The Elder Scrolls Online offers players dozens of activities for players to partake in. Some focus on the game’s hundreds of quests that offer compelling stories that you’d come to expect from an Elder Scrolls title. Some focus on collecting every cosmetic in the game. Some do difficult content like Trials.
One of the largest sections of content available in ESO is dungeons, which are jam-packed with interesting mechanics, tough bosses, and great loot. While it is normal for MMOs to have plenty of dungeons, ESO contains so many that it is sometimes a detriment. Some dungeons are just old and not interesting, while others expect too much from public groups or casual players. Here are the best and worst dungeons in The Elder Scrolls Online.
10 Best: White-Gold Tower
This is one of the first DLC dungeons that have released for Elder Scrolls Online. As a result, this dungeon has additional mechanics that are not seen in the base game’s dungeons.
The notable boss here is the inheritor, requiring the tank to touch a Pinion instead of taunting her directly, as she is immune to taunts. This mechanic has killed plenty of public groups, but those who have mastered this mechanic among the rest of the dungeon can obtain some fantastic gear. The visuals here are incredible, blending Cyrodill’s Imperial architecture with the cold setting Coldharbour gives.
9 Worst: Fang Lair
Multiple mechanics are common withing MMO titles, requiring mastery of combat and other mechanics to overcome challenges. Unfortunately, Fang Lair badly does this.
The second boss fight in this dungeon will kill almost any public group, but unlike White-Gold Tower where simple communication is needed, this is simply not fun to fight. The Cadaverous Bear will periodically become immune, and the weaker enemies must be weakened to get damage in. Furthermore, wolves come in and detonate near players, dealing massive damage. One mistake makes this fight almost impossible, meaning it is really hard to do when grouping with random players. At least it isn’t hard because of bugs.
8 Best: Wayrest Sewers I
Opposite of Fang Lair, Wayrest Sewers I is one of the first dungeons that players can access, meaning that this dungeon can’t be as brutal as later ones. Fortunately, it isn’t a complete snore.
The dungeon begins action-packed with swarms of rats rushing the party. Simple yet engaging boss fights populate this dungeon to contrast nicely with the complete group slaughter the party does between bosses. With some decent sets as loot, Wayrest Sewers I is simply a fun dungeon every ESO player should try.
7 Worst: City of Ash II
City of Ash I is a pretty good dungeon overall but has some stingy drops for one of its set items. City of Ash II, while being very pretty, is a rather long dungeon that will test the endurance of some players.
Players go through the dungeon-like normal to start, but unlike the first iteration, the Oblivion portal behind the last boss in CoA I is instead the entry point for the rest of the dungeon. This zone is cool looking but is littered with generic, hard-hitting bosses, and the final boss is somewhat of a burst damage test. The circular design of the dungeon, along with the heaps of lava, make traversal just not fun.
6 Best: Banished Cells I
One of the easiest dungeons in the game, Banished Cells I carries the simplicity with plenty of enemies and fun bosses. No layers of mechanics are part of these boss fights, making it an easy dungeon to get into.
Most bosses here simply have a wind-up attack that can stun players if they do not dodge it. That is somewhat generic, but it works well with ESO’s great combat. Combined with the hordes of minion enemies throughout these fights, you end up with somewhat hectic encounters on Veteran mode. Banished Cells II takes this to the next level as well.
5 Worst: Bloodroot Forge
DLC dungeons have a general trend of introducing mechanics players must take into consideration. If the team fails to deal with said mechanic, they either instantly die or something catastrophic happens.
This is the case with Bloodroot Forge, having plenty of high damaging enemies even before the first boss. Fireballs can nearly instantly kill squishier characters, bosses will one-shot most characters, and high mobility for the final boss is all required to finish this dungeon. Veterans will find this fun, but public groups will struggle. And for those experienced groups trying this on Veteran difficulty, this gets significantly harder.
4 Best: Blackheart Haven
So far, many of the best dungeons on this list have lacked unique mechanics in boss fights. To be fair, more casual missions are fun for more players than the hardcore dungeons we see later on.
Regardless of your stance, Blackheart does some interesting things with its playspace. Mainly, the final boss will pull the dedicated tank and convert them into a skeleton, fit with unique skills to use! The setting is very unique, taking place near a coast with docked ships and pirates. No hard mechanics gate players from enjoying this unique dungeon.
3 Worst: Moon Hunter Keep
Continuing with the trend of hard bosses, Moon Hunter Keep contains some of the most brutal mechanics out of any dungeon in The Elder Scrolls Online.
One-shot AoE’s are common in this dungeon, as are most DLC dungeons. However, bosses also come with added mechanics that make this dungeon even worse. A werewolf can leap on other players and instantly kill them, healers that make a boss tanky, and an Archivist that traps the party in bubbles and lightning storms. This is a brutal dungeon even without Veteran difficulty, so most players will have a hard time completing this dungeon.
2 Best: Vaults of Madness
There is just something so fascinating about the planes of Oblivion within the Elder Scrolls series. Each game’s iteration on the various planes somehow one-ups each other.
Vaults of Madness is not only one of the coolest looking dungeons in the game, but it is also the most fun. Players jump off of floating debris, fight undead behemoths, and fight a lich who can destroy the room he is set in with ease. Windows shatter as energy emanates around the lich, creating amazing visuals for otherwise mundane mechanics. The monster set item is fantastic as well, letting players summon a meteor when they deal flame damage. This dungeon has everything a player could ask for.
1 Worst: Scalecaller Peak
Most of the enemies in Scalecaller Peak are not to be trifled with, dealing ludicrous amounts of damage that can down even the party’s tank.
This extends past the bosses as well, including Ogres and Pestilent themed enemies that dot this dungeon. That’s not to say the bosses aren’t hard, they are. Zaan herself has so many mechanics and one-shot mechanics in her fight it is just not enjoyable to play, but getting to even fight her is just as much of a challenge. The Zaan monster set is fantastic, but the other sets here are passable. Only do this dungeon if your group are masochists or love the icy setting.
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