This Trait Beginner Guide for ESO is meant to explain the basics of Traits. Traits in The Elder Scrolls Online are effects on either Armor, Jewelry or Weapons that have a fixed value depending on the quality of an item. Usually, throughout the world, you can find items with random Traits being applied to them on pickup unless it’s pre-defined through quest or kill rewards. On crafted items, you can choose which Trait you want, as long as you or the crafter have researched it.

Traits are different from Enchantments, as you can always replace an Enchantment and it is applied on an already existing item. It is possible to change the Trait on an item afterward, but it is a bit more complicated and I will explain it in this Trait Beginner Guide.

Trait Values in ESO

For every of the Armor, Jewelry or Weapon items we currently have 9 traits. As mentioned before, the quality of an item decides how effective it is.
I have listed the effect changes for each Trait depending on the quality, as well as listed the Effects of said Trait in this Trait Beginner Guide.

Armor

Trait Effects Normal Fine Superior Epic Legendary
Divines Increases Mundus Stone Effects by: 3.5% 4.5% 5.5% 6.5% 7.5%
Infused Increase Armor Enchantment effects by: 8% 11% 14% 17% 20%
Invigorating Increases Magicka, Stamina and Health Recovery by: 3 5 7 9 11
Impenetrable Reduces item’s durability damage by 50% and increases Critical Resistance by: 225 234 243 249 258
Nirnhoned Increases Spell and Physical Resistance by: 262 273 283 290 301
Reinforced Increases Armor by: 12% 13% 14% 15% 16%
Sturdy Reduces Block Cost by: 2% 2.5% 3% 3.5% 4%
Training Increases Experience gained from kills by: 7% 8% 9% 10% 11%
Well-Fitted Reduces the cost of Sprinting and Roll Dodge by: 1% 2% 3% 4% 5%

Jewelry

Trait Effects Normal Fine Superior Epic Legendary
Arcane Increases Maximum Magicka by: 760 790 820 840 870
Bloodthirsty Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage against enemies under 90% Health by up to (X) 210 245 280 315 350
Harmony Activating a synergy restores (X) Health, Magicka and Stamina 770 800 830 850 880
Healthy Increases Maximum Health by: 836 869 902 924 957
Infused Increases Jewelry enchantment effectiveness by: 24% 33% 42% 51% 60%
Protective Increases Spell and Physical Resistance by: 1624 1684 1744 1784 1844
Robust Increases Maximum Stamina by: 760 790 820 840 870
Swift Increases Movement Speed by: 2% 3% 4% 5% 6%
Triune Increases Health
Magicka and
Stamina by:		 418
380
380		 429
390
390		 451
410
410		 467
425
425		 478
435
435

Weapons

Unlike armor, weapons can hold two slots or be wielded twice, so these stats are for one weapon. For two weapons the bonuses count double, unless otherwise indicated.

Trait Effects Normal Fine Superior Epic Legendary
Charged Increases chance to apply Status Effects by: 70% 80% 90% 100% 110%
Decisive Chance to gain 1 additional Ultimate anytime that Ultimate is gained by: 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%
Defending Increases total Physical and Spell Resistance by: 1200 1248 1296 1328 1376
Infused Reduces Enchantment cooldown by 50%

Increases Weapon Enchantment effect by:
(doesn’t count double for 2H)

 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Nirnhoned Increases Weapon Damage by:
(doesn’t count double for 2H)		 11% 12% 13% 14% 15%
Powered Increases Healing done by: 2.5% 3% 3.5% 4% 4.5%
Precise Increases Weapon and Spell Critical values by: 1.5% 2% 2.5% 3% 3.5%
Sharpened Increases Armor and Spell Penetration by: 1200 1248 1296 1328 1376
Training Increases Experience gained from kills by: 2.5% 3% 3.5% 4% 4.5%

Other Purpose Traits

As you might have already seen, we have two more traits which you can find on all items. These serve different purposes and are not meant to be worn or wielded. Additionally, you can’t research or craft them either.

Ornate Increased value upon sale to an NPC vendor.
Intricate Increased Inspiration Experience gained upon deconstruction.

Research Traits in ESO

Researching a Trait is important if you want to craft your own items. Specific sets require you to have mastered a certain amount of researched Traits, and if you want to be able to change a Trait on your gear you will have to have researched it as well.

In order to learn a Trait, you need to choose this from your crafting interface at a crafting station. The item will thereupon be destroyed, so be careful what you choose!

Researching can take a long time, even though the first few traits are relatively easy to get.

To give you a quick overview, these are the research times without having spent a skill point into the researching passive.

Research Time:

  • 1st Trait: 6 hours
  • 2nd Trait: 12 hours
  • 3rd Trait: 24 hours
  • 4th Trait: 48 hours
  • 5th Trait: 96 hours (4 days)
  • 6th Trait: 192 hours (8 days)
  • 7th Trait: 384 hours (16 days)
  • 8th Trait: 768 hours (32 days)
  • 9th Trait: 1536 hours (64 days)

If you want to know more about Crafting in general, and how Researching works in-depth, here are guides to the currently four researchable crafts:

Transmutation

If you want to change a Trait on your armor, jewelry or weapons, you can do this by transmuting an item to the desired trait.
You can do so at a Transmutation Station, which you can either access in the Clockwork City DLC, or via houses of friends or guildmates.
Mind you, you need to have researched the trait in order to be able to transmute it.

Here is an in-depth Guide on Transmutation.