NEW PLAYER GUIDE: GROUP PvE CHALLENGES

Last Updated: 6/6/2024

When travelling in a group in The Elder Scrolls Online, there are countless opportunities for adventure. If you enjoy playing as part of a group, you can find information about some of the different PvE group activities below. 

Dark Anchors and More

Across much of Tamriel, Molag Bal threatens to pull whole regions into his Oblivion realm of Coldharbour, and the Dark Anchors will allow him to succeed if they aren't driven back. You'll know when you see a Dark Anchor, also known as a Dolmen—there will be a very visible disturbance.

Make sure to gather some allies before you try to drive back the Daedra and destroy the Anchor! Doing so will earn you reputation in the Fighters Guild and help you unlock abilities in the Fighters Guild Skill Line. You can even pick up daily quests for clearing Dark Anchors from the Fighters Guild bases in the Alliance capitals.

Elsewhere, Molag Bal’s Worm Cult minions may not be present, but other threats arise. In Summerset, the Yaghra – undersea monstrosities – surge forth from Abyssal Geysers. A rage of Dragons hunts across Elsweyr, and Harrowstorms of dark magic threaten Western Skyrim.

All these deadly foes and more can be found across certain zones available in DLCs and Chapters, offering fresh challenges in the open world.

World Bosses

You'll occasionally encounter creatures in the world that are too powerful for one player to defeat alone. You can identify them by the World Boss icon on your map (a skull crossed with swords). 

If you find a World Boss wandering in Tamriel, be sure and call for allies! They are much stronger than the other overland enemies. 

Dungeons

Group Dungeons are intended for four players, and each party has its own version of the dungeon upon entering—no one else can wander in. While in a dungeon, you'll encounter tough enemies and bosses that you'll need to work together to overcome. You can find dungeons on your map by looking for an icon with a gateway and a plus.

There are many base-game dungeons you can choose to tackle, including:

• Arx Corinium, found in Shadowfen
• Blackheart Haven, found in Bangkorai
• Blessed Crucible, found in The Rift
• City of Ash, found in Greenshade
• Crypt of Hearts, found in Rivenspire
• Darkshade Caverns, found in Deshaan
• Direfrost, found in Eastmarch
• Elden Hollow, found in Grahtwood
• Fungal Grotto, found in Stonefalls
• Selene's Web, found in Repear's March
• Spindleclutch, found in Glenumbra
• Tempest Island, found in Malabal Tor
• The Banished Cells, found in Auridon
• Vaults of Madness, found in Coldharbour
• Volenfell, found in Alik'r Desert
• Wayrest Sewers, found in Stormhaven

There are also additional dungeons associated with unique DLC game packs, such as Shadows of the Hist.

Each dungeon has its own story and associated quest. In some cases, the story is spread across two iterations of the Dungeon, such as Fungal Grotto I and Fungal Grotto II, each of which can be entered and completed separately. Players are prompted upon traveling to the dungeon as to which version they wish to enter. Dungeons are available in Normal mode for players of any level, with a Veteran mode available for level 50 characters only. Entering dungeons through the Activity Finder is available from level 10 onwards, with some individual dungeons having their own level requirements. Additionally, level 45+ players are able to pick up Undaunted daily quests that provide unique rewards.

Public Dungeons

Public Dungeons are large group dungeons that are open to anybody who enters, meaning you can have many different players within the same dungeon at any one time. Even if they are not in the same group. Public dungeons are indicated on your map by the ruin icon.

Public Dungeons usually include large groups of enemies and multiple challenging boss fights. While it is possible to complete a Public Dungeon solo, it is more advisable to group up with your fellow adventurers to take on some of its more dangerous fights. 

Trials

Trials are 12-player challenges for organized PvE group play, wherein groups are pitted against the most aggressive types of encounters Tamriel has to offer. If your group is successful in completing a Trial, you can earn unique rewards. Trials are indicated on your map with a gateway icon set with a horned skull and a plus.

There are currently four Trials available in base game:

• Aetherian Archive, found in Craglorn
• Hel Ra Citadel, found in Craglorn
• Sanctum Ophidia, found in Craglorn
• Halls of Fabrication, found in Vvardenfell

Additional Trials can be found in areas unlocked by purchasing DLC and Chapters, or through gaining access to the content through ESO Plus™. Some of these additional Trials include:

• Maw of Lorkhaj, found in Reaper’s March (requires the Thieves Guild DLC game pack)
• Asylum Sanctortium, found in Clockwork City (requires the Clockwork City DLC game pack)
• Cloudrest, found in Summerset (requires the Summerset DLC game pack)
• Sunspire, found in Northern Elsweyr (requires the Elsweyr DLC game pack)
• Kyne’s Aegis, found in Western Skrim (requires the Greymoor DLC game pack)
• And more!

Trials are available in Normal and high-level Veteran modes. Veteran Trials are scored based on a variety of factors and attributed to a server-wide leaderboard. Each week, the players behind the top Trial runs receive additional rewards.

Arenas

Arenas are unique challenges that are designed for smaller groups or solo play. They typically feature waves of enemies interspersed with bosses, and offer unique rewards based on completion. Solo Arenas are indicated on your map with a gateway icon set with a horned skull, while group Arenas have an icon with a gateway and a plus.

There are both group and solo Arenas, which work similarly. Group Arenas currently available include:

• Dragonstar Arena, a four-player arena found in Craglorn
• Blackrose Prison, a four-player arena found in Murkmire (requires the Murkmire DLC game pack)

Solo Arenas currently available include:

• Maelstrom Arena, a solo arena found in Wrothgar (requires the Orsinium DLC game pack)
• Vateshran Hollows, a solo arena found in the Reach (requires the Markarth DLC game pack)

Arenas are available in both Normal and high-level Veteran modes (with unique rewards for Veteran mode specifically). Arenas, like Trials, have their own weekly leaderboards for Veteran difficulty that feature additional rewards.

Infinite Archive

The Infinite Archive is endlessly scaling content with randomly generated foes and challenges that can be entered solo, with a Companion, or in a team of two players. It is found in the zone of Apocrypha but does not require a DLC or Chapter to enter — any ESO player can fast travel directly to the Infinite Archive from anywhere through its icon on the Apocrypha zone map, a portal with an infinity sign.

It has a repeating structure of Stages, Cycles, and Arcs that offer continuing challenges and rewards for as long as the participants can keep going. There is no limit to how long you can spend delving the Infinite Archive, but players have a limited number of lives per run. After using up your chances, you must restart the Infinite Archive and begin progress once again.

Unlike Dungeons, Trials, and Arenas, the Infinite Archive’s difficulty is not divided into Normal and Veteran modes, but instead scales solely based on the continued success of those attempting it. However, it does have its own weekly leaderboards with additional rewards for those who can delve the deepest.

Don't forget that if you ever have additional gameplay questions, you should navigate to the in-game Help menu for more information on the game's features and mechanics. In addition, you can visit the Players Helping Players section in the official ESO forums to talk to the ESO community or check out any of the player-made guides right here.