The BFG - ESO One Bar Arcanist Build
Watch the full breakdown of the ESO One Bar Arcanist BFG Build in guide on YouTube: ▶ View the BFG Video Guide. This build is now up to date for Update 50!
The BFG – The Undisputed Champion of ESO One Bar Arcanist Builds
Looking for the easiest, most effective DPS build in The Elder Scrolls Online? Meet the BFG—the #1 one-bar Arcanist build that lets you dominate all content without stress or complicated rotations.
Now updated for ESO Update 48, this new version of the BFG removes outdated Nightblade support and rebuilds the Banner skill to reflect class script changes — specifically the update that prevents Crux generation from both Scholarship and the Banner at the same time. Instead, it now taps into the powerful Warden Animal Companion skill line to maintain sustain and deliver beastly damage.
By using Bull Netch for free stamina and magicka recovery and pairing it with the Bear Ultimate, this Arcanist build now offers huge, mobile, and consistent damage — leaping from target to target with ease.
Whether you’re running veteran dungeons, solo arenas, or trials, the BFG remains an unstoppable force, offering exceptional damage output with low complexity and high payoff.
💀 Why the BFG Is Unmatched (Now Even Stronger!)
- One-bar Arcanist build — no bar swapping required
- Simple rotation — build Crux, trigger the beam, let the bear go wild
- Crux synergy without Banner/Scholarship stacking — now rebuilt to follow U48 rules
- Unstoppable damage — self-penetration and crit bonuses, with added pet pressure
- High sustain — Bull Netch keeps you going without reliance on nerfed class mechanics
- Consistent pressure — the Bear Ultimate moves fight to fight, boss to boss
The rotation is streamlined: maintain Bull Netch, let the bear loose, use Cephaliarch’s Flail to build Crux, and spam your beam. No Nightblade, no bar swaps, no problem.
🔥 Perfect For:
- New and returning ESO players looking for a top-tier yet beginner-friendly build
- Players wanting to dominate content with one bar and one pet
- Anyone tired of outdated hybrid setups post-Update 48
- Solo PvE, veteran dungeons, arenas, and more
The new BFG proves that adaptability is power. No need to rely on nerfed bonuses or gimmicks. This setup is lean, deadly, and built to thrive in the current patch.
Whether you’re pushing DPS in veteran groups or casually farming gear, this is a build you can trust from early content to endgame.
Learn more below about the BFG One-Bar Arcanist Build and experience why it’s still the easiest and most powerful Arcanist setup in The Elder Scrolls Online.
The BFG Build Skills
The BFG is a simple One Bar Arcanist build, now rebuilt for Update 48. It uses powerful Arcanist abilities alongside key Warden support skills for excellent sustain and consistent high damage.
One Bar Build
| Slot | Icon | Skill | Skill Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Inspired Scholarship | Arcanist (Herald of the Tome) |
| 2 |  | Pragmatic Fatecarver | Arcanist (Herald of the Tome) |
| 3 |  | Bull Netch | Warden (Animal Companions) |
| 4 |  | Cephaliarch’s Flail | Arcanist (Herald of the Tome) |
| 5 |  | Shock Banner (Banner Bearer) | Alliance War (Support) |
| Ultimate |  | Wild Guardian | Warden (Animal Companions) |
NOTE: We are also taking advantage of the Aedric Spear skill line for the Templar Class! However, since we are using no active skills it's not on the chart.
BUT this is what you need to do. Unlock and buy ALL passive skills, specifically Balanced Warrior and Burning Light! Those two will enhance your damage a huge amount by providing extra free damage for doing damage, applying a constant weapon and spell damage bonus, and as an extra perk, you also have extra resistances.
Passives are key! Get them!
💥 The BFG – Rotation Overview
This is the easiest and most powerful Arcanist rotation you’ll ever play — no advanced timing or bar swaps required!
- ✅ Inspired Scholarship should be maintained at all times. It has a long duration (30s), so refreshing it is simple.
- ✅ Keep Shock Banner (Banner Bearer) active during combat to boost all direct damage and gain bonus damage while under speed buffs. ⚠️ It drains resources over time, so be sure to toggle it OFF between fights.
- ✅ Use Bull Netch when needed to restore resources or cleanse a negative effect.
- ✅ Fire your Wild Guardian ultimate as soon as it’s ready for massive, target-tracking damage!
⚔ Building Crux:
- Any damage will build a Crux if you have fewer than three.
- Cephaliarch’s Flail is your main generator — each cast gives 1 Crux.
- Shock Banner (Banner Bearer) generates increased weapon and spell damage and boosts direct damage overall.
✅ Your goal is to reach 3x Crux quickly — and you’ll do that by using Flail twice.
🚀 Rotation Loop:
- Cast Cephaliarch’s Flail (tentacle).
- Cast it again.
- Now you have 3x Crux — unload with Pragmatic Fatecarver!
💡 Repeat this cycle endlessly:
Flail → Flail → Fatecarver → Flail → Flail → Fatecarver
Add a light attack between each ability cast for optimal performance:
Flail → LA → Flail → LA → Fatecarver → repeat
💡 Keep it Simple:
There’s no need to worry about frame-perfect timing — just make sure you activate your next skill before the beam (Fatecarver) ends. ESO’s global cooldown handles the rest.
⚠️ Only break this routine if:
- Your Bear Ultimate (Wild Guardian) is ready — fire it immediately!
- Inspired Scholarship is about to expire — refresh it right away.
- You need a cleanse or resource boost — cast Bull Netch.
This is hands-down the easiest and most effective one-bar Arcanist rotation in ESO right now. 🔥
Get in, melt faces, repeat. 💪
🔁 TL;DR:
- ➡️ Keep Inspired Scholarship up
- ➡️ Keep Shock Banner (Banner Bearer) active as much as possible (toggle off between fights)
- ➡️ Use Bull Netch as needed
- ➡️ Build 3x Crux with Flail twice
- ➡️ Spam Fatecarver at 3x Crux
- ➡️ Use your Bear Ultimate (Wild Guardian) when ready
🏆 Champion Points – BFG, One Bar Arcanist Setup
Champion Points in The Elder Scrolls Online are a key part of the BFG Build setup. These choices focus on raw survival, sustain, and consistent damage output — everything you need for solo arenas, overland content, and Infinite Archive runs.
Once you hit level 50, Champion Points (CP) keep your character growing in three main constellations. This build focuses on Warfare (Blue), Fitness (Red), and minimal investment in Craft (Green) for passive travel speed, crafting bonuses, and other quality-of-life perks.
- Reaving Blows
- Wrathful Strikes
- Biting Aura
- Master At Arms
Steed’s Blessing
The green tree is mostly passive — invest here as you gain points for travel speed, crafting bonuses, and quality-of-life perks.
- Boundless Vitality
- Fortified
- Bloody Renewal
- Siphoning Spells
Note: In Infinite Archive, you can swap Biting Aura for Occult Overload if you manage to get the Focused Efforts vision for extra synergy.
Learn how to optimize your ESO Champion Points with the full breakdown here: ▶ Watch the Champion Points Video Guide
Potions, Poisons, & Food
🧪 Potion Ingredients (Tri-Pots)
🍜 Food (Max Health + Max Stamina)
Use the highest-level food you can access that provides only Max Health and Max Stamina. All of the following foods grant the same bonus — choose whichever is easiest to obtain.
- Sticky Pork and Radish Noodles
Ingredients: White Meat, Radish, Flour - Garlic Cod with Potato Crust
Ingredients: Fish, Potato, Garlic - Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables
Ingredients: Small Game, Greens, Seasoning
Attributes, Race, and Mundus Stone
Below is a chart showing the full gear setup, including optimal weight, enchantments, and trait choices for maximum effectiveness.
✔️ We are using the Thief Mundus Stone.
✔️ All 64 Attribute Points are placed into Stamina.
✔️ The chosen race is Orc, due to its high max health, stamina, extra damage, built-in healing from damage done, and bonus movement speed. These bonuses synergize perfectly with the BFG's playstyle.
However, other races are also viable. Redguard is a strong substitute, but honestly, you can use almost any race you prefer. There's no hard rule — the difference in performance is minimal, and most players won’t notice the gap at all.
Race is a personal choice. If you want the specific benefits listed above, go with Orc. Otherwise, pick what suits your style best. It’s YOUR game!
The BFG One Bar Arcanist – Gear Setup
| Slot | Gear Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Deadly Strike | Medium | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Shoulders | Nerien'eth | Medium | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Chest | Tide-born Wildstalker | Medium | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Waist | Tide-born Wildstalker | Light | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Hands | Tide-born Wildstalker | Medium | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Legs | Tide-born Wildstalker | Medium | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Feet | Tide-born Wildstalker | Medium | Divines | Max Stamina |
| Ring 1 | Oakensoul Ring | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Weapon/Spell Dmg |
| Ring 2 | Deadly Strike | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Weapon/Spell Dmg |
| Necklace | Deadly Strike | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Weapon/Spell Dmg |
| Weapon 1 | Deadly Strike | Lightning Staff | Precise | Berserker |
✨ Highlights
- Deadly Strike – Increases channel damage by 15%, making your beam attacks significantly more powerful.
- Tide-Born Wildstalker – Boosts direct damage by 12%, including crucial synergy with both your flail and beam attacks, stacks for maximum output.
- Nerien'eth – Powerful monster shoulder piece providing flat extra weapon damage to maximize your DPS.
- Oakensoul Ring – Essential for the ultimate one bar build, packed with major buffs that simplify gameplay and maximize damage output.
