ESO Arcanist Skills: Soldier of Apocrypha

The Soldier of Apocrypha is the defensive skill line of the Elder Scrolls Online Arcanist class. Focused on shielding, protection, and crowd control, this line provides powerful tanking tools that scale with Health and Magicka. Abilities interact with Crux, the Arcanist’s unique resource, offering mitigation, sustain, and utility for both solo and group play. Combine these defensive spells with optimized Arcanist builds to dominate as a tank in dungeons, trials, and PvP.

Runic Jolt

Cost: 3510 Magicka
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 22 meters

Deal 1161 Magic Damage, apply Minor Maim for 15s, reducing enemy damage by 5%. Taunts the enemy for 15s if not taunt immune and generates Crux. While slotted, you take 2% less damage per active Crux.

Morphs

Runic Embrace — Same base damage (1161 Magic Damage) and applies Minor Maim. Also heals you for 1706 Health scaling off Max Health, and applies Minor Lifesteal for 15s. Taunts, generates Crux, and grants 2% reduced damage taken per active Crux.

Runic Sunder — Converts to Stamina, deals 1161 Physical Damage, steals 2200 Armor, and applies Minor Maim for 15s. Taunts, generates Crux, and grants 2% reduced damage taken per active Crux.

Runespite Ward

Cost: 4320 Magicka
Cast Time: Instant
Duration: 6s

Summon a shield absorbing 4800 damage for 6s, scaling off Max Health. The first time you take direct damage, the shield retaliates, scaling off your Armor. Consuming Crux heals you for 1600 Health per Crux spent.

Morphs

Impervious Runeward — Absorbs 9916 damage for 1s, then 2203 for 5s if the first shield persists. Retaliates on first hit. Heals 1600 Health per Crux.

Spiteward of the Lucid Mind — Absorbs 4800 damage for 6s. Retaliates on first hit. Consuming Crux heals 1600 Health and refunds 30% cost per Crux spent.

Fatewoven Armor

Cost: 3780 Magicka
Cast Time: Instant
Duration: 20s

Surround yourself in runes, granting Major Resolve for 20s, increasing Armor by 5948. While active, taking damage applies Minor Breach for 6s, reducing enemy Armor by 2974.

Morphs

Cruxweaver Armor — Duration increases to 30s. Grants Crux once every 5s when hit. Still applies Major Resolve and Minor Breach.

Unbreakable Fate — Grants Major Resolve and Minor Breach. Consuming Crux grants 5% Block Mitigation per Crux spent.

Runic Defense

Cost: 3780 Magicka
Cast Time: Instant
Duration: 20s
Radius: 10m

Grants you and nearby allies Minor Resolve for 20s, increasing Armor by 2974. You also gain Minor Protection for 20s, reducing damage by 5%. First time you are damaged below 50% Health, Minor Protection is consumed to heal you for 4800 Health.

Morphs

Runeguard of Freedom — Same buffs. When healed under 50% Health, also grants 3300 Armor and Crowd Control Immunity for 7s.

Runeguard of Still Waters — Same effects, but immobilizes nearby enemies for 3s on cast.

Rune of Eldritch Horror

Cost: 3780 Magicka
Cast Time: Instant
Duration: 4s
Range: 15m

Paralyzes the target in fear after 1s, stunning for 4s. Applies Minor Vulnerability for 10s, increasing damage taken by 5%. Stun lasts 8s on monsters. Cannot be dodged.

Morphs

Rune of Uncanny Adoration — Charms the enemy instead of stunning for 4s. Applies Minor Vulnerability for 10s. Lasts 8s on monsters. Cannot be dodged.

Rune of the Colorless Pool — Same stun. Also applies Minor Vulnerability and Minor Brittle for 20s, increasing damage taken by 5% and Critical Damage taken by 10%.

Gibbering Shield

Cost: 200 Ultimate
Cast Time: Instant
Duration: 10s

Creates a shield absorbing 60% of all damage for 10s, up to 31732 damage, scaling off Max Health. When the shield ends, you lash out, dealing the absorbed damage as Magic Damage to enemies within 5m over 10s.

Morphs

Gibbering Shelter — Absorbs same 60% for 31732 damage. Also shields up to 11 allies within 15m for 4s, absorbing 5462 damage. Shield reapplies every 4s.

Sanctum of the Abyssal Sea — Increases shield strength to 37697 damage for 10s. When it ends, lashes out for absorbed damage as Magic Damage to nearby enemies.

Soldier of Apocrypha Passives

• Aegis of the Unseen — While a Soldier ability is active, increase your Armor by 3271.
• Wellspring of the Abyss — Increase Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery by 81 per Soldier ability slotted.
• Circumvented Fate — Casting an Arcanist ability grants you and allies Minor Evasion for 20s, reducing AoE damage by 10%. Occurs once every 5s.
• Implacable Outcome — When you consume Crux, gain 4 Ultimate. Occurs once every 8s.

The Soldier of Apocrypha transforms the Arcanist into a resilient protector, excelling at tanking and group defense. With shields, taunts, and mitigation scaling from Crux, this skill line is indispensable in high-end dungeons and trials. Learn more about the best builds and gear setups in our dedicated ESO Arcanist Builds section and master the defensive power of Hermaeus Mora’s forbidden knowledge.