Templars in The Elder Scrolls universe call forth the power of the light to bless allies, heal the weak, and burn their enemies. In The Elder Scrolls Online, Templars serve as champions that use their faith to vanquish foes.

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Templars have access to Aedric Spear skills to deal magic damage to foes, with Dawn's Wrath granting them the power of holy fire to eliminate unholy threats. Lastly, their Restoring Light skills enable them to empower and heal allies to last with them in battle. With the right build, Templars can be powerful juggernauts or stalwart defenders of the battlefield.

Updated June 27th, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: The Templar class is a unique one to The Elder Scrolls Online, combining the traditional support and tank roles into one player character. It is a great class for most of the content in the game and can easily pick up any role for party play – however, each build has its own particular strengths and weaknesses, and before diving into a build, it's a good idea to get a feel for the class in general. It's not a good idea to try to solo a dungeon when accidentally specced as a Support Templar, after all.

Templar Playstyle Overview

The Templar in The Elder Scrolls Online is a multi-faceted class with a particular focus on taking and healing damage. Templars tend to stay in close combat, using tanking-specific skills from weapon and armor trees to mitigate damage, though they can be played effectively at a range too – these Templars usually play the support role.

All things considered, it's, unfortunately, one of the least mobile classes, so be prepared to spec into heavy armor and focus on timing parries and interrupting enemies in a group.

Templar Skill Trees

There are three skill trees specific to the Templar: Aedric Spear, Dawn's Wrath, and Restoring Light. While Templars, of course, have access to a variety of other abilities that aren't class-specific, these abilities make the Templar more distinct from the Dragonknight. Even if you plan to follow a build exactly, it's good to understand the different focuses of each skill tree – just in case that build needs some personalization down the line.

• Aedric Spear: The Templar's DPS-focused skill tree. These abilities include a variety of AoE attacks like Biting Jabs, stuns and debuffs like Binding Javelin, and the Ultimate Radial Sweep, a powerful AoE attack.
• Dawn's Wrath: A Support and DPS hybrid skill tree for the Templar. It includes direct debuffs like Power of the Light and AoE dps and debuffs like Reflective Light. The Ultimate ability Nova is a powerful AoE ability that comes with a stunning synergy.
• Restoring Light: The Templar's Support-focused skill tree. These abilities include direct, AoE, and passive healing abilities like Breath of Life as well as buffing and debuffing abilities such as Hasy Prayer. The Ultimate ability Rite of Passage is a simple powerful healing skill.

Choosing Weapon Skill Lines

Templars thrive when on the front lines of a battle, able to take blows for their teammates as they command the party from the fray. They have amazing self-sustaining skills, good damaging skills, and plenty of ways to keep themselves alive. When it comes to skills outside of the Templar-specific trees, though, there's a bit more nuance – even in some of these builds. Out of the major weapons in the game, Templars tend to use One-Hand and Shield skills, Two-Handed skills, and Restoration Staff skills the most.

• One-Handed and Shield: A great tanking tree for Templars in The Elder Scrolls Online. The One-Hand and Shield tree has lots of threat-generating skills, like Ransack, as well as powerful self-buffs to fight even more effectively. The Ultimate ability Shield Wall is a go-to ultimate for some Tanking builds.
• Two-Handed: A good go-to DPS tree for Templars. Two-Handed weapons grant a swathe of hard-hitting abilities, including the off-balancing Dizzying Swing and the Ultimate Berserker Strike, which deals huge damage to nearby enemies and buffs the player.
• Restoration Staff: The default healing weapon tree for Templars. The Restoration Staff tree houses a variety of must-slot abilities like Radiating Regeneration and Combat Prayer. The Ultimate ability for this tree, though, is rarely used.

10 Warrior Templar

• Resource: Stamina
• Strengths: Damage output paired with Support skills
• Weaknesses: Reliance on rotation, lots of stamina consumption

The Warrior Templar build takes full advantage of a 2H setup with a simple rotation designed to dish out moderate damage. As a stamina-based build from AlcastHQ, this focuses on keeping Restoring Focus to constantly replenish stamina. The 2H skillset uses Camouflaged Hunter to detect enemies and increase crit.

This boost, coupled with the immobilizing Barbed Trap, and the damage from Power of the Light, Biting Jabs, and Reverse Slice, work great against mobs. Finally, Flawless Dawnbreaker serves as a great finisher. The bow secondary skillset relies on Endless Hail for additional AOE. This build gives significant healing and buffs to allies with Ritual of Retribution, Repentance, and Restoring Vigor, too.

9 Jabsmania Templar

• Resource: Stamina
• Strengths: Close and long-ranged attacks, evasion
• Weaknesses: Relies on Power of the Light ability constantly in rotation

The Jabsmania Templar from AlcastHQ offers a dual-wield and bow-based DPS to dungeon parties. They rely on the ability Power of the Light to debuff enemies. Its skillsets are lifted directly from the Warrior Templar build. As a stamina build, its rotation relies on releasing multiple light attacks and activating the Power of Light.

Likewise, Templars should activate their Deadly Cloak to increase their evasive potential. The ideal rotation would be Endless Hail, a light attack, Ritual of Retribution, followed by a weapon swap. For the second rotation, it should be a light attack, the Barbed Trap, eight Biting Jabs, and then another weapon swap.

8 Werewolf Templar

• Resource: A bit of both Stamina and Magicka
• Strengths: Very high DPS paired with tanky-ness, good AoE damage
• Weaknesses: Build depends entirely on Werewolf Form

Werewolf Templars become one of the most powerful DPS builds for Werewolves. In AlcastHQ's build, they gain extra damage while in Werewolf form. Their main bar lets the Werewolf Templar deal massive damage while Barbed Trap, Power of the Light, Biting Jabs, and Rending Slashes debuffs opponents.

Meanwhile, Repentance gives massive heals, and Werewolf Berserker gives that added attack boost. The second skillset increases buffs to the Werewolf Templar. Ritual of Retribution, Restoring Focus, and Echoing Vigor grants the Templar a damage boost. Meanwhile, Poison Injection and Endless Hail deal moderate damage. The Ult Empowering Sweep gives decent AOE.

7 Beamplar Templar

• Resource: Magicka
• Strengths: Single-target damage, self-sustain
• Weaknesses: Extreme resource usage, relatively low AoE

The Beamplar Templar offers great DPS with its high single-target and AOE damage skills. Moreover, their Magicka shield and sustain grant this Alcast HQ build great survivability. This build relies on Channeled Focus for resource replenishment. Its Fire Staff main bar buffs the Beamplar Templar with Mystic Orb, Blood for Blood, and Purifying Light.

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Afterward, they unleash damage with Blazing Spear, Radiant Oppression, and ult Elemental Rage. The Fire Staff secondary skillset provides the Beamplar Templar with better survivability with Harness Magicka, Channeled Acceleration, and Channeled Focus. Lastly, they can unleash AOE with Unstable Wall of Elements, Solar Barrage, and Crescent Sweep.

6 Solo Magicka Templar

• Resource: Magicka
• Strengths: Great for solo play, self-sustain, defense, and damage good all around
• Weaknesses: Not optimized for party play (though it will likely serve just fine in all but the highest difficulty content)

Solo Magicka Templars are built for solo play thanks to their self-heals that directly affect their damage output. This build from Alcast HQ boasts shields that complement their self-heals plus decent AOE. Its Destruction Staff main bar provides lifesteal and buffs with Consuming Trap, Elemental Drain, and Harness Magicka.

Meanwhile, Reflective Light, Puncturing Sweeps, and the ultimate Elemental Rage deal great AOE. The Destruction Staff secondary skillset buffs the Templar with Channeled Focus and Ritual of Retribution. With this skillset, the Templar can unleash Unstable Wall of Elements, Blazing Spear, Solar Barrage, and ult Crescent Sweep to eliminate mobs.

5 Solo Stamplar

• Resource: Stamina
• Strengths: Great for solo play and party play alike thanks to a variety of healing, buffs, and AoE damage options
• Weaknesses: Single-target damage, lots to memorize in rotation

The Solo Stamplar build from Alcast HQ makes soloing dungeons easy. Restoring Focus bolsters the Templar's stamina and resistance, making this a stamina build. This build allows the Templar to spam Biting Jabs, with Burning Light and Spear Wall serving as great passives. Lastly, Ritual of Retribution and Repentance can provide healing.

The 2H main bar buffs the Templar with Brawler and Echoing Vigor. These buffs help the Templar devastate opponents quickly with Power of the Light, Biting Jabs, Reverse Slice, and ult Flawless Dawnbreaker. Meanwhile, the bow secondary skillset buffs the Stamplar with Ritual of Retribution, Restoring Focus, and Repentance. It also offers Endless Hail and Razor Caltrops for decent AOE, with the Ult Empowering Sweep enough to cull weakened opponents.

4 Blazeplar Templar

• Resource: Magicka
• Strengths: Crowd control, AoE damage, defense
• Weaknesses: Single-target damage, a resource-hungry build

The Blazeplar Templar is a build that enables Templars to take on PvP. Like with other Templar builds, this setup from Alcast HQ relies on Channeled Focus to replenish Magicka reserves. The Shock Staff main bar relies on dishing damage to opponents with Radiant Glory, Purifying Light, Puncturing Sweeps, and Toppling Charge.

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This skill set also allows them to bind enemies with Degeneration and finish them with Crescent Sweep. Meanwhile, the S&B secondary skillset heals allies with Honor The Dead while providing buffs with Living Dark and Ritual of Retribution. Moreover, Reflective Light dishes out decent AOE damage, while ult Spell Wall bolsters defenses.

3 Paladin Templar Tank

• Resource: Magicka
• Strengths: Self-sustain, party Support paired with decent damage overall
• Weaknesses: Not focused on one aspect, focused on party over enemies

The Paladin Templar sets up the Templar as an efficient tank. With their shield and healing abilities, Paladin Templars using Alcast HQ's build can maximize shields with Radiant Ward, mitigate damage with Brands of Imperium, and remove debuffs with Extended Ritual.

The Paladin Templar's S&B build sets up attacks with Radiant Ward followed by Heroic Slash and Pierce Armor. Ritual of Rebirth, Spell Symmetry, and Remembrance can grant heals and buffs. The Destruction Staff skillset uses Extended Ritual, Repentance, Restoring Focus, and ult Aggressive Warhorn to remove debuffs and buff allies. Meanwhile, Elemental Blockade and Inner Rage stops opponents.

2 Reliever Templar Healer

• Resource: Magicka
• Strengths: High healing, great group support
• Weaknesses: Terrible damage output, typically dons Light Armor

The Reliever Templar build from Alcast HQ makes full use of the Templar's Restoring Light skill tree to provide maximum healing. Breath of Life and Extended Ritual removes debuffs and grants powerful heals. For instance, their Restoration Staff skillset relies on Breath of Life, Illustrious Healing, and Radiating Regeneration for heals.

Meanwhile, Combat Prayer empowers allies, with Solar Prison granting debuffs. Purifying Light deals decent damage to foes. The Shock Staff skillset buffs the Templar through Channeled Focus and Aggressive Warhorn while healing with Extended Ritual. Moreover, Elemental Drain debuffs opponents, which leaves them vulnerable to Luminous Shards.

1 Ritualist Templar

• Resource: Stamina and Magicka alike
• Strengths: Tanking and healing in one role, good self-sustain, and party buffs
• Weaknesses: Low damage output, reliance on Elusive Mist for maneuvering

Alcast HQ's Ritualist Templar build enables players to take on dungeons with a full tank/heal setup to take on bosses while supporting their allies as well. This build can help tanks become nigh-invulnerable provided they continuously heal stamina and Magicka with Channeled Focus.

The S&B main bar primarily serves as buff skills, with Breath of Life, Extended Ritual, and Repentance giving heals. Meanwhile, Radiant Magelight reveals hidden opponents, while Elusive Mist allows the Ritualist to escape sticky situations. Its ult Spell Wall bolsters the Templar's defense. The Restoration Staff secondary skillset uses Mutagen and ult Remembrance to provide additional heals. Lastly, Blazing Spear and Radiant Oppression provide much-needed AoE to enemies.

NEXT: Elder Scrolls Online: Best Dragonknight Builds, Ranked (For 2020)