Beginner's Guide to Elder Scrolls Online

New to ESO? This guide covers character creation, leveling, the skill system, the CP160 gear milestone, and endgame content.

Character Creation & Races

  • 1Choose your Alliance (Daggerfall, Aldmeri, Ebonheart) and Race. Any Race can play any Class, but racial passives matter for min-maxing.
  • 2Best Stamina races: Orc (melee DPS), Dark Elf (versatile), Redguard (sustain). Best Magicka: High Elf, Breton, Khajiit.
  • 3Your class choice is permanent. Try different classes in the tutorial zone before committing to your main character.
  • 4Names must be unique server-wide. Plan a lore-friendly or memorable name before spending time in character creation.
  • 5ESO Plus (subscription) grants access to all DLC, a craft bag for infinite material storage, and 1,650 monthly Crowns.

Leveling & Exploration

  • 1ESO uses level scaling (One Tamriel) -- you can go anywhere at any level. All content scales to your effective level.
  • 2The main quest (Prophet/Harborage questline) awards skill points and should be completed on your first character.
  • 3Zone story quests (diamond markers) and side quests give good XP. Dolmen/Anchor farming is fast but repetitive.
  • 4Join the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, and Undaunted as soon as possible for extra skill lines and passives.
  • 5Skyshards grant skill points (3 shards = 1 point). Collect them while exploring zones for faster progression.

Skills & Ability System

  • 1You have 5 active skill slots and 1 Ultimate per weapon bar. At level 15, you unlock a second weapon bar (bar swap).
  • 2Level skills by having them slotted on your active bar when earning XP. Morph skills when they reach Rank IV.
  • 3Class skills come from 3 class skill lines. Weapon skills unlock by using that weapon type. Guild skills unlock via guild rank.
  • 4Passives are crucial -- always invest skill points into passive abilities in your class, weapon, and armor skill lines.
  • 5Skill points come from leveling, skyshards, zone main quests, group dungeon quests, and the main story.

Gear & the CP160 Milestone

  • 1Gear drops at your level. Do NOT invest in expensive gear before Champion Point 160 (CP160) -- it becomes obsolete quickly.
  • 2CP160 is the gear cap. All endgame gear is crafted or farmed at this level. This is when your build truly begins.
  • 3Armor types: Light (magicka/spell), Medium (stamina/weapon), Heavy (tank/health). Wear 5 of your main type for passives.
  • 4Gear traits matter: Divines (PvE DPS), Infused (large pieces), Impenetrable (PvP), Sturdy (Tank) are most common.
  • 5Set bonuses activate at 2-5 pieces. A typical build uses two 5-piece sets plus a 2-piece monster set (head + shoulders).

Endgame Content

  • 1Veteran Dungeons: Harder versions of dungeons with unique mechanics and monster set drops. Requires solid builds.
  • 2Trials: 12-player raids with complex mechanics. Start with Normal Craglorn trials (Hel Ra, Aetherian Archive, Sanctum).
  • 3PvP: Cyrodiil (large scale), Imperial City (PvPvE), Battlegrounds (4v4v4). Each rewards unique gear and currencies.
  • 4Housing: Decorate homes with furniture from crafting, achievements, and the Crown Store. A major endgame activity.
  • 5Daily activities: Undaunted Pledges, Crafting Writs, Random Dungeon Finder, and Endeavors keep you progressing daily.