Champion Points: Beyond Level 50
Once your character hits level 50 in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), the Champion Point (CP) system unlocks, offering a deep layer of horizontal progression. These account-wide points allow you to significantly enhance your character's stats and abilities. Strategic CP allocation is vital for peak performance, whether you're dealing damage (DPS), protecting allies (Tank), or keeping them alive (Healer).
Decoding the CP 2.0 Constellations
The CP 2.0 system features three main constellations, each governing different facets of your character. Understanding their focus is the first step to optimization:
- **Warfare (Green):** Primarily boosts offensive power (damage, critical chance/damage, penetration) and healing effectiveness. Contains crucial slottable stars that define combat roles.
- **Fitness (Red):** Enhances defensive capabilities (health, resistances, damage mitigation, block), sustain (resource recovery, cost reduction), and movement.
- **Craft (Blue):** Improves non-combat aspects like crafting efficiency, harvesting speed, lockpicking, sneaking, and movement speed outside of combat.
While Craft offers quality-of-life improvements, your combat effectiveness hinges on smart investments in Warfare and Fitness.
Optimizing CP for Damage Dealers (DPS)
DPS roles prioritize the Warfare constellation to maximize damage output. Key slottable stars often include options like 'Deadly Aim' (single target damage), 'Wrathful Strikes' (critical damage), 'Master-at-Arms' (direct damage), and 'Thaumaturge' (damage over time). Passive nodes boosting Penetration, Critical Chance, and specific damage types are also essential. Don't completely neglect Fitness; allocate some points for resource sustain and survivability.
**Magicka DPS Example:** A Magicka Sorcerer might slot 'Deadly Aim', 'Master-at-Arms', 'Wrathful Strikes', and 'Thaumaturge' in Warfare. They'd invest heavily in Warfare passives boosting Magicka, Spell Damage, and Penetration. In Fitness, they'd grab passives like 'Rejuvenation' (resource recovery) and potentially 'Boundless Vitality' (Max Health) for survival.
**Stamina DPS Example:** A Stamina Necromancer could use 'Deadly Aim', 'Master-at-Arms', 'Wrathful Strikes', and 'Biting Aura' (AoE damage) in Warfare. Key Warfare passives would boost Stamina, Weapon Damage, and Penetration. Fitness points might go into 'Bloody Renewal' (stamina on kill), 'Sustained by Suffering' (recovery while under negative effects), and relevant mitigation passives.
Optimizing CP for Tanks
Tanks focus heavily on the Fitness constellation for maximum survivability and sustain. Essential slottable stars often include 'Ironclad' (reduced direct damage), 'Hardy' (reduced martial damage), 'Elemental Aegis' (reduced magical damage), and 'Unchained' or 'Juggernaut' for resource management or defense. Passive nodes increasing Health, Armor, Block Mitigation ('Bulwark' in Warfare), and Healing Received ('Quick Recovery' in Fitness) are critical.
**Tank Example:** A Dragonknight Tank might slot 'Ironclad', 'Hardy', 'Elemental Aegis', and 'Unchained' (reduced Stamina cost after CC break). They'd prioritize Fitness passives like 'Bastion' (stronger damage shields), 'Savage Defense' (reduced Block/Bash cost), and 'Quick Recovery'. In Warfare, points in 'Bulwark' (block mitigation) and perhaps 'Duelist's Rebuff' (reduced single-target damage) are beneficial.
Optimizing CP for Healers
Healers need a blend of Warfare for healing power and Fitness for sustain and survivability. Key Warfare slottables include 'Swift Renewal' (increased healing done), 'Soothing Tide' (restore resources when healing low-health allies), and potentially 'From the Brink' (bonus healing on low health). Fitness provides crucial Magicka sustain ('Rejuvenation', 'Siphoning Spells') and defensive layers ('Hardy', 'Elemental Aegis', 'Quick Recovery').
**Healer Example:** A Warden Healer might slot 'Swift Renewal', 'Soothing Tide', 'From the Brink', and 'Rejuvenating Breeze' (AoE heal on heal) in Warfare. Key Warfare passives boost Healing Done and Max Magicka. In Fitness, they'd heavily invest in 'Rejuvenation', 'Siphoning Spells', 'Quick Recovery', and potentially 'Mystic Tenacity' (reduced Magicka ability cost).
Universal CP Strategies
- **Content is King:** Your optimal CP setup may change between solo arenas, dungeons, trials, and PvP. Don't be afraid to respecialize.
- **Synergize with Gear:** Align your CP choices with your equipped item sets. A set boosting critical damage pairs well with the 'Wrathful Strikes' star.
- **Stay Current:** ESO evolves! Patch notes often bring CP changes. Consult updated guides and resources regularly.
- **Don't Forget Passives:** Allocate points across passive nodes within each tree – they provide significant background bonuses even without being slotted.
Explore Further
Dive deeper with these excellent community resources:
- **ESO-Hub:** Features detailed information on CP stars and build calculators.
- **AlcastHQ / Skinny Cheeks Gaming:** Popular sources for meta builds and guides.
- **Deltia's Gaming:** Offers a variety of ESO guides and video content.
- **Official ESO Subreddit (r/elderscrollsonline):** A community hub for discussion, questions, and build sharing.