Bethesda and Zenimax’sThe Elder Scrolls Onlinedoes much to differentiate itself from other MMOs. Having decades of lore from theElder Scrollsfranchise available certainly helps stitch together a cohesive and engaging story, but its gameplay elements are also unlike any other MMO on the market.
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Being a story and choice-driven game,TheElder Scrolls Onlineboasts one of the most immersive questing experiences, but that’s not to say it’s lacking in end-game content, in fact, the opposite. With a suite of expansions and DLC available to players new and old, there’s never been a better time to start exploring thevast world of Tamrielset thousands of years before the events of the main franchise.
Updated June 19, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: The release of Elder Scrolls Online High Isle, the latest Chapter for the MMO, is on the horizon, and fans of the now 8-year-old game are coming back to prepare for the Breton-themed expansion. The setting is bringing in new fans of the Elder Scrolls series to the MMO, too. Though you may have played other similar games, ESO is unique in the genre for a lot of reasons – not just because you may explore Skyrim with friends. There are a few things to keep in mind when heading into Second-Era Tamriel for the first time, including combat tips, gameplay mechanics, and other unique aspects of this underrated MMO.
14It’s Less An MMO, More An RPG
WhileThe Elder Scrolls Onlinehas plenty of end-game and community-building content (perhaps one of the best crafting guild systems in any MMO), it’s the exploration and story that make thegame what it is today. Player choices matter, quests are engaging and interesting, and there’s an almost overwhelming number of builds each basic class can follow.
When one looks at games likeWorld of WarcraftandGuild Wars 2, the main draw of new expansions and content is the end-game. ForThe Elder Scrolls Online, that content is there for players who want to experience it, but the majority of the game is spent immersed in the narrative.
13Loot All The Things
Backpack space is certainly an issue for new players, especially if they don’t have upgraded bags or bank space. Nonetheless, players can loot just about everything in the world and sell it to vendors for a tidy profit – that is, if it wasn’t stolen.
WhereThe Elder Scrolls Onlinereally differs from other MMOs is inits worldbuilding and interactivity. Players can take everything from cheese wheels to weapons laying on the ground, but unfortunately, it’s not possible to drag corpses and make them do silly poses.
12Don’t Sell Old Gear, Deconstruct It Instead
TheElder Scrolls Onlinecrafting system takes much inspiration from its single-player counterpart games. InSkyrim, players can deconstruct weapons into smaller parts that are then used for crafting. It’s no different inESO.
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It’s wildly tempting to sell all the gear the character doesn’t need at the nearest vendor to free up space. Instead, look for a crafting bench that will yield profession experience and new crafting materials from unusable gear.
11Try Out Every Skill Tree
Another wayThe Elder Scrolls Onlinediffers from other MMOs is in its skill tree system. Just because a player chooses to be a Nightblade, it doesn’t mean they can’t use ranged spells or learn hybrid skills that might not fit the traditional rogue archetype.
While each class has its own particular focus (Dragonknights are great tanks, and Wardens are fantastic support), they can all use just about every weapon and armor set found in the game, provided the player has the skill to wear such gear. The game doesn’t hole the player into a specific role, so be sure to spend some time and explore the options available to each class.
10Just About Everything Scales
It’s become a recent trend within MMOs and RPGs for the world to scale to the player. What this means is that it doesn’t matter where the player decides to pick up quests; they will always be scaled to the player’s current level.
One of the exceptions to this is the PvP area, Cyrodiil, where players are automatically scaled up to Level 50. Players can start out in the traditional starting areas, or decide to skip it all and head straight for later-game areaswithout being under-leveled.
9Heavy Attacks Regenerate Magicka and Stamina…
This is something not manyElder Scrolls Onlineplayers take full advantage of. Heavy attacks with all weapons will restore resources to the player. Thismeans a heavy sword swing, a charged staff attack, or a power shot can equally restore magicka and stamina.
This benefits hugely from the hybrid class builds encouraged by the game. A sorcerer can restore magicka with a charged staff shot from far away just as well as she can charge into battle wielding a two-handed sword, for example.
8…But Light Attacks Are Better Than They Seem
Light attacks inElder Scrolls Onlinetypically come out fast but don’t do a lot of damage. It might seem better to rely on Heavy attacks and your ability bar to deal the most damage, but it’s actually better to alternate between abilities and Light attacks.
This technique is called Light Attack Weaving, andESOveterans can attest to the combat style vastly increasing their overall DPS output. When you first start the game, it won’t matter quite as much, but later on it’s an important skill to learn, especially when it comes to soloing and Trials.
7The Armory System Allows For Multiple Builds On One Character
In 2021 Zenimax finally added a much-requested feature toElder Scrolls Onlinecalled the Armory System, which lets players save and load multiple builds on a single character. The Armory Station can be acquired for free in the crown store by all players, though it has to be placed in a home to be used.
Players are initially only given two slots to save different builds, though more slots can be unlocked in the crown store. It’s a useful system that gives players more freedom in how they take on the challenges of the game.
6Don’t Attack NPCs (Even If It’s An Option)
On the subject of interactable environments inElder Scrolls Online, NPCs are fully interactable and even killable. But just like in the single-playerElder Scrollsgames, don’t expect to get away with it easily without careful planning.
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It’s best to sheathe weapons when in areaswith lots of friendly NPCs. A single wild swing could set the city guard on the player, ruining progress and incurring a hefty fine.
5Traveling Between Wayshrines Is Free
The cost of fast travel inThe Elder Scrolls Onlinecan be a bit inhibitive to new players with little money to their name. However, by finding a nearby wayshrine to travel from instead, players can avoid the cost of fast traveling in the field.
With that said, it’s certainly best to explore the world and not try to skip the amazing content the game has to offer. If players do find themselves far away from a quest target, check the map for the nearest wayshrine to get there quickly and on the cheap.
