What are some of the best builds for Wardens?
Playing the Warden class on ESO possesses significant benefits; for example, you get an awesome bear if you choose to play the animal companion as your Ultimate skill. If you don’t know where to begin with building a Warden class character or you would like to try out some epic builds, then this article will help you find a build you love—whether playing PvP or PvE. You can create a multitude of builds for a Warden, but these ten that I mention will bring you the most efficient and entertaining gameplay. Click the title of the build for the link to the complete build details!
10. FIRE & ICE - Magicka Warden SOLO PVE One Bar Build for the Elder Scrolls Online
If you want to dip your feet into the Warden life and you want to master the elements, then this build will be great for you. It reduces complexity by allowing you to play with only one bar and requires zero trial gear. This build is heavy with magicka, and if you are seeking to do more damage then playing with the races High Elf, Dark Elf, or Khajiit will accomplish that.
For this build, you require three sets: Ice Burness, Spinner’s, and Valkyn Soria. Together these three sets create a powerful combination of fire and ice.
In your one bar build, you will want to use the following skills: Blockade of Frost IV (Destruction Staff skill line), Winter’s Revenge IV (Winter’s Embrace skill line), Fetcher Infection IV (Animal Companion skill line), Ice Fortress (Winter’s Embrace skill line), Introspection IV (this final skill comes from leveling up Psijic Order, a summerset addition), and for the Ultimate skill use Northern Storm (Winter’s Embrace skill line). With these skills and sets, you will become basically unstoppable.
This build’s strength emerges from its simplicity: there is no need to worry about switching between bars because you can absolutely dominate with just one skill bar. Additionally, the skills merge together to form a perfect balance of protection, damage, and healing. You can easily solo play with this build because of its powerful setup and efficient mix of skills.
PvP or PvE?
- The solo build works best for PvE due to the ability to sustain damage
- Mixing the protective, damage, and healing spells allows for solo play and packs four roles into one bar
- Combining the heavy and light armor creates large amounts of Magicka and spell damage
Click here for full build details
9. The BEST SOLO PVE Magicka Warden Build - ATRONACH - Solo Magden Ice Build!
When you don’t have friends, PvE can be difficult. Finding enough people to run a dungeon or fight a world boss is challenging. This build removes that stress by focusing on survivability, healing, and defense. The build emphasizes permablocking and area of effect (AoE) damage to allow you to take on those dungeons and world bosses without having to wait for others to join you!
A heavy emphasis on tanking goes into this build, and you can choose whatever race you’d like. You’ll want two sets: Frozen Watcher (a tank set) and Spinner’s jewelry and weapons—make sure the sword and shield are both Spinners but the type of one-handed weapon doesn’t matter.
On the first bar you will want Deep Fissure IV (gives you AoE burst damage), Birds of Prey IV (passive damage), Arctic Blast (burst heals), Inner Light (Mages Guild skill line), Defensive Stance III (One-Handed and Shield skill line), and the Ultimate is Reviving Barrier III (emergency damage shield).
The back bar you’ll need Winter’s Revenge, Fetcher Infection IV, Leeching Vines, Bull Netch I (stamina morph), and for the Ultimate use Northern Storm IV (deals damage and protection).
Overall, this build is pretty easy, but it does a phenomenal job of sustaining damage. If you like to hold a block and drop AoE, then this build will be very enjoyable for you.
PvP or PvE?
- With this tank heavy build, you can endure the kind of damage that comes from solo PvE play
- Because this build is a strong tank, the combination of health and damage spells make it thorough for solo playing
Click here for full build details
8. Arrow Storm - Easy Stamina Warden PVE DPS Build
Dealing damage is always a fun task, and you feel super accomplished when you and your team plow through a dungeon, take down a world boss, or tame a trial. Building a magicka Warden DPS focuses elemental damage and accomplishes this mostly through animal companions like summoning a bear or betty netch. You can create this build without trial gear making it an easier build!
The ideal race for this build would be Redguard because Redguard allows for you to sustain damage, but if you wanted to pursue higher damage you could opt for an Orc or a Dark Elf.
You will need three sets: New Moon Acolyte, Tzogvin, and Stormfist, which will increase your stamina and weapon damage.
For your first bar, you will want these skills: Birds of Prey IV, Acid Spray IV (Bow skill line and AoE), Subterranean Assault (stamina morph and Major Fracture AoE), Lethal Arrow (Bow skill line), Bull Netch (stamina morph), and Wild Guardian (sustains damage) as the Ultimate.
Then for the back bar, you will want another bow and these skills: Echoing Vigor (group healing from Alliance War skill line), Poison Injection (Bow skill line and morph), Arrow Barrage (AoE), Cutting Dive IV (passive damage), and again Bull Netch and Wild Guardian as the Ultimate.
The advantages of this build come from its simplicity. The best part of this build is that no trial gear is required, meaning that this will be a great build for newer players. You can, also, sustain damage for an extended period of time.
PvP or PvE?
- This is a DPS build that sustains damage from PvE play
Click here for full build details
7. Magicka Warden Healer PvE - "Blossom"
Sometimes I love the role of the Healer because I can’t fix anything in my real life (haha). Healing can be a fun role if you like to help others directly. This build gives you advanced and beginner options for trials and dungeons. Wardens make perfect healers since they have a whole skill tree dedicated to healing, and if you choose the Breton race, you will have the best sustain.
Being a healer requires gear with magicka enchantments and magicka recovery enchantments.
The skills you will want on the main bar with the Restoration Staff include Radiating Regeneration (Restoration Staff skill line), Combat Prayer (Restoration Staff skill line), Illustrious Healing (Restoration Staff skill line), Enchanted Growth (Green Balance skill line), Blue Betty (Animal Companions skill line), and the Ultimate of Aggressive Horn (Assault skill line).
The back bar or Destruction Staff bar will require the skills: Budding Seeds (Green Balance skill line), Elemental Blockade (Destruction Staff skill line), Elemental Drain (Destruction Staff skill line), Energy Orb (Undaunted Guild skill lines), Fetcher Infection (Animal Companions skill line), and the Ultimate of Enchanted Forest (Green Balance skill line).
Together these skills and gear provide the strongest amount of healing for yourself and your team members. If you enjoy healing others in trials, dungeons, and while facing world bosses, this build will get the job done by emphasizing the best healing aspects of the Warden class.
PvP or PvE?
- This is a group healing build and is meant for PvE healing, appealing to healing the kind of damage you receive in PvE
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6. Warden Tank Build PvE - "Frostbite"
Without a tank, your group will fall into shambles, all of the monsters will begin to attack everyone, and your teammates will get picked off one by one. If you want to play this important role, then this build will help you optimize the features of the Warden class, so you can be the person who holds the team together. Also, if you love the heroic person in Horror films who distracts the villain and sacrifices themselves, you will love this role (and you won’t even have to die!). Since this build will make you strong enough to take on any dungeon, trials, or world bosses.
The quintessential race for this build is Nord given the added resistances, but Argonian, Imperial, Orc, and Redguard will work as well for tanking.
For the main bar with your sword and shield you will want these skills: Polar Wind (Winter’s Embrace skill line and heals), Shimmering Shield (Winter’s Embrace skill line), Pierce Armor (One-Handed and Shield skill line and main taunt), Heroic Slash (One-Handed and Shield skill line and debuffs), Spell Symmetry (Mages Guild skill line and provides unlimited magicka), and for the Ultimate you will want Enchanted Forest (Green Balance skill line and use in case group’s health is low).
The Destruction Staff used for the backup bar will require the following skills: Leeching Vines (Green Balance Skill line and strong heal), Bull Netch (Animal Companions skill line and stamina resource), Ice Fortress (Winter’s Embrace skill line), Inner Rage (Undaunted Guild skill line and taunt), Elemental Blockade (Destruction Staff skill line and crusher enchantment), and this Ultimate will be Aggressive Horn (Assault skill line and buffs group).
Triumph in any dungeon, trial, or against any world boss with this tank build. It does a good job sustaining your group with a few healing skills. You’ll be able to take tons of damage and support your group.
PvP or PvE?
- This build is meant for PvE group play providing you with mostly skills and abilities that emphasize tanking for PvE play
Click here for full build details
5. EASY Magicka Warden PVP Build
If you’re a beginner to ESO or new to PvP, this easy build will give you a strong introduction into PvP. Also, the gear is easy to find or craft!
Gear sets you will need: Spinner’s, Julianos (crafted set and good spell critical), and Earthgore (a healing set that will be useful if you have trouble staying alive with this build).
The front bar using the Lighting staff you will want the skills: Bird of Prey IV (buff expedition and adds damage), Deep Fissure IV (AoE damage and Major Breach), Living Trellis IV (heals), Force Pulse IV (flame, frost, and shock damage), Inner Light IV (adds magicka and Major Prophecy), the Ultimate is Northern Storm IV (lots of strong buffs).
For the back bar mediated with the Ice Staff, you will want Winter’s Revenge IV (AoE damage and snare), Blockade of Frost IV (AoE damage and a chance for immobilize), Enchanted Growth IV (back bar heal), Blue Betty IV (buff and magicka recovery), Ice Fortress IV (Minor Protection), and the Ultimate Healing Thicket IV (emergency heal).
Again, the simplicity of this build contributes to its strength. It’s a fun build and easy to make, making it perfect for newbies to the game or to PvP.
PvP or PvE?
- This build includes healing, damage, and tanks making it good for PvP quick attacks
Click here for full build details
4. Stamina Warden PVP Build: HUGE AOE BURST!
This Stamina PvP Warden build delivers a high burst of damage and makes for some brilliant gameplay. Wardens will provide you with the greatest AoE burst damage and are the best class for this right now. Nord will increase your health and stamina, but Orc would be awesome for more offensive play.
The gear sets you will want for this build include Truth (heavy and a dungeon set) and Spriggan (damage/penetration) with mostly health enchantments on the gear and maybe some stamina enchantments.
The front bar you will want the skills: Reverse Slice IV (excellent damage and execute), Subterranean Assault IV (AoE damage and Major Fracture), Bird of Prey IV (speed buff), Cutting Dive IV (low-cost damage and good buffs), Forward Momentum IV (immunity to snares/roots), and for the Ultimate Dawnbreaker of Smiting IV (AoE).
The back bar will emphasize healing and survivability so you’ll want the skills: Arctic Blast II (health, magicka, and stamina heal and AoE damage), Shimmering Shield IV (good for range targets), Resolving Vigor IV (heals over time), Bull Netch IV (stamina buff), Ice Fortress IV (Major Resolve), and the Ultimate is Permafrost IV (defensive).
Offensive combos and strong survivability and healing make this a great build and basically unkillable.
PvP or PvE?
- This build is meant for PvP play due to its survivability and significant AoE burst damage
Click here for full build details
3. The Butcher | Stamina Warden PvP
The title “The Butcher” lives up to its name with this build. You will basically chop up your enemies with powerful bursts and get intimate with your victims to attack.
The Dark Elf race prevails for its significant amount of magicka and stamina.
You will want the gear sets Bone Pirate’s Tatters Armor, Senche’s Bite for jewelry and weapons, and Blood Spawn for shoulders and helm.
As for your main bar active skills you will need Vigor (heals), Subterranean Assault (poison damage), Rending Slashes (physical damage), Steel Tornado (physical damage), Deadly Cloak (physical damage and Major Evasion), and use Flawless Dawnbreaker for the Ultimate (physical damage and increases weapon damage).
As for the back bar, you will want Soothing Spores (heals allies), Magnum Shot (physical damage), Ice Fortress (Major Resolve, physical resistance, spell resistance, and Minor Protection), Bull Netch (restores stamina), Bird of Prey (gain Major Expedition and Minor Berserk), and Ballista as the Ultimate (physical damage).
If you want to make some prime meat, then this build will help you accomplish that with its incredible damage dealing. This build highlights the wonders of the Warden class.
PvP or PvE?
- Due to this build’s strong bursts of physical damage, this is an excellent PvP build
Click here for full build details
2. Stamina Warden PvP Build ESO - Nature's Wrath
With heavy armor and bolstered stamina, you will be sure to accomplish some legendary gameplay. The armor creates a tank-like effect and the build emphasizes the Warden’s capabilities in its bursting skills.
For the gear, you will want Clever Alchemist, Warrior’s Fury, Scourge Harvester, and Disciplined Sash—all heavy and medium armor.
The main bar you will want Dizzying Swing (stunning and snaring), Subterranean Assault (poison damage), Executioner (damage), Bird of Prey (gain Major Expedition and Minor Berserk), Forward Momentum (immunity to snares and immobilization), and the Ultimate Dawnbreaker of Smiting (physical damage and stunning).
Back Bar: Arctic Blast (enemies hit with multiple damage are stunned), Resolving Vigor (heals allies), Soothing Spores (heals allies), Ice Fortress (Major Resolve and Minor Protection), Blue Betty (restores magicka), and for the Ultimate Spell Wall (reflect projectiles and block all attacks).
This build can be played in both CP and no CP PvP. It optimizes the bursty energy of the Warden class. Another benefit of this build is that you can make changes to it based on what kind of PvP play you desire.
PvP or PvE?
- PvP works best for this build since it brings out the burstiness of the Warden’s skills
Click here for full build details
1. Warden Healer PvP Build ESO - Vinacious
This build does a nice job of blending other roles with a Healer role so that you can contribute even more to your group. Vinacious will give you a vivacious, lively role where you will keep others and yourself alive.
A few races will work with this build but Argonian, in particular, has a bountiful amount of health and magicka. Other races that will work well are Dark Elf, High Elf, Khajiit, and Breton.
You will want three gear sets: Impregnable Armor, Necropotence, and Earth Gore.
With the front bar and Restoration Staff, you will want Blue Betty (restores magicka), Bursting Vine (heals and you gain speed and more Ultimate), Ice Fortress (Major Resolve and Minor Protection), Rapid Regeneration (heals over time), Living Trellis (heals), and for the Ultimate Healing Thicket (continues to heal allies even when they leave the area).
The back bar with a One-Handed and Shield you will want Dampen Magic (increases protection for every piece of light armor worn), Soothing Spores (heals), Deep Fissure (magic damage and Major Breach while reducing enemies spell resistance), Polar Wind (heals), Fetcher Infection (magic damage and increased vulnerability), and the Ultimate is Permafrost (deals damage and allies gain Major Protection).
Bursting Vines allows you to follow your group without a mount. The build efficiently arranges the healing powers of the Warden class, but you will need to know when to use these skills.
PvP or PvE?
- Deals healing in a bursty fashion, making it best for PvP play
Click here for full build details
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