The Elder Scrolls Online best Solo Arcanist build: Abilities, armor, and more

Arcanist mage and a Khajit tank battling a demon boss in The Elder Scrolls Online
The Solo Arcanist is a powerful build suitable for excursions in the Endless Archive (Image via ZeniMax Online Studios)

The Elder Scrolls Online is ZeniMax's hit MMORPG set in the continent of Tamriel. It introduces new battle content with unique storylines and rewards. These entice you to explore those narratives to uncover the buried secrets of this game's world. The Endless Archive is the title's first attempt at a roguelike battle mode with infinite arenas and random boss encounters.

However, you can only play it solo or in a group of two. As dealing adequate damage against bosses is required in either case, you will be missing a dedicated healer and tank in your party.

An optimal build with good self-sustainability is essential when you're playing alone. This article offers a look at the Solo Arcanist build guide in The Elder Scrolls Online.


Best The Elder Scrolls Online Solo Arcanist abilities and passives

The Solo Arcanist is a Stamina-focused build in The Elder Scrolls Online. It specializes in dealing exorbitant damage while providing sustainability and defenses to survive incoming damage from boss abilities.

Here are the best skills for the Solo Arcanist build:

Primary BarSecondary Bar
Slot 1: Camouflaged HunterSlot 1: Elemental Susceptibility
Slot 2: Pragmatic FatecarverSlot 2: Runeguard of Freedom
Slot 3: Quick CloakSlot 3: Cruxweaver Armor
Slot 4: Cephaloarch's FlailSlot 4: Recuperative Treatise
Slot 5: Spiteward of the Lucid MindSlot 5: Barbed Trap
Ultimate: Sanctum of the Abyssal SeaUltimate: The Languid Eye

Pragmatic Fatecarver is your primary damaging ability, which also applies a decent shield that absorbs enemy damage. Cephaliarch's Flail is an execution skill that inflicts 100 percent more damage to enemies with less than 50 percent health and casts a sizeable heal on you.

All the other abilities should be used off cooldown, as they provide essential buffs and resistances.

The passives from the various skills lines listed below are crucial for the Solo Arcanist:

  • Herald of Tome: Fated Fortune, Harnessed Quintessence, Psychic Lesion, Splintered Secrets
  • Curative Runeforms: Healing Tides, Hideous Clarity, Erudition, Intricate Runeforms
  • Soldier of Apocrypha: Aegis of the Unseen, Wellspring of the Abyss, Circumvented Fate, Implacable Outcome
  • Dual Wield: Slaughter, Dual Wield Expert, Controlled Fury, Ruffian, Twin Blade and Blunt
  • Destruction Staff: Tri Focus, Penetrating Magic, Elemental Force, Ancient Knowledge, Destruction Expert
  • Medium Armor: Dexterity, Wind Walker, Improved Sneak, Agility, Athletics
  • Heavy Armor: Resolve, Constitution, Juggernaut, Revitalize, Rapid Mending
  • Fighters Guild: Intimidating Presence, Slayer, Banish the Wicked, Skilled Tracker
  • Undaunted: Undaunted Command, Undaunted Mettle
  • Racial: All
  • Alchemy: Medicinal Use

With these abilities and passives, consider using the Lady Mundus Stone for increased Physical and Spell resistance and Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables food for enhanced Max Magicka and health.

Khajit is the most suitable race for the Solo Arcanist in The Elder Scrolls Online due to its increased Critical Damage and Critical Healing.


Best The Elders Scrolls Online Solo Arcanist armor, weapons, and enchantments

The Solo Arcanist in The Elder Scrolls Online uses a mix of Heavy and Medium Armor. Dual-wielded dagger and mace are the primary weapons of choice, and a Frost Staff is used as the secondary option.

The following armor sets and enchantments are well-suited for this build:

GearSetTraitEnchantment
Head (Medium Armor)Perfected Ansuul's TormentReinforcedTri-Stat
Shoulder (Medium Armor)Perfected Ansuul's TormentReinforcedTri-Stat
Chest (Heavy Armor)Warrior-PoetReinforcedTri-Stat
Hands (Medium Armor)Perfected Ansuul's TormentNirnhonedTri-Stat
Waist (Light Armor)Armor of the TraineeDivinesTri-Stat
Legs (Heavy Armor)Warrior-PoetReinforcedTri-Stat
Feet (Heavy Armor)Warrior-PoetReinforcedTri-Stat
NecklaceWarrior-PoetBloodthirstyTri-Stat
RingWarrior-PoetBloodthirstyTri-Stat
RingRing of the Pale OrderBloodthirstyTri-Stat
Weapon 1 (Dual-wielded dagger and mace)Perfected Ansuul's TormentSharpened and DefendingFiery and Poisoned Weapon
Weapon 2 (Frost Staff)Perfected Wrath of ElementsInfusedWeapon Damage

Here are the recommended Champion Points allocation for the Solo Arcanist build:

Warfare Tree

  • Ironclad
  • Duelist's Rebuff
  • Unassailable
  • Thaumaturge

Fitness Tree

  • Fortified
  • Bloody Renewal
  • Bastion
  • Boundless Vitality

Craft Tree

  • Liquid Efficiency
  • Master Gatherer
  • Meticulous Disassembly
  • Steed's Blessing

That concludes this guide to Solo Arcanist in The Elder Scrolls Online.

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