Deep-Dive Into The New Arcanist Class In Elder Scrolls Online

Meet the Arcanist, Zenimax's new Class for Elder Scrolls Online. The first class to be added since the Warden Class, the Arcanist draws on the secrets of Apocrypha and the forbidden knowledge of Hermaeus More.

The new Arcanist Class is going to have three skill lines just as all classes do in Elder Scrolls Online:

• Herald of The Tome
• Apocryphal Soldier
• Curative Runeforms

These skill lines will each allow the player to specialize in either DPS, Tanking, or Healing.

The ESO Showcase stated that the Arcanist will be capable of  "destructive, restorative, or defensive magic." A first for any magic wielding class in ESO.

There were many abilities featured in the ESO Showcase but we only had two confirmed by name: Apocryphal Gate and Abyssal Impact.

• Apocryphal Gate:

Opens a temporary portal where you are aiming and where you are standing. You can jump through the portals to gain a combat advantage or to explore previously hard to reach areas.  

• Abyssal Impact:

Melee damage skill that infuses your arm with unstable magic, transforming it into a tentacle that thrusts forward damaging enemies in its path.

During the Showcase we also saw an Arcanist in an X-Men Gambit style attack where it looks like they were throwing rune cards at enemies.

The Arcanist class will also feature a new mechanic for its combat system. Different abilities will function as a Combo Point System where the player can maintain an economy of points. Some abilities will build points, while others may be spending them. These points will buff the Arcanist's abilities to new horizons.

While the Arcanist class is being marketed as a Swiss Army Class, I personally feel like the Arcanist is looking to challenge the role of Nightstalker DPS in PVP. I feel with the portal capablity and the burst damage attack from the Abyssal Impact, we might be looking at a new sneaky fighter class.

What do you think of the Arcanist class? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @Suttledge