The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era – How to Choose Your Class

Quick answer

Choose your class by matching it to the role your party still needs, not to the flashiest art. Read the class's resource loop first, then check whether it can function with the gear and upgrades your group actually owns. If two classes look equal, pick the one whose turn-to-turn decisions you enjoy repeating for a full campaign.

Class choice in The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era is not a one-time cosmetic decision. It shapes what you do on every turn, how your party covers its gaps, and how quickly you can pivot when a scenario throws something unexpected at you.

This guide walks through a repeatable process you can use for a first campaign or a fifth. It assumes you have the core game and want a decision you will not regret three sessions in.

Start with the party, not the class list

Before you open the class options, write down what your group already covers. If two players are built around direct damage, a third damage class adds less than a class that controls the board or absorbs pressure. The goal is a party that can handle more than one kind of problem.

Ask each player what they want to do most turns. Someone who enjoys setting up big plays will be unhappy in a class that mostly reacts. Someone who likes reacting will be bored by a class that only pushes forward. Match the loop, then the theme.

• Checkpoint: if every player wants the same role, agree on who flexes before you pick classes.

Read the resource loop before the flavor text

Every class runs on some combination of resources, cooldowns, and positioning. Read how the class generates and spends those resources across a full round, not just on its best turn. A class that looks powerful in isolation can stall if its setup takes longer than the scenario allows.

Pay attention to what the class needs from other players. Some classes want to be adjacent to allies, some want space, and some want enemies clustered. If your group already spreads out, a class that depends on tight formation will underperform no matter how well you play it.

• Common mistake: judging a class by its single strongest ability instead of its average turn.

Match the class to the campaign you are actually playing

Campaign length and scenario mix matter. A class that ramps up over many sessions rewards patience, but it can feel weak in a short run. A class that is strong immediately may plateau later. Neither is wrong, but one will fit your table better.

If you are unsure how long you will play, favor a class with a reliable baseline. You can always add depth through upgrades and gear later. Starting with a class that needs everything to go right is the most common reason players restart campaigns.

• Checkpoint: confirm the campaign length with your group before committing to a slow-start class.

Check what your collection can support

Your available components change which classes feel complete. Upgrades and accessories that keep tokens, cards, and dice organized are not required to play, but they reduce the friction that makes complex classes harder to run. If your table is already crowded, a class with many tracked states will slow the game down.

This is also where small quality-of-life purchases earn their place. The Elder Scrolls: BotSE Deluxe Draw Bags keep enemy tokens tidily tucked away until you need them, which matters more when your class forces frequent token pulls. Fewer loose piles means fewer mistakes during a busy turn.

• Common mistake: choosing a high-tracking class before you have a storage or draw system that keeps components reachable.

Play a test turn before you commit

If your group is willing, run one practice round with the classes you are considering. You do not need a full scenario. Just take a turn, resolve an ability, and see whether the decisions felt natural or fiddly. Ten minutes of testing saves a campaign restart.

During the test, watch for two things: how often you had to look up a rule, and whether you had a meaningful choice each turn. If a class gives you no real decision, it will feel flat over a long campaign even if it is effective.

• Checkpoint: if you looked up the same rule twice in one test turn, flag the class as higher maintenance.

Plan your upgrade path before session one

Know which upgrades you are aiming for and what they change. A class that only clicks after a specific upgrade is a commitment, not a casual pick. If you cannot get that upgrade early, choose a class that performs without it.

Write your first two intended upgrades on your player sheet. This keeps your in-session choices pointed at a goal instead of scattered. It also makes it obvious when a scenario reward does not fit your plan, so you can trade or pass instead of forcing it.

• Common mistake: taking every shiny upgrade instead of the two that complete your class's core loop.

Your class selection checklist

1. Audit party roles: List what each player covers before anyone opens the class list. Identify the missing role, not the most popular one. Checkpoint: every core role is claimed by at least one class.
2. Read the resource loop: Trace how the class generates and spends resources across a full round, including its weakest turn. If the loop stalls without perfect setup, treat it as a higher-risk pick.
3. Match campaign length: Confirm how many sessions you expect and choose a class whose power curve fits that window. Short campaign favors a reliable baseline; long campaign can reward ramp.
4. Check collection support: Make sure your storage and draw setup can handle the class's tracked components without slowing the table. Use draw bags or organizers if the class pulls tokens often.
5. Run a test turn: Take one practice turn with each finalist class and note rule lookups and decision quality. Repeated rule lookups are a warning sign, not a dealbreaker.
6. Lock your upgrade path: Write your first two intended upgrades before session one and point your choices at them. Skip rewards that do not advance your class's core loop.

Components that support class-heavy play

• The Elder Scrolls: BotSE Deluxe Draw Bags: These deluxe draw bags keep enemy tokens tidily tucked away until you need to pull them out, using fine fabrics to ferry the finest freight. Classes that trigger frequent enemy draws run faster when tokens are bagged and ready instead of loose on the table.
• Too Many Bones Gearloc Coasters: Novelty coasters made with the same plastic and the same high-quality stickers, with a matte finish, plus an adorable fun-sized Battle Mat. A small table upgrade that keeps drinks off your class sheets and cards during long sessions.

A good class pick is the one your party needs and you enjoy running turn after turn. Use the checklist, test before you commit, and let the campaign teach you the rest.