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.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Vvardenfell | Champion Points basics | Sorcerer | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Summerset | weaving light and heavy attacks mastery | Sorcerer | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Western Skyrim | set bonuses + gear | Templar or Sorcerer | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Elsweyr | Build optimization | Templar | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Cyrodiil | Min-max | Templar or Warden | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Vvardenfell)
The Morrowind chapter zone around Vivec City, a great place to start with strong quests and the Halls of Fabrication trial.
Level/Difficulty: Any Key Rewards: Warden class intro, Morrowind storyline, trial gear
What to Do in Vvardenfell
- Learn Champion Points. Past level 50 you earn Champion Points that fill three constellation trees for combat, crafting, and survival. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Sorcerer as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Learn light-attack weaving in a target dummy session before you worry about gear, it is your biggest damage source.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Dual Wield Daggers or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Champion Points fundamentals
- Sorcerer selected and functional
- Vvardenfell main content cleared
- Ready for Summerset
Phase 2: Early Game (Summerset)
The high elf homeland with jewelry crafting, the Cloudrest trial, and a memorable Psijic Order questline.
Level/Difficulty: Any Key Rewards: Jewelry crafting unlock, Psijic skill line, Cloudrest sets
What to Do in Summerset
- Work on weaving light and heavy attacks. Inserting a light attack between every ability, then cancelling its recovery into the next cast, raises your damage substantially. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Dual Wield Daggers if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Run normal versions of dungeons first to learn mechanics, then step up to veteran for better gear.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Western Skyrim.
- Consider whether Templar might suit your playstyle better than Sorcerer.
Phase 2 Checklist
- weaving light and heavy attacks integrated into gameplay
- Dual Wield Daggers acquired
- Summerset fully cleared
- Ready for Western Skyrim
Phase 3: Mid Game (Western Skyrim)
The Greymoor zone of vampires and harrowstorms, home to the Kyne's Aegis trial.
Level/Difficulty: Any Key Rewards: Antiquities leads, Kyne's Aegis gear, vampire skill line
What to Do in Western Skyrim
- Master set bonuses. Gear comes in sets that grant escalating bonuses at two, three, four, and five pieces. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Two-Handed Greatsword. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Pick a Mundus Stone that matches your build, The Thief for crit damage or The Atronach for sustain.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Mundus Stones for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- set bonuses mastered
- Two-Handed Greatsword acquired or in progress
- Western Skyrim fully cleared
- Ready for Elsweyr
Phase 4: Late Game (Elsweyr)
The Khajiit homeland overrun by dragons, with world-boss dragon hunts and the Sunspire trial.
Level/Difficulty: Any Key Rewards: Necromancer class intro, dragon fights, Sunspire sets
What to Do in Elsweyr
- Finalize your build. You should be running Templar or Sorcerer with optimized gear.
- Two-Handed Greatsword should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Do daily crafting writs across characters for a steady gold and material income.
- veteran trials optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Cyrodiil.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Two-Handed Greatsword upgraded to max
- Elsweyr fully cleared
- Ready for Cyrodiil
Phase 5: Endgame (Cyrodiil)
The massive three-faction PvP zone with keep sieges, scrolls, and open-world battles.
Level/Difficulty: Any Key Rewards: PvP gear, Alliance rank rewards, Emperor buffs
What to Do in Cyrodiil
- Cyrodiil tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Slot only the Champion stars you can actually use, the slottable ones carry the real power.
- The endgame loop: run Cyrodiil, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Warden for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where veteran trials mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Cyrodiil fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- 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.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
- Do daily crafting writs across characters for a steady gold and material income.
- Slot only the Champion stars you can actually use, the slottable ones carry the real power.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
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 Beginner's Guide
- The Elder Scrolls Online Tips & Tricks
- 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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