Arcanist Skills
Arcanist Skills in ESO are special, unique skills that only the class of Arcanist can use in The Elder Scrolls Online. The Arcanist is the class of Rune Magic and Cosmic Horror! Arcanists can deal Magic damage and use Runes to defend and support their allies. Their Skills are divided in three different categories:
- Herald of the Tome, focusing on offensive skills and damage dealing.
- Soldier of Apocrypha, is a skill line with several defense oriented skills. Good for Tanking.
- Curative Runeforms, focusing on healing and support.
By using these skills you can create Powerful PVE Builds or PVP Builds in ESO! Below you can find all Arcanist Skills in the game!
Herald of the Tome Skills
Below you can find all Herald of the Tome Arcanist abilities. These skills focus mostly on offense and dealing damage!
| Skill | Morph | Effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Unblinking Eye | Tear open the fabric of the Aurbis to summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora. This being casts forth a beam that rends asunder reality for 6 seconds and deals 1115 Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters every 0.5 seconds. The scion's beam can be repositioned by recasting The Unblinking Eye. | 175 Ultimate | |
 The Tide King's Gaze | Tear open the fabric of the Aurbis to summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora. This being casts forth a beam that rends asunder reality for 8 seconds that deals 1151 Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters every 0.5 seconds. The scion's beam automatically follows the initial target, and hunts for a new one within 8 meters if it is slain. | 175 Ultimate | |
 The Languid Eye | Tear open the fabric of the Aurbis to summon a scion of Hermaeus Mora. This being casts forth a beam that rends asunder reality for 6 seconds that deals 1115 Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters every 0.5 seconds and snares them by 50% for 3 seconds. Every 0.5 seconds, the beam's damage increases by 7%. The scion's beam can be repositioned by recasting The Languid Eye. | 175 Ultimate | |
 Runeblades | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Craft a series of Apocryphal runes before launching them at a foe, dealing 695 Magic Damage three times and generating Crux. This ability deals 3% increased damage for each active Crux when cast. | 2700 | |
 Writhing Runeblades | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Craft a series of Apocryphal runes before launching them at a foe, dealing 718 Magic Damage three times and generating Crux. This ability gains between 1095 and 2191 Weapon and Spell Critical rating and deals 3% increased damage for each active Crux when cast. | 2700 | |
 Escalating Runeblades | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Craft a series of Apocryphal runes before launching them at a foe, dealing 696 Magic Damage, 766 Magic Damage, and 917 Magic Damage and generating Crux. The last rune explodes, dealing damage to all enemies within 8 meters of the target. This ability deals 3% increased damage for each active Crux when cast. | 2700 | |
 Fatecarver | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Harness pure knowledge into a beam of energy that scars the world in front of you. Channel the beam for up to 4 seconds, dealing 879 Magic Damage every 0.3 seconds. Casting Fatecarver consumes all Crux and increases damage done by 33% per Crux spent. | 450/0.3S | |
 Exhausting Fatecarver | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Harness pure knowledge into a beam of energy that scars the world in front of you. Channel the beam for up to 4 seconds, dealing 878 Magic Damage every 0.3 seconds and snaring enemies hit by 15%. Casting Exhausting Fatecarver consumes all Crux and increases damage done by 33%, duration by 0.3 seconds, and snare by 15% per Crux spent. | 450/0.3s | |
 Pragmatic Fatecarver | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Harness pure knowledge into a beam of energy that scars the world in front of you. Channel the beam for up to 4 seconds, dealing 878 Magic Damage every 0.3 seconds. While channeling, you also gain a damage shield that absorbs up to 3725 damage and grants interrupt immunity. Casting Pragmatic Fatecarver consumes all Crux and increases damage done by 33%, and decreases cost by 16% per Crux spent. | 450/0.3S | |
 Abyssal Impact | Infuse your arm with abyssal magic to form tentacles that lash out at your foes, dealing 1939 Physical Damage. Enemies are immobilized for 3 seconds and marked with Abyssal Ink for 20 seconds. You deal 5% increased damage to enemies drenched in Abyssal Ink. | 2984 | |
 Cephaliarch's Flail | Infuse your arm with abyssal magic to form tentacles that lash out at your foes, dealing 1939 Physical Damage, healing yourself for 969 and generating Crux. Enemies are immobilized for 3 seconds and marked with Abyssal Ink for 20 seconds. Deals up to 100% more damage to enemies with less than 50% Health. You deal 5% increased damage to enemies drenched in Abyssal Ink. | 2714 | |
 Tentacular Dread | Infuse your arm with abyssal magic to form tentacles that lash out at your foes, dealing 2002 Frost Damage and consuming all Crux. Enemies are immobilized for 3 seconds and marked with Abyssal Ink for 20 seconds. You deal 5% increased damage to enemies drenched in Abyssal Ink. Consume all Crux and increase Tentacular Dread damage by 20% and damage to foes drenched in Abyssal Ink by 2% per Crux spent. | 3510 | |
 Tome-Bearer's Inspiration | Etch a series of runes onto your weapon that pulse with power once every 5 seconds. Each pulse enhances your class abilities, and striking an enemy with one deals an additional 1161 Magic Damage and generates Crux if you have none. While slotted on either ability bar, gain Major Brutality and Major Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. | 4455 | |
 Inspired Scholarship | Etch a series of runes onto your weapon that pulse with power once every 3 seconds. Each pulse enhances your class abilities, and striking an enemy with one deals an additional 935 Magic Damage and generates Crux if you have none. While slotted on either ability bar, gain Major Brutality and Major Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. | 4455 | |
 Recuperative Treatise | Etch a series of runes onto your weapon that pulse with power once every 5 seconds. Each pulse enhances your class abilities, and striking an enemy with one deals an additional 1161 Magic Damage, restores 600 Magicka and Stamina, and generates Crux if you have none. While slotted on either ability bar, gain Major Brutality and Major Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. | 4455 | |
 The Imperfect Ring | COST DETERMINED BY LOWEST MAX RESOURCE Summon a flawed rune under an enemy that etches foes nearby with scrawled glyphs, dealing 4631 Magic Damage over 20 seconds. An ally near the initial target can activate the Runebreak synergy, dealing 2698 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters. | 3510 | |
 Rune of Displacement | COST DETERMINED BY LOWEST MAX RESOURCE Summon a discharging rune under an enemy. After 2 seconds the rune pulses, pulling in foes between 2 to 8 meters and etching them with scrawled glyphs that deal 4780 Magic Damage over 18 seconds. An ally near the initial target can activate the Runebreak synergy, dealing 2698 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters. | 3510 | |
 Fulminating Rune | COST DETERMINED BY LOWEST MAX RESOURCE Summon an explosive rune under an enemy that etches foes nearby with scrawled glyphs, dealing 4642 Magic Damage over 20 seconds. The rune lingers on the initial target for 6 seconds before detonating, dealing 1438 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters. Rune detonation cannot be primed with Fulminating Rune again for 6 seconds. Up to 3 allies near the initial target can activate the Runebreak synergy, dealing 2698 Frost Damage to enemies within 7 meters. | 3510 | |
 Fated Fortune | Warp fate when you generate or consume Crux, increasing your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 12% for 7 seconds. | Passive | |
 Harnessed Quintessence | You master the warp and weft of your very soul. When you are restored Magicka or Stamina, increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 5% for 10 seconds. | Passive | |
 Psychic Lesion | WITH A HERALD OF THE TOME ABILITY SLOTTED Your attacks wound the mind with heretical knowledge, increasing damage dealt by Status Effects by 15% and Status Effect Chance by 75%. | Passive | |
 Splintered Secrets | What they don't know can kill them. Increase your Physical and Spell Penetration by 991 per Herald of the Tome ability slotted. | Passive |
Soldier of Apocrypha Skills
Below you can find all Soldier of Apocrypha Arcanist abilities. These are skills that will allow you to boost your defense, taunt enemies and Tank!
| Skill | Morph | Effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
 Gibbering Shield | Gather the true strength of Apocrypha around you, forming protective tentacles and a damage shield that absorbs 60% of all damage for 10 seconds, up to a max of 31732 damage, scaling off your Max Health. When the shield collapses you lash out, dealing all of the damage absorbed as Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters over 10 seconds. | 200 Ultimate | |
 Sanctum of the Abyssal Sea | Gather the true strength of Apocrypha as protective tentacles rise from the Abyssal Sea around you. The tentacles form a damage shield that absorbs 60% of all damage for 10 seconds, up to a max of 37697 damage, scaling off your Max Health. When the shield collapses you lash out, dealing all of the damage absorbed as Magic Damage to enemies within 5 meters over 10 seconds. | 200 Ultimate | |
 Gibbering Shelter | Gather the true strength of Apocrypha, forming a tentacle damage shield that absorbs 60% of all damage for 10 seconds, up to a max of 31733 damage. When the shield absorbs damage, pseudopods lash out at up to 11 allies within 15 meters, granting them a damage shield for 4 seconds that absorbs up to 5462 damage. These shields can be applied once every 4 second. Both shields scale off your Max Health. | 200 Ultimate | |
 Runic Jolt | Craft a defensive Apocryphal rune that deals 1161 Magic Damage and applies Minor Maim for 15 seconds, reducing their damage done by 5%. The rune also taunts for 15 seconds if it would not cause taunt immunity, and generates Crux. While slotted, damage taken is reduced by 2% per active Crux. | 1620 | |
 Runic Sunder | Craft a defensive Apocryphal rune that deals 1161 Physical Damage. The rune steals 2200 Armor and applies Minor Maim for 15 seconds, reducing their damage done by 5%. The rune also taunts for 15 seconds if it would not cause taunt immunity, and generates Crux. While slotted, damage taken is reduced by 2% per active Crux. | 1377 | |
 Runic Embrace | Craft a defensive rune that deals 1161 Magic Damage, healing you for 1706 Health, scaling off your Max Health. You apply Minor Maim and Minor Lifesteal for 15 seconds, reducing enemy damage done by 5% and healing you and allies for 600 Health every 1 second when damaging them. The rune taunts for 15 seconds if it would not cause taunt immunity, and generates Crux. While slotted, damage taken is reduced by 2% per active Crux. | 1620 | |
 Runespite Ward | Like the rune knights of old, summon a shield that absorbs 4800 damage for 6 seconds, scaling off your Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates and deals 0 Magic Damage to the attacker, scaling off your Armor. Consume Crux to heal yourself for 1600 Health, scaling off your Max Health, per Crux spent. | 4320 | |
 Spiteward of the Lucid Mind | Like the rune knights of old, summon a shield that absorbs 4800 damage for 6 seconds, scaling off your Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates and deals 0 Magic Damage to the attacker, scaling off your Armor. Consume Crux to heal yourself 1600 Health, scaling off your Max Health, and refund 30% of Spiteward of the Lucid Mind cost per Crux spent. | 4320 | |
 Impervious Runeward | Like the rune knights of old, summon a shield that absorbs 9916 damage for 1 second, and then 5950 damage for 5 seconds if the first shield persists. Both shields scale off your Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates and deals 0 Magic Damage to the attacker, scaling off your Armor. Consume Crux to heal yourself for 1600 Health, scaling off your Max Health, per Crux spent. | 4320 | |
 Fatewoven Armor | Forge defiant runic armor around you, granting Major Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 5948. While the armor persists, taking damage applies Minor Breach, reducing the Armor of your attacker by 2974 for 6 seconds. | 2700 | |
 Cruxweaver Armor | Forge defiant runic armor around you, granting Major Resolve for 30 seconds, increasing your Armor by 5948. While the armor persists, taking damage applies Minor Breach, reducing the Armor of your attacker by 2974 for 6 seconds. Blows against your armor also generate Crux, up to once every 5 seconds. | 2700 | |
 Unbreakable Fate | Forge defiant runic armor around you, granting 5% Block Mitigation and Major Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 5948 for 20 seconds. Consume Crux to gain 5% additional Block Mitigation per Crux spent. While the armor persists, taking damage applies Minor Breach, reducing the Armor of your attacker by 2974 for 6 seconds. | 2430 | |
 Runic Defense | Cast forth a complex rune granting you and your group members Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 2974. You gain Minor Protection for 20 seconds, reducing your damage taken by 5%. The first time you are damaged while below 50% Health, the Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 4800 Health, scaling off your Max Health. | 3510 | |
 Runeguard of Still Waters | Cast forth a complex rune granting you and your group members Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 2974. After 1 second, the spellweave immobilizes enemies within 7 meters for 3 seconds. You gain Minor Protection for 20 seconds, reducing your damage taken by 5%. The first time you are damaged while below 50% Health, the Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 4800 Health, scaling off your Max Health. | 3510 | |
 Runeguard of Freedom | Cast forth a complex rune granting you and your group members Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, increasing your Armor by 2974. You gain Minor Protection for 20 seconds, reducing your damage taken by 5%. The first time you are damaged while below 50% Health, Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 4800 Health, scaling off your Max Health, and gain 3000 Armor and Crowd Control Immunity for 6 seconds. This immunity can occur once every 30 seconds. | 3510 | |
 Rune of Eldritch Horror | Etch an incomprehensible rune on your enemy's mind, paralyzing them in fear after a 1 second delay, stunning them for 4 seconds. This terror applies Minor Vulnerability for 10 seconds, increasing their damage taken by 5%. If used against a monster, the paralyze lasts for 8 seconds. This ability cannot be dodged. | 3780 | |
 Rune of Uncanny Adoration | Etch a blasphemous rune on your enemy's mind, charming them after a 1 second delay for 4 seconds. This eldritch attraction causes them to move towards the player and applies Minor Vulnerability for 10 seconds, increasing their damage taken by 5%. If used against a monster, the charm lasts for 8 seconds. This ability cannot be dodged. | 3510 | |
 Rune of the Colorless Pool | Etch an amorphous rune on your enemy's mind, paralyzing them in fear after a 1 second delay, stunning them for 4 seconds. This undimensioned phenomenon applies Minor Vulnerability and Minor Brittle for 20 seconds, increasing their damage taken by 5% and their Critical Damage taken by 10%. If used against a monster, the paralyze lasts for 8 seconds. This ability cannot be dodged. | 3780 | |
 Aegis of the Unseen | Form a secret soldier within your mind, a defense against arcane forces without. While a beneficial Soldier of Apocrypha ability is active on you, increase your Armor by 1980. | Passive | |
 Wellspring of the Abyss | Apocryphal knowledge bubbles up from the depths of your psyche, increasing your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 129 for each Soldier of Apocrypha ability slotted. | Passive | |
 Circumvented Fate | Casting an Arcanist ability warps the weave of fate around you, granting you and your group members Minor Evasion for 20 seconds and reducing damage from area attacks by 10%. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds. | Passive | |
 Implacable Outcome | The will of an Arcanist is absolute. When you consume Crux, gain 4 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds. | Passive |
Curative Runeforms Skills
Below you can find all Curative Runeforms Arcanist abilities. This Skill line is focusing on healing and supporting your allies.
| Skill | Morph | Effect | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
 Vitalizing Glyphic | Summon an Apocryphal glyphic, which you and your allies can heal. The glyphic spawns at 30% Health and grows stronger the more you heal it. The power within the glyphic grants up to 200 Weapon and Spell Damage and heals you and your allies around it for up to 927 Health every 1 second in proportion to its Health. | 200 Ultimate | |
 Glyphic of the Tides | Summon an Apocryphal glyphic, which you and your allies can heal. The glyphic spawns at 53% Health and grows stronger the more you heal it. The power within the glyphic grants up to 200 Weapon and Spell Damage and heals you and your allies around it for up to 928 Health every 1 second in proportion to its Health. At full Health the Glyphic grants Major Protection, reducing damage taken by 10%. | 200 Ultimate | |
 Resonating Glyphic | Summon an Apocryphal glyphic while in combat, which you and your allies can damage. The glyphic spawns at 70% Health and grows stronger the more you damage it. The glyphic grants up to 200 Weapon and Spell Damage and heals you and your allies around it for up to 958 Health every 1 second in proportion to its Health. | 200 Ultimate | |
 Runemend | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Craft a series of precise Apocryphal runes, then propel them at yourself or an ally in front of you. The runes heal for 1161 Health three times and generate Crux. Each active Crux reduces the cost of this ability by 3%. | 4590 | |
 Evolving Runemend | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Craft a series of adaptive Apocryphal runes, then propel them at yourself or an ally in front of you. The runes heal for 1161 Health three times, an additional 1302 Health over 6 seconds, and generate Crux. Each active Crux reduces the cost of this ability by 3%. | 4590 | |
 Audacious Runemend | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Craft a series of virtuous Apocryphal runes, then propel them at yourself or an ally in front of you. The runes heal for 1199 Health three times and generate Crux. Healing a target under 50% Health grants them Minor Heroism for 6 seconds, generating 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds. Each active Crux reduces the cost of this ability by 3%. | 4590 | |
 Remedy Cascade | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Channel the abyssal sea to coalesce a beam of restorative energy. The beam heals you and your allies in its path for 11310 Health over 4.5 seconds. Consume Crux to also restore 728 Magicka and Stamina per Crux spent to your allies over 4.5 seconds. | 720/0.3s | |
 Cascading Fortune | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Channel the abyssal sea to coalesce a beam that heals you and your allies in its path for 11674 Health over 4.5 seconds. The beam heals for up to 50% more in proportion to the severity of the target's wounds as you reweave fate itself. Consume Crux to also restore 728 Magicka and Stamina per Crux spent to your allies over 4.5 seconds. | 720/0.3s | |
 Curative Surge | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Channel the abyssal sea to coalesce a beam that heals you and your allies in its path for 11310 Health over 4.5 seconds. The beam gradually grows stronger the longer you channel it, healing for up to 192% more at the end of its duration. Consume Crux to also restore 728 Magicka and Stamina per Crux spent to your allies over 4.5 seconds. | 720/0.3s | |
 Chakram Shield | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Carve the runes of the Blind Man to call forth spinning mystical discs. Discs surround you or up to 4 allies in front of you, granting a shield that absorbs 3159 damage for 6 seconds. Discs prefer your reticle target, or low-Health targets without shields. | 4590 | |
 Chakram of Destiny | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Carve the Fate Crone's runes to create spinning mystical discs and generate Crux. Discs surround you or up to 4 allies in front of you, granting a shield that absorbs 3160 damage for 6 seconds. Recasting on a target already shielded grants a new shield that is 30% stronger. Discs prefer your reticle target, or low-Health targets without shields. | 4320 | |
 Tidal Chakram | COST DETERMINED BY HIGHEST MAX RESOURCE Carve the Baron of Breakers' runes to create spinning discs. Discs surround you or up to 4 allies in front of you, granting a shield that absorbs 3264 damage for 6 seconds. Consume Crux to cause the shields to heal for 33% of the shield's remaining strength every 1 second per Crux spent. Discs prefer your reticle target, or low-Health targets without shields. | 4590 | |
 Arcanist's Domain | Draw forth your tome and invoke the vigoratum of Hermaeus Mora to conjure a vortex of eldritch power. Standing in this vortex grants you and your allies Minor Courage, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, and Minor Endurance, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215 and your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 15%. | 3780 | |
 Zenas' Empowering Disc | Draw forth your tome and invoke the enigmatum of Morian Zenas to conjure a vortex of eldritch power. Standing in this vortex grants you and your allies Minor Courage, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, and Minor Endurance, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215 and your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 15%. These effects cling to you and your allies for up to 10 seconds after leaving the vortex. | 3780 | |
 Reconstructive Domain | Draw forth your tome and invoke the leviathanum of the Abyssal Sea to conjure a vortex of eldritch power. Standing in this vortex grants you and your allies Minor Courage, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, and Minor Endurance, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215 and your Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 15%. The vortex also heals you and your allies for 4631 Health over 20 seconds. | 3780 | |
 Apocryphal Gate | Breach the world walls to create a portal at a target location. Its twin appears directly before you. Crossing the threshold allows you to teleport from one to the other for as long as the portals remain open. Apocryphal Gate generates Crux each time you teleport. | 3780 | |
 Fleet-Footed Gate | Breach the world walls to create a portal at a target location. Its twin appears directly before you. Crossing the threshold allows you to teleport from one to the other for as long as the portals remain open. After teleporting, you gain Major Expedition for 5 seconds, increasing your Movement Speed by 30%. Fleet-Footed Gate generates Crux each time you teleport. | 3780 | |
 Passage between Worlds | Breach the world walls to create a portal at a target location. Its twin appears directly before you. Crossing the threshold allows you to teleport from one to the other for as long as the portals remain open. Allies standing within either portal can activate the Passage synergy, allowing them to teleport to the opposite portal. Passage Between Worlds generates Crux each time you teleport. | 3510 | |
 Healing Tides | Your mastery of weaving fate and abyssal water increases your healing done by 3% for each active Crux. | Passive | |
 Hideous Clarity | You've stared too long into the abyss. When you generate Crux, you restore 225 Magicka or Stamina, whichever maximum is higher. | Passive | |
 Erudition | Knowledge is power. Your excessive scholarship increases your Magicka and Stamina Recovery by 18%. | Passive | |
 Intricate Runeforms | WITH A CURATIVE RUNEFORMS ABILITY SLOTTED Your status as illuminatus reduces the cost and increases the strength of your damage shields by 10%. | Passive |
The above Skills will help you create Builds for Magicka based or Stamina based Arcanists in ESO! Some powerful Arcanist Builds you can use include:
- Magicka Arcanist PVE Build – Yidhra
- Magicka Arcanist DPS Build – Hydra
- Stamina Arcanist DPS Build – Cthulhu
- Magicka Arcanist Solo Build
- Stamina Arcanist Solo Build
- Arcanist Healer Build – Aletheia
- Arcanist Tank Build – Kthanid
- Magicka Arcanist PVP Build – Azathoth
- Stamina Arcanist PVP Build – Darkness
Arzyel is a passionate Gamer and fan of the Elder Scrolls Series! A professional Content Creator and owner of the arzyelbuilds.com and arzyelarmory.com websites that are focusing on The Elder Scrolls Online with hundreds of Builds and Guides! Arzyel also publishes videos on his YouTube channel!
Thanks to his experience in Gaming and especially Online Gaming, Arzyel can create practical and effective Builds & Guides, perfect for new and veteran players! You can check his Twitter for his latest content, join his Discord Server and if you wish to find out more you can also check his About Me page.