This version of the Champion system was in place until Update 29 was released
The Champion System in the Elder Scrolls Online is a system of horizontal character development that complements the more vertical progression of Leveling and Skill development. The Champion System is unlocked when one of your characters reaches Veteran rank at Level 50. From that point on, experience points provide progression in Champion Points. Champion Points are required to wear Level 50 gear and use Level 50 consumables, and are used to unlock new abilities within the realms of the three Guardian Constellations. Additionally, once a particular rank is reached in each constellation, additional passives are unlocked without needing to spend extra points. Once a Champion Point has been earned, it is added to your account total, and can be spent on all of your characters individually; even those who have not yet reached Level 50. There is a maximum of 3,600 points to unlock.
Champion Points are earned in the following order:
The Warrior: A constellation devoted to health and defense.
The Thief: A constellation devoted to stamina and utility.
The Mage: A constellation devoted to magic and offense.
A player with the Champion Points menu open
The XP required for Champion Point gain is based on the following formula:
(((x / (cap ^ 0.995)) + 0.085) * 400000) if x ≤ cap
(((x / (cap ^ 0.995)) + 0.085) * 400000 * 1.5) if x > cap
x is your current number of Champion Points.
The current cap is 810, and you are unable to spend any points that you have earned above this cap. This means you are able to spend 270 points in each of the three constellations.
While you are Enlightened, experience gain is multiplied by four, effectively reducing the required XP for one Champion Point to a quarter of its original value. Once per day, you receive 400,000 XP of Enlightenment; after your Enlightenment is used up, you will return to requiring the standard amount of XP to earn a Champion Point. Enlightenment accumulates in a pool with a cap of 4,800,000 XP after twelve days. Each single experience point earned through normal gameplay expends four of the stored points in the Enlightenment pool; killing an enemy usually worth 76 XP will give you 304 XP, while completing a standard Level 50 quest will reward you with 29940 XP instead of 7485 XP.
Note that only Level 50 characters can be Enlightened, and the Enlightenment pool is shared across all Level 50 characters on your account.
When you spend points in any of the four abilities in a given constellation, you will receive special perks at given thresholds of 10, 30, 75, and 120 points spent. At each perk level, you will still keep all of the lower-level perks. With a total of 270 points that can be spent within each of the 3 sets of constellations, it is now possible to get the 120 point perk in two constellations of the same type, and the 30 point perk in the third, or the 120 point perk in one and the 75 point perks in the other two. The table below lists the best distribution of points to maximize the number or level of perks you receive. (The Champion Level column lists the level at which you can have this distribution in all three disciplines. Subtract 1 level for The Thief or 2 for The Warrior, as these are available slightly earlier based on the order that points are awarded.)
Restores [x] Magicka when you take Flame, Frost, Shock, Magic, Earth, or Oblivion Damage equivalent to 30% of your Maximum Health. This can only occur once every 10 seconds.
Reduces all resource restore effects of enemies you hit with Light or Heavy Attacks by [0-15]% for 3 seconds including potions, item sets and ability passives as well as Health/Magicka/Stamina regeneration. Only relevant in PvP.
At certain Champion levels you will receive one-time rewards or unlocks, which will be delivered via in-game mail or added to your account automatically.
Level
Reward
10
Veteran Dungeons (Note: You start out at Champion level 10 when reaching level 50 on your first character)