scamp is rare and killing Marauders is dependent on whether I get Bittog or Gothmau or not. I’m stuck on the same side area so not loot there.

Desiato · February 7

They will be more sets I won't obtain because I refuse to buy in to the infinite time sink.

tomofhyrule · February 7

katanagirl1 wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

The addition of a 2nd class set already made the grind for them overly grueling for players new to IA. A 3rd set would just make the grind truly obsurd because trying to stickerbook one specific set with two other sets in the loot pool is just nonsensical. Especially with each set containing all 3 weights of the armor pieces.

If there's ever a 3rd class set, I truly hope it comes from somewhere not IA.

Not only this, but if you’re after furnishing leads these gear drops and style pages can get in the way.

There is just too much different stuff dropping from this area. I’d love to get the stickerbook items but I am far from it, and I just got the first codex entry from the second to last lead I needed for IA. I only have 1 lead for each except for the Visions of Mora of which I have no complete set yet.

Remember that leads do not compete with class sets for their drops. Having hundreds of more class sets won't affect the lead drop table at all since they are sourced differently.

Class set items only drop from Tho'at and Marauders, specifically where odd numbered Arcs drop armor and even drop weapons and jewelry. Leads drop from Gw or side area chests as well, and do not take the place of a set item drop.

Class set items are also curated to the character so you will fill your stickerbook for that class before that character starts dropping other items. If you are trying to target a specific set, then run a character on that class. This is also helped along by the fact that the sets release in a staggered fashion, so a player has time to farm sets to prevent them from dropping when a new pack is released, for any who want to keep on top of collection. The Filers also offer curated boxes to buy if farming is not going well.

I doubt that a third Class Set would come from anywhere but IA. If they decided to make a second series of class sets, then maybe those would have a different source, but as it stands it would make sense to drop the third set from IA as well.

However, the fact that there are so many leads dropping from IA is a legitimate issue, and those need to be curated better. We absolutely should not get any more leads from IA as there are way too many already.

I’m not so sure. I can get a lead from Tho’at or a side area, or a scamp or a Marauder, but they are not guaranteed. I do get style pages from Tho’at so it seems you either get a lead or a style page. They seem to compete in that case, which is really the only place I see lead drops since the scamp is rare and killing Marauders is dependent on whether I get Bittog or Gothmau or not. I’m stuck on the same side area so not loot there.

Ah, we're talking about the set items, not the style pages.

On that topic, I'm not expecting more style pages. The current two sets use the same style, the only difference being the glow. I'd expect the third set would still use the same style and just have a third different glow attached.

I still think it's odd that the glow was added to the style pages - that's another frustration about the Class style pages that they were unlocked and looked standard when they were added in U40, but U41 specifically locked them and made them glow if you had 5 pieces. Now that there's a second glow, we can see that the glow on the style pages is only the first one. I don't see them adding more style pages just to have the same thing but glow differently, but it would be nice if they reverted the styles back to U40 to not glow and be useable on everyone. If someone wants the glow, they can use the set, but if someone doesn't want the glow, they lost that option.

Erickson9610 · February 8

The Infinite Archive is a roguelike, and roguelikes are meant to be replayed again and again. It's good design to have a lot of things to collect in a roguelike, because the player will naturally be replaying the same randomized scenarios over and over. It gives players a reason to keep going.

Now, if our 2nd Class Set hadn't also come from the Infinite Archive, I would've agreed that the 3rd shouldn't. The Infinite Archive has established itself as the place for Class Sets.

TheDarkRuler · February 8

Except for Corpsebuster all IA sets are now utter trash.
They first should make the sets niché and usable before making any new sets.

ZhuJiuyin · February 8

With the exception of Beacon of Oblivion, the other class sets either performed poorly or were average.
And Beacon of Oblivion is one of those sets whose value you can tell at a glance.

It's sh*****t

/S

sans-culottes · February 8

Instead of bandaids like the endless, mostly useless sets, they should focus on the classes themselves. If you have to depend on

BasP wrote: »

When it comes to class sets in general, I feel that it's too bad that only Corpseburster is really good at the moment (for my playstyle at least). I still hope that the other class sets will receive a buff sometime.

That said, the new set I'm looking forward to most is the Warden's Winter's Embrace class set. Even though that is the 'tanking focused' skill line of the class, I really hope the set will be great for DDs. Perhaps ZOS can make its effect depend on the player's Max Health, similar to Piercing Cold, or give it different effects depending on whether it's front barred or back barred or something.

I'm also wondering what the Nightblade's Assassination set will be like. Considering the class is already strong in PvP but lacking a bit in PvE, I'm curious to see how that set will be balanced.

When all classes have received their 3rd class set, I wouldn't mind it if ZOS would release "Class Weapons". Those could function like the existing ability altering weapons that drop from i.e. Maelstrom Arena and buff/alter specific class skills.

It’s too bad the seemingly endless churn of sets can’t be used to instead inform meaningful changes to classes with fundamental problems (e.g., ESO’s poorly implemented necromancer class).

AzuraFan · February 8

What, another set in a game that already has too many, from a place that only a subset of the playerbase cares about? No thanks. They should improve the rewards in the IA in other ways.

Finedaible · February 11

Hopefully something worth using.

As a NB main, I just hope the 3rd set is something that I might actually want to use. DKs at least had Pyrebrand for a little while, but then anything rewarding never really lasts with Zenimax. Anything decent will be destroyed, materials, gold, and time wasted.

TheBardAtTheInn · February 11

Between most of the class sets ranging from decon/merchant fodder to lackluster, the few good ones being ridiculously niche (corpseburster) or good but then nerfed into the dirt (the last DK one), and the fact that they apparently gave up on giving them unique styles even though that was clearly the plan to begin with and would provide yet another page to farm and would increase engagement in IA, I'm not going to hold my breath for anything worthwhile.

Vaqual · February 11

I don't really have hope.

The first PTS iteration of the Soulcleaver was mechanistically fun and tactical. The live version is just plain an boring. Huge letdown.

Umbral Edge is a strong gimmick in fights with 1 target, but man "proactively reactive" usage of shadow skills just feel like a sales pitch for dark cloak, my favorite skill for standing in place with max HP gear. In case it wasn't clear - I find the set annoying.
As Assassination is my least favorite NB line, I do not expect anything worthwhile to come from this. Maybe something busted, but nothing fun or tasteful.