9 Best ESO Monster Sets [and how to get them]

The best ESO monster sets can alongside the Mythic items make or break a build.
That’s why I compiled this list of the best monster sets in ESO and will update it when we see big changes from Zenimax.
Right now this is current with Update 38.

The main reason why people use ESO monster sets is that they give you a big boost in your stats. These include things like health and Magicka or stamina.
You gain these boosts by equipping these sets while playing the game.

I have divided the ESO monster sets into 4 categories, PvE Damage, Tanking, Healing, and PvP. Different sets will be better for one playstyle while others will be on multiple lists. Monster Helmets in ESO can be found in Dungeons on Veteran Mode or be bought with Gold or Alliance Points at the Golden Vendor in Cyrodiil. Golden Vendor is only Available at weekends. The Golden Vendors inventory shifts from one week to the next, and it could be a long while before your desired ESO Monster sets Helmet appears that way.

Are you prepared for the new class: Arcanist?

Monster set Shoulder can be bought with Keys, at the respective Undaunted Quest Giver, make sure to pick the right loot box.
Undaunted Chests do not exist anymore, for those who wonder where the ESO Monster Sets Shoulder went.
Below are the lists, you can read about each of the best monsters sets individually.

ESO Monster Sets for Damage Dealers

• Maw of the Infernal
• Grothdarr
• Iceheart

ESO Monster Sets for Tanking

• Bloodspawn
• Engine Guardian
• Lord Warden

ESO Monster Sets for Healers

• Earthgore
• Sentinel of Rkugamz
• Nightflame

ESO Monster Sets for PvP

• Maw Of The Infernal
• Engine Guardian
• Iceheart

Bloodspawn: Spindleclutch II

The best monster sets in ESO listed alphabetically make Bloodspawn from the Spindleclutch II dungeon the first on our list.
This Monster helmet and shoulders has been a favorite of many a player since the launch of monster helmets in ESO.
Any build relying on ultimate recovery uses this set, and for tanking it’s one of the great ESO monster sets if not the best Monster set.
The shoulder can be bought from Undaunted Pledgemaster Maj al-Ragath, make sure to choose the right coffer.

(1 item) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery
(2 items) When you take damage, you have a 6% chance to generate 13 Ultimate and increase your Physical and Spell Resistance by 3731 for 5 seconds.
This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.

Earthgore: Found in Bloodroot Forge.

Earthgore came with the Horns of the Reach DLC and has been considered the best Monster Set for Healers in ESO since.
The two-piece bonus is a lifesaver, as it will cleanse all negative effects and start healing you or a group member falling below 50% health if you heal them once. The combination of Earthgore and Rapid Regeneration (Restoration staff skill) makes healing a 4 man group the easiest job in ESO.
If used in Raids it will tricker the same way, however, it would be beneficial to put down some areas of effect heals like Healing Springs.

(1 item) Adds 4% Healing Done
(2 items) When you heal yourself or a group member that is under 50% Health, you conjure a pool of blood underneath them, immediately removing all harmful area effects, and healing the lowest Health group member in the area after 2 seconds for 1702 Health every 2 seconds over 8 seconds. This effect can occur once every 20 seconds and scales the higher your Max Magicka or Stamina.

Shoulders can be bought from Urgarlag Chief-bane, at the undaunted enclave. You have to choose the Horns of the reach coffer to get the right shoulder.

Engine Guardian: Darkshade Caverns II

Darkshade Caverns II is part of the base game, you still need to finish the dungeon in Veteran mode to get the helmet, but this is considered to be a very easy dungeon. If you are new to the game, you can probably get some of us seasoned players to help you speedrun it for the helmet and get all three weights in one run if you are lucky.
You get a bit of health recovery, but the main reason you want this monster set is the two-piece bonus that gives you a 25% chance to summon a Dwemer BB-8 that will boost one of your resource recoveries by quite a bit for 6 seconds.

When used in PvP the little Dwemer can also take a few punches from you, as some attacks against you will land on it instead.
(1 item) Adds 129 Health Recovery
(2 items) When you use an ability that costs resources, you have a 25% chance to summon a Dwemer automation to restore 550 Stamina or Magicka or 1955 Health to you every 0.5 seconds for 6 seconds. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.

The shoulder can be bought from Undaunted Pledgemaster Maj al-Ragath, make sure to choose the right coffer.

Grothdarr: Vault of Madness

The helm can be found on a Lich named the Mad Architect, at the end of the beautiful dungeon called Vault of Madness.
The looks of this helmet are so ugly I don’t want to wear it, but the effect is worth the rotting flesh around your nose.
This is one of the best monster sets in ESO for Magicka damage dealers, or it wouldn’t have made the list.
The shoulders can be bought from Glirion the Redbeard’s Sand and Madness Coffer.

(1 item) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
(2 items) When you deal damage to an enemy within 8 meters, you have a 10% chance to create lava pools that swirl around you, dealing 259 Flame damage to all enemies within 8 meters of you every 1 second for 5 seconds. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds and scales of the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage.

Iceheart: Direfrost Keep

Iceheart is one of the great ESO monster sets, especially if you solo a lot of always end up in pick-up groups with a fake healer.
You get a bit more critical chance, but the real party trick is the two-piece bonus giving you a damage shield while dealing damage every second in an area around you.
As Direfrost Keep is part of the base game you get the shoulders from Undaunted Pledgemaster Maj al-Ragath.

(1 item) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(2 items) When you deal Critical Damage, you have a 20% chance to gain a damage shield that absorbs 5000 damage for 6 seconds. While the damage shield holds, you deal 259 Frost damage to all enemies within 5 meters of you every 1 second.
This effect can occur once every 6 seconds and the damage scales off the higher Weapon or Spell Damage.

Lord Warden: Imperial City Prison

As part of the Imperial City DLC we got the dungeon Imperial City Prisen and with that the Lord Warden Monster Helmet.
While this set was not much to look at, at first it got boosted a bit and is now a top-tier Tanking monster set in the Elder Scrolls Online.
When the DLC dropped, this was a difficult dungeon, but now it’s only a medium difficulty and most newbie groups will be able to finish it once they get a hang of the mechanics. For a Tank, the time spends farming this helmet is worth it, as this is probably the second-best monster sets in ESO.

Yes, some sets are required but pro raid groups, but if you pick up random groups as a tank, this set, Earthgore or Bloodspawn is your bread and butter.

(1 item) Adds 1487 Armor
(2 items) When you take damage, you have a 50% chance to summon a shadow orb for 10 seconds which increases the Physical and Spell Resistance of you and your group members within 8 meters by 3180. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.

Maw of the Infernal: The Banished Cells II

Venture into The Banished Cells II, kill all the mobs, and the last one will drop one of the best monster sets in ESO for PvP and damage dealing.
Maw of the Infernal summons a fire-breathing Daedroth that will chase your opponent and damage them. While you could just see this as any other Damage over time ability, it is really annoying to your foes, having to deal with this Deadroth hindering your sight and damaging you.
The Shoulders can be bought at the Undaunted Enclave by talking to Pledgemaster Maj al-Ragath.

(1 item) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
(2 items) When you deal damage with a Light or Heavy Attack, you have a 33% chance to summon a fire-breathing Daedroth for 15 seconds.
The Daedroth’s attacks deal 599 Flame damage every 2 seconds.
The Daedroth can only be summoned once every 15 seconds and its damage scales off the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage.

Nightflame: Elden Hollow II

Earthgore is by far the best healer set when it comes to flat-out helping the healer do his/her/their job.
But Earthgore is not easy to get, and as a new player, you will be able to get this great set.
Let us call this the Best monster sets in ESO for a beginner healer.
Nightflame is better than Earthgore in that it provides its two-piece bonus with a lower cooldown, on the other hand, the heal is not as big.
The Shoulders can be bought at the Undaunted Enclave by talking to Pledgemaster Maj al-Ragath, just like the rest of the base game monster sets.

(1 item) Adds 1096 Maximum Magicka
(2 items) When you heal yourself or an ally, you have a 20% chance to summon a totem for 6 seconds that heals you and your allies within 5 meters for 704 Health every 1 second. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds and scales of the higher Max Magicka or Stamina.

Sentinel of Rkugamz: Darmshade Caverns I

While this set is number nine it is not a bad set, many sets didn’t even make the list and this is only number nine as these descriptions are listed alphabetically.
Sentinel of Rkugamz is a great healer set and makes it into the top three best monster sets in ESO for healers because it’s easy to get, and it helps your group a lot. Dealing out both healing and resources this little Dwemer is a great companion.
Shoulders can be bought at the Undaunted Enclave by talking to Pledgemaster Maj al-Ragath

(1 item) Adds 4% Healing Done
(2 items) When you heal yourself or an ally you summon a Dwemer spider that heals for 1000 Health and restores 125 Magicka and Stamina to you and your allies within 5 meters every 1 second for 8 seconds. This effect can occur once every 15 seconds.

Best Monster Sets in ESO for PvP Explained.

Why do we rank Maw Of The Infernal, Engine Guardian, and Iceheart as the best monster sets in ESO for PvP?
First, you have to look at evergreen material, some monster sets might be the flavor of the month, but they usually get nerfed pretty quickly.
These three sets will help everyone no matter class, race, or build. If you follow a specific build another set might be better for that specific build.
But if you do not know what to wear or where to start, these are the three ESO monster sets for PvP I recommend.
This guide will always reflect the latest update from Zenimax, as soon as we have tested the changes.

Remember to check out the Players Dojo Youtube channel. Do you have the Ancient Grace set?