With Summerset, The Elder Scrolls Online not only makes significant changes to class balance but also modifies how two-handed weapons are valued in set bonuses. Magicka users receive a significant buff!
Last week, 12 players made a pilgrimage to the Zenimax studios in America to take a closer look at the new ESO chapter “Summerset”.
The developers aimed to gather feedback from fans on various aspects of the expansion to refine it before release. One particularly important change stood out to the playtesters: two-handed weapons are no longer considered a single item, but as two items.
Note that the following information is not final and may change significantly before the final release.
Significant Changes Ahead
Currently, equipping two one-handed weapons provides a set advantage over two-handed weapons. When a player equips two one-handed weapons, they count as two items in an item set.
This leads to set bonuses being easier to achieve with a combination of armor pieces and two one-handed weapons than with a combination of armor pieces and a two-handed weapon.
This may sound confusing, but in the end, the adjustment frees up another item slot that was previously dedicated to the two-handed weapon set.
New Opportunities
The adjustment allows for 5/5/2 combinations, but what exactly does that mean?
In ESO, there are what’s called monster sets. These sets consist of a headpiece and a shoulder piece and provide a set bonus when both are equipped.
If you want to equip this set bonus, you still have 5 body slots, 3 jewelry slots, and the weapon slots available (a total of 10).
To enjoy a complete set, you usually need 5 items of the same set.
This means you can maintain an additional complete set via body armor and use the 3 jewelry slots plus the weapons to access a second complete set at the same time.
This 5/5/2 combination has previously been unavailable to two-handed weapon users, as they could only reach a maximum of a 5/4/2 combination due to their limitation.
More Sets are Nice and All, But What Does It Mean for ESO?
The “set locking” will lead to other weapon and armor combinations having the potential to enter the meta than before.
Previously “weak” set combinations can thus become a valid option in endgame PVE or PVP activities.
Magicka users receive a massive buff from this adjustment and can look forward to “Summerset” being released on June 5.
Of all the changes that have been discussed regarding Summerset, this seemingly small change sparks the most joy among fans. It seems to be something that many players have been longing for.
Are you curious about how “Summerset” plays? We were able to play an hour of Summerset!
