Navigating the world of The Elder Scrolls Online can be overwhelming for new and returning players alike. With its sprawling zones, deep lore, and endless builds to explore, it’s easy to get lost in the many systems the game offers. After hundreds of hours roaming Tamriel, here are some core insights that will help you make the most of your journey — whether you're a fresh adventurer or a seasoned veteran looking to optimize your experience.

Choose the Right Alliance and Class

When starting your adventure in The Elder Scrolls Online, your choice of alliance (Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, or Ebonheart Pact) primarily affects your PvP experience in Cyrodiil. However, with recent updates and expansions, many restrictions have loosened, allowing more freedom in grouping and exploring.

Class selection, on the other hand, has long-lasting implications. Each class — Dragonknight, Nightblade, Sorcerer, Templar, Warden, and Necromancer — comes with unique skill trees and combat roles. Before committing, consider how you like to play: do you prefer tanking, healing, or dealing damage? Spend some time testing early skills to see what fits.

Don’t Neglect the Crafting System

One of the most rewarding systems in The Elder Scrolls Online is crafting. Unlike other MMOs that restrict crafting to a minor role, ESO lets you build entire playstyles around it. Blacksmithing, Clothing, Woodworking, Alchemy, Enchanting, and Provisioning all offer powerful benefits.

Prioritize researching traits as early as possible — it’s a long-term investment, but essential if you plan to craft endgame gear. Daily crafting writs also provide excellent gold income and upgrade materials, making them a reliable and steady source of progression.

Join a Player Guild Early

Although the game has its own storyline and activities, joining a player-run guild is a game-changer. In The Elder Scrolls Online, guilds offer access to trading, group activities, and social events. Some specialize in PvE dungeons, others in PvP or crafting.

Look for active guilds that match your time zone and playstyle. Many have Discord servers where veteran players share builds, dungeon tactics, and help newcomers gear up efficiently.

Focus on Skyshards and Skill Points

Skill points are the lifeblood of your build. You earn them through leveling, completing quests, finishing dungeons, and collecting skyshards. Each set of three skyshards grants one skill point — and many are hidden across the world.

Whenever you enter a new zone, take the time to collect skyshards. Use add-ons or in-game maps to track them. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re trying to unlock passives or morph skills for tougher challenges.

Understand the Champion Point System

After level 50, The Elder Scrolls Online introduces the Champion Point (CP) system. CPs are account-wide and let you fine-tune your builds across three constellations: Warfare, Fitness, and Craft.

Don’t waste CPs randomly. Focus on unlocking slottable stars that boost your damage, survivability, and sustain — especially if you're entering Veteran Dungeons or Trials. Over time, as your CP level grows, your flexibility and power will expand dramatically.

Embrace the Variety of Playstyles

Whether you’re into dungeon crawling, story-driven quests, crafting and trading, or large-scale PvP battles, The Elder Scrolls Online has a lane for you. Unlike many MMOs that funnel players into specific roles or content, ESO rewards flexibility.

Experiment with different weapons, armor types, and skill loadouts. Hybrid builds are becoming increasingly viable, and no two characters have to play the same way. The freedom is part of what makes the game endlessly replayable.

The Elder Scrolls Online is a vast and evolving MMO that thrives on exploration and player agency. It rewards those who dig deeper into its systems, but it never punishes casual play. Whether you’re crafting potions in Vivec City, battling Daedra in the Deadlands, or trading rare gear in a bustling guild, there’s always something new to chase.