The Elder Scrolls® Online
Buy GameThe Returning Player’s Guide to The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
The Elder Scrolls® Online
Buy GameThe Elder Scrolls Online is a living universe in more ways than one.
Tamriel is full of interesting characters going about their lives, fantastical beasts going about theirs, and vicious enemies trying to end yours. But the game itself is also alive, improving and evolving with each passing day. So if you haven’t played The Elder Scrolls Online in a while, you might discover that it’s a very different – and even better – experience than the last time you logged in. And with the launch of the latest Chapter, Summerset, now is a perfect time to see for yourself what’s changed.
So What’s Changed?
By far the most fundamental change since launch is called One Tamriel. This update struck down the travel restrictions in The Elder Scrolls Online’s original incarnation, allowing players to travel freely between zones (even those in other Alliances) and explore the vast continent of Tamriel to their hearts’ content. In addition to tearing down walls, One Tamriel encourages exploration by matching enemies in each zone to the player’s current level. The update also added dueling, Ultimate skills for weapons, a revamped Craglorn and a series of fun in-game events centered around holidays.
Those looking to make a permanent home in Tamriel were rewarded with the Homestead update, which introduced dozens of houses available for purchase. Not only can the homes be visited by you and your friends, they can also be decorated with furniture, plant life, trophies and other decorations. (You can even craft your own home décor thanks to an expansion of the Provisioning Skill Line.) A later update also added chests and coffers in which to store inventory items, which can be shared across any owned home.
Character progression also got a few refinements in the form of the Skills Advisor and Level Up Rewards. The former offers guidance on which skills to select when leveling up, in order to help navigate the huge variety of character-building options. Simply pick your preferred class archetype and the Advisor will make suggestions on what to do with your next skill point. Speaking of which, you’ll now get more than just skill points when you level up. Many levels now come with extra goodies, from crafting materials to consumables to collectibles like mounts and costumes. And you can use those costumes in the new Outfit system, which lets you apply different looks to all of your gear – not just dyes – and save the new look as a complete outfit that will carry over no matter what new gear you find. Even dyes will transfer to new gear!
Now, these are all updates to the systems in The Elder Scrolls Online. The years have also brought a ton of new content. DLC like Imperial City, Orsinium and Clockwork City opened new areas to explore and adventure in. The Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood DLC also added new factions and Skill Lines. And Shadows of the Hist, Horns of the Reach and Dragon Bones added new dungeons to challenge your team with.
(By the way, if you’re looking to get up to speed by playing through all of the above, don’t forget about ESO Plus. This optional membership gives you access to all that content, plus any future DLC game packs for as long as your membership is active. ESO Plus also offers a bunch of enhancements that help you get even more out of your time in Tamriel, like unlimited storage for crafting materials, a monthly allotment of crowns to spend in the Crown Store, bonuses to experience and much more.)
But it’s the Chapters that have provided the biggest haul of new content. First came Morrowind, which allows players to explore the iconic island of Vvardenfell. A huge, complex new quest brings adventurers face to face with the legendary Lord Vivec, and an entirely new class – the Warden – offers a whole line of mystical new skills. Morrowind also introduced Battlegrounds, a player-versus-player mode that involves small-scale, arena-like competitions like Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. Starting on June 5, you’ll be able to purchase the Morrowind DLC game pack in the Crown Store. Learn more about this change here.
The Newest of the New
And that brings us to Summerset. The newest Chapter throws open the borders of the titular island, a lush land that is the ancestral home of the High Elves. But the exploration doesn’t stop at Summerset proper; you’ll also have the chance to visit the out-islands in the Summerset archipelago – perhaps most significantly, the mystical island of Artaeum.
Artaeum is home to an ancient guild of magic users known as the Psijic Order, whose powers include the ability to control time itself. As part of the main quest of Summerset, you’ll have the chance to work alongside these legendary mages. And should you choose, you’ll have the chance to become one yourself, gaining access to an entirely new Skill Lines that will give you the power to manipulate time.
Summerset also introduces a new Skill Line: Jewelry Crafting. Now you’ll be able to construct, deconstruct, modify and enhance rings and necklaces, giving you the opportunity to add further buffs to your character – or fill out a crafted set (like Innate Axiom or Law of Julianos) with three additional matching items.
You’ll find such things helpful in completing the new challenges introduced in this Chapter. Not only does Summerset include a main quest and a huge array of side quests, it also offers a new Trial – Cloudrest – and a new group activity called Abyssal Geysers. In a similar fashion to the Dark Anchors found on the mainland, Abyssal Geysers offer a focal point for impromptu teamwork, where nearby adventurers can come together to fight waves of monstrous yaghra.
Now, if you’ve been away from the game so long that you’re concerned these challenges might prove too daunting, don’t worry. Like with Morrowind, Summerset offers an optional training mission to help you shake the dust off that greatsword.
Long story short: There’s never been a better time to return to The Elder Scrolls Online. So what are you waiting for?
