ESO Class Mastery Passives are a new set of passives in Update 50 for pure-class characters in The Elder Scrolls Online. If all three of your native class skill lines are at level 50 and you are not subclassing, you unlock five exclusive passives and can slot two at a time. They cost no skill points.
Below you will find how the system works, how to unlock it and every Class Mastery passive for all seven classes.
Table of Contents
- What are ESO Class Mastery Passives
- All ESO Class Mastery Passives
- Frequently Asked Questions
What are ESO Class Mastery Passives?
The Elder Scrolls Online Class Identity Refresh plan for each class
Class Mastery is a set of bonus passives you unlock by staying pure class in ESO. Pure class means keeping all three of your class’s own skill lines (for example, Ardent Flame, Draconic Power and Earthen Heart on a Dragonknight).
If you swap one of those for a skill line from another class, that’s subclassing, and you lose access to Class Mastery. Weapon skill lines, guild skill lines and other non-class skill lines do not affect your pure class status.
Since subclassing launched, pure class builds have been at a disadvantage in high-end content like veteran dungeons and trials. Class Mastery is ZOS’s answer to that gap, designed as a stop-gap measure between the ongoing class reworks.Each class is getting a refresh over time (Dragonknight is done, Warden is next) and these passives will be adjusted alongside each rework.
Not to be confused with the Scribing Class Mastery Signature Script, which is part of a completely different system called Scribing.
ESO Arcanist Class Mastery Passives
Arcanist Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Arcanist Class Mastery passives build on the Crux system with instant generation, damage boosts and defensive resource recovery. Crux is the Arcanist’s core class mechanic: you generate Crux stacks (up to 3) by using certain abilities and then spend them to empower other abilities.
- Abyssal Emergence – Activating an Arcanist Ultimate immediately generates maximum Crux (3) and grants you 666 Weapon and Spell Damage for 15 seconds.
- Fate Realigned – Upgrades rank 2 of Implacable Outcome (Soldier of Apocrypha passive that generates Ultimate when you consume Crux) to also generate maximum Crux (3), up to once every 15 seconds. After this triggers you gain 300 Weapon and Spell Damage for 25 seconds.
- Unbound Potential – Upgrades rank 2 of Fated Fortune (Herald of the Tome passive that grants a bonus effect when you consume Crux, scaling with the number consumed) to also increase your damage done by 30% (halved against players) for the duration.
- Erudite’s Rigor – Upgrades Fatewoven Armor (Curative Runeforms passive that grants damage mitigation while you have Crux active) to also grant 300 Magicka and Stamina when you take damage, increasing by 100 per Crux you have active. Also grants 1 Ultimate per trigger. Once every 2 seconds.
- Ink-Scribe’s Verve – While in combat, when you heal or overheal a total of 75,000 Health, you generate a Crux. No cooldown.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Abyssal Emergence | Activating an Arcanist Ultimate immediately generates maximum Crux (3) and grants you 666 Weapon and Spell Damage for 15 seconds. |
| Fate Realigned | Upgrades rank 2 of Implacable Outcome to also generate maximum Crux (3), up to once every 15 seconds. After this triggers you gain 300 Weapon and Spell Damage for 25 seconds. |
| Unbound Potential | Upgrades rank 2 of Fated Fortune to also increase your damage done by 30% (halved against players) for the duration. |
| Erudite’s Rigor | Upgrades Fatewoven Armor to also grant 300 Magicka and Stamina when you take damage, increasing by 100 per Crux active. Also grants 1 Ultimate per trigger. Once every 2 seconds. |
| Ink-Scribe’s Verve | While in combat, when you heal or overheal a total of 75,000 Health, you generate a Crux. No cooldown. |
For Arcanist build recommendations, see ESO Arcanist Builds.
ESO Dragonknight Class Mastery Passives
Dragonknight Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Dragonknight Class Mastery passives lean heavily into fire damage, blocking and Ultimate synergies. The longer you fight, the stronger you get, building on the Landslide mechanic from the Update 49 class refresh.
- Lead From the Front – Activating rank 2 of The Storm Voice (Earthen Heart passive that generates Ultimate when you activate an Earthen Heart ability) grants you and group members within 28 meters Major Berserk and Protection for 1 second per 15 Ultimate spent, increasing damage done and reducing damage taken by 10%.
- Resolute Defense – Each second you remain Bracing (holding block), you increase the amount of damage you block by 6%, up to 5 times (30% total). Blocking damage has a 20% chance to restore 500 Stamina. This effect can occur once every block cost.
- Wildfire Embers – When your Dragonknight damage over time effects end, you apply Wildfire Embers to the target, dealing 2499 Flame Damage over 12 seconds. Stacks up to 12 times and increases in damage by 25% per stack. Triggering DoTs include Searing Strike, Dragonfire Breath, Burning Talons and Shatterspike Mantle (including morphs).
- Booming Voice – Activating rank 2 of The Storm Voice now also grants 5 Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery for every Ultimate spent for 10 seconds.
- Inexorable Descent – Improves your Landslide passive (Earthen Heart passive that grants stacking Physical and Spell Resistance when you activate Earthen Heart abilities) to increase the potency of your damage done, healing done and damage shield strength by 1% per stack. “Potency” means this bonus is multiplicative with other bonuses rather than additive.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Lead From the Front | Activating rank 2 of The Storm Voice grants you and group members within 28 meters Major Berserk and Protection for 1 second per 15 Ultimate spent, increasing damage done and reducing damage taken by 10%. |
| Resolute Defense | Each second you remain Bracing, you increase the amount of damage you block by 6%, up to 5 times. Blocking damage has a 20% chance to restore 500 Stamina, once every block cost. |
| Wildfire Embers | When your Dragonknight DoTs end, you apply Wildfire Embers dealing 2499 Flame Damage over 12 seconds. Stacks up to 12 times, increasing in damage by 25% per stack. |
| Booming Voice | Activating rank 2 of The Storm Voice also grants 5 Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery for every Ultimate spent for 10 seconds. |
| Inexorable Descent | Improves your Landslide passive to increase the potency of your damage done, healing done and damage shield strength by 1% per stack. |
For Dragonknight build recommendations, see ESO Dragonknight Builds.
ESO Necromancer Class Mastery Passives
Necromancer Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Necromancer Class Mastery passives expand the corpse consumption loop with stacking damage, corpse generation and emergency healing. The standout feature is the ability to mark living enemies as corpses, opening up corpse-consuming abilities in fights where no corpses exist.
- Nothing Wasted – Upgrades rank 2 of Corpse Consumption (Bone Tyrant passive that grants you Ultimate when you consume a corpse) to also grant a stack of Nothing Wasted for 10 seconds, which increases your Max Health by 2% and Weapon and Spell Damage by 2% per stack, up to 10 times. Stacks decay three at a time instead of all at once.
- Malevolent Promise – Also upgrades rank 2 of Corpse Consumption to mark the closest non-player enemy with death’s touch for 6 seconds, allowing you to use a corpse consuming ability on them. Consuming or replacing this effect triggers rank 2 of Death Gleaning (Grave Lord passive that restores Magicka and Stamina when an enemy you damaged dies). Once every 2 seconds.
- Cycle Unending – Upgrades rank 2 of Reusable Parts (Bone Tyrant passive that restores a portion of a summoned creature’s cost when it expires) to grant Cycle Unending for 25 seconds, increasing your damage done by 1% for every 1% Health you have more than your target. Caps at 25% (12% against players).
- Pound of Flesh – When you take damage you have a 1% chance to heal 2745 Health and restore 5% of your missing Stamina, up to once per second. This chance increases by 1% for every missing Health percent you have and the healing is based off your Max Health. At 50% Health you would have a 51% chance to trigger this each time you take damage.
- Veil’s Forfeit – While in combat, directly healing a target below 50% Health allows you to use a corpse consuming ability against them within 10 seconds, up to once every second. Consuming or replacing this effect grants the target 2 Ultimate.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Nothing Wasted | Upgrades rank 2 of Corpse Consumption to also grant a stack of Nothing Wasted for 10 seconds. Increases Max Health by 2% and Weapon and Spell Damage by 2% per stack, up to 10 times. Stacks decay three at a time. |
| Malevolent Promise | Upgrades rank 2 of Corpse Consumption to mark the closest non-player enemy with death’s touch for 6 seconds, allowing corpse consuming abilities on them. Also triggers Death Gleaning. Once every 2 seconds. |
| Cycle Unending | Upgrades rank 2 of Reusable Parts to grant Cycle Unending for 25 seconds. Increases damage done by 1% per 1% Health you have more than your target. Caps at 25% (12% against players). |
| Pound of Flesh | When you take damage, 1% chance (plus 1% per missing Health percent) to heal 2745 Health and restore 5% missing Stamina. Once per second. Healing scales off Max Health. |
| Veil’s Forfeit | Directly healing a target below 50% Health in combat allows corpse consuming abilities against them within 10 seconds. Once every second. Consuming grants the target 2 Ultimate. |
For Necromancer build recommendations, see ESO Necromancer Builds.
ESO Nightblade Class Mastery Passives
Nightblade Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Nightblade Class Mastery passives reward aggression with Critical Damage scaling, execute bonuses and Ultimate generation. One passive raises the Critical Damage cap higher than any other class can reach. This uses new tech that allows ZOS to override stat caps for specific classes.
- Nocturnal Inspiration – Upgrades rank 2 of Hemorrhage (Assassination passive that increases your Critical Damage done) to have a chance to generate 2 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 0.3 seconds and the chance is equal to your Weapon Critical chance.
- An Eye for Exploitation – Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by up to 1250, based on your target’s missing Health. Also reduces your damage taken by up to 12%, based on your attacker’s missing Health. Because this scales Weapon and Spell Damage, it also increases healing against low-health allies.
- Above and Beyond – Increases your Critical Damage and Healing by 15% (halved against players). Increases your maximum Critical Damage and Healing cap by 25%, raising it from 125% to 150%.
- Cutthroat’s Focus – Activating a Nightblade ability while Bracing (holding block) causes you to dodge attacks for 0.3 seconds. Whenever you dodge an attack, your attacker’s psyche suffers, increasing their damage taken by 5% for 5 seconds.
- Share the Spoils – Upgrades rank 2 of Transfer (Siphoning passive that generates Ultimate when you deal damage with a Siphoning ability) to grant the closest 4 group members 250 Magicka and Stamina and 1 Ultimate. Also doubles the Ultimate you gain (4, up from 2).
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Nocturnal Inspiration | Upgrades rank 2 of Hemorrhage to have a chance to generate 2 Ultimate. Once every 0.3 seconds. Chance equals your Weapon Critical chance. |
| An Eye for Exploitation | Increases Weapon and Spell Damage by up to 1250 based on target’s missing Health. Reduces damage taken by up to 12% based on attacker’s missing Health. |
| Above and Beyond | Increases Critical Damage and Healing by 15% (halved against players). Increases maximum Critical Damage and Healing cap by 25%, raising it from 125% to 150%. |
| Cutthroat’s Focus | Activating a Nightblade ability while Bracing causes you to dodge attacks for 0.3 seconds. Dodging increases attacker’s damage taken by 5% for 5 seconds. |
| Share the Spoils | Upgrades rank 2 of Transfer to grant closest 4 group members 250 Magicka and Stamina and 1 Ultimate. Doubles your Ultimate gain (4, up from 2). |
For Nightblade build recommendations, see ESO Nightblade Builds.
ESO Sorcerer Class Mastery Passives
Sorcerer Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Sorcerer Class Mastery passives focus on resource sustain, execute damage, damage shields and group utility. The old Implosion passive is back in a balanced form as Static Reverberation, and one passive gets weaker for each permanent pet you have active.
- Conservation of Energy – Upgrades rank 2 of Blood Magic (Dark Magic passive that restores Health when you deal direct damage with a Critical Strike) to work with any ability that has a cost, and restores 400 Magicka and 389 Stamina when it activates. Scales off your Max Magicka and Stamina. Cost-per-tick abilities are excluded.
- Font of Power – Upgrades rank 2 of Exploitation (Dark Magic passive that grants Minor Prophecy and Minor Savagery when you activate a Dark Magic ability) to work with any Sorcerer ability and increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 11% for 10 seconds. Increases by 1% for every 1750 Max Magicka or Stamina you have, whichever is higher.
- Static Reverberation – When you deal damage, you have a 1% chance for every 1% missing Health the target has to deal 747 Shock Damage, up to once every 0.2 seconds. The chance is divided by one plus every permanent pet you have active. With 1 pet active you need 2% missing Health per 1% chance, with 2 pets you need 3%.
- Calculated Defense – While beginning to use a Sorcerer ability or an ability with a cast time, you gain a damage shield for 0.5 seconds that can absorb 7127 damage. Based off your Max Health. If the shield does not break, you and nearby group members gain 3% Weapon and Spell Damage for 20 seconds.
- Sphere of Influence – Casting a damage shield on yourself or an ally grants 150 Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery and an additional shield for 4 seconds that absorbs up to 3239 damage. Scales off the higher of your Max Health or Max Magicka. Capped at 25% of the target’s Max Health.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Conservation of Energy | Upgrades rank 2 of Blood Magic to work with any ability with a cost. Restores 400 Magicka and 389 Stamina when it activates. Cost-per-tick excluded. |
| Font of Power | Upgrades rank 2 of Exploitation to work with any Sorcerer ability. Increases Weapon and Spell Damage by 11% for 10 seconds, plus 1% per 1750 Max Magicka or Stamina (whichever is higher). |
| Static Reverberation | 1% chance per 1% missing Health on the target to deal 747 Shock Damage. Once every 0.2 seconds. Chance divided by 1 plus permanent pets active. |
| Calculated Defense | While using a Sorcerer ability or cast-time ability, gain a damage shield for 0.5 seconds absorbing 7127 damage. Based off Max Health. If shield holds, you and nearby group members gain 3% Weapon and Spell Damage for 20 seconds. |
| Sphere of Influence | Casting a damage shield grants 150 Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery and an additional shield for 4 seconds absorbing 3239 damage. Scales off Max Health or Max Magicka (whichever is higher). Capped at 25% of target’s Max Health. |
For Sorcerer build recommendations, see ESO Sorcerer Builds.
ESO Templar Class Mastery Passives
Templar Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Templar Class Mastery passives revolve around Sacred Ground uptime, Illuminate upgrades and blocking power. Sacred Ground is a Restoring Light passive that activates when you stand in the area of a Restoring Light ability, granting Minor Mending and other bonuses. Several Class Mastery passives expand how and when it activates.
- Bastion of Light – Sacred Ground is now also applied while you are in your own Nova and Spear Shards, and while Radial Sweep and Solar Barrage are active. While Sacred Ground is active, you heal for 1498 Health every 1 second. If you are at full Health after being healed while in combat, you also gain 2 Ultimate.
- Devout Guardian – While Sacred Ground is active, you gain a damage shield for 6 seconds, up to once every 6 seconds. The shield absorbs up to 3747 damage and provides 300 Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery while active. If the shield breaks, you gain 10 Ultimate.
- Bright Harbinger – Upgrades rank 2 of Illuminate (Dawn’s Wrath passive that grants Minor Sorcery to nearby group members when you activate a Dawn’s Wrath ability) to also grant Bright Harbinger for the duration, which grants 300 Weapon and Spell Damage to allies and doubles for you (600).
- Judgment’s Brand – When rank 2 of Burning Light (Dawn’s Wrath passive that has a chance to deal additional damage when you hit with a Dawn’s Wrath ability) deals damage, your Templar abilities gain 1250 damage done for 3.1 seconds. Halved against players (625).
- Steadfast Candescence – Sacred Ground now activates and refreshes itself while Bracing (holding block). Increases the amount of damage you can block by 20% while stationary.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Bastion of Light | Sacred Ground now applied in your Nova and Spear Shards, and while Radial Sweep and Solar Barrage are active. While active, heal 1498 Health every 1 second. Full Health in combat gains 2 Ultimate. |
| Devout Guardian | While Sacred Ground is active, gain a damage shield for 6 seconds (once every 6 seconds). Absorbs 3747 damage. Grants 300 Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery. Shield break grants 10 Ultimate. |
| Bright Harbinger | Upgrades rank 2 of Illuminate to also grant 300 Weapon and Spell Damage to allies, doubled for you (600). |
| Judgment’s Brand | When rank 2 of Burning Light deals damage, your Templar abilities gain 1250 damage done for 3.1 seconds. Halved against players (625). |
| Steadfast Candescence | Sacred Ground activates and refreshes while Bracing. Increases damage you can block by 20% while stationary. |
For Templar build recommendations, see ESO Templar Builds.
ESO Warden Class Mastery Passives
Warden Class Mastery passives in ESO Update 50
The Warden Class Mastery passives center on status effects, healing triggers and resource support. These passives are intentionally broad since the Warden class refresh is next in the pipeline. One passive adds Major Brittle, which increases Critical Damage taken by 20%. This is a rare debuff in ESO with the Nunatak set being the only other source.
- Tundra’s Maw – Applying Chill to an enemy also applies Major Brittle for 2 seconds, increasing their Critical Damage taken by 20%.
- Wild Adaptation – Gain 333 Weapon and Spell Damage for each status effect on your target, up to a maximum of 1665 (5 status effects). Can also apply when targeting friendly players.
- Glacial Obstinance – Upgrades Bond with Nature (Green Balance passive that heals you when you activate a Green Balance ability) to also activate when casting Winter’s Embrace abilities and to grant 15% Weapon and Spell Damage for 10 seconds if you are at full Health after the heal.
- Green-Keeper’s Hide – Reduce your damage taken by 3% for every status effect active on your attacker, up to a maximum of 15% (5 status effects).
- Bountiful Harvest – Upgrades rank 2 of Nature’s Gift (Green Balance passive that restores Magicka or Stamina when you activate a Green Balance ability) to grant the healed target Major Heroism for 4.5 seconds and an additional 250 Magicka and Stamina.
| Passive | Effect |
|---|---|
| Tundra’s Maw | Applying Chill also applies Major Brittle for 2 seconds, increasing Critical Damage taken by 20%. |
| Wild Adaptation | Gain 333 Weapon and Spell Damage per status effect on your target, up to 1665 (5 effects). Works on friendly targets too. |
| Glacial Obstinance | Upgrades Bond with Nature to also activate off Winter’s Embrace abilities. Grants 15% Weapon and Spell Damage for 10 seconds if at full Health after the heal. |
| Green-Keeper’s Hide | Reduce damage taken by 3% per status effect on your attacker, up to 15% (5 effects). |
| Bountiful Harvest | Upgrades rank 2 of Nature’s Gift to grant the healed target Major Heroism for 4.5 seconds and an additional 250 Magicka and Stamina. |
For Warden build recommendations, see ESO Warden Builds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I unlock Class Mastery in ESO?
Reach level 50 in all three of your primary class skill lines and make sure you do not have any subclass skill lines equipped. The Class Mastery skill line appears automatically once both conditions are met.
Do ESO Class Mastery passives cost Skill Points?
No. You receive 2 dedicated Class Mastery Points when you unlock the system. These are separate from Skill Points and can only be spent on Class Mastery passives.
Can I use Class Mastery while subclassing in ESO?
No. If you equip a skill line from another class, your Class Mastery passives are disabled and your points are refunded. You regain access once you remove the subclass skill lines.
How many ESO Class Mastery passives can I pick?
Two. Each passive costs 1 Class Mastery Point and you receive 2 points total.
Can I change my ESO Class Mastery picks later?
Yes. Class Mastery Points can be refunded via the Respeccing or the Armory system.
When does Class Mastery release in ESO?
Class Mastery is part of Update 50, arriving in June 2026 as part of ESO Season 0.
Will ESO Class Mastery passives change after launch?
ZOS has confirmed that Class Mastery is highly iterative and will see adjustments over time as part of the class refresh. Warden passives in particular are expected to change alongside the upcoming Warden rework.
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