Dragonknights really excel at tanking, but are also pretty good as melee damage dealers [DPS]. Healing is also possible, like with all classes, but is one of the least favorite classes to heal on. They utilize a lot of fire and earth magic.
Skillful masters-at-arms, Dragonknights use the ancient Akaviri martial arts tradition of battle-spirit and wield fearsome magic. Burn your foes in cleansing flame and withstand almost any assault with the Dragonknight, a fiery, unrelenting Class that thrives in the heart of battle. The Dragonknight Class in ESO allows you to win the war of attrition with abilities that draw power from both the earth and the beasts of myth while overpowering your foes with ferocious Fire spells. With the Dragonknight, you bring ruin in the form of molten metal and fire.
Available with the base game. If you want to learn more about all classes that you can play in ESO please visit theClasses Overview Page.
Dragonknight Class Introduction
Dragonknights are a very popular class in-game, as they make absolutely excellent tanks for both beginners and advanced players. Overall, they are very well liked for ESO endgame content, such as harder 4-man groups or trial-groups. Below you can find a list of the pros and cons of the Dragonknight class in ESO.
Pros:
- extremely strong Tanks
- high damage output as damage dealer
- very sturdy
Cons:
- not the greatest healers
- damage dealers need to be in melee range
DPS Dragonknight Pros and Cons
Dragonknights can dish out a lot of damage, both on magicka and stamina based setups. However, to be effective you need to be able to stay in melee range. Most of their DoTs (damage over time) are melee based. This is fine in most situations but can also lead to more difficult fights if an enemy changes position often.Pros:
- high damage
- hard hitting class abilities
- strong ultimate
- magicka and stamina builds are fun to play
Cons:
- needs to be in melee range
- difficult rotation in endgame
Healer Dragonknight Pros and Cons
Dragonknight Healers aren't very common, they are actually the least used healer class. Main reason being they have more abilities that focus on tanking, rather than healing. And other classes are simply better at healing then Dragonknights.Pros:
- good resource management
- support with buffs and debuffs
Cons:
- no burst heal
- healing abilities are hard to use/aim
Tank Dragonknight Pros and Cons
Dragonknights are the most popular class for tanking, lots of class abilities and passives are built in favor of tanking. You can create a complete untouchable fortress with the Dragonknight.
Pros:
- great resource management
- great group support
- great survivability
- Magma Shell godmode button
- good crowd control
Cons:
- none
Dragonknight Class Skill Lines explained
Next we are going to take a look at the three class skill lines that the Dragonknight has. Of course you can use any skill line available in the game to create your own playstyle. Most, if not all builds do use a mix between class and non class skill lines.
You can find a full list of all the Dragonknight class skill lines on theDragonknight Skills Overview Page.
Ardent Flame Skill Line
TheArdent Flame skill lineis part of the Dragonknight toolkit and has a focus on offensive abilities. Unleash your fury with relentless Fire and Poison abilities that deal devastating damage over time and intensify your attacks.
Its Ultimate ability is Dragonknight Standard. This Ultimate calls down a battle standard, dealing a lot of damage and applying Major Defile to all enemies inside of its range, reducing their healing received and Health Recovery by 16%. An ally near the standard can activate a shackle synergy, dealing additional damage to all enemies. Shifting Standard is one of its morphs and increases the duration, and recasting the ability allows the caster to move the standard. Standard of Might increases the damage done and reduces any damage taken.
Fiery Breath and its morphs are a skill in this tree. Watch this video to see how it’s used.
Draconic Power Skill Line
TheDraconic Power skill lineis part of the Dragonknight toolkit and has a bit of everything, be it damage, healing, defensive or supportive abilities. Harness the power of the ancient Dragons to strengthen your defenses, surround yourself in protective scales, and leap into battle with unstoppable ferocity.
Its Ultimate ability is Dragon Leap. This Ultimate makes you launch at an enemy, dealing a lot of damage to all enemies in the area and knocking them back 4 meters, as well as stunning them. Ferocious Leap is one of its morphs and deals flame damage. After leaping you gain a damage shield. Take Flight reduces the cost and increases the damage and range.
Dragon Blood and its morphs are a skill in this tree. Watch this video to see how it’s used.
Earthen Heart Skill Line
The third and last skill line of the Dragonknight-focused skill lines is calledEarthen Heartand is focused on mobility, healing and damage abilities. Draw from the power of the earth to empower your and your allies, stun your foes, and encase yourself in damaging molten lava.
Its Ultimate ability is Magma Armor. This Ultimate ignites the molten lava in your veins, limiting incoming damage and dealing a bit of damage to nearby enemies. Corrosive Armor is one of its morphs and deals poison damage and make your direct attacks ignore Physical and Spell Restistance while active. Magma Shell make you and your allies gain a powerful damage shield.
Ash Cloud and its morphs are a skill in this tree. Watch this video to see how it’s used.
Dragonknight Class Builds for ESO
Below you can find a full list of common Dragonknight builds. If you are a new player we do recommend starting with the beginner guides. However, you can also go take a look at the endgame builds to see what the class can look like when you reach the endgame.
Beginner Dragonknight Class Guides & Builds
The Beginner Dragonknight guides and builds are meant for new players. They introduce you to the Dragonknight class and give you a good starting point for your adventure in ESO.
PvE Solo Dragonknight Class Builds
The PvE Solo Dragonknight builds are optimized for solo gameplay. The builds below have a good balance between damage, survivability, healing and movement. Everything you need to get through ESO alone. Of course, you can also use these solo builds in a group, especially useful in random groups.
PvE Dungeon & Trial META Dragonknight Class Builds
The Meta Dragonknight builds listed below are meant to be played in a group. The Meta Dragonknight builds have a very cookie cutter approach and rely heavily on other group members.
If you are interested in PvP, you can take a closer look at this page, as it lists a variety of PvP builds and explains them in detail.
Is the Dragonknight Class Beginner Friendly?
Dragonknights are a beginner friendly class if played correctly. Dragonknights also get access to a decent heal almost at the start. All you have to do is level up Stonefist and morph it into Obsidian Shard. The shard will still deal a bit of damage but also heal you for a lot, that way leveling as a new player will get a lot easier. Other than that you also get access to Lava Whip, which is a very strong damage ability. You also gain access to Spiked Armor almost at the start which will boost your resistances a lot with the Major Resolve buff.In later stages of leveling up your Dragonknight you will also unlock useful abilities like Fiery Breath, which deals good AoE (area of effect) damage, Fiery Grip which pulls in enemies, Protective Scalewhich reduces your incoming damage from ranged attacks and Petrify which turns enemies into stone.
Magicka Dragonknight Damage Dealer Showcase
Magicka Dragonknights are powerful magicka users with one little downside, they have to stay in melee range to deal maximum damage. Some of the noteworthy class passives are: Combustion, Warmth, Searing Heat, World in Ruin, Iron Skin, Scaled Armor, Battle Roar and Helping Hands. Magicka Dragonknights have access to many powerful class abillities such as: Molten Whip, Burning Embers, Engulfing Flames, Flames of Oblivion, Burning Talons, Deep Breath, Molten Armaments and Eruption. Dragonknights also have a powerful ultimate called Standard of Might.The video below shows theSolo Magicka Dragonknight Buildin action, clearing the veteran mode Vateshran Hollows Arena.
Stamina Dragonknight Damage Dealer Showcase
Stamina Dragonknights in ESO are good damage dealers with plenty of unique class abilities. Some of the most noteworthy class abilities are: Venomous Claw, Noxious Breath, Flames of Oblivion, Stone Giant and Molten Armaments.
The video below shows theSolo Sword & Board Dragonknight Buildin action, clearing the veteran mode Vateshran Hollows Arena.
Healer Dragonknight Showcase
Dragonknights are arguably the least used healers in ESO. They can actually be decent healers, but most other classes are simply better. A few good class healing abilities on the Dragonknight are: Cauterize, Obsidian Shard and Cinder Storm. The main issue is that you will have to mostly rely on weapon based healing abilities, because the Dragonknight class healing abilities are very unreliable.
Please visit theDragonknight Healer Buildfor further information on how to set up a healer spec.
Tank Dragonknight Showcase
Dragonknights are the most powerful and most popular tanking class. A lot of class abilities and passives are built in favor of tanking. You can create a complete untouchable fortress with the Dragonknight. Noteworthy class passives that help with tanking are: Iron Skin, Burning Heart, Elder Dragon, Scaled Armor, Battle Roar, Mountain's Blessing and [Helping Hand]. Powerful class abilities that you can use are: Unrelenting Grip, Volatile Armor, Choking Talons, Green Dragon Blood, Fragmented Shield and the godmode ultimate Magma Shell which turns you into an unkillable fortress for a few seconds.Please visit theDragonknight Tank Buildfor further information on how to set up a Dragonknight tank.
