ESO Dragonknight Refresh: Poison Out, Flame In for Update 49

This isn't just a simple buff or nerf patch; it’s a foundational rework. The developers are aiming to give the class an “attrition feel”—meaning DKs should feel like they are constantly ramping up damage and pressure throughout a fight, rewarding sustained engagement rather than burst windows. This aligns perfectly with the class fantasy of a relentless fighter.

The biggest mechanical shift, and one that will impact many builds, is the removal of all Poison Damage sources from the Dragonknight kit. Historically, DKs have relied on a mix of fire and poison, but moving forward, all those skills are being converted universally to Flame Damage. This simplifies gear optimization and leans heavily into the pure volcanic aesthetic the class is known for. No more confusing damage types messing up your rotation—it's all fire, all the time.

Furthermore, the three core skill lines are being restructured. Instead of being pigeonholed into specific roles (like Earthen Heart for tanks), the goal is to make sure each line offers meaningful tools for all three roles: DPS, Tank, and Healer (yes, even Healers). This opens up far more build diversity than the current meta allows, giving players greater flexibility to mix and match abilities without sacrificing group utility.

Crucially, the refresh isn't just about numbers. Every single Dragonknight ability is receiving brand new visual and sound effects, along with updated animations. This is massive for a class that has been in the game since launch; seeing those iconic skills finally look and sound like modern The Elder Scrolls Online content will be a welcome change.

The Dragonknight Class Refresh will make its debut when Update 49 hits the Public Test Server (PTS) on January 12 before going live for all platforms on March 9. If you main a DK, get ready to re-spec and re-learn your rotation—Tamriel’s fiery warriors are getting a much-needed upgrade.