Luke_Flamesword wrote: »

Alcast tier list is not even updated - dragonknights are there at lowest position, which was true more than year ago but now they are at top.

This is the reason that there is no point to choose meta class but this can change with any quarter update after some buffs or nerfs. Just pick what you like thematically, visually and what skills look interesting for you.

This.

ESO is very horizontal, none more so than today with all the hybridization. Every class can do every content and every role more or less. The only time that is not 100% true is probably veteran DLC 12-person trial hard modes and scorepushing. Dungeons? Some, but only some, DLC hard modes are truly hard, but I have never heard about class requirements for those.

Last I looked the group composition for really, really hardcore content was something like 68% DKs. As Luke says, this is a new phenomenon and liable to change on a quartely basis. ESO - while super easy to start with - is also about skill and mechanics at that level. Were you to try and join a random group, people generally ask about your achievements, e.g. previous completions, not your class.

Trials, at the hardcore level, are about group composition not so much in terms of classes, but in terms of the different armor sets the group has to cover for maximum buff coverage. To some degree that's also about class, but you have to go very far down the rabbit hole for that to become truly relevant. You shouldn't be thinking about that as a new player IMO. If you ever get to that stage, you could always grind up a new character later, which is not that hard. Some people do it in a day or two.

That said, I have a necromancer friend who specialised in some sort of Elemental Catalyst group buff build that few people run. He's always in demand. At least for now.

In regard to PvP things are also always changing. Right now:

If you want to play a tanky melee brawler character, choose DK or warden. To add some movement or ranged play to that, warden has you somewhat covered. On DK you would probably add either the Psijic Race Against Time skill for root / snare removal plus speed, or you'd be a vampire and use Mist Form. DK is meta right now. As always, that could change, but DK is IMO also the more fun class, due to the Leap ultimate.

If you prefer a movement-based class, choose sorc or nightblade. Some sorcs are bitterly complaining right now, because sorc was top dog for a very long time until general game changes eroded the class' strength. IMO it's not that bad and is still a fun class with the best movement skill (Streak) and good raw damage. Sorc is best played as a hybrid these days, e.g. with a mix of stamina and magicka skills.

Nightblades are the stealth class. Shadowy Disguise makes you truly invisible to other players, even if they are right on top of you. They may hear you, though, and they may try to actively detect you and break your cloak. Stamblade was the dominant flavor for a long time, but these days it's magblade or hybrid. It is a flexible class. You don't have to major on stealth. Gankers lean on stealth obviously, but you don't have to do that. Some tier lists you see today rate nightblade along with DK and warden, above sorc. I am not convinced of that. The meta is currently so tanky, it favors the brawler classes.

Nightblade and sorc suffer from the same problem in that they are single target classes. Their main attacks are prone to be avoided via dodge rolls. That said, nightblade is more flexible and can be played as an AOE bomber.

Of all the classes nightblade can probably get you the easiest kills against bad players, but also has the steepest learning curve to play the class well.

Templar and necro are currently languishing by all accounts. That doesn't mean they're unplayable. I like templars, but if you are ultra competitive, probably not the best choice right now.