The Elder Scrolls Online lets you play the content from 17 DLCs and chapters and numerous other updates in any order. But those who play everything in a jumble might quickly get confused. However, we will tell you how to play the content of ESO in the correct order.
What is the problem with ESO’s content? The Elder Scrolls Online originally had a typical MMORPG progression, where you were guided through gradually unlocked regions and instances as your level increased. However, in 2016 with the major update One Tamriel, this was changed and you can play any content at any time. Therefore, no one is stopping you from playing the story from northern Elsweyr, even if you haven’t completed the base game or the rest of Elsweyr.
While this is extremely convenient, those who value a coherent story may encounter NPCs who do not tell them the continuation of previously unknown stories or meet characters who are supposed to be dead. This leads to frustration and spoilers.
Therefore, a diligent user named Theyn_Tundris on reddit published an exhaustive flowchart that presents you with the chronologically correct order of all ESO content.
In the following paragraphs, we will present to you the optimal path through the ESO storyline in detail.
The correct path through the ESO base game
Here’s how it starts: All players in the base game of ESO start after their “sacrifice” as Soul Shriven in the prison of Coldharbour. There they are freed by Lyris Titanborn and escape with the help of the Prophet to Tamriel. Depending on your chosen faction, the journey then continues in different locations.
The Path of the Aldmeri Dominion
Here’s how it starts: Those who swear allegiance to the Dominion of the High Elves fall from the sky over the Khajiit island of Kenarthi’s Roost and are rescued by none other than the cool cat Razum-dar. On behalf of the queen’s intelligence chief, the journey then continues to the island of Auridon, which you will finish with the first dungeon, the Banished Cells.
Grahtwood: After Auridon, you continue to Grahtwood to the Wood Elves. There you will also encounter the first version of the dungeon Elden Hollow.
Greenshadow: Next, you explore the area west of Grahtwood called Greenshadow, which is also within the realm of the Wood Elves. There is another dungeon there, the first version of the “City of Ash”.
Malabal Tor: The next region you explore in the service of the Dominion is part of the massive forest of the Bosmer. In Malabal Tor, you will explore the spiritual center of this people and experience the dungeon of Stormhaven.
Reaper’s March: The last content you explore in the base game before the finale at the Dominion is the infamous Reaper’s March. This area lies between Valenwood and northern Elsweyr. As a dungeon, you will encounter an instance called Selene’s Web.
How to Play as a Member of the Daggerfall Covenant
Here’s how it starts: Members of the Covenant begin in two smaller tutorial areas. After escaping from Coldharbour, you fall from the sky over the tropical island of Stros M’Kai. The island is located south of Hammerfell, the homeland of the Redguards. After dealing with some rogues there, the journey continues to Betnikh, an island inhabited by Orcs south of Glenumbra. There you can get to know the Orcs better and solve their problems.
Glenumbra: Next, you finally go to Glenumbra, a region in the realm of the Bretons. There you meet the king of the High Elves and the city of Daggerfall. Additionally, there’s plenty of trouble with Reachmen and werewolves, as well as the first version of a dungeon called “Spindleclutch”.
Stormhaven: The next region is called Stormhaven, and this land is still located in the Breton realm of High Rock. At the end of the Stormhaven story, you enter the first version of a dungeon called “The Sewers of Wayrest”.
Blue Rock: This region is still in High Rock, in the stormy north of the province. At the end, you go down into the creepy first version of the Crypt of Hearts.
Alik’r Desert: Finally, you leave the Breton territory and travel to the Alik’r desert located south of High Rock. There, the proud Redguards rule, whom you have already met on Stros M’Kai. The dungeon Volenfell concludes the storyline here.
Bangkorai: The final region of the Covenant is Bangkorai, a border region between the Breton realm of High Rock and the Redguard province of Hammerfell. Named after the “Bangkorai Pass”, at the end of Bangkorai, you will find the dungeon “Blackheart Haven”.
The Right Path in the Ebonheart Pact
Here’s how it starts: Those who swear allegiance to this grim alliance fall from the sky on the icy island of Coldharbour, which lies in the sea north of Skyrim. Skyrim fans will therefore get something right away. However, peace does not last long, and after the island is attacked, you escape with the survivors to Bal Foyen, which is located in the province of Morrowind among the Dark Elves.
Stonefalls: Immediately west of Bal Foyen, the desolate land of the Dunmer continues, and you enter the volcano-lined landscape of Stonefalls. There you will also encounter the first version of the Fungus Cave, your dungeon.
Deshaan: To the south of Stonefalls, the land of the Dark Elves continues, but here the volcanic landscape slowly gives way to the swamps of Black Marsh. As a dungeon, you will find the first version of the Darkshade Caverns.
Shadowfen: Here you have finally left Morrowind behind and are now in the north of Black Marsh, the swampy and largely inhospitable land of the reptilian Argonians. The dungeon with the imposing name “Arx Corinium” also awaits you here.
Ostmarch: From the swampy lizard land, the next destination is the north, and you enter the mainland of Skyrim in the region of Ostmarch for the first time. There is plenty of trouble here, especially in the dungeon of “Fort Frostmoth”.
Rift: South of Ostmarch lies the region Rift, which also borders Cyrodiil. Here you will also enter the dungeon of “The Blessed Crucible”, where you must compete in a brutal arena.
How It Continues at the End of the Main Game
This is how the main story ends: Once you have completed the quests in each area of your faction, you should also have completed the main storyline to a certain extent. Then it’s off to Coldharbour, where your adventure began in the cells.
After many quests and battles, you can then temporarily defeat Molag Bal and regain your soul. However, the story is far from over! On the one hand, you can now replay the story of the other two factions or continue in the main story.
Here’s how it continues: After the conclusion of the story of the Soul Shriven, there are still a few dungeons to complete. It starts with the Chambers of Madness. After that, there are three more dungeons for each faction.
| Aldmeri Dominion | Daggerfall Covenant | Ebonheart Pact |
| Elden Hollow II | Sewers of Wayrest II | Fungus Cave II |
| City of Ash II | Spindleclutch II | — |
| Banished Cells II | Crypt of Hearts II | Darkshade Caverns II |
So it continues again: After the mentioned dungeons, you can travel to the region of Kargstein, which was originally designed as a high-end area. This region lies between Skyrim, Hammerfell, and Cyrodiil and is hotly contested. You will also find various ruins from ancient times there.
What is with Cyrodiil?
Here’s how to go into PVP: After the finale of the first real setting after the tutorial (i.e., after Auridon, Glenumbra, or Stonefalls), you can, according to the storyline, travel to Cyrodiil and participate in your faction’s fight for the Ruby Throne. Use the Alliance War menu for this.
In Cyrodiil, you can also wreak havoc in the Imperial City with its mix of PvE and PvP. In addition, there are two previously high-end dungeons, the White Gold Tower and the Imperial City Prison.
The order of the DLCs and chapters after the main game
These raids come next: Once you have finished the previous content, you can immediately undertake the three major trials. These are the raids in ESO, and they are called:
- Etheric Archive
- Citadel of Hel Ra
- Sanctum Ophidia
After that, the official story continues in the DLC Orsinium.
Orsinium, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood – Here’s how the story continues
From here on, it proceeds quite straightforwardly. The story from the base game is picked up again in the DLC “Orsinium”. There, you first help the Orcs in the Wrothgar region and learn more about daedric machinations.
Next, with the DLC “Thieves Guild”, you return to the desert. There you become a member of the Thieves Guild. After that, another trial awaits you, the Maw of Lorkhaj.
Then the story from the DLC “Dark Brotherhood”. There you become a member of the dark assassin sect and head to the Gold Coast known from Oblivion.
Before the first chapter, you can then play the two dungeons from the DLC “Shadows of the Hist”. These are the dungeons “Womb of Shadows” and “Ruins of Mazzatun”.
Morrowind – The First Chapter
The first major chapter Morrowind starts either with its own entry (if you are just starting the game here) or with a prologue quest called “The Missing Prophecy”. After that, there follows a lot of content on the island of Vvardenfell, which you can complete with the trial “Hall of Fabrication”.
Horns of the Reach: Next chronologically are the two dungeons from the DLC “Horns of the Reach”, which thematically have nothing to do with Morrowind. The dungeons are the “Bloodroot Forge” and “Falkreath Hold”.
Clockwork City: Through the further prologue “Of Knives and Long Shadows”, you then enter the DLC of the “Clockwork City”. There, you will also find another trial named “Sanctorium Institute”.
Dragon Bones: Afterwards, there’s another dungeon DLC called “Dragon Bones” with instances that are thematically unrelated. This time you will explore the “Scalebreaker” and the “Summit of the Stormcaller”.
Summerset – The Second Chapter
To arrive at Summerset, the island of the High Elves, there’s again a prologue quest named “Through a Dark Veil”. If you start the game here, you will begin with your own introductory quest. A thick new chapter follows on the Elf Islands, during which the story about the Deadra, which began with Orsinium, will ultimately be concluded.
Wolfhunter: In this DLC, it’s about werewolves, which doesn’t really tie into the events of Summerset. However, you will receive the two dungeons “March of Sacrifice” and “Moonhunter Keep”.
Murkmire: Another prologue quest named “Cyrodiil Collections Need You” then sends you into the vast DLC area of Murkmire. There, it goes into an exciting story about Argonians and the secrets of the swamps in which they live. In addition, there is also a dungeon called “Blackrose Prison”.
Elsweyr – The Third Chapter
Wrathstone: In this chapter, there was finally a coherent story. It started with a DLC called Wrathstone. In the two dungeons there, you had to search for the two parts of the namesake Wrathstone in the “Depths of Malatar” and the “Frostvault”.
Elsweyr: Through the prologue quest for the “Colossus Halls” and the “Demon Weapon”, you really go to Elsweyr, a huge new region where the cat people of the Khajiit live. Additionally, there are suddenly dragons, which your heroes are not entirely innocent of.
Scalebreaker: The second dungeon DLC for Elsweyr deals thematically with the events after the temporary story peak of Elsweyr. In the “Moongrave Temple City” and the “Hoard of Maarselok”, there are further problems you must solve as heroes.
Dragonhold: The peak of the Elsweyr story awaits you after another prologue quest in this DLC. There, the southern Elsweyr is unlocked, and you team up with the newly founded Order of Dragon Hunters against the flying monsters.
Greymoor – The Fourth Chapter
Harrowstorm: The year 2020 follows the example of Elsweyr and also brings connected DLCs. It starts with two dungeons named “Ice Cap” and “Profane Vault”. There you will meet the new main characters of the Greymoor story.
Greymoor: In the chapter Greymoor, it finally goes to western Skyrim and to the city of Solitude known from Skyrim. In search of a dark vampire threat, you will also go to the mysterious Blackreach beneath Skyrim, where the vampires have built a stronghold.
Stonethorn: The horror theme of Greymoor remains here, as in the dungeons “Castle Thorn” and “Stone Garden”, you will encounter vampires and mad scientists.
Markarth: The finale of the Greymoor saga appears in November and takes you further west to the expanse of the city of Markarth. There, the conflict with the vampires will come to an end.
Where to next? The latest chapter for The Elder Scrolls Online is not yet known. However, there are already plenty of speculations about where the journey will lead and what will not come. If you want to know more, take a look at our article about the possible setting of the 5th chapter of ESO in 2021.
