Strongest Classes In The Elder Scrolls Lore

The Elder Scrolls games often allow players to become incredibly powerful, almost like gods. However, within the world of the game, some character types are much more respected and feared than others. Certain classes, through abilities like raising armies of the dead or battling powerful demons, have become legendary figures in Tamriel due to their sheer strength.

It’s hard to definitively say which class is the strongest, especially since not every game uses traditional classes – for example, *Skyrim* doesn’t have set classes. However, the following classes are considered the most powerful based on the established lore of *The Elder Scrolls*, rather than simply how effective players have made them over time.

Necromancer

Power Through Death

Notable Necromancers: Mannimarco, Potema Septim

Necromancers are known throughout the history of *The Elder Scrolls* as major troublemakers. Within the game’s world, necromancy is considered so dangerous that groups have repeatedly attempted – and failed – to eliminate it entirely. It’s not simply about summoning skeletons to do work, though that can be a useful benefit.

Okay, so Mannimarco, this super powerful necromancer known as the King of Worms, basically went from being a regular guy to a god just by mastering necromancy. The craziest thing he did – the thing that *really* puts necromancers at the top of the power scale – was his apotheosis. He did this huge, complicated ritual during something called the Warp in the West, using some seriously powerful artifacts. It basically turned him into a god, and now he’s known as the Necromancer’s Moon, or the Revenant. It’s a pretty epic backstory, honestly.

This act turned him from a normal mage into a god, a being whose power could be felt by necromancers everywhere. It’s an incredibly rare feat. Unlike others who received power from gods, Mannimarco took it for himself, perfectly demonstrating the core belief of necromancers: achieving ultimate power by controlling the basic rules of life and death.

Mage/Sorcerer

Arcane Mastery

Notable Mages/Sorcerers: Divayth Fyr, Shalidor, Vanus Galerion, Sotha Sil, Miraak

According to Nord legends, every disaster throughout history has been caused by a wizard meddling with the very structure of the world. These sorcerers draw power from magicka, the essential energy flowing from the realm of Aetherius. While most are just skilled spellcasters, a mage’s potential is practically endless – some have even created their own small worlds or achieved immortality. Stories within the world itself tell of powerful archmages who are as strong as gods.

Two of the most well-known magical figures are Divayth Fyr, an ancient Dunmer wizard who’s lived for over 4,000 years, and Shalidor, a legendary Nord archmage from a bygone era. Shalidor is famous for magically constructing the city of Winterhold with just a spoken spell and designing the Labyrinth to challenge hopeful mages. Perhaps his greatest achievement was creating entire pocket dimensions, like Eyevea, to serve as private retreats and libraries. In the world of magic, achieving mastery can sometimes mean literally moving on to another plane of existence.

Crusader

The Benefits Of Faith

Notable Crusaders: Pelinal Whitestrake

Crusaders draw their strength from fighting for what they believe in, channeling their faith into incredible power. This power often appears as holy magic, the ability to heal quickly, and a burning, righteous anger. They gain this strength from the Aedra, or sometimes from Daedric Princes considered to be ‘good’.

Pelinal Whitestrake is the most famous example of this type of warrior. Sent by the Eight Divines, he fought to help humans rebel against the Ayleids. He was incredibly powerful, defeating Ayleid leaders, destroying armies, and sometimes losing control in furious rages where he killed without discrimination. Pelinal embodies the extreme potential of a Crusader – a human empowered with the gods’ fierce desire for revenge.

Assassin

A Knife In The Dark

Notable Assassins: Lucien Lachance, Astrid, Eno Hlaalu

The assassins of Tamriel are much more than common criminals. In fact, assassination is deeply ingrained in the Dunmer culture, with the Morag Tong operating as a legally recognized way to resolve disputes. The Dark Brotherhood, on the other hand, inspires such fear that wealthy individuals often pay them to *avoid* being targeted. Their contracts are even backed by Sithis, the god of Nothingness, giving each assassination a cosmic weight.

Although an Assassin’s skills might seem understated next to a Sorcerer’s powerful magic, their connection to the ancient entity Sithis makes them truly unique. This link to a being older than the gods themselves gives Dark Brotherhood Assassins a cosmic power that sets them apart from other character types.

Battlemage

A Deadly Synergy

Notable Battlemages: Jagar Tharn, Zurin Arctus

Battlemages are the go-to experts in Tamriel when things go wrong. They combine military training with powerful magic, making them ideal for handling crises. During Tiber Septim’s rise to power, Battlemage inventions – most notably the Numidium, a magically-powered war machine – were crucial to his success and are a key part of the events in *Daggerfall*.

Battlemages play a crucial role in the world’s politics, even sparking wars over who gets to train them. They’re incredibly versatile fighters, able to protect themselves with magical barriers while attacking with both enchanted weapons and powerful spells. As seen with characters like Jagar Tharn, who successfully posed as an emperor for a decade, even one skilled Battlemage can destabilize an entire empire. This combination of skills makes them one of the most dangerous and effective fighters in the game.

Warrior

Giving Their Enemies The Cold Steel

Notable Warriors: Ysgramor, Tiber Septim, Redguard Sword-Singers

Let me tell you, you can’t beat a good, solid warrior build, even in a world as crazy as Tamriel. Seriously, with immortal lizards walking around and demons hanging out in pubs, these guys are *still* the ones keeping everything from falling apart! The Companions, the Fighters Guild, all the mercenary groups… they’ve been holding things together for ages. It just goes to show, pure grit and a good warhammer can overcome anything fate throws at you. It’s a reminder that you can forge your own path, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Tamriel’s most skilled fighters often win not through magic, but through sheer determination. Despite a world filled with magic and mystery, sometimes the strongest tools are simply willpower and strength, as shown by Ysgramor, who led his followers in a brutal campaign that almost wiped out the Snow Elves.

Monk

The Fruits Of Self-Discipline

Notable Monks: The Psijic Order, The Order of the Ancestor Moth

Monks gain power by mastering themselves, focusing on spiritual growth and unlocking hidden abilities of the body and mind. For instance, members of the Order of the Ancestor Moth study the Elder Scrolls, enduring incredibly intense knowledge that would overwhelm most people – a process that ultimately leaves them blind.

The Psijic Order is another group that showcases what Monks are capable of. While skilled in magic, their core belief, the “Old Way,” focuses on meditation and finding balance. This inner training allows them to achieve mystical feats like teleportation, proving that focused discipline can yield power comparable to traditional magic schools.

Monks safeguard ancient and hidden knowledge, and many of Tamriel’s most important discoveries about the nature of reality are kept within their libraries and remote monasteries. Since knowledge is power, monks essentially control all the power.

Thief

Never Underestimate Subterfuge

Notable Thieves: The Gray Fox, Brynjolf, Vex, Delvin Mallory

The Thieves Guild thrives because in a world driven by power, taking what you want is often the only way to get ahead. Tamriel’s skilled thieves aren’t just pickpockets; they can disrupt entire economies. The legendary Gray Fox is celebrated throughout Cyrodiil, and Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of Shadows, actively protects those who operate in the shadows, ensuring they remain elusive and beyond reach.

In *The Elder Scrolls* games, thieves are remarkably good at being in the right place at the right time, whether they’re sneaking into heavily guarded places like the White-Gold Tower, stealing dangerous artifacts, or secretly overthrowing rulers. The character known as the Gray Fox perfectly shows how a skilled thief, with the help of a powerful item, can change their destiny and even rewrite the past.

2025-10-11 02:17