The Elder Scrolls Onlineis unique as an MMO for its broadly limit-free approach to character progression and typical RPG roles. Each class inThe Elder Scrolls Onlineis able to take on DPS, Tanking, and Support roles. Every one of the game’s six classes is better at certain things than others, to be sure, but the one class does an excellent job at all three more than any of the others: the Necromancer.
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Necromancers are an unlockable DLC class forThe Elder Scrolls Online,whose skill trees each focus on a specific aspect.Grave Lordacts as the DPS tree,Bone Tyrantis the Tanking tree, andLiving Deathserves as the Support tree. Players building a Necromancer in one of these directions should choose their weapon carefully, though, as someESONecromancer weaponsaremuch more useful than others.
Updated July 15, 2025 by Erik Petrovich:The Necromancer in The Elder Scrolls Online has access to the most versatile toolkit of any of the game’s six classes. Because of this, they find it easy to adjust to almost any playstyle and almost any weapon skill line in the game, though some are better choices than others. Ranged weapons like the Bow are outclassed by Destruction Staff skills, for example, while close-range options like Dual Wield weapons are not as powerful as the Two-Handed skill line (or even the One-Hand and Shield skill line, typically reserved for Tanks). One thing all Necromancer players can agree on is how easy it is to play the Support, DPS, or Tank roles equally. For some weapons, though, the cons heavily outweigh the pros.
6Ranged Physical: Bows
Necromancers oriented around DPS and Support inThe Elder Scrolls Onlinetend to spend a lot of timeat the mid-range and further. Some abilities, like the Bone Tyrant skillDeath Scythe, only work at close range. Tank Necromancers can make good use of a Bow in the back bar, but ultimately the Bow weapon skill tree doesn’t give Necromancers much aside from AoE damage.
The limitation of the bow is thatalmost all of its abilities are outclassed by Necromancer abilities or Destruction Staff abilities.For example, Volley is not as powerful as Boneyard, and Snipe isn’t as useful as Venom Skull. One upside to using a bow in the back bar as a Necromancer, though, is that most of the class' skill treeabilities are based on Magicka. The Bow primarily uses Stamina as a resource, so it can be good as abackup while Magicka regenerates.
5Dual-Wielding Weapons: Axes, Swords, Maces, Daggers
The Necromancer is arguably the most versatile class inThe Elder Scrolls Onlineas it can take on DPS, Support, and Tanking roles according to each of its three specs. A DPS-based Necromancer specced primarily in the Grave Lord skill tree will find Dual Wielding weapons to be a pretty effective means of dishing out lots of damage without having to worry too much about how to get Stamina back quickly thanks to other Necromancer abilities.
The one flaw of the Dual Wield weapon skill line is its relative lack of complexity. Most abilities are based solely on damage output. For example, both morphs for Whirlwind increase damage done without any additional benefits. Several skills have secondary self-healing properties too, but Necromancers have a swathe of self-healing and resource-regenerating skills available to them already. When it comes toESONecromancer weapons, the Grave Lord spec is better served by other skill lines like the Destruction Staff or Two-Handed.
4Two-Handed Weapons: Greatswords, Battle Axes, Mauls
Necromancers in the Tanking role spec primarily into the Bone Tyrant tree for its powerful self-defense and self-sustain abilities. The Two-Handed Weapon skill tree can be a solid choice for the primary weapon slot for these players, thanks to its variety of high-power attacks and cleaving spells.
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The Two-Handed Weapon skill tree gives Necromancers access toDizzying Swing, Brawler, and Rally.These three very powerful bruiser abilities give the Necromancer some needed melee utility. However, Tanks inThe Elder Scrolls Onlinetend towards the One Hand and Shield skill tree, thanks to its more targeted Tanking abilities. If players have faith in the abilities of their party and healer, though, it’snot a bad choicefor its high damage output.
3Ranged Support: Restoration Staffs
The Restoration Staff is the go-to option for the main weapon slot for just about every Support build inThe Elder Scrolls Online. It offers so much Support utility for every class, ironically including the Necromancer. When playersspec the Restoration Staff into the Living Death tree,these characters can make forone of the more powerfulSupport classes in the game.
The Living Death skill tree gives Necromancers a powerful mid-combat mass resurrection in the form ofReanimate.Many consider it to be the best combat rez in the game. It also gives the debuff-removing spellExpunge, theLife Amid DeathAoE heal, and the healing summonSpirit Mender. Alongside these, the Restoration Staff gives Necromancers some great buff-heal hybrid spells. These includeBlessing of Protection, as well asHealing Wardwhich shields and heals at the same time. Ultimately, the Restoration Staff is the best option for Support Necromancers.
2Ranged Magical: Destruction Staffs (Lightning, Inferno, Ice)
TheDestruction Staffskill tree is thebest weapon for NecromancerESOoffers, as it adds onto the classes' innate abilities to make for a formidably powerful build. Necromancers looking to deal as much damage as possible should spec primarily into theGrave Lord skill tree,with some Destruction Staff skills mixed in there for variety.
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The Destruction Staff offers good utility to Necromancers in abilities likeWall of Elements, Pulsar, andElemental Drain.Its passives are a boon to the class' skillset as well.Elemental Force, for example, increases the chance of giving enemies certain status effects. Meanwhile,Ancient Knowledgeapplies to Necromancer skills as well as Destruction Staff skills. It’sthe best choice DPSNecromancers have for their main weapon slot, typically backed up by a Restoration Staff for off-Support capability.
1One-Handed and Shield: Axes, Swords, Maces, Daggers
The Dual Wield skill tree is not exactly thebest weapon for NecromancerESOoffers, as their DPS is better served at range. However, theOne-Handed and Shield skill treeis a great choice for players specced primarily into theBone Tyrant skill tree. It gives a unique Threat-generating skill in the form ofPuncture, as well as self-buffing skills likeDefensive Postureand the melee stunReverating Bash.
The Bone Tyrant skill tree is home to a swathe of useful Tanking abilities, too. The Ultimate abilityBone Goliathis one of the best Tanking ultimates in the game. Meanwhile,Beckoning Armorgroups enemies together for more effective AoE attacks, and the passive abilityHealth Avariceisextremely good for difficult trialsand delves with a party. The One-Handed and Shield skill tree is best accompanied with either aDestruction Staff or Restoration Staff, thanks to their respective crowd control and self-sustain boosts.
The Elder Scrolls Onlineis available on PC, Xbox One and Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Google Stadia
