If you have ever played an MMO before, you will know just how overwhelming it can be for a new player. Elder Scrolls Online is no different. The first time you boot the game up, you can easily get confused because there is so much to learn. We are here to help you get into the game a bit easier by giving you some beginner tips.
We don’t have thousands of hours in the game, but we have played the game enough to give you the necessary information you will need to start your first character. You might even like the game enough to make another character with a different build.
If you haven’t even bought the game yet and you are reading this article to see if the game might be worth it, then we can tell you the game is totally worth it if you like MMOs. If you are a fan of the movement and combat from Skyrim, then you will really like Elder Scrolls Online. Just make sure you know what you are getting into.
What is the easiest class to play?
Most players who have spent a ton of time in the game say that the Sorcerer is the easiest class to learn and play. Not only can you step back and still deal damage, but they have some of the most powerful skills in the game. Templar is also a great option for new players if you don’t want to play Sorcerer but want a good class.
You don’t have to play either class because there are a bunch of classes in the game that you can choose from. If you are already familiar with how MMOs work, then you might have an idea of how each one works. Yes, it can be frustrating to pick one, but there is a class for you no matter what type of player you are.
Related: Which Class Should I Choose In Elder Scrolls Online?
What are some beginner tips?
If you are going into the game blind, you might be surprised by what you find. Thousands of hours of content can overwhelm you if you aren’t prepared. Make sure to try and follow as many of the tips we give as you can so you don’t quit because it seems like there is just too much to do.
Yes, it is an MMO, and there are unlimited missions and side quests to do, but there are only a limited number of main quests. We just want to warn you that you need to focus on one thing at a time or it might seem like you have put too much on your plate.
Here are some tips for new players to Elder Scrolls Online:
1. Make sure you choose the right Class/Build
Choosing the class at the beginning of the game can be very frustrating. In another article we did about Classes in Elder Scrolls Online, we mentioned that you should make a couple of characters and test out a bunch of classes to determine which class you should use. As we said before, you should either use a Sorcerer or Templar class since they are the easier ones to use.
Not only do you need to choose a class, but there are multiple builds to do within each class. Yes, it is very annoying how many variations there are, but it gives you the option to make the build you like the best. The customization and variety are what gives this game its fun, so try to find the class you like the best.
2. Pay attention to the tutorials
Tutorials are the one thing gamers try to avoid. When a player sees a tutorial, they usually want to get through it as fast as possible, but the best thing you can do in Elder Scrolls Online is to pay attention to them. There is a lot to learn, so it is recommended to even look up videos about certain things after paying attention to the tutorials in-game.
You must follow the tutorials if you are new to the game or even to the Elder Scrolls series. You will be very surprised at how little you know of the game so always keep a lookout for any tutorial messages that pop up. If you miss a tutorial, you could be confused about what to do next. You will thank us later.
3. Wayshrine travel is free
In the world, there are places called Wayshrines. They are the way you can get from place to place extremely easily. It allows you to travel to places that you have been to before completely for free. Many new players think it isn’t free and don’t take advantage of it. It is one of the most helpful aspects of the game.
Remember that to teleport to other Wayshrines worldwide, you must visit them first. You will be able to teleport to the main Wayshrine of each area, but all the other Wayshrines won’t be available to you right away. It is a small thing, but because they are free, it is one less thing to worry about.
4. Find yourself a good Guild
You don’t necessarily have to do this, but it will help you if you do. A Guild is only good if you like to help other players or even get help from other players. If you don’t want to join a Guild, that is totally fine. If you do, you will need to find one with many active players. If you join a Guild with a few people, that is actually good as well.
You might want to join to have someone to do missions with. There are dungeons and bosses to defeat that one person will have a hard time taking down. If you aren’t planning on doing those activities, then you might not even be interested in grouping up with other players. It is cool if you have friends that play as well.
5. Stick to one area at a time
There are many areas in the game, and if you do a few missions in each area, you might get overwhelmed with how much content there is. The best thing you can do is focus on one area at a time. That way, you can complete it one area at a time, and your screen won’t be cluttered with other area’s quests.
If you do venture into other areas, make sure to only have that area’s quests in your log since it can get very cluttered on your screen when you see a thousand quests in front of you. Sticking with one area will help you enjoy the game a lot more since you won’t be stressed about the other things you need to do.
6. Make use of Mounts
Mounts are an extremely useful thing in Elder Scrolls Online. Not only do they make you look cool, but you can get to areas faster than just running. You might not have a mount right away, but getting enough Gold to buy one is a recommendation that we can’t give enough to new players. Plus, some DLCs actually give you a mount.
There is a lot of land to cover, and the mounts just make that journey a little bit faster. We know people with multiple thousands of hours in the game, and we guarantee that they used a mount most of that time to get around. Just get a mount as soon as you can when you start a new character.
7. Focus on the main quest
The main quest of the game is the part of the game that is the part that the developers want all players to enjoy. All the side stuff you do should be done once you beat the main quest, but you don’t have to do only the main quest. Some missions require you to be a bit more powerful, so you have to do some side quests to get that better gear.
All we are saying is that you should try to beat the main quest before you get too far into each area. There are soo many missions in the game already and completing the main quest will take a lot of those missions away. It won’t feel as overwhelming, and you can do the side stuff without worrying about the main quest.
8. You can purchase DLC packs
DLC is surprisingly not what makes the game its money. The shop and all the microtransactions are. But putting that aside, there are a ton of DLC packs that you can buy for the game. They are essentially expansion packs, and each one adds at least a couple hundred hours of content within each. They are definitely worth the money if you want more.
We are saying that you can purchase them if you want to or you can subscribe to ESO Plus which gives you access to all the DLC packs as long as you are subscribed to it. We will go over all the perks for ESO Plus a little bit later in this article.
9. Don’t try to rush the game
Rushing the game can actually make you not like it as much. Some players want to try and get to the max level as quickly as possible, but they don’t have as much fun as a player who just enjoys the main story. Enjoying your time in a game can just make the experience that much better.
The game has a lot to do in it, but that doesn’t mean you have to rush through every single thing. If you enjoy the game, you will want to spend as much time in it as possible. Rushing it will make you not like the game as much, so slow down and have fun with the game.
10. Loot as much as you can
Most of the locations you end up in have a ton of stuff just lying around. We recommend that you try and grab as much as possible. You can sell off the items to a shop to make even more money. You have limited space, but try to find the more expensive items so you can hold fewer items.
It might seem annoying initially, but you will get used to looking around for items. You will then have an easier time getting money since you will have another way of earning it. Just try not to fill it too quickly with items with very little value. It is better to find expensive items if you can hold them.
Is it worth buying ESO Plus?
Eso Plus is a premium option that you have to spend money on, and not only is it a one-time thing, but it is also a subscription service. Yes, a paid game has a subscription service after you purchase the game itself. Many games have something like this, but it is a cool option for the players who want more. Now to answer if the service is worth subscribing to or not.
It is a question that we can’t answer for you since it is your money, so it is totally up to you. We have listed all the perks you get once you subscribe to the service. Everything looks very tempting and probably the best part is that you get access to all the DLC packs. Keep in mind that it does stop you from accessing them once you unsubscribe.
The only way to own the DLCs is to purchase them from the store. Once you unsubscribe, you lose access to all the perks so if you do subscribe, make sure you know all the pros and cons of the service. So we hope you understand how this system works and if you should purchase it or not.
Here are the perks you get by subscribing to ESO Plus every month:
- Full access to all DLC packs
- Unlimited storage for crafting materials
- 1650 crowns per month
- Double Bank space for your account
- 10% increase in Gold and Experience acquisition
- 10% increase in Crafting Inspiration and Trait Research rates
- Double Furnishings & Collectibles space in player housing
- Exclusive ability to dye costumes
- Double currency cap for Transmutation Crystals
- Exclusive access to unique Crown Store deals