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Their wealth of ranged abilities complement their physical attributes, giving them great reach but also the capability to go melee should the need arise. The versatility of Warden spells and abilities makes them great for Support and DPS roles. With the right skills, they can Tank very effectively too - it’s just a matter of finding the best Elder Scrolls Online Warden build.
Updated November 8, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: The Elder Scrolls Online is fantastic for player agency, giving every class the ability to do almost everything in the game, including weapon use, learning skills lines, and even choice of armor. The Warden, as a class, exemplifies this, and as a result has the most variety of viable builds in the game. When it comes to choosing the right ESO Warden build, think about whether you want to take on PvP or PvE, and whether you aim to do it on your own or with a group, before honing in on a specific build path. The variety is so large that it’s sometimes hard to pick just one build to go with, and players may find it better to take inspiration from multiple builds in creating something original.
14 One-Bar Warden
As the name implies, the One-Bar Warden build focuses on capitalizing the Magicka bar for fierce elemental attacks. When done correctly, the One-Bar Warden’s barrage of Fire and Ice attacks can help players clear most of the game’s contents from a solo perspective. If building a one-bar kit, a Frost Staff can easily have the One-Bar Warden juggle a useful rotation. Elemental Blockade, Winter’s Revenge, Fetcher Infection, and Introspection all work well to bolster defenses while dishing out as many Ice attacks as possible.
And with Northern Storm as Ult, a One-Bar Warden can eliminate enemy mobs quickly. In terms of item sets, the Ice Furnace helps build damage that supports the theme from a mechanical perspective. This set procs a Fire AOE whenever players deal Ice damage. Meanwhile, Spinner’s Garments can complement the Ice Furnace with its Spell Penetration, further cementing this ESO Warden build.
Solo StamDen
Thanks to the Warden’s powerful summoned Bear Ultimate, they are one of the best classes for Solo players. Wardens can take down World Bosses more easily than many classes, as they have a summonable Tank, and with the right resource and abilities, they’re hard to stop. This Elder Scrolls Online Warden build uses Stamina to give a Warden a powerful infusion of self-sustain and DPS.
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The Tzogvin’s Warband armor set (with the Divine trait) and the Briarheart armor set are the recommended equipment for this ESO Warden build. The front bar uses a 2H weapon paired with Echoing Vigor for healing, Reverse Slice as an executioner ability, and several Animal Companions abilities to keep damage up. The back bar uses a Bow, and is paired with several defensive and resource-oriented abilities like Bull Netch and Ice Fortress, as well as Endless Hail and Growing Swarm for long-term damage output.
13 Warden Butcher
Players looking for a balanced all-rounder would want to try Kevduit’s Warden Butcher build. This Stamina Warden variant capitalizes on the full-range capabilities of the Two-Handed Sword and the Bow. In turn, they make mean DPS or tanks in whichever party they’re placed. In terms of rotation, players can alternate between the close-ranged Two-Handed bar or a Bow-focused bar.
For the Two-Handed, the Butcher can use Rearming Trap, Revere Slice, and Subterranean Assault to build damage. Meanwhile, Rally and Camouflaged Hunter can help build buffs during rotations. For the Bow, Winter’s Revenge, Leeching Vines, and Endless Hail serve as mean ranged attacks. Buffs for the Bow come via Ice Fortress and Bird of Prey. Ults depend on the range as well, as Dawnbreaker of Smiting dishes out mean damage in melee whereas Permafrost obliterates at ranged.
12 Nature’s Wrath PVP
Wardens who want to unleash nature’s fury against the strongest among Tamriel would want to try Nature’s Wrath PVP. This build specializes in PVP setups, with a huge emphasis on the Warden’s AOE bursts to rake in high damage numbers. When used correctly, this build boasts great sustain to help outlast foes in sticky situations. Rotations-wise, players benefit from a Dual Wield main bar and a One-Hand + Shield secondary bar. For the Dual WIeld, players can rake in high damage with Subterranean Assault, Leeching Vines, Cutting Dive, Whirling Blades, and Birds of Prey.
With the back bar, players can enjoy buffs from Shuffle, Ice Fortress, Bull Netch, Soothing Spores, and the devastating Werewolf Berserker. When paired with the Dawnbreaker of Smiting Ult, the Warden becomes a killing machine. In terms of sets, Balorgh can help players top damage numbers easily through its weapon damage and penetration buffs. With Hunding’s Rage, players also get both a meaningful boost to Stamina and overall damage.
11 Nature’s Embrace Warden Healer
Wardens are a great multi-faceted class, able to take on just about any role in The Elder Scrolls Online with ease. They are one of the best Support classes thanks to the Green Balance skill tree which almost entirely focuses on healing and buffing allies. The Nature’s Embrace build is a Magicka-based ESO Warden build that uses a Restoration Staff and a Destruction Staff in tandem.
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10 Guardian Warden
The Guardian Warden allows players to go fast and loose with their attacks. As a stamina build, Guardian Wardens rely on heavy attacks inside rotations and the Bull Netch to restore stamina. Both bars enjoy the Wild Guardian ultimate, which summons a grizzly bear to fight by the Warden’s side.
This build’s dual-wield main bar relies on Growing Swarm and Subterranean assault for additional damage, with Whirling Blades, Rapid Strikes, and Deadly Cloak serving as the main damage skills. Meanwhile, the bow secondary bar immobilizes enemies with Barbed Trap, and then uses Bull Netch and Resolving Vigor for damage buffs.
9 Predator Warden
The Predator Warden boasts a useful single-target or AOE setup due to its remarkable splash damage. Like the Guardian Warden, Bull Netch and heavy attacks replenish the Predator Warden’s stamina reserves, making it another stamina build. Both its bars enjoy the increased movement speed and damage with Bird of Prey, and an ultimate that calls forth an allied bear with Wild Guardian.
The 2H main bar relies on relentless assault with Subterranean Assault and Growing Swarm, followed by devastating attacks from Wrecking Blow and Reverse Slice. Meanwhile, the bow secondary bar relies on the buffs from Bull Netch with Resolving Vigor while immobilizing enemies with Barbed Trap.
8 Ice and Fire PvE Warden
The Ice and Fire build from AlcastHQ turns the Warden into a tornado of damage output, so much so that many Warden players consider it to be the most powerful possible build in the game right now. Using the Perfected Bahsei’s Mania set (with the Divine Trait) and the Kinra’s Wrath set (with the Bloodthirsty Trait), the Ice and Fire build is capable of wiping out hordes of enemies or whittling down a boss’ HP quickly.
This ESO Warden build uses a Destruction staff on both the main and back bars, with different abilities slotted in each. The front bar is all about damage, with abilities like Deep Fissure, Screaming Clfif Racer, and Fetcher Infection. The back bar is more about buffing, debuffing, and self-sustain with abilities like Blue Berry, Harness Magicka, and Unstable Wall of Elements.
7 Frostbite Warden Tank
The Frostbite Warden serves as a great tank/support hybrid that improves team survivability. In this build, Frostbite Wardens can rely on their S&B build by stacking on defense. Polar Wind and Shimmering Shield absorb damage, while Pierce Armor and Heroic Slash help them deal damage in return. They gamble their health for Magicka regeneration and less spell cost with Spell Symmetry. Lastly, Enchanted Forest brings health regeneration.
Meanwhile, their Destruction Staff secondary bar grants buffs to allies. Leeching Vines grants healing, with Bull Netch and Ice Fortress providing buffs to the Warden. Meanwhile, their Inner Rage and Elemental Blockade taunts but halts enemies, with Aggressive Horn granting powerful boosts to allies.
6 Werewolf Warden
Werewolf Warden fits their nature motif perfectly, and their melee abilities synergize nicely. This build is a great choice for players who want a full “nature”-themed Warden. Their main bar relies on increasing their speed and damage. Growing Swarm, Rapid Strikes, and Subterranean Assault grants Werewolf Wardens decent AOE. Meanwhile, they can use Whirling Blades and Bird of Prey for their finishers. Their Ult transforms them into a Werewolf for greater damage.
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Meanwhile, their secondary bar grants Werewolf Wardens a boost in ranged abilities. Endless Hail, Bull Netch, and Barbed Trap buff the Warden while making ranged attacks. Meanwhile, Bird of Prey and Rising Vigor continue to give regen boosts to the Warden.
5 Frostcloak Warden
The Frostcloak Warden boasts great damage and mobility for dungeons. This build uses weapon and armor sets such as Kjalnar’s Nightmare, Bright-Throat’s Boast, and Necropotence that provide great Magicka and Health boosts.
The Shock Staff main bar buffs the Warden with Shimmering Shield, Bird of Prey, and ult Permafrost. Additionally, they can swarm opponents with Deep Fissure and Fetcher Infection. Meanwhile, the Restoration Staff secondary skillset buffs and heals with Ice Fortress, Harness Magicka, Healing Ward, Living Trells, Blue Betty, and ult Life Giver.
4 Blossom Warden Healer
Blossom Wardens makes full use of their Green Balance skill tree to maximize healing capabilities. With this build from AlcastHQ, their Fetcher Infection invokes Minor Vulnerability to weaken enemies. Their Restoration Staff skillset lets Blossom Wardens go full support. Radiating Regeneration, Illustrious Healing, Enchanted Growth, and Blue Betty grant massive healing and buffs. Their Combat Prayer imbues damage buffs, with the ult Aggressive Horn maximizing damage boost.
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Meanwhile, their Destruction Staff skillset that balances minor healing and minor debuffs. Budding Seeds and Energy Orb grant recovery, while Elemental Blockade, Elemental Drain, and Fetcher Infection debuffs enemies. Lastly, Enchanted Forest swarms allies with health benefits.
3 PvP Assault Warden
The Warden is equally skilled at DPS, Tanking, and Support, but they are also one of the best classes for PvP for beginners. The Assault build is an ESO Warden build that relies on the Clever Alchemist (with the Impenetrable or Well-Fitted Traits) and the New Moon Acolyte (with the Infused Trait) in its armor sets, and the Spectral Cloak and New Moon Acolyte sets for its weapons, both with the Defensive Trait.
The front bar is manned by a two-handed weapon featuring abilities like Forward Momentum to keep the Warden where they need to be alongside Dizzying Swing, Reverse Slice, and Subterranean Assault for damage output. The back bar is all about keeping oneself alive, with abilities like Deadly Cloak and Ice Fortress providing close-range defense and Bull Netch and Resolving Vigor providing resource renewal.
2 Racer Warden
The Racer Warden offers a versatile set of ranged skills for single-target and AOE damage. As a stamina build, this build relies on Bull Netch for recovery, which can be maximized alongside Stage Two Vampirism and Redguard passive. Both of its skillsets also use Bird of Prety for buffs, with the ult Wild Guardian for an ally.
This build’s bow main bar uses Cutting Dive for single-target damage, with Acid Spray and Subterranean Assault providing significant AOE damage. Meanwhile, its bow secondary skillset buffs the Warden with Resolving Vigor. It can use Growing Swarm and Endless Hail for AOE damage, and Poison Injection for debuffs.
1 Solo MagDen
The Solo MagWarden is designed for soloing dungeons, offering decent survivability and damage. This build boasts great shielding with decent self-heals, and both its skillsets use the Eternal Guardian ult to summon a grizzly ally.
Solo MagWardens utilize a Destruction Staff main bar to provide buffs and Magicka recovery with Bird of Prey and Harness Magicka. Additionally, Screaming Clfif Racer, Deep Fissure, and Arctic Blast provide decent AOE. Meanwhile, its Destruction Staff secondary skillset can heal the MagWarden with Blue Betty and Lotus Blossom, with Elemental Drain giving Magickasteal. Lastly, its Unstable Wall of Elements and Fetcher Infection serve as this skillset’s main AOE damage.
The Elder Scrolls Online is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S
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