ESO Chronological Order Guide

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Booting up The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited in 2021 can be a bit confusing. The tutorial has been swapped out for the latest expansion's own, main quests are dotted about all over the place out of chronological order, and you can go anywhere at any time. If you're looking to experience the narrative from start to finish in the correct order, it can be a bit tricky to figure that out by yourself.

I'm sure, by clicking on this guide, you've fallen into the boat of wanting to experience ESO's journey in the right sequence of events, getting over this confusing muddle of content.

So, we've compiled a comprehensive guide that breaks down where everything fits into chronology in The Elder Scrolls Online from the base content to the prologues to smaller DLCs to dungeons to the beefier expansions and everything in between.

The Main Quest / The Mages Guild / The Fighters Guild

To start the main quest, you need to visit Vulkhel Guard (Auridon), Daggerfall (Glenumbra), or Davon's Watch (Stonefalls). It doesn't matter which, regardless of your alliance.

Here, the Hooded Figure will approach you and give you a quest. This leads to the base game's tutorial.

When you wrap it up, you'll be dropped into your alliance's main questline. Be sure to visit the mage's guild and fighter's guild when you leave the starter island and arrive at the first actual city. Do all of these quests in conjunction with one another. That's the first part of ESO's chronology.

Cadwell's Silver & Gold / Cyrodiil

There are key characters that pop up in the DLCs from each alliance. Only doing one alliance's questline means you won't see those characters. That's where Cadwell's Silver & Gold comes in.

When you beat the main quest, you'll be brought back to the Harborage. Here, Cadwell has a proposal. He'll reveal that he's a servant of Meridia and that she wants you to see Tamriel through the eyes of your enemies.

Activate the Light of Meridia and you'll be given an objective called Cadwell's Almanac. This starts Cadwell's Silver. Once you've finished, you'll arrive at the Harborage again with the prompt to activate the Light of Meridia. Doing so starts Cadwell's Gold. Complete his Almanac once more and voila, that's all three alliances done.

Meanwhile, you can partake in the PvP of Cyrodiil and grab the quests that are on offer there. This all ties into the three alliance's stories that you'll be focusing on with Cadwell's Almanac so it's worth doing if you can stomach fighting other players rather than AI enemies for a change.

Craglorn

If you go to one of the capital cities — Elden Root, Mournhold, or Wayrest — you'll find a cart and an NPC spouting that the constellations have disappeared from the sky.

Take the cart and you'll arrive at this new locale, originally designed as a 4-player Adventure Zone. However, it was redone in the One Tamriel update, meaning that there is plenty of solo content available. If it proves too challenging, however, you can simply come back at a later time. It's not integral to the storyline but serves as a nice breather from the world-ending threat of Molag Bal.

Imperial City

Much like with Craglorn, this expansion is far more social-oriented. You'll be fighting with other players given that the Imperial City is at the heart of Cyrodiil. If it proves too challenging, skipping ahead won't cause you to miss out on much.

There are quests spread out across the city, two PvE dungeons, and an entire sewer system to explore. It's chock full of tough-to-kill enemies and other players vying for your blood.

Orsinium

By now, you'll have spent plenty of time in the first city of each alliance — Vulkhel Guard, Daggerfall, and Davon's Watch. Here, an incredibly persistent orc woman will hound you with each visit.

At long last, give in to her. Speak to Stuga and she'll give you a letter telling you to meet with the Orc ambassador. When you do so, she'll arrange transport and your delve into Orsinium begins. It's an expansion akin to the main game's content.

Hew's Bane (Thieves Guild)

Visit any Outlaws Refuge in Tamriel. Those are the underground, sketchy black markets where you can peddle stolen goods. Here, you'll find Quen. Accept her quest and you'll begin "Partners in Crime."

This leads you to Hew's Bane and the Thieves Guild. This is a little distraction from the main narrative of The Elder Scrolls Online but it nets you a skill tree, admittance into one of the series' most iconic factions, and some unique stealth quests that are vastly different from anything in the base game.

The Gold Coast (Dark Brotherhood)

Continuing on from your jaunt with the Thieves Guild, you can get a bit darker with your stealth by way of joining the Dark Brotherhood and venturing to a familiar locale, that of Oblivion's Gold Coast. It features nostalgic spots like a still-standing Kvatch and the port town of Anvil.

Like with the Thieves Guild, you start this by going to any Outlaws Refuge in Tamriel. Here, you can meet an assassin called Amelie Crowe. She'll give you the "Voices in the Dark" quest.

This will lead you to Anvil and the Dark Brotherhood. Completing their main quest is the next step in The Elder Scrolls Online's chronology.

Dungeon: Shadows Of The Hist

After you wrap up the Dark Brotherhood, head to your Group & Activity Finder and select Dungeon Finder. From here, queue for Ruins of Mazzatun and accept the quest. Then, do the same but for Cradle of Shadows.

The Missing Prophecy / Morrowind

Morrowind is the first in ESO's main-line expansions. It completely changed the tutorial when it was released; it tells the tale of another Daedra meddling in mortal affairs, and it progresses the narrative that was started in the main quest.

Visit any tavern or inn to find Alessio Guillon or Rhea Opacarius. They will give you the prologue quest "The Missing Prophecy." This lays the groundwork for the main expansion.

Afterward, fast travel to Seyda Neen and look for the main quest, the distinct black icon different from the rest.

When you finish Morrowind, head to the Group & Activity Finder and, like before, open the Dungeon Finder. With that, select Bloodroot Forge and queue. When you arrive, take the quest and complete the dungeon. Then, do the same for Falkreath Hold.

The Clockwork City

The Clockwork City follows on from the end of Morrowind. It is a tucked-away realm created by one of the Tribunal. You'll meet Vivec in Morrowind and here, you'll meet Sotha Sil.

To begin, head to Mournhold City and find Divayth Fyr's messenger. This will start "To The Clockwork City."

After you finish The Clockwork City's story, head to the Dungeon Finder again and look for Fang Lair and Scalecaller Peak and play them in that order.

Through A Veil Darkly / Summerset

Like Morrowind, Summerset adds a new tutorial and is a fully-fledged expansion.

Head to the Mage's Guild in Vulkhel Guard, Daggerfall, or Davon's Watch. Speak to Vanus Galerion to get the quest "Through a Veil Darkly." This is Summerset's prologue.

Following this, fast travel to the Summerset Isles where you can start the expansion's main quest.

Before you start Murkmire, there's another dungeon to play. Head to the Dungeon Finder and look for Moon Hunter Keep and March of Sacrifices. Play them in that order.

Ruthless Competition / Murkmire

Head to Vulkhel Guard, Daggerfall, or Davon's Watch. Speak to Concordia Mercius who will give you the quest "Ruthless Competition." This is the prologue to Murkmire. It is nota main expansion like Summerset or Morrowind.

Now, fast travel to Murkmire and begin the main quest at this location.

Dungeon: Wrathstone

Go to the Dungeon Finder once more and play Frostvault and then Depths of Malatar. These explore the lore of the Wrathstone which is prevalent in the next expansion.

The Demon Weapon / The Halls Of Colossus / Elsweyr

Head to Vulkhel Guard Manor & Treasury, the Davon's Watch Mages Guild, or Daggerfall Castle and speak to Abnur Tharn. He will give you the quest "The Demon Weapon." He has gathered the two halves of the Wrathstone which kicks off Elsweyr's first prologue.

Upon completion, you'll be given a second prologue, "The Halls of Colossus." Follow through both of these.

Next, head to Northern Grahtwood where there is a gate leading to Elsweyr. Upon passage, you'll be given a letter, starting the expansion's main quest. Like Morrowind and Summerset, this is a main entry that changed the tutorial upon release. However, it brings dragons into play. Happy hunting.

Dungeon: Scalebreaker

Head to the Dungeon Finder tab and queue for Moongrave Fane and then Lair of Maarselok.

Dragonhold

Venture to Vulkhel Guard, Daggerfall, or Davon's Watch. Here, talk to Hinzuur and accept the quest "The Dragonguard's Legacy."

Afterward, return to one of these locations and talk to him again for "The Horn of Ja'Darri."

The penultimate quest can be found by fast traveling to Senchal in Southern Elsweyr. Talk to Danouida to get the quest "The Dragon's Lair."

After this, fast travel to the Dragonguard Sanctum Wayshrine and talk to Sidura who will give you the quest "The Dark Aeon."

Dungeon: Harrowstorm

Go to the Dungeon Finder and queue for Icereach and then Unhallowed Grave.

The Coven Conspiracy / Greymoor

This is yet another main expansion of the game. To begin, find the prologue quest "The Coven Conspiracy" by venturing to the Fighters Guild of Davon's Watch, Vulkhel Guard, or Daggerfall.

Here, you'll meet the Skald King's Agent. This begins the prologue.

Fast travel to Western Skyrim and speak to Brondold who will start you on your newest main quest.

Once done, go to the Dungeon Finder tab and queue for Castle Thorn and then Stone Garden.

Markarth

Travel to Vulkhel Guard, Daggerfall, or Davon's Watch. Speak to Gwendis and start "The Ravenwatch Conspiracy."

Then, fast travel to North Markarth and talk to Count Verdanis Ravenwatch to begin "The Despot of Markarth."

Dungeon: Flames of Ambition

Open the Dungeon Finder and queue for The Cauldron and then Black Drake Villa.

A Mortal's Touch / Blackwood

Blackwood is an Oblivion-themed expansion bringing back the familiar gates of the fourth game along with Mehrune's Dagon, continuing The Elder Scrolls Online's main story thread of Daedra being conniving villains

To begin, find Rogatus Cinna south of Elden Root's Mastercraft Exchange, at Daggerfall's Jester Festival stage, or on the road south of Mournhold's Undaunted Enclave. She will give you the quest "A Mortal's Touch."

Given that Blackwood is a mainline expansion, you can start it like the others by fast traveling to the Leyawiin Outskirts Wayshrine. Here, you'll find the new main quest.

Next: Skyrim: Lost To The Ages Quest Walkthrough

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19 July 2021

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