The Elder Scrolls series isn’t shy about letting players become demigods, but when it comes to in-universe hierarchy, not every class is created equal. Whether it’s summoning legions of undead or going toe-to-toe with daedra, some archetypes have wormed their way into Tamrielic legend through raw power.
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The Elder Scrolls has 17 powerful Daedric Princes, all with their own realms of influence and effects on Tamriel's lore, history, and gameplay.
Pinning down the strongest is a dicey proposition, since not all classes technically appear in every game (Skyrim has not set classes, for instance). However, these are the examples that have the strongest claim to fame, and are based on TES lore, not just player power creep.
Necromancer
Power Through Death
- Notable Necromancers: Mannimarco, Potema Septim
More than any other class, Necromancers haunt Elder Scrolls lore as the ultimate disruptors. In-universe, necromancy is so threatening that entire organizations have tried (and failed) to stamp it out. The practice isn’t just about raising skeletons for cheap labor, although that is a fun perk.
Mannimarco, the King of Worms, went from mortal to godhood on necromancy alone. His most significant feat, and the one that cements the Necromancer's place in the elite tier, was his apotheosis. By using complex magical rituals and powerful artifacts during the Warp in the West, Mannimarco ascended to divinity, becoming the Necromancer's Moon, or the Revenant.
This act transformed him from a mortal mage into a celestial body, a literal god whose influence could be felt by necromancers across the world. This achievement is nearly unparalleled. While others have been granted strength by various gods, Mannimarco seized it for himself, exemplifying the central principle of the Necromancer: supreme power through the domination of life's most fundamental laws.
Mage/Sorcerer
Arcane Mastery
- Notable Mages/Sorcerers: Divayth Fyr, Shalidor, Vanus Galerion, Sotha Sil, Miraak
If the Nords are to be believed, every calamity in history can be traced to a pointy-hatted wizard poking holes in the fabric of the world. The Sorcerer exploits magicka, the fundamental energy that flows from Aetherius. While many remain simple spellcasters, the theoretical ceiling for a mage is virtually limitless, extending to the creation of pocket realities and immortality. In-universe books are brimming with archmages whose capacities rival those of the divine.
Among the most famous examples are Divayth Fyr, a 4,000-year-old Dunmer wizard of House Telvanni, and Shalidor, a legendary Nord archmage from the First Era. The latter is credited with building the city of Winterhold with a whispered spell and creating the Labyrinth to test aspiring mages. Most impressively, he created pocket dimensions, such as Eyevea, as personal sanctuaries and libraries. The arcane arts are the only field where "graduation" might literally mean ascending to the next plane of existence.
Crusader
The Benefits Of Faith
- Notable Crusaders: Pelinal Whitestrake
There’s a special kind of power that comes from fighting for a cause and weaponizing faith itself. The Crusader sources his might from the Aedra or, in some cases, the "good" Daedric Princes, and manifests as light-based magic, miraculous healing, and righteous fury.
The most noteworthy representative of this class is Pelinal Whitestrake, a divine crusader sent by the Eight Divines to aid the rebellion of mankind against the Ayleids. He single-handedly defeated Ayleid sorcerer-kings, slaughtered entire armies, and was known to enter fits of madness where he would kill indiscriminately. Pelinal demonstrates the terrifying upper limit of the Crusader archetype: a mortal vessel filled with the wrathful vengeance of the gods.
Assassin
A Knife In The Dark
- Notable Assassins: Lucien Lachance, Astrid, Eno Hlaalu
Tamriel’s Assassins are far from thugs with knives and a few vials of poison. Quite the opposite. The Morag Tong is interwoven with Dunmer culture to such an extent that assassination is a legally sanctioned form of settling grudges. The Dark Brotherhood, meanwhile, is feared to the point where nobles routinely pay them not to kill anyone. Sithis, the literal god of Nothingness, backs the Brotherhood’s contracts, meaning that the weight of the void rests on every assassination.
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While an Assassin's toolkit seems subtle compared to a Sorcerer's sublime array of weaponry at their fingertips, their patron in Sithis elevates them as a special class. This connection to a being that predates both Aedra and Daedra gives the Dark Brotherhood Assassin a unique cosmic influence that other archetypes lack.
Battlemage
A Deadly Synergy
- Notable Battlemages: Jagar Tharn, Zurin Arctus
Battlemages are Tamriel’s problem-solvers. When a disaster needs both military discipline and fireballs, these men and mer are the first responders. Tiber Septim’s conquest leaned heavily on Battlemage ingenuity, which included the Numidium, a walking god-machine powered by taboo magic (and plays a significant role in Daggerfall).
Battlemages are so intertwined with the series’ geopolitics that wars have been fought over the right to train them. They can shield themselves with alteration magic while cleaving through enemies with an enchanted blade and destruction spells. Figures like Jagar Tharn (who managed to impersonate Uriel Septim VII for ten years) demonstrate that a single, powerful Battlemage can bring an empire to its knees. Their bag of tricks makes them one of the most formidable archetypes in the franchise.
Warrior
Giving Their Enemies The Cold Steel
- Notable Warriors: Ysgramor, Tiber Septim, Redguard Sword-Singers
Never underestimate the classics. Across a continent that includes immortal lizards and where daedra converse with tavern goers, the humble warrior still manages to get the job done. The Companions, the Fighters Guild, and countless mercenary bands have kept Tamriel from dissolving into primordial soup for centuries. Warriors in TES are proof that willpower can trump destiny, especially when there’s a trusty warhammer strapped to your back.
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Even without the benefit of magic, Tamriel’s greatest warriors often succeed out of sheer refusal to lose. In a setting obsessed with the metaphysical, oftentimes the most potent weapon is just an iron will and a bigger axe, as Ysgramor demonstrated when he led his companions on a rampage that resulted in the near-extinction of the Snow Elves.
Monk
The Fruits Of Self-Discipline
- Notable Monks: The Psijic Order, The Order of the Ancestor Moth
The Monk achieves power through the perfection of the self. It’s an intensely spiritual path that’s all about unlocking the latent potential within the body and mind. To give one example, the Order of the Ancestor Moth interprets the Elder Scrolls, withstanding the kind of mind-shattering knowledge that would kill a lesser being in the process, and eventually leaves them blind.
Another group that embodies the Monk's potential is the members of the Psijic Order. Although they’re competent mages, their philosophy of the "Old Way" is a meditative regimen that seeks equilibrium. Their mastery of mysticism makes such things as teleportation possible, demonstrating that the inner training leads to powers that rival the more overt schools of magic.
Monks are custodians of forbidden wisdom, and many of Tamriel’s greatest metaphysical breakthroughs are found in their libraries and secluded monasteries. When knowledge is power, Monks hold the keys to every armory.
Thief
Never Underestimate Subterfuge
- Notable Thieves: The Gray Fox, Brynjolf, Vex, Delvin Mallory
There’s a reason the Thieves Guild never goes out of business. In a society obsessed with power, the only way to stay ahead is to steal, and Tamriel’s best Rogues lift coin purses and upend economies. The Gray Fox is a folk hero whose exploits are discussed in every major city in Cyrodiil; Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of Shadows, has a personal stake in keeping thieves slippery and untouchable.
Thieves in The Elder Scrolls have a knack for being exactly in the right place at the right time, whether it’s infiltrating the White-Gold Tower, pilfering artifacts that no sane person would touch, or toppling despots through subterfuge. The Gray Fox, especially, demonstrates that the Thief, when aided by a helpful artifact and substantial skill, can wield a unique influence that allows them to defy fate and rewrite their own history.
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