Alright, let’s discuss Necromancers in The Elder Scrolls Online. Yes, they can heal. These spooky, bone-wielding folks can also patch you up. Intrigued? You should be. Let’s explore the surprisingly viable realm of Necromancer healers.
Necromancer Healers: Viable in ESO?
Can Necromancers heal in ESO? Yes, they can. Before picturing them stitching wounds with zombie fingers, know it’s more nuanced.
Life Magic: Not Just for Druids
Necromancers aren’t just about raising the dead. They dabble in life magic. It’s the opposite of death magic. This life magic allows them to heal. The catch? Yes, there’s always a catch with necromancy.
Instead of just waving their hands to restore health, Necromancers redirect life energy. They mend wounds using energy from several sources: plants, animals, enemies, or even their own life force. Talk about dedication!
Imagine a Templar healer as a pharmacy, always ready with potions. Now, think of a Necromancer healer as a survivalist, concocting medicine from whatever is available, sometimes even if it’s ethically questionable.
For Elder Scrolls lore buffs, remember Necromantic Healing from The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard? That spell healed undead like vampires. ESO doesn’t have that spell for players, but the principle is similar. They manipulate life energy, primarily to keep the living alive.
Combat Healing: Soul Herb and Tainted Souls
In battle, a Necromancer healer isn’t helpless. They have abilities to keep allies alive. Think abilities named “Soul herb,” “Tain soul,” and area-of-effect heals. Sounds grim for healing, doesn’t it? Still, it gets the job done.
Here’s the unsettling part. When a Necromancer draws energy from a living source, it isn’t painless for that source. The healed person feels great, invigorated, ready for a dragon. The energy source? They might feel drained or ill. Healing comes with a price, borrowing life force with steep interest.
Necromancer Healer Effectiveness: PvP
They can heal, but are they good healers? Historically, Necromancers are surprisingly strong in Player vs Player battles. They often shine in organized PvP groups known as ball groups.
While not top-tier in every single PvP build, a Necromancer healer is still solid and a great choice. They offer unique healing flavor, combining sustain with… necromancy. It’s not always about throughput; sometimes it’s about utility and survivability.
The Restoration Staff: Your Healing Stick
If you’re considering a Support Necromancer, gear is essential. For healing, the Restoration Staff is your best companion. It’s designed for healers, granting bonuses to abilities and sustain. No surprises here: Restoration Staff is king for support Necromancers.
Race to Heal: Best Races for Necromancer Healers
Choosing a race in ESO matters, especially for min-maxing. Does it really influence a Necromancer healer? Let’s break down some choices and get to the truth.
High Elf (Altmer): Arcane Magic
High Elves have a knack for magic. This makes them great for Necromancer healers and Magicka-based damage dealers. They’re born with a spellbook.
Their racial passives are helpful for healers. You gain a larger Magicka pool, meaning more spells. Increased spell and weapon damage isn’t directly healing, but can help offensively. Every six seconds when you use a skill, you recover Magicka and Stamina. Sustain for days! High Elf is like hitting the jackpot for a Magicka-hungry healer.
Breton: The Magicka Sustain Kings
Bretons are often deemed the kings of Magicka sustain in ESO. Their bonuses are ideal for healers and Magicka users. They boast strong sustain and spell resistance. In PvP, spell resistance keeps you alive when pesky mages attack.
For a Necromancer healer who wants to cast all day without running dry, Breton is a solid pick. They are reliable, resilient, and magically gifted. What’s not to love?
Race Flexibility: Play What You Enjoy
Let’s face reality. Race choice matters for maxing out endgame content. But for most players? Race only matters at extreme endgame.
If you like the look of a Dark Elf, Khajiit, or even an Orc Necromancer healer, go for it. Play what you enjoy. Racial bonuses are nice, but player skill, gear, and build optimization matter more in most content seasons. Pick the race you love.
Diving Deeper Into Necromancer Healing Mechanics
Let’s revisit the core mechanics that make a Necromancer healer work. It’s not just waving bones; there’s a method to this madness.
Life Magic: The Essence of Healing
Life magic is key here. Necromancers channel life energy to mend wounds. The fascinating part is the source flexibility. Plants, animals, enemies, and even themselves are potential energy sources for healing spells.
Necromantic Healing: A Nod to Skyrim
The term “Necromantic Healing” echoes back to Skyrim’s Dawnguard DLC. That spell healed undead and shows the core concept: manipulating life force. In ESO, it’s adapted for healing the living while maintaining life energy redirection principles.
Combat Abilities: Healing Under Fire
Necromancers aren’t just passive healers. They have active abilities that boost their healing prowess. Skills like “Soul herb,” “Tain soul,” and AOE heals support allies in battle.
Energy Transfer: The Give and Take
The energy transfer mechanic makes Necromancer healing unique and slightly creepy. The invigorating effect on the healed contrasts starkly with the energy source’s draining impact. It reminds you that Necromancy isn’t standard healing. It has a dark side, even while patching a tank.
General ESO Healing Landscape: Context
Where do Necromancer healers fit into the broader ESO healing scene? Let’s look at the healing ecosystem in Tamriel.
Most Powerful Healer Class? Debatable.
Is Necromancer the most powerful healer class? That’s subjective and depends heavily on context—PvE, PvP, group size, content difficulty, and game patches. Different classes excel in various scenarios. Templars are often praised for raw healing output. Wardens deliver burst healing while aiding groups. Nightblades offer off-healing and sustain. Necromancers provide a unique blend of options.
unique blend of sustain, utility, and necromantic flair.
No single “best” healer class exists. It’s about your playstyle and what you can offer. Necromancers are strong healers but not dominant in every aspect.
Easiest Healer Class? Not Necromancer (Probably Templar)
If you’re new to healing in ESO, Necromancer is challenging. They have unique mechanics to learn. For beginners, Templar is the recommended starter class. Templar has straightforward abilities and effective healing spells. They are the quintessential “heal beam” class, easy to grasp and effective right away.
Best Race for Healers (Generally): Breton and High Elf Still Reign
The best race for healers are Breton and High Elf. Bretons excel in Magicka sustain and spell resistance. High Elves boast raw healing power and Magicka recovery. Argonians are strong contenders for sustain builds, offering resource return on potions and a healing bonus.
Race isn’t everything. If you optimize for a dedicated healer role, especially in tough content, consider Breton, High Elf, and Argonian.
Necromancer Class: More Than Just Healing
Let’s examine Necromancer class in ESO. They aren’t just healers; they excel in multiple roles.
Class Strengths: Surprisingly Versatile
Necromancers have serious strengths. In solo play, the Stamina Necromancer build is powerful. It is one of the BEST Solo Builds in ESO, known for its BROKEN AoE Damage. They can easily defeat groups of enemies in overland content, solo dungeons, and arenas. They also build in HEALS and Damage Reduction, enhancing survivability.
Viable Roles: Tanking, DPS, and Of Course, Healing
Necromancers fit all three classic MMO roles: Tank, DPS, and Healer. We have discussed healing. The ESO Necromancer Tank offers great survivability and damage mitigation. Both Magicka and Stamina Necromancer builds excel in damage output, especially in AoE situations. Check out Best ESO Necromancer Builds in 2025 – Hack the Minotaur for build ideas.
Best Necromancer Skill? Blastbones for the Win
The defining skill of “Necromancer” is Stalking Blastbones. This skill has massive AOE damage. It’s synonymous with Necromancer gameplay and vital to many builds, whether DPS or tanking. If you spot a Necromancer, they likely use Blastbones.
Necromancy in ESO Lore: Illegal but Intriguing
Let’s explore Necromancy lore in ESO. It goes beyond gameplay mechanics; there are intriguing backstories.
Why Necromancy is Illegal: Banned by the Bigwigs
In Tamriel, Necromancy is frowned upon and often illegal. The Psijic Order banned it, considering it dangerous and heretical. Later, the Mages Guild also prohibited necromancy. Both major magical factions in Tamriel oppose necromancy.
Morality of Necromancy: Grey Areas Exist
Is Necromancy evil? Lore-wise, it’s nuanced. Socially unacceptable? Yes. Inherently evil? Not always. It often appears morally grey. Intent and methods shape morality, not just the magic. Raising undead to protect innocents is less evil than using them to conquer.
Reanimating corpses and manipulating souls is generally seen as creepy in Tamrielic societies. Though not universally “evil,” it’s on a tightrope of morality.
God of Necromancy: Mannimarco and the Necromancer’s Moon
A figure linked to necromancy is Mannimarco. His story is complicated. His godhood ties into deep Elder Scrolls lore involving dragon breaks. A part of Mannimarco split during a dragon break, becoming the Necromancer’s Moon. Evidence in Oblivion adds a cosmic oddity to necromancy.
Best Companion for Healing: Isobel Veloise Takes the Crown
Companions assist solo players in ESO. For a healing companion, let’s discuss the top choice.
Isobel Veloise (Breton Templar): The Healing Powerhouse
The best healing companion is Isobel Veloise (Breton Templar). Known for her strong healing abilities, she is quite resilient. Templars have great healing skills, including AOE heal circles. Her Templar skills provide her with excellent survivability, crucial for tougher content.
Isobel brings a bonus perk: Isobel’s Grace. It offers extra loot chances when defeating a World Boss. She’s a well-rounded companion providing reliable healing support.
Other Healing Companion Options: Variety is the Spice of Life
While Isobel shines as the best healer, others may suit your needs:
- Azandar Al-Cybiades (Redguard Arcanist): A strong healer option with potent Arcanist healing abilities.
- Mirri Elendis (Dark Elf Nightblade): Primarily a DPS but can function as a solid healer with her survival ability.
- Sharp-As-Night (Argonian Warden): A good healer with tank capabilities and strong Argonian racial abilities.
- Bastian Hallix (Imperial Dragonknight): He’s a support buffer, focusing on healing for builds.
- Ember (Khajiit Sorcerer): Another great healer option with decent Sorcerer healing skills.
Necromancer Weaknesses: Achilles’ Bones?
No class lacks weaknesses. Necromancers have vulnerabilities:
- Holy Magic and Light: Necromancers are weak against holy magic and light. While not a mechanic in ESO, radiant damage is effective against them.
- Damage Over Time (DoT): Minion-heavy builds struggle against heavy DoT effects.
- Minion Dependence: Reliance on minions can be a liability. If minions fall fast, their utility wanes.
- Vulnerability to Being Overwhelmed: Necromancers can falter against numerous enemies closing fast. Positioning and crowd control are crucial.
General ESO Tidbits: Just for Fun
To wrap up, here are some fun ESO facts for you.
Most Popular Race: High Elves Take the Crown
The most popular race in ESO remains High Elf (Altmer). Since launch, Altmer have been consistently chosen over other races. Their affinity for magic, elegant appearance, or general elven allure may explain their popularity.
are the most populous race in Tamriel, at least in terms of player characters.
Best Starter Class: Sorcerer, Templar, Dragonknight in the Mix
In ESO, the best starter class has no clear answer, but Sorcerer, Templar, and Dragonknight are popular. Sorcerers excel in ranged attacks. Templars serve well as healers. Dragonknights function as both tanks and damage dealers. Each offers a smooth start.
Is ESO Plus Worth It? DLC Access and More
The question remains: Is ESO Plus worth it? Many players say yes. An ESO Plus membership gives you full access to all DLC game packs in the Crown Store. This includes new zones, dungeons, trials, and storylines. Keep in mind, however, ESO Plus does not include current Chapters (like Necrom or High Isle). Chapters need separate purchases. For the extensive DLC collection, ESO Plus provides good value. This is especially true if you wish to explore much of the game. For crafters, the Craft Bag alone justifies the subscription.
So, Necromancer healers in ESO are effective, unique, and a bit different from normal healers. You should try them. You may find you can raise the dead and boost your allies’ health. Just don’t drain them too much, got it?
Further info on healing in other games can be found at Dungeons & Dragons: 20 Best Healing Subclasses – TheGamer.
