One of the most highly-requested places to be added to Elder Scrolls Online ever was Elsweyr – that is, until the Elsweyr Chapter was finally officially announced. Players finally were able to see where warm sands might guide them to – a land threatened by Dragons, but otherwise gorgeous and completely unique to the rest of the world of ESO.
Hammerfell has a lot of deserts, sure, but the deserts of Elsweyr are far from wastelands. For every sandy gulch there is a beautiful oasis, and for every East Asian and Indian-inspired building there is a new piece of lore so far removed from the rest of Tamriel that it might as well be alien. The Khajiit, though, are not so different as Man and Mer like to think.
The Elsweyr Chapter Is Part Of The "Season of the Dragon" Arc
The Elsweyr Chapter follows the Summerset Chapter that wrapped up a two-year-long narrative arc. Elsweyr, on the other hand, is a completely self-contained story told throughout four DLCs released in 2019. The Chapter is set in a place called Anequina, a Khajiit Kingdom located in Northern Elsweyr, while the later Dragonhold DLC takes players to Southern Elsweyr.
The story kicks off when the player responds to a call for aid against a "rage of dragons" in Rimmen, a settlement in Northern Elsweyr. Abnur Tharn joins the vestige in stopping this sudden threat and uncovering its origins. It's a place that has been long-hinted at throughout Elder Scrolls games, but the Elsweyr Chapter is the first time we actually get to see and interact with the Khajiit homeland.
The Necromancer Class Is Added To ESO
Arguably the biggest update to the game that came with the Elsweyr Chapter was the addition of a new player class: the Necromancer. Necromancers are potent users of death magic, reflected in three class skill lines that embody DPS, Tanking, and Support. Because re-animating the dead is a major part of their toolkit, and necromancy is illegal in most parts of Tamriel, they are the only class that can get a bounty for using their abilities.
The history of necromancers is as intertwined with the story of Tamriel as the divines – Mannimarco, the King of Worms and First of Liches, nearly became a god in his own right during the main questline in Elder Scrolls Online. The Necromancer class was originally included with Elsweyr, but now can be bought separately from the in-game Crown Store for 1500 Crowns.
Northern Elsweyr Features Dozens Of New PvE Activities...
Delves, dungeons, trials, and of course main and side quests are all major parts of any Elder Scrolls Online expansion. The combination of a beautiful, hardly-ever-seen landscape and the mystic, strange ways of the Khajiit creates one of the most visually-interesting and story-rich environments in the entire MMO.
The PvE content throughout Northern Elsweyr is thus some of the most engaging of any Chapter for the game, at least for those with a penchant for exploring the unknown. In addition to dozens of delves, public dungeons, and other overworld activities is the Sunspire Trial, considered by many to be one of the most challenging group Trials in the game.
...Including Dragon Attacks (And Hunts, With The Dragonhold DLC)
The unique world events tied to the Elsweyr Chapter are Dragon Attacks, which can happen in a variety of locations throughout Northern Elsweyr. There are three Dragonscours throughout the zone, and incoming dragons can land at any one of them. They have much larger health pools than normal World Bosses and almost always require a group to take down.
The dragon's location while in flight is marked on the world map, so be sure to check it often if you decide to take on one of these fearsome foes. While Dark Anchors and other Elder Scrolls Online PvE world events are tied to one place, Dragon Attacks take players on an epic hunt that takes place across the entire zone.
How To Start The Elsweyr Chapter
The Elsweyr Chapter, once credited to your account either through ESO+ or individual purchase, can be accessed in a number of ways. In major cities like Daggerfall and Mournhold you may hear someone loudly shout, "Can you believe it? Dragons! In your own homeland! What are you going to do?" Talk to this NPC and you'll start the quest that takes you to Northern Elsweyr in a more immersive way.
On the other hand, you can start the Elsweyr Chapter by going to the Collections tab or by heading straight to Northern Elsweyr directly. In the Collections tab, click "Stories" and go to the "Chapters" section. Here, you can start the intro quest for all DLC and Chapters you have access to, including Elsweyr. Alternatively, open the world map, select Northern Elsweyr, and look for the only unlocked Wayshrine in the zone in Riverhold. Head here and you'll quickly run into Abnur Tharn to start the quest.
The Elder Scrolls Online is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.