Warden Solo Guide & Build | ESO - Elder Scrolls Online

Table of contents

Skill Setups
Passives
Vampirism
Gear
Champion Points
Race
Mundus
Attributes
Food
Potions
Gameplay
Changelog

Last updated: Update 44 - 20th February 2025

This build is capable of soloing every Veteran dungeon that doesn’t have a specific mechanic that requires multiple people. It’s also capable of soloing most Hard Mode dungeons, and with some adjustments even the more difficult ones.

In this guide I’ll be regularly using the terms Regular and Difficult. Regular refers to content that is intended to be solo-ed (such as Maelstrom Arena or Vateshran Arena) and to any overland content such as World Bosses, Dolmens, Dragons, Volcanic Vents, Harrowstorms, Mirrormoor Incursions, etc. Majority of dungeon fights will also fall under that category. Difficult refers to extremely difficult dungeon fights.

SKILL SETUPS

Front Bar	Back Bar
Slot 1: Wield Soul	Slot 1: Lotus Blossom
Slot 2: Subterranean Assault	Slot 2: Winter's Revenge
Slot 3: Blue Betty	Slot 3: Elemental Susceptibility
Slot 4: Barbed Trap	Slot 4: Elemental Blockade
Slot 5: Bird of Prey	Slot 5: Soul Burst
Ultimate: Wild Guardian	Ultimate: Wild Guardian

SCRIBING

INFO

Wield Soul - a spammable which will restore 600 Stamina and Magicka with each cast which will be crucial for sustaining with a Warden. It's also going to be our source of Major Resolve, which increases armor by 5948 and is a very important defensive buff
Subterranean Assault - a delayed ability that will deal decent damage in an AoE in front of you. The fact that it's a Stamina ability that has to be re-activated every 6 seconds is going to massively help with sustaining our Magicka. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Blue Betty - an ability that grants us Major Brutality and Sorcery, sustain, 5% damage buff and it automatically cleanses debuffs every 5 seconds. You can recast it early if you need to cleanse an important debuff. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Barbed Trap - a DoT that will also apply Hemorrhage status effect at the start and grant you Minor Force buff, increasing your Critical Damage by 10%. It will also trigger the Slayer passive
Bird of Prey - an ability that will passively grant you Minor Berserk, increasing your damage done by 5%. Whenever it's needed, you can also activate it to gain 30% movement speed boost and immunity to slows and immobilizations for 4 seconds. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Wild Guardian - a free ultimate that has to be double-barred that summons a permanent Bear pet, that deals decent damage to your enemies. While the Bear is summoned, you can activate this ability for 75 Ultimate to command the Bear to maul an enemy. Deals 100% more damage to enemies below 25% Health. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Lotus Blossom - an ability that will provide an important Major Savagery/Prophecy buff and some passive healing whenever you Light or Heavy Attack
Winter’s Revenge - a ground DoT that deals massive damage when you count in the Chilled procs, triggered thanks to this skill's increased innate chance to proc status effects
Elemental Susceptibility - an extremely loaded ability that does a multitude of things. It’s completely free to cast so it'll helps you sustain. It applies Major Breach, which reduces enemies’ armor by 5948 which is a massive damage increase. It also applies Burning, Chilled and Concussed status effects at the beginning and then every 7.5 seconds. All of these Status Effects deal decent damage, but Concussed will also apply Minor Vulnerability for 4 seconds, increasing enemies’ damage taken by 5%. Chilled will also apply Minor Maim for 4 seconds, reducing enemies’ damage done by 5% and it will also apply Minor Brittle for 4 seconds if you were on your Ice Staff bar while the Chilled effect procced, which is always going to happen at the beginning when you cast Elemental Susceptibility. Minor Brittle increase Critical Damage taken by 10%. The Chilled proc will also synergise with our Elemental Blockade
Elemental Blockade - this ability will constantly apply your Weapon Damage enchantment. It will also constantly apply Minor Breach to enemies who are Chilled, and they’ll be Chilled thanks to Elemental Susceptibility
Soul Burst - an AoE DoT that will grant your Minor Courage buff, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 215. It will help you sustain Magicka, because it costs Stamina

SITUATIONAL

Front Bar	Back Bar
Slot 1: Wield Soul	Slot 1: Lotus Blossom
Slot 2: Subterranean Assault	Slot 2: Winter's Revenge
Slot 3: Blue Betty	Slot 3: Elemental Susceptibility
Slot 4: Ulfsild's Contingency	Slot 4: Elemental Blockade
Slot 5: Revealing Flare	Slot 5: Resolving Vigor
Ultimate: Wild Guardian	Ultimate: Wild Guardian

SCRIBING

INFO

Wield Soul - a spammable which will restore 600 Stamina and Magicka with each cast which will be crucial for sustaining with a Warden. It's also going to be our source of Major Resolve, which increases armor by 5948 and is a very important defensive buff
Subterranean Assault - a delayed ability that will deal decent damage in an AoE in front of you. The fact that it's a Stamina ability that has to be re-activated every 6 seconds is going to massively help with sustaining our Magicka. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Blue Betty - an ability that grants us Major Brutality and Sorcery, sustain, 5% damage buff and it automatically cleanses debuffs every 5 seconds. You can recast it early if you need to cleanse an important debuff. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Ulfsild's Contingency - a delayed AoE damage that also grants you 8% damage reduction for 8 seconds and Minor Force for 22 seconds, which increases your Critical Damage by 10%. You should recast it every 8 seconds when under pressure and every 22 seconds otherwise. Having it slotted on your frontbar will also trigger the Magicka Controller passive which will slightly improve your damage and sustain
Revealing Flare - this skill will passively grant you Major Protection, reducing your damage taken by 10%. It will also trigger the Magicka Aid passive, which increases Magicka Recovery by 10%
Wild Guardian - a free ultimate that has to be double-barred that summons a permanent Bear pet, that deals decent damage to your enemies. While the Bear is summoned, you can activate this ability for 75 Ultimate to command the Bear to maul an enemy. Deals 100% more damage to enemies below 25% Health. It's also going to trigger the Advanced Species passive, increasing our Critical Damage by 4%
Lotus Blossom - an ability that will provide an important Major Savagery/Prophecy buff and some passive healing whenever you Light or Heavy Attack
Winter’s Revenge - a ground DoT that deals massive damage when you count in the Chilled procs, triggered thanks to this skill's increased innate chance to proc status effects
Elemental Susceptibility - an extremely loaded ability that does a multitude of things. It’s completely free to cast so it'll helps you sustain. It applies Major Breach, which reduces enemies’ armor by 5948 which is a massive damage increase. It also applies Burning, Chilled and Concussed status effects at the beginning and then every 7.5 seconds. All of these Status Effects deal decent damage, but Concussed will also apply Minor Vulnerability for 4 seconds, increasing enemies’ damage taken by 5%. Chilled will also apply Minor Maim for 4 seconds, reducing enemies’ damage done by 5% and it will also apply Minor Brittle for 4 seconds if you were on your Ice Staff bar while the Chilled effect procced, which is always going to happen at the beginning when you cast Elemental Susceptibility. Minor Brittle increase Critical Damage taken by 10%. The Chilled proc will also synergise with our Elemental Blockade
Elemental Blockade - this ability will constantly apply your Weapon Damage enchantment. It will also constantly apply Minor Breach to enemies who are Chilled, and they’ll be Chilled thanks to Elemental Susceptibility
Resolving Vigor - an extremely strong Heal over time that also grants Minor Resolve, which increases armor by 2974

SITUATIONAL

PASSIVES

You should get all passives except for Tri Focus.

VAMPIRISM

Vampirism allows us to use Simmering Frenzy which is a good situational skill for easy fights. We have to stay on Stage 1 in order to be able to sustain.

GEAR

This is the crafted gear setup you can start with.

Gear Slot	Set	Weight/Type	Trait	Enchantment
Head	Law of Julianos	Light	Training /Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	Law of Julianos	Light	Training /Divines	Magicka
Chest	Order's Wrath	Heavy	Training /Reinforced	Magicka
Hands	Order's Wrath	Light	Training /Divines	Magicka
Belt	Order's Wrath	Light	Training /Divines	Magicka
Legs	Order's Wrath	Medium	Training /Divines	Magicka
Boots	Order's Wrath	Light	Training /Divines	Magicka
Necklace	Law of Julianos	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Ring	Law of Julianos	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Ring	Law of Julianos	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Frontbar Main Hand	Assassin's Guile	Mace	Nirnhoned	Absorb Stamina
Frontbar Off Hand	Assassin's Guile	Mace	Charged	Frost
Backbar Main Hand	Assassin's Guile	Ice Staff	Infused	Weapon Damage

ADDITIONAL INFO:

For Ranged build, replace Maces with a Bow of the same set with Sharpened trait and Absorb Stamina enchant
Use Training traits if you're still leveling. If you're already max level and have enough Champion Points you can instead use Divines and Reinforced on the chest piece

This is my suggested setup for regular content, such as Solo Arenas, World Bosses, Dolmens, Dragons, Volcanic Vents, Harrowstorms, Mirrormoor Incursions and majority of the dungeons.

Gear Slot	Set	Weight/Type	Trait	Enchantment
Head	Slimecraw	Light	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	Aerie's Cry	Light	Divines	Magicka
Chest	Ansuul's Torment	Medium	Divines	Magicka
Hands	Aerie's Cry	Light	Divines	Magicka
Belt	Aerie's Cry	Light	Divines	Magicka
Legs	Aerie's Cry	Light	Divines	Magicka
Boots	Aerie's Cry	Light	Divines	Magicka
Necklace	Ansuul's Torment	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Ring	Ansuul's Torment	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Ring	Ring of the Pale Order	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Frontbar Main Hand	Ansuul's Torment	Dagger	Nirnhoned	Absorb Stamina
Frontbar Off Hand	Ansuul's Torment	Dagger	Charged	Frost
Backbar Main Hand	Crushing Wall	Ice Staff	Infused	Weapon Damage

ADDITIONAL INFO:

For Ranged build, replace Daggers with a Bow of the same set with Precise trait and Absorb Stamina enchant
Order’s Wrath is an extremely powerful set despite being crafted so it's a good replacement for Ansuul’s Torment if you don't have access to it
Whorl of the Depths is a decent replacement for Aerie's Cry when you need more AoE damage. If you do use it, you'll have to use switch one of your Daggers to a Mace to make up for lost penetration.
Velothi Ur-Mage’s Amulet can give you much more DPS at the cost of survivability. You can use it instead of Ring of the Pale Order when doing easier content.

This is my suggested setup for soloing extremely difficult fights in dungeons.

Gear Slot	Set	Weight/Type	Trait	Enchantment
Head	Roksa the Warped	Light	Divines /Well-Fitted	Magicka
Shoulders	Roksa the Warped	Light	Divines /Well-Fitted	Magicka
Chest	Armor of the Trainee	Heavy	Reinforced	Magicka
Hands	Vestment of Olorime	Light	Divines /Well-Fitted	Magicka
Belt	Vestment of Olorime	Light	Divines /Well-Fitted	Magicka
Legs	Ansuul's Torment	Medium	Divines /Well-Fitted	Magicka
Boots	Vestment of Olorime	Light	Divines /Well-Fitted	Magicka
Necklace	Ansuul's Torment	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Ring	Ansuul's Torment	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Ring	Ring of the Pale Order	Jewelry	Bloodthirsty	Increase Magical Harm
Frontbar Main Hand	Ansuul's Torment	Dagger	Nirnhoned	Absorb Stamina
Frontbar Off Hand	Ansuul's Torment	Mace	Charged	Frost
Backbar Main Hand	Vestment of Olorime	Ice Staff	Infused	Weapon Damage

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Order’s Wrath is an extremely powerful set despite being crafted so it's a good replacement for Ansuul’s Torment if you don't have access to it
You can change some (or all) of the Magicka enchants to Health ones for extremely hard hitting bosses

CHAMPION POINTS

Warfare

Master-at-Arms (6% Direct Damage)
Deadly Aim (6% Single Target Damage)
Fighting Finesse (8% Critical Damage and Healing)
Wrathful Strikes (205 Weapon and Spell Damage added to damaging skills)

Fitness

Boundless Vitality (1400 Max Health)
Sustained by Suffering (150 Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery when debuffed)
Rejuvenation (90 Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery)
Fortified (1731 armor)

ADDITIONAL INFO:

When soloing extremely difficult dungeons you should replace Wrathful Strikes and Fighting Finesse with 2 of the 4 mitigation CPs (Ironclad, Duelist’s Rebuff, Enduring Resolve, Unassailable)
In fights with lots of adds Siphoning Spells and Bloody Renewal can be stronger than Rejuvenation and Sustained by Suffering

RACE

When it comes to solo PvE, you need both damage and survivability so pretty much all races have useful racials.

The best race for dealing damage is Khajiit. While the Critical Damage from Feline Ambush can sometimes be wasted due to Critical Damage being capped at 125%, it will never happen in solo content, because there will be no tanks or healers providing you with the Major Force buff.

The best race for survivability is Nord. The Rugged racial will provide around 6% damage mitigation.

MUNDUS

You should use The Thief Mundus, which increases your Critical Chance.

For extremely difficult dungeons you should consider switching to The Lady Mundus, which increases your Armor.

ATTRIBUTES

HEALTH

STAMINA

MAGICKA

For most content you should put all 64 points into Magicka. For difficult content you should devote as many attribute points as necessary to Health - for some content you’ll be able to get away with 32 Health 32 Magicka, for the extremely difficult stuff you’ll need 64 Health.

FOOD

You'll have to use the Orzorga's Red Frothgar in order to sustain.

Other decent foods:

Clockwork Citrus Filet - if your sustain is good enough you can use this food instead, which compared to Orzorga's Red Frothgar will lower your Magicka Recovery and Max Health but it will grant you additional Max Magicka which will increase your damage
Orzorga's Smoked Bear Haunch - if a certain fight requires much more blocking and/or dodge rolling you can use this food instead, which compared to Orzorga's Red Frothgar will lower your Magicka Recovery and Max Health but it will grant you additional Stamina Recovery

POTIONS

Most of the time you should use Tri-Stat potions (Restore Health, Restore Stamina, Restore Magicka). They'll greatly improve you sustain. You can craft them by combining Columbine, Bugloss and Mountain's Flower.

Use the Spell Power potions (Increase Spell Power, Spell Critical, Restore Magicka) whenever you remove Lotus Blossom from your skill setup. You can craft them by combining Lady's Smock, Namira's Rot and Corn Flower.

There are better potions but they're extremely expensive. Heroism potions (Heroism, Restore Stamina, Restore Magicka) can provide a 100% uptime on Minor Heroism buff which generates ultimate, but they're extremely expensive because they're crafted by combining Dragon Rheum, Dragon's Blood and Columbine.

In situations where you need more damage mitigation and you can spare some sustain, you can instead use the Armor potions, which will increase your armor by 5280. You can craft them by combining Bugloss, Mountain's Flower and Mudcrab Chitin.