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The Best ESO Sets for DPS, Tanks, and Healers

The Best ESO Sets for DPS, Tanks, and Healers

Complete list of the best Sets in Elder Scrolls Online for each character class

The Best Sets in ESO
for each character class

Introduction

Equipping your character with proper items is an essential part of the Elder Scrolls Online gameplay. The game offers a vast quantity of different Items - One and Two-Handed Weapons, Light, Medium, and Heavy Armors, Jewelry, and so on. A lot of those Items are a part of special Sets that grant various powerful bonuses based on the number of corresponding Set's Items equipped. These Set Bonuses are too good to pass up, and it is always better to wear a Set, than normal items, even if the Set is of lower quality - Set Bonuses more than make up for potential power loses.

This guide will go over the most popular and the best Sets for most used build types (Stamina DPS, Magicka DPS, Tank, and Healer). Power-level of featured Sets will differ, as we want to include not only "the best Trial Sets", but rather focus on easier-to-get, but still very powerful Crafted, Dungeon, and Monster Sets.

Set Types

Sets come in many different types in ESO. Each type is obtained in different ways and its power level often corresponds with the obtaining difficulty. However, many of the easy-to-obtain Overland BoE Sets provide powerful bonuses that make them good enough for all but the hardest end-game content. Every player can find a Set that can be obtained through his favorite in-game activities, which means that gearing up in ESO is very enjoyable, and can be considered as one of the most fun aspects of the game. The main Set Types Are:

  • Trial Sets - These can be obtained from Trials (as their name suggests) and often provide the highest Power Level of all available Sets, but are Very difficult to get because they are locked out behind the hardest Content in the game.
  • PvP Sets - Rewards for participating in PvP battles. These can be obtained from Cyrodill or the Imperial City.
  • Monster Masks and Shoulders - Available from Group Dungeons in Veteran Mode and from Undaunted Pledges. Masks drop from final bosses, and Shoulders are obtained through the Undaunted Chests.
  • Arena Sets - Rewards from the Maelstrom Arena and the Dragonstar Arena.
  • Crafted Sets - These can be created by Players at special Crafting Stations (different stations match different Sets, so you have to find an appropriate Station to craft a specific Set). Crafting requires a certain number of Traits researched on the particular item slot. Crafted sets can be offered for sale by other players as they are "Bound on Equip"
  • Overland Sets - These can be obtained from mobs (World Bosses have a 100% chance to drop either a Weapon, Chest, Legs or a Head slot Set item, other parts commonly drop from Public Dungeon Bosses) in a specific Zone. Most zones have three Overland Sets specific to them (one Heavy, one Medium, and One Light Set). Overland Sets are bind-on-equip, so they can be farmed in large quantities and then sold to other Players.
  • Group Dungeon Sets - These are bind-on-pickup Item Sets that can be acquired from mobs inside Group Dungeons. Each Group Dungeon Boss drops a Set Item (Last Boss - Jewelry and Weapons, Normal Boss - Legs, Chest, Shoulder, and Head, Mini Boss - Boots, Waist, and Gloves). Although being bind-on-pickup, these Set Items can be traded to your Dungeon group members while you remain a part of the group.

 

Most Popular Stamina DPS Sets

Hunding's Rage

Hunding's Rage is a Craftable set that is a part of the base game. It is available in the form of Light, Medium, and Heavy Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry. High Weapon Damage bonus, great bonuses to Stamina and Weapon Critical and the rather low price make this set one of the most commonly used Stamina PvP sets. If you want a good start as a Stamina DPS, this set is the way to go. It will serve you well as the pre-BiS. Hunding's Rage's power level is similar to that of the Briarheart Set.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 833 Weapon Critical
  2. (3 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Stamina
  3. (4 items) Adds 833 Weapon Critical
  4. (5 items) Adds 299 Weapon Damage

How to Get

This Set can be purchased from other Players or Crafted at the Stations located in:

  • The Rift 
  • Reaper's March 
  • Bangkorai 
Exemplary Hunding's Rage Build: Odealo's Stamina Sorcerer PvE DPS

 

Stormfist 

One of the most commonly used Stamina DPS Sets, and for a good reason. It is a part of the One Tamriel and comes as a Light, Medium, and Heavy Armor, and is available in the form of Helmet and Shoulders. Its 1-item bonus gives much-needed Stamina Recovery that helps with sustain by a lot, and the  2-item bonus provides a very high boost to Single-Target and AoE Damage (proc is very easy to get, as it activates when you deal Damage, it gets wasted sometimes, however, because mobs tend to move around, and the proc is ground-based which results in enemies sometimes dodging the thunderfist).

Set Bonuses

  1. (1 item) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery
  2. (2 items) When you deal damage, you have a 10% chance to create a thunderfist to crush the enemy, dealing 1650 Shock Damage every 1 second for 3 seconds to all enemies within 4 meters and a final 8000 Physical Damage when the fist closes; it has an 8-second internal cooldown.

How to Get

Stormfist Set can be acquired from the Veteran Tempest Island 4-man Dungeon located in the Malabal Tor.

  • Helmet drops from the final Boss in Veteran mode.
  • Shoulders can be sometimes found in the Gilirion the Redbeard's Chest by using the Pledge Key on it.
Exemplary Stormfist Build: Odealo's Stamina Dragonblade PvE DPS

 

Briarheart

A part of the Orsinium DLC, the Briarheart Set provides a very high boost to Weapon Damage, Maximum Stamina, and has a 5-item proc that increases your Weapon Damage even more, and heals you by a little to boot. It is available as Medium Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry. As a World-Drop, the Brioarheart set is rather easy to acquire, which makes it an excellent choice for fresh Stamina DPS Players.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 833 Weapon Critical
  2. (3 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Stamina
  3. (4 items) Adds 833 Weapon Critical
  4. (5 items) Dealing Critical Damage has a 10% chance to increase your Weapon Damage by 449 for 10s. Your Critical Strikes heal you for 609 HP during the uptime; it has a 10-second internal cooldown.

How to Get

Briarheart is an Overland Set that can be acquired from Wrothgar. The Set is bound on equip, which means that it can be bought from other Players.

  • Wrothgar's Overland Bosses Drop Weapons, Legs, Chests, and Shoulders.
  • Delve Bosses can drop Boots or Waist.
  • Public Dungeon Bosses may drop Weapons, Gloves, and Shoulders.
  • All monsters encountered in Wrothgar have a small chance to drop a set piece.
  • Set pieces can also be found in Zone's Treasure Chests.
Exemplary Briarheart Build: Odealo's Stamina Templar PvE DPS

 

Velidreth

The Vildreth Set is one of the most commonly used Stamina DPS Monster Sets and is a part of the Shadows of the Hist DLC. High Weapon Damage bonus that comes as a 1-item bonus provides a very good DPS boost and the unique 2-item bonus boosts the DPS even higher (but each of the 3 spores hits different Target, which means that you will not get the triple effect when fighting a single enemy). The proc is very easy to get, as it activates on Damage, and will commonly proc on cooldown.

Set Bonuses

  1. (1 item) Adds 129 Weapon Damage
  2. (2 items) When you deal damage, you have a 20% chance to spawn 3 disease spores in front of you after 1 second that deal 10320 Disease Damage to the first enemy they hit. This effect has a 9-second internal cooldown.

How to Get

Vildreth is a Monster Set that can be acquired from the Veteran Cradle of Shadows Dungeon.

  • Helmet drops from the final Boss in Veteran mode.
  • Shoulders can be sometimes found in the Urgalarg Chief-bane's Chest by using the Pledge Key on it.
Exemplary Velidreth Build: Odealo's Stamina Nigthtblade PvE DPS

 

Most Popular Magicka DPS Sets

Mother's Sorrow

Very popular (and very easy to get, especially for such a powerful set) Magicka DPS Set that gives a lot of additional Spell Critical which works great in both Single-Target and AoE encounters. This high bonus makes this set the backbone of almost every competitive Magicka DPS build. It comes as a Light Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry, and is a part of the One Tamriel.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 1096 Max Magicka
  2. (3 items) Adds 833 Spell Critical
  3. (4 items) Adds 833 Spell Critical
  4. (5 items) Adds 1924 Spell Critical

How to Get

Mother's Sorrow is an Overland Set that can be found in Deshaan. The Set is bound on equip, which means that it can be bought from other Players.

  • Deshaan's Overland Bosses Drop Weapons, Legs, Chests, and Shoulders.
  • Delve Bosses can drop Boots or Waist.
  • Public Dungeon Bosses may drop Weapons, Gloves, and Shoulders.
  • All monsters encountered in Deshaan have a small chance to drop a set piece.
  • Set pieces can also be found in Zone's Treasure Chests.

Note: This is one of the best Sets to farm for profit, as the demand for it is simply gigantic. If you want to know more about farming it and discover other profitable ESO activities, feel free to check our ESO Gold Making Guide.

Exemplary Mother's Sorrow Build: Odealo's Magicka Sorcerer PvE DPS

 

Mantle of Siroria

This set comes in two different versions normal and the perfect. The 5-item set bonus is the same for both versions, but the Perfect Mantle of Siroria provides higher Magicka bonus. Mantle of Siroria is a Trial set that comes in a form of Light Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry and is a part of the Summerset Chapter. The power level of this set is among the highest in the whole game. The Set, with fully charged 5-item bonus combined with other set bonuses, provides 600 Spell Damage, which is an astronomical number (before you get too excited, please remember that keeping all stacks up all the time is rather difficult, so your bonus will be lower most of the time. This means that playing with this set raises the skill-cap of your character by a lot, and mastering the ability to perfectly manage stacks is essential for getting the most out of this set).

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 129 Spell Damage
  2. (3 items) Increases your Damage Done to Dungeon and Trial Enemies by 5%
  3. (4 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
  4. (5 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka and dealing Direct damage with single target abilities now creates a ring of fire; standing in the ring grants you 30 Spell Damage; this effect stacks up to 20 times, and the ring lasts for 10 seconds.

How to Get

You will need the Summerset Chapter to acquire this Set. The Set is bound on pickup, which means that it can't be bought and can only be traded to Players from the same Trial group.

  • Mantle of Siroria can be found in the Cloudrest Trial.
  • Every part of this Set is Bound on Pickup. 
Exemplary Mantle of Siroria Build: Odealo's Magicka Nigthtblade PvE DPS

 

Silks of the Sun

This Light Armor, Weapon, and Jewelry Set is a part of the One Tamriel. It provides high bonuses to Health, Magicka, and Spell Damage. Silks of the Sun is used by Fire Damage-based builds, such as Magicka Dragonknight, thanks to its 5-item set bonus which provides 400 Spell Damage to Flame Damage abilities. This gives a total of 529 additional Spell Damage to Fire-based spells, a number that rivals the great Mantle of Siroria. However, because of the limitation that comes with the 5-item bonus, this set has very limited uses outside the Magicka Dragonknight DPS builds (but is a top choice in them, and so it is featured here).

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 1206 Max Health
  2. (3 items) Adds 1096 Max Magicka
  3. (4 items) Adds 129 Spell Damage
  4. (5 items) Adds 400 Spell Damage to your Flame Damage abilities

How to Get

Silks of the Sun is an Overland Set that can be found in the Stonefalls. The Set is bound on equip, which means that it can be bought from other Players.

  • Stonefalls's Overland Bosses Drop Weapons, Legs, Chests, and Shoulders.
  • Delve Bosses can drop Boots or Waist.
  • Public Dungeon Bosses may drop Weapons, Gloves, and Shoulders.
  • All monsters encountered in Stonefalls have a small chance to drop a set piece.
  • Set pieces can also be found in Zone's Treasure Chests.
Exemplary Silks of the Sun Build: Odealo's Magicka Dragonknight PvE DPS

 

Master Architect

Master Architect is a Light Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry Trial Set, that is a part of the Morrowind DLC. Its 2-item bonus gives you Minor Slayer, which provides 5% Damage in all Trials and Dungeons. The 5-item bonus is what makes this set stand out, as it provides Major Slayer buffs to the set user and 2 other allies (this effect procs after you use an Ultimate). Thanks to this buff, every Trial group wants to have at least 2 Magicka DPSers who use the Master Architect Set (utilizing the buff requires proper positioning, because it goes off on two closest allies, even if they already have the effect active on them). We recommend this set for Classes with cheap Ultimates, for maximizing proc's uptime (for example Templar+Crescent Sweep or Nightblade+Soul Harvest).

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
  2. (3 items) Gain Minor Slayer at all times, increasing your damage done to Dungeon and Trial Monsters by 5%
  3. (4 items) Adds 129 Spell Damage (5 items) When you use an Ultimate ability, you and the closest 2 allies within 28 meters of you gain Major Slayer for 10 seconds, increasing your damage done to Dungeon and Trial Monsters by 15%
  4. (5 items) When you use an Ultimate, you and two closest allies within 28m gain Major Slayer, increasing Damage Done to Dungeon and Trial Monsters by 15% for 10 seconds.

How to Get

You will need the Morrowind DLC to acquire this Set. The Set is bound on pickup, which means that it can't be bought and can only be traded to Players from the same Trial group.

  • It is a reward from the Halls of Fabrication Trial.
  • Normal mode Bosses and trash mobs drop blue-quality variant.
  • Veteran mode Bosses and trash mobs drop purple-quality variant.
  • The last boss in the Veteran mode drops gold-quality set Jewelry.
Exemplary Master Architect Build: Odealo's Magicka Warden PvE DPS

 

False God's Devotion

False God's Devotion is one of the best Magicka sets in Elder Scrolls Online. In terms of raw DPS, in most cases it may be second to Mantle of Siroria, however, it helps greatly with your Resource Management, which will do better in various encounters. 

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 833 Spell Critical
  2. (3 items) Gain Minor Slayer at all times, increasing your damage done to Dungeon, Trial, and Arena Monsters by 5%.
  3. (4 items) Adds 833 Spell Critical
  4. (5 items) Adds 129 Spell Damage, Reduces the cost of your Magicka Abilities by 8%. When you kill an enemy, you restore 2150 Magicka and gain Major Expedition for 8 seconds, increasing your Movement Speed by 30%.

How to Get

False God's Devotion requires the Elsweyr chapter unlocked. It can be found in the Sunspire Trial. Since it's bound on pick up, you can't buy it from other players, but you will have to face the challenge yourself

Exemplary False God's Devotion Build: Odealo's Magicka Necromancer DPS build

 

Most Popular Tank Sets

Ebon Armory

This set comes as Heavy Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry and is a part of the One Tamriel. It has substantial Maximum Health bonuses and increases Healing Taken, moreover, it raises total Health of up to 11 group members (5-item bonus; this improves the survivability of the whole trial group). If you see a Tank with 3 red orbs floating around him (a feature of the set), stay within 28m of him, and you will receive the Health bonus (must be in Tank's group, of course). The set is one of the most popular for PvE Tanking, mainly because of the above-mentioned Health boosts.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
  2. (3 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
  3. (4 items) Adds 4% Healing Taken
  4. (5 items) Increases your Max Health by 1118 for you and up to 11 other group members within 28 meters of you.

How to Get

Ebon Armory Set is a part of the Base Game and can be acquired from the Crypt of Hearts I and Crypt of Hearts II in the Rivenspire.

  • Drops from both Normal and Veteran modes. Normal mode awards blue-quality variants, and Veteran mode awards purple-quality variants.
  • Bosses and mini-Bosses drop set pieces.
  • Boots, Gloves, and Waists can be looted from mini-Bosses.
  • Shoulders, Helmets, Chests, and Legs can be looted from Bosses.
  • Final Boss drops Weapons and Jewelry. 
Exemplary Ebon Armory Build: Odealo's Stamina Dragonknight PvE Tank

 

Roar of Alkosh

This is a Stamina-based Medium Armor, Jewelry, and Weapons Set. It is a part of the Thieves Guild DLC. Yes, it is Medium and yes, it is used by Tanks. The 5-item bonus that allows the wearer to send a Shockwave that damages enemies in front of him and lowers their resistance. This weave offers a unique penetration debuff which stacks with other penetration debuffs, which enables Trial groups to easily achieve penetration caps. The main reason for Tanks preferring this set is their tendency to stand in front of the Bosses, which simplifies using the synergy by a lot, and allows them to maximize debuff uptime. Also, activating synergies is an important part of Tank's resource management.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 833 Weapon Critical
  2. (3 items) Gain Minor Slayer at all times, increasing your damage done to Dungeon and Trial Monsters by 5%.
  3. (4 items) Adds 129 Weapon Damage
  4. (5 items) When you activate a synergy, you send a shockwave from your position that deals 1720 Physical Damage and an additional 12040 Physical Damage over 10 seconds. Reduces the Physical and Spell Resistance of any enemy hit by 3010 for 10 seconds.

How to Get

The Set is bound on pickup, which means that it can't be bought and can only be traded to Players from the same Trial group.

  • Available from Weekly Trial Rewards.
  • Can be acquired from the Maw of Lorkhaj Trial.
Exemplary Roar of Alkosh Build: Odealo's Stamina Necromancer PvE Tank

 

Most Popular Healer Sets

Vestment of Olorime

This is a Light Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry set that comes in two variants, Vestment of Olorime and the Perfect Vestment of Olorime. The Perfect version provides slightly better stats, but the 5-item Set bonus is exactly the same for both versions. Vestment of Olorime is currently one of the best Healing sets in the game. It allows you to have a 100% uptime on Major Courage because the buff stays active for 30 seconds, and the 5-item bonus effect, that creates Courage-applying zone, can be activated every 10 seconds. The set is a part of the Summerset Chapter.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 129 Magicka Recovery
  2. (3 items) Gain Minor Aegis at all times, reducing your damage taken from Dungeon and Trial Monsters by 5%
  3. (4 items) Adds 129 Magicka Recovery
  4. (5 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka & Ground-based effect abilities cast apply a circle of might on the ground for 10 seconds. Standing inside the circle grants you and your allies Major Courage, which increases your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage by 258 for 30 seconds. This effect has a 10-second internal Cooldown.

How to Get

The Set is bound on pickup, which means that it can't be bought and can only be traded to Players from the same Trial group.

  • Summerset Chapter is required for this set.
  • It can be acquired from the Cloudrest trial.
Exemplary Vestment of Olorime Build: Odealo's Magicka Templar PvE Healer

 

Healing Mage

A Light Armor, Weapons, and Jewelry Set that is a part of the One Tamriel. It provides good Stamina Recovery bonus, increases Healing Done, and its 5-item bonus gives the Healer an ability to reduce the Weapon Damage of all close by enemies, which comes in handy during Dungeons and Trials. This bonus provides a lot of utility (by greatly increasing the whole group's survivability) and is one of the main reasons for choosing this Set.

Set Bonuses

  1. (2 items) Adds 129 Magicka Recovery
  2. (3 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
  3. (4 items) Adds 2% Healing Done
  4. (5 items) When you use an area of effect heal ability, you reduce the Weapon Damage of all enemies within 10 meters of you by 430 for 3 seconds

How to Get

The Set is bound on pickup, which means that it can't be bought and can only be traded to Players from the same Trial group.

  • It can be acquired from the Aetherian Archive trial.
  • Bosses and Trash Mobs in Normal mode can drop blue-quality variants.
  • Bosses and Trash Mobs in Veteran mode can drop purple-quality variants.
  • The last Boss in the Veteran mode can drop the gold-quality Jewelry.
Exemplary Healing Mage Build: Odealo's Magicka Necromancer PvE Healer

 

 

END NOTE

Please note that this is a premiere version of our Elder Scrolls Online Armor Sets Guide, and we plan to expand it with even more popular and powerful ESO Sets at a later date, so if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments section below. We are well aware that some of the Sets featured above may not be the best available, but they are certainly competitive, affordable/easy-to-get and will let you properly set your character up for the ESO's Eng-Game content.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Bethesda Softworks