To say that Elder Scrolls Online is a gigantic game is an understatement, considering the quantity and scale of content that has slowly been added to the continent of Tamriel over the past near-decade. In 2022 completing everything in Elder Scrolls Online is an achievement much easier said than done - especially when it comes to completing everything in order.
Chapters, DLCs, and other ESO expansions all intertwine in a grand narrative that stretches from Vvardenfell to the Summerset Isles and everywhere in between. While the game encourages going anywhere you desire, completing everything in chronological order is necessary to understand the connections between DLCs and for unlocking special interactions with NPCs later down the line.
Optional, Unconnected Questlines
- Dark Brotherhood DLC
- Thieves Guild DLC
- Craglorn Adventure Zone
The Dark Brotherhood DLC, Thieves Guild DLC, and the Craglorn Adventure Zone are all expansions with completely self-contained storylines. Daily Quests in the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild will take players away from the Gold Coast and Hew's Bane, but for the most part the important narrative details of these DLCs are completely separate from the rest of the game.
This means that the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild can be joined at any time to gain access to their unique Skill Trees without messing up the order of the story. The Craglorn Adventure Zone is a group-oriented area with its own self-contained storyline. The Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild must be purchased, while the Craglorn Adventure Zone is included in the base game.
The Planemeld Arc: Vanilla ESO
- Main Questline
- Faction Questlines
- Mages Guild and Fighter's Guild
- The Undaunted
The Planemeld Arc is the story included in the base version of Elder Scrolls Online and serves as the Main Quest for the MMO in general. Because every other DLC and Chapter references the Planemeld Arc and its conclusion, it's a good idea to take on the forces of Molag Bal before anything else.
Included in the Planemeld Arc are the Main Quest, each of the three Faction's zone quests, the Mages and Fighter's Guild quests, and the Undaunted quests. Complete your chosen faction's Zone Quests, the Mage's and Fighter's Guild quests, and The Undaunted quests before completing the Main Quest itself and defeating Molag Bal, or some details won't make sense.
The Daedric War Arc: Morrowind and Summerset
- Morrowind Chapter
- Clockwork City DLC
- Summerset Chapter
The Daedric War arc actually covers two release years and includes two major Chapters: Morrowind and Summerset. The Morrowind Chapter starts at the conclusion of the Planemeld Arc, and follows the Vestige as they try to figure out what is sapping power from Vivec, one of the three Dunmer Living Gods. The Clockwork City DLC follows immediately from the conclusion of the Morrowind Chapter.
The Summerset Chapter acts as the conclusion to the Daedric War arc, tying together the Morrowind and Clockwork City narratives into a satisfying conclusion. The Daedric War arc is considered by many to be the best narrative in Elder Scrolls Online, so be sure to take your time and explore each of these elven zones to their fullest.
Season of the Dragon: Elsweyr
- Wrathstone DLC
- Elsweyr Chapter
- Scalebreaker DLC
- Dragonhold DLC
The Season of the Dragon arc is chiefly concerned with Elsweyr, the homeland of the Khajiit and one of the most-requested additions to Elder Scrolls Online. In this narrative arc, players discover that Dragons have returned to Elsweyr and are tasked with finding out where they are coming from to put a stop to their reign of terror.
This chapter marked the first of the year-long releases that have now become an Elder Scrolls Online staple. The Wrathstone DLC was a Dungeon-based DLC that led into the Elsweyr Chapter itself. The Scalebreaker DLC was another Dungeon-based DLC that followed from there. The Dragonhold mini-expansion introduces a new area and is the final part of this intriguing narrative arc.
Dark Heart of Skyrim: Greymoor
- Harrowstorm DLC
- Greymoor Chapter
- Stonethorn DLC
- Markarth DLC
The Dark Heart of Skyrim arc brought players back to the frozen Nord homeland, this time on the other side of the province. Western Skyrim is seeing an influx of dark happenings, specifically Vampiric influence and activity. The Vestige is tasked with stopping this sudden incursion, and is able to explore places like Markarth and Solitude which were previously locked from ESO.
Start with the Harrowstorm DLC dungeons, then head to Solitude and Western Skyrim to start the Greymoor Chapter at large. Then, the Stonethorn DLC leads into the final mini-expansion from this narrative arc, Markarth. Players often debate between Markarth or The Clockwork City for the best mini-chapter released to date, so be sure to spend plenty of time in the City of Stone.
Gates of Oblivion: Blackwood
- Flames of Ambition DLC
- Blackwood Chapter
- Waking Flame DLC
- Deadlands DLC
The most recent addition Elder Scrolls Online, the Gates of Oblivion arc brings players back to Cyrodiil to take on an enemy familiar to all Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion fans: Mehrunes Dagon. In Blackwood, which comprises eastern Cyrodiil and western Black Marsh, the Daedric Prince seeks his four ambitions, and the Vestige finds themselves at odds with this powerful god of Oblivion.
The Flames of Ambition DLC is the first in this narrative arc, followed by the much larger Blackwood Chapter. Then, the Waking Flame DLC takes players back to a series of Dungeons before leading them to the Deadlands, Mehrunes Dagon's plane of Oblivion. Upon completion of this narrative arc, you will have completed everything in the game in order – no small feat!
The Elder Scrolls Online is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.
