ESO Update 51 PTS Week 3: All Class Changes, Buffs & Nerfs Explained

Summary

The combat team at ZeniMax Online Studios has released a detailed update on the upcoming changes for Update 51, addressing community feedback from the first two weeks of PTS testing. Whether you're planning to adapt your existing builds or looking to buy The Elder Scrolls Online Items to gear up for the new meta, this guide breaks down every class change and explains what they mean for your builds.

Developer Philosophy & Context

The combat team acknowledged two major community concerns driving these changes:

PvP Dominance: Dragonknight and Werewolf have been "prevalent and often dominant" in PvP, creating a frustrating experience that has "diminished much of the benefits that class mastery has introduced".

Underperforming Classes: In PvE, some classes have felt "left in the dust," and players are concerned they'll remain underpowered for a considerable amount of time.

Note: The Dragonknight presents a unique balance challenge—it's overpowered in PvP but actually "very underpowered in PvE".

Dragonknight Changes (PvP Focused)

The Dragonknight received the most extensive adjustments, primarily targeting its burst potential in PvP.

Coagulating Blood (Nerf)

Missing resources restored: Reduced from 15% to 12%

Heart of Flame healing: Reduced by 20%

Analysis: "12% of missing resources per tick is still good," but the skill was "very overtuned for PvP," making these adjustments fair.

Landslide (PvE Buff)

Stacks generate slightly quicker

Maximum stacks increased to 12

Decay slowed significantly

Analysis: This was badly needed—"the decay was way too fast; the stacking took way too long." This should improve both PvE and PvP performance.

Earth Spike Mantle (Slight Nerf)

Damage done bonus now only applies to monsters (removed from PvP)

Analysis: A "100 flat damage bonus" represents roughly "a third of what you get from a set like Draugrkin," so this won't cripple the class.

⚠️ Molten Whip / Seething Fury (Major Nerf)

Seething Fury buff halved in PvP: 100% → 50% more damage at max stacks

Power Lash: Deals less outright damage; now offers minor monster damage bonus

Analysis: This is the most controversial change—cutting the whip's damage by half in PvP. Some players expressed concern that "the latest reworked class should not feel bad to play right after its refresh". The community suggested meeting "somewhere in the middle, maybe 75%".

Templar Changes (The Big Winners)

Templars received the most significant damage buffs in this patch.

Balanced Warrior (Rework)

New formula: More complicated but more rewarding

No cap on the bonus

Scales with number of Templar skills slotted AND armor rating

For Templars: Stronger than before

For non-Templars: About the same power

Analysis: This was 500 weapon/spell damage on week 2 of PTS. The new version should be a "very nice bonus" for pure Templars. Some players suggested it "needs to be usable at 500 WD for a 5% overall damage increase".

Judgment's Brand (Buff)

Damage bonus increased: 1,400 → 1,600

Still halved in PvP: 700 → 800 bonus damage

Analysis: This is "fairly significant"—an extra 200 damage on "every tick of every Templar ability." Combined with Balanced Warrior, this should be a "very noticeable DPS increase".

Aetheric Lancer (Quality of Life)

Area effect now generates on you when it activates (if standing still)

No longer spawns randomly

Analysis: "This is a big improvement to how this set works." Players who have "Templar and haven't farmed it yet... might want to get to doing that".

Nightblade Changes (Mixed Reception)

Strife (Rework)

New unique damage bonus: 1% increased damage done for every 10% health while active

At full health: 10% damage bonus

Cost increases: Still being evaluated

Analysis: "I don't know if I love this," one player noted. This change primarily functions as a 10-second buff rather than encouraging Strife as an actual spam ability. For example, "a stamblade could slot this skill, cast it every 10 seconds, and then use surprise attack for the other spamables".

Concern: PvE stamblades are "already insanely good," while magblades are only "pretty decent." This doesn't fundamentally change the spam ability dynamic—"it's just another buff to keep up essentially".

Necromancer Changes

Nothing Wasted (Adjustment)

Stack decay: 3 stacks → 2 stacks

Decay timer: 15 seconds → 12 seconds

Analysis: This is "a buff to how quickly you lose all your stacks," but the timer reduction to 12 seconds is unnecessary. "I think they could just leave the timer at 15 and have two stacks instead of three".

⚠️ Pummeling Goliath (Major Rework)

Bash attack now has 1-second cooldown

Deals 73% more damage per hit (up from 0%)

Double bash weaving removed

Analysis: This is highly controversial. Previously, double bash weaving "did absolutely insane damage" but required a "very high skill ceiling." The new design is "much more accessible" but produces lower total DPS.

Perspective: Some players "found double bash weaving particularly fun," but for most players, it was "a challenge very few could even attempt." Bash weaving "is hard enough" already—adding a double weave just made the ultimate inaccessible to the majority of players.

Frozen Colossus (Buff)

Damage increased: 12.5% more

Ultimate cost reduced: 150 ultimate

Analysis: "Stronger hits and less cost—that's great," though this likely won't revolutionize PvE meta.

Warden Changes (Underwhelming)

Fetcher Infection (Small Buff)

Second cast damage: 60% → 75% more damage

Analysis: This skill is "really weird" and "super awkward." "I'd much rather deal an average of the two and just deal that much every time".

Arctic Blast (Small Buff)

Damage over time increased: 20% per tick

Analysis: If this means "20% more damage with each tick" (ramping), it could be "pretty decent." If it's "only 20% more damage flat," it "won't really do anything" since the DoT already "doesn't deal a ton of damage"

Miscellaneous Changes

Draugrkin Set (PvE Buff, PvP Nerf)

2 and 4-piece bonuses: Now Weapon and Spell Damage (instead of other stat lines)

Healing reduction halved in PvP: 10% → 5%

Analysis: "This could be best-in-slot for certain build types in PvE now." The 258 additional weapon and spell damage is significant, especially for Sorc setups with "a lot of individual ticks".

Ice Comet (Mages Guild Ultimate Buff)

Damage over time increased: 21%

Now snares enemies on ANY damage, not just initial hit

Analysis: This helps close the gap between Ice Comet and Shooting Star. "Shooting Star did seem to be the more popular option for PvE," but Ice Comet might now be "more clearly the way to go for single-target fights".

Summary Table

Developer Communication & Future Outlook

The combat team's proactive communication has been well-received. They're "trying to respond often and early to us about stuff", which is especially appreciated given the "very rough time recently with all the layoffs".

Key Quote: "While we continue to monitor feedback based on these adjustments... we want to focus on quality experiences over calendar dates. These efforts may take us longer than before."

What's Next?

Week 4 PTS: Potentially "one or two more changes"

Week 5 PTS: "Just nothing but bug fixes"

Warden Refresh: Delayed to next year—"it sucks to have to wait," but they're "not just saying 'whatever, we don't care'"—they're "trying to get it in a better spot"

Final Thoughts

Update 51's Week 3 PTS changes represent a careful balancing act. The Templar emerges as the biggest winner with substantial damage buffs. The Dragonknight receives necessary PvP nerfs—particularly the whip halving—which some worry may go too far. The Necromancer's Goliath rework sacrifices top-end potential for accessibility, while the Warden and Nightblade receive underwhelming adjustments that likely won't address their underlying issues. If you're looking to adapt quickly to these shifts, platforms like MMOEXP offer a reliable way to acquire The Elder Scrolls Online Items to fine-tune your builds without the endless farming grind.