The Elder Scrolls Online lets you wander all of Tamriel with thousands of other players, from Morrowind's ashlands to the cliffs of Summerset. Combat rewards skill expression through weaving and resource management rather than gear score alone. You can level by questing, crafting, or grinding group content, and the whole map scales to you.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough. If you're just starting, check our beginner's guide first.
Essential Tips
1. Learn light-attack weaving in a target dummy session before you worry about gear, it is your biggest damage source
Learn light-attack weaving in a target dummy session before you worry about gear, it is your biggest damage source.
2. Run normal versions of dungeons first to learn mechanics, then step up to veteran for better gear
Run normal versions of dungeons first to learn mechanics, then step up to veteran for better gear.
3. Pick a Mundus Stone that matches your build, The Thief for crit damage or The Atronach for sustain
Pick a Mundus Stone that matches your build, The Thief for crit damage or The Atronach for sustain.
4. Do daily crafting writs across characters for a steady gold and material income
Do daily crafting writs across characters for a steady gold and material income.
5. Slot only the Champion stars you can actually use, the slottable ones carry the real power
Slot only the Champion stars you can actually use, the slottable ones carry the real power.
6. Buy a cheap pre-made set from guild traders to start, then chase trial sets later
Buy a cheap pre-made set from guild traders to start, then chase trial sets later.
7. Keep a backbar weapon for damage-over-time abilities and swap to maximize uptime
Keep a backbar weapon for damage-over-time abilities and swap to maximize uptime.
8. Use the Undaunted pledges daily for monster shoulder keys and dungeon gear
Use the Undaunted pledges daily for monster shoulder keys and dungeon gear.
9. Grind a public dungeon group spot for fast leveling when you want quick Champion Points
Grind a public dungeon group spot for fast leveling when you want quick Champion Points.
10. Stack your buffs and debuffs before your burst window so the big hits land into weakened targets
Stack your buffs and debuffs before your burst window so the big hits land into weakened targets.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive. See our builds guide for full breakdowns.
For Templar (A-Tier):
- Focus on Champion Points synergies for maximum output.
- Core gear: Two-Handed Greatsword
- Stat priority: Offensive stats first
For Sorcerer (A-Tier):
- Versatile approach that handles any situation.
- Core gear: Dual Wield Daggers
- Stat priority: Balanced stats
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how The Elder Scrolls Online's systems interact is where the real optimization lives. Our combat guide covers this in detail.
Champion Points + weaving light and heavy attacks: Past level 50 you earn Champion Points that fill three constellation trees for combat, crafting, and survival. Combined with weaving light and heavy attacks, inserting a light attack between every ability, then cancelling its recovery into the next cast, raises your damage substantially.
set bonuses + Mundus Stones: Gear comes in sets that grant escalating bonuses at two, three, four, and five pieces. When paired with Mundus Stones, standing at a mundus stone grants a permanent passive like extra weapon damage or critical chance.
veteran trials scaling: Twelve-player veteran trials are the hardest PvE content, with score timers, hard-mode toggles, and unique gear. They demand coordinated weaving, mechanics handling, and a balanced group composition.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Handed Greatsword | Stamina damage dealers wanting Berserker Strike | A stamina staple with a strong execute and an ultimate that buffs the whole group. |
| Dual Wield Daggers | Nightblades and stamina parsers | The highest damage stamina setup thanks to off-hand crit and fast attacks. |
| Lightning Staff | Magicka damage dealers in group content | The default magicka weapon, its heavy attack hits in an area and restores Magicka. |
| Restoration Staff | Healers in dungeons and trials | The healing weapon with ground heals, shields, and resource support for the group. |
| Bow | Stamina builds layering ranged dots | A ranged stamina backbar for damage-over-time and the Endless Hail area pressure. |
Location Efficiency
Vvardenfell (Any): The Morrowind chapter zone around Vivec City, a great place to start with strong quests and the Halls of Fabrication trial.
Summerset (Any): The high elf homeland with jewelry crafting, the Cloudrest trial, and a memorable Psijic Order questline.
Western Skyrim (Any): The Greymoor zone of vampires and harrowstorms, home to the Kyne's Aegis trial.
Elsweyr (Any): The Khajiit homeland overrun by dragons, with world-boss dragon hunts and the Sunspire trial.
Cyrodiil (Any): The massive three-faction PvP zone with keep sieges, scrolls, and open-world battles.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Choosing a class expecting it to lock your role, when gear and skills define the build far more.
- Skipping animation cancelling, which leaves half your damage unused.
- Wearing a random mix of sets instead of two full five-piece bonuses.
- Ignoring the Mundus Stone, a free permanent stat boost many new players overlook.
- Jumping into veteran trials before learning the mechanics in normal mode.
Pro Quick Tips
- Learn light-attack weaving in a target dummy session before you worry about gear, it is your biggest damage source.
- Run normal versions of dungeons first to learn mechanics, then step up to veteran for better gear.
- Pick a Mundus Stone that matches your build, The Thief for crit damage or The Atronach for sustain.
- Start with Sorcerer, switch to Templar when ready
- Invest in Two-Handed Greatsword above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Vvardenfell → Summerset → Western Skyrim → Elsweyr → Cyrodiil. See our maps guide
- Champion Points + weaving light and heavy attacks together are stronger than either alone
More The Elder Scrolls Online Guides
- The Elder Scrolls Online The Elder Scrolls Online Overview
- The Elder Scrolls Online Best Builds
- The Elder Scrolls Online Tier List
- The Elder Scrolls Online Walkthrough
- The Elder Scrolls Online Beginner's Guide
- The Elder Scrolls Online Weapons Guide
- The Elder Scrolls Online Combat Guide
- The Elder Scrolls Online Boss Guide
- The Elder Scrolls Online Maps & Locations
- The Elder Scrolls Online Crafting Guide
- The Elder Scrolls Online Classes & Characters
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