There’s three types of Armour in ESO: Light Armor, Medium Armor and Heavy Armor. There’s a skill line for each armor type, which includes five passive skills and an active skill.
To rank up in any Armor skill line you have a couple of options. The best way to rank up is to simply wear the armor type you want to gain ranks in. Mixing and matching is also an excellent choice, especially during the levelling stage. Choose your main armor type which you think you’ll get most out of, but also make sure you use at least one armor piece of the two other armor types to gain ranks in those skill lines as well.
By default, the armor type you choose in Elder Scrolls Online does not matter. The only thing that changes is the armor value. Heavy armor has the highest armor value, followed by Medium armor and Light armor. Why would anyone use the armor types with smaller armor values, you might ask? Because you can invest skill points in armor skills, which will increase the usefulness of the different armor types. For example investing skill points in Light Armor skill line will give you great benefits to Magicka regeneration and Magicka cost of spells. The more Light armor piece you use, the greater the benefit.
Active Skills
- Instant
- Target: self
- 60 Magicka
- Creates 15 point damage shield for 20 seconds.
- Take 50% less damage from spells while shield holds.
Morphed from Annulment
- Shield strength increases by an additional 3% for each piece of Light Armor equipped.
Morphed from Annulment
- Restores Magicka each time player absorbs Spell Damage. This value is increased by 3% for each piece of Light Armor equipped.
Passive Skills
Evocation (0/3)
- Reduces Magicka cost of spells by 1% per piece of Light armor equipped.
Recovery (0/2)
- Increases Magicka regeneration by 2% per piece of Light armor equipped.
Spell Warding (0/2)
- Increases base Spell Resistance by 4% per piece of Light Armor equipped.
Prodigy (0/2)
- Grants 5% chance for Spells to cause Critical Damage while a Light Armor set of 5 or more pieces is equipped.
Concentration (0/2)
- Your spells ignore 3% of enemy Spell Resistance per piece of Light armor equipped.
Active Skills
- Instant
- Target: self
- 56 Stamina
- Gain 15% Dodge chance for 17 seconds.
Morphed from Evasion
- Player gains additional 1% Dodge for each piece of Medium Armor equipped.
Morphed from Evasion
- Removes 1 Snare effect for each piece of Medium Armor equipped.
Passive Skills
Dexterity (0/3)
- Increases Critical strike chance with Physical attacks by 1% per piece of Medium armor equipped.
Wind Walker (0/2)
- Increases Stamina regeneration by 2% per piece of Medium armor equipped.
Improved Sneak (0/2)
- Decreases the area where you can be detected by 3% per piece of Medium armor equipped.
- Decreases the cost of sneaking by 4% per piece of Medium armor equipped.
Agility (0/2)
- Increases Attack Speed by 5% while a Medium Armor set of 5 or more pieces is equipped.
Athletics (0/2)
- Increases Sprint move speed by 2% per piece of Medium armor equipped.
- Decreases the Stamina cost of roll dodge by 2% per piece of Medium armor equipped.
Active Skills
- Instant
- Target: self
- 56 Stamina
- Increases Armor and Spell Resistance by 17 for 8 seconds.
- Grants immunity to knockback and disabling effects for the duration.
Morphed from Immovable
- Increases Power with melee attacks by 1% for each piece of Heavy Armor equipped.
Morphed from Immovable
- Increases duration for each piece of Heavy Armor equipped by 5%.
Passive Skills
Resolve (0/3)
- Increases Physical mitigation by 1% per piece of Heavy armor equipped.
- Increases base Spell Resistance by 1% per piece of Heavy armor equipped.
Constitution (0/2)
- Increases Health regeneration by 2% per piece of Heavy armor equipped.
Juggernaut (0/2)
- Increases Power with melee attacks by 0.5% per piece of Heavy armor equipped
Bracing (0/2)
- Reduces cost of blocking by 10% while a Heavy Armor set of 5 or more pieces is equipped.
Rapid Mending (0/2)
- Increases healing received by 0.5% per piece of Heavy armor equipped.