In the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), you have countless quests to choose from. This guide explains how to find the right one to start the first main quest.
The latest addon, Greymoor, is coming for The Elder Scrolls Online, unfortunately a bit later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And if things remain as they are, you will start directly in the new content with a new character.
Similarly to the older titles in the Elder Scrolls series, you start with a tutorial when creating a new hero. However, starting in the current content can feel a bit overwhelming.
Finding the right main story to play ESO from the beginning is not entirely self-explanatory. However, once you know how to do it, it’s quite simple. And that’s exactly what we reveal to you in this guide.
The Main Story of the Base Game
This is how you start ESO from scratch: Depending on your game’s progress, you will start in different areas with your new character. It always throws you into the latest addon. To play the main quest from the beginning, you need to travel to a larger city. The starting points are:
- Vulkhel Guard
- Stormhaven
- Davon’s Watch
There, you will be immediately approached by the main quest.
This is the first main quest: If you move a little away from the wayshrine, you will be followed by a hooded figure. When you speak to them, you can accept a quest, and the main mission begins.
Spoiler! Here you can learn more about the quest progression
The quest is called “Soul Betrayed in Kalthafen” and leads you to a benefactor. Instead of a reward, you receive a headbutt and end up in Kalthafen. This is the first tutorial, which was playable in the beta and at launch. MeinMMO author Jürgen Horn reminisces about this time for you.
At the beginning of the mission, you were robbed of your soul, imprisoned, and have no memories. With the help of a prophet and the Nord Lyris, you fight your way through the dungeon. You must find the prophet and free him. In the process, you learn the movement patterns and combat.
In the end, Lyris sacrifices herself to save the prophet. She switches places with him and remains as a prisoner in the dungeon while you escape and land in a starting area.
New Character, Old Starting Areas
This is how it continues after the tutorial: After completing your mission in Kalthafen, you will proceed differently depending on your alliance. You will end up in the respective starting areas of the alliances:
- Khenarthi’s Roost for the Aldmeri Dominion
- Stonefalls for the Ebonheart Pact
- Stros M’Kai for the Daggerfall Covenant
This is what makes the starting areas special: The locations couldn’t be more different. In Khenarthi’s Roost, you are among many survivors of a shipwreck and meet the Khajiit Razum-dar. He is also the main character in one of the most outstanding quests in ESO. With him, you must uncover some intrigues in this starting area.
In Stonefalls, you can expect a snowy environment. You need to find villagers and evacuate a village. Of course, you cannot avoid combat, and in the end, you must carve your path.
The island of Stros M’Kai is a sandy area. There, you join a pirate gang and help free their members. In return, they offer to escort you across the seas.
And if this has made you eager to start a new character, you can find out in our quiz which race in ESO suits you.
