When it comes to either creating or finding a top-performing Templar character build, here is the honest truth. There are far too many ESO players who post builds on forum that are definitely suboptimal and haven’t been optimized or tested extensively.
They believe they have come up with a good build simply based on the fact that they chose some good items and stats that they have heard are great performers.
It would be nice if things where that easy.
However, if you really are serious about the full potential of your characters being maximized, then it will be necessary for you to spend numerous hours tweaking and testing your build until it is perfected.
In this article we are going to be providing you with a couple of short cuts that will make it possible for you to significantly improve how effective your build is by discussing some of the most critical things that we have discovered.
Let’s get right to it!
Top Templar Race Choices
Stamina Builds Race Choices
Balanced
If you’d like to have a race that is more well-rounded for switching between multiple roles, then you can choose Imperial.
Tank
For tanking Nord is the top race due to their increasing health and stamina and reducing incoming damage.
Stamina DPS
Currently for PvE DPS, the best choice is Redguard. Ever since they fixed Khajiit critical passive, it has become one of the leading contenders when it comes to maximum Stam DPS.
Magicka Build Race Choices
Magicka DPS & PvP
Our recommendation is that you choose a Dark Elf (6% Fire & Stamina Resistance, 9% Max Magicka, 7% Fire Damage), since it provides you with bonus Fire Damage to use in your fire DoTs as well as some protection for helping you survive if you opt for going as a vampire. The differences, however, between High and Dark Elf are quite minimal. High Elf may be a better option for you if you are wanting PvP on the side or slightly more sustain.
Healer
The high magicka pool, reduced spell cost and Breton are critical efficient healing. High Elf would be your second best choice.
Prioritize The Proper Attribute Points and Stats
Stamina Build Stats
For end game content, for non-tanks you’re going to need about 18,000 HP so that you don’t end up with just one shot. Once you have ensured that you have obtained the 18,000 HP, the next thing you should do is dump all of the extra stats that you have out of enchants and attribute points and into stamina. Be sure to continue placing some of your points into health if you’re leveling up still. You are placing too many points into stamina if you begin to get one to two shots.
For your Stamina DPS Builds to be optimal, your stats should be prioritized in the following order:
- Armor Penetration
- Weapon Damage
- Weapon Critical
- Max Stamina
- Reduced Stamina Cost
- Stamina Recovery
For your Stamina Tanking Builds to be optimal, your stats should be prioritized in the following order.
- 28k to 30k Health (Fully Buffed)
- Dodge Chance
- Reduced Cost of Blocking
- Reduced Stamina Cost
- Stamina Recovery
- Physical/Spell Resistance
- Maximum Stamina
Magicka Builds Stats
For magicka builds you will want to have around 18,000 HP as well if you plan on doing end game content and still leveling to ensure you are placing a sufficient amount of points into health in order to prevent getting one to two shots from mob packs.
For your Magicka DPS Builds to be optimal, your stats should be prioritized in the following order:
- Spell Damage
- Spell Critical
- Spell Penetration
- Max Magicka
- Reduced Magicka Cost
- Magicka Recovery
For your Healing Builds to be optimal, your stats should be prioritized in the following order:
- Max Magicka
- Reduced Magicka Cost
- Magicka Recovery
- Spell Damage
- Spell Critical
Choose The Right Mundus Stone
Mundus Stones That Are Stamina Based
Maximum DPS
The Thief mundus stone should be run by a majority of characters for maximum DPS. However, Shadow should be run by Khajiit Templars that have a high critical strike opportunity.
Optimal Tanking
The best stone to use for tanking is the Lord unless you have nearly 30k HP completely buffed without it. If that is the case, for extra stamina you should switched over to the Tower.
Mundus Stones That Are Magicka Based
Maximum DPS
The best option for magicka DPS builds is definitely the Thief due to it increasing your critical chance. This in turn boosts your damage much more than other stones and lets you use your ultimate much more frequently.
Optimal Healing
You should switch out mundus stones over to Atronach for healing buildings. Being able to heal on a consistent basis is much more important than damage output is.
Character Build Optimal Champion Points
Your Champion points will differ based on group setup, whether or not you are going for AoE damage or single target, the game content you do, and your exact build. We have put the following basic templates together for you to get started with. Based on your specific needs you can modify them.
DPS Templates That Are Stamina Based
The Ritual (Blue)
- Mighty: 100 points
- Precise Strikes: 40 points
- Piercing: 27 points
The Tower (Green)
- Warlord: 100 points
The Lover (Green)
- Mooncalf: 53 points
The Shadow (Green)
- Tumbling: 13 points
- Shadow Ward: 1 points
The Lady (Red)
- Hardy: 78 points
- Elemental Defender: 78 points
- Thick Skinned: 11 points
DPS Templates That Are Magicka Based
The Apprentice (Blue)
- Elemental Expert: 96 points
- Elfborn: 71 points
The Tower (Green)
- Magician: 100 points
The Lover (Green)
- Arcanist: 67 points
The Steed (Red)
- Spell Shield: 27 points
The Lady (Red)
- Hardy: 60 points
- Elemental Defender: 80 points
Sets, Enchantments and Traits
Use the best combination of item sets, enchantments and gear traits. Your enchants and gear traits will slightly change based on whatever game content you would like to do, those who are in your group and other different factors.
DPS Templates That Are Basic Stamina Based
| Item Slot | Set Bonus | Item Type | Trait | Enchant |
| Helm | Spawn of Mephala | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Shoulders | Spawn of Mephala | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Chest | Night Mother’s Gaze | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Waist | Night Mother’s Gaze | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Feet | Night Mother’s Gaze | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Hands | Night Mother’s Gaze | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Legs | Night Mother’s Gaze | Medium | Divines | Stamina |
| Neck | Agility | Jewelry | Robust | Weapon Damage |
| Ring One | Agility | Jewelry | Robust | Weapon Damage |
| Ring Two | Agility | Jewelry | Robust | Weapon Damage |
| Mainhand | Maelstorm | Dagger/Axe | Sharpened | Cruel Flurry |
| Offhand | Maelstorm | Dagger | Sharpened | Cruel Flurry |
| 2nd Weapon | Maelstorm | Bow | Sharpened | Thunderous Volley |
DPS Templates That Are Basic Magicka Based
| Item Slot | Set Bonus | Item Type | Trait | Enchant |
| Helm | Molag Kena | Heavy | Divines | Magicka |
| Shoulders | Molag Kena | Medium | Divines | Magicka |
| Chest | Twice Born Star | Light | Divines | Magicka |
| Waist | Twice Born Star | Light | Divines | Magicka |
| Feet | Twice Born Star | Light | Divines | Magicka |
| Hands | Twice Born Star | Light | Divines | Magicka |
| Legs | Twice Born Star | Light | Divines | Magicka |
| Neck | Willpower | Jewelry | Arcane | Spell Damage |
| Ring One | Willpower | Jewelry | Arcane | Spell Damage |
| Ring Two | Willpower | Jewelry | Arcane | Spell Damage |
| Mainhand | Torug’s Pact | Inferno Staff | Sharpened | Increase Spell Damage |
| Offhand | Torug’s Pact/ Maelstorm | Inferno Staff | Sharpened | Fire /Daedric /Maelstorm |
Hopefully you can see the great potential now of testing as well as making use of optimized build with your Templar.
I am building a Magic dps wouldn’t it be better 2 have 1more piece of medium armor which will give you some more Crit like 1% over heavy armor ? Also the medium armor would be on chest or legs which gives higher armor values than the one for the head & shoulders. I do realize you are using armor sets which may change or be hard to get & I have no idea what they are , however from a base or non armor set point of view is how I am building mine. Dark elf Templar 5 light… Read more »
The way I am doing it on all of my characters is I always leave head and shoulders for my potential/future two item sets. So, for example my Night Blade Magica would wear 5 peace light armor then heavy head and medium shoulders or whatever I have available at the moment. You can get those sets by joining Mooseo for Undaunted Pledges events. You can also find monster sets list on the Undaunted Pledges event page, just click on events tab then our events.
Yea ChuckyB squared me away about the dauntless perk for having all pieces of armor & I found out the hard way Crit weapon isn’t the same as crit spell , this is a very good build & will be using it . :)