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Which Guild Should You Join in ESO? A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re diving into the vast world of Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) and wondering which guild to join first? The short answer is: it depends on your playstyle and goals! ESO offers a rich tapestry of guilds, each with its own unique quests, skill lines, and benefits. There’s no single “best” guild, but rather the best guild for you. This guide will break down the major guilds in ESO and help you decide which ones align with your interests.

The Key Player-Driven and NPC Guilds in ESO

ESO features two types of guilds: player-driven guilds and NPC guilds. Player-driven guilds are groups formed and managed by players, offering social interaction, organized events, and trading opportunities. NPC guilds, on the other hand, are factions with pre-defined quests, skill lines, and lore. This article will focus primarily on the NPC guilds, as these provide unique skills and benefits to all players, regardless of their social preferences.

The Core NPC Guilds

These are the guilds that most players will interact with throughout their ESO journey. They provide access to valuable skills and passives, enhancing your character’s capabilities.

1. Fighters Guild: For Damage Dealers and Monster Slayers

If you’re keen on increasing your damage output and excelling in combat against Daedra, undead, and werewolves, the Fighters Guild is a must-join.

Key Skills: Silver Bolts (powerful ranged attack against undead and Daedra), Dawnbreaker (ultimate ability dealing significant damage and stunning enemies).
Key Passives: Intimidate (unlocks additional dialogue options), Banish the Wicked (increased damage against Daedra and undead), Skilled Tracker (bonus weapon experience).
How to Join: Find a Fighters Guild hall in a major city (Daggerfall, Davon’s Watch, or Vulkhel Guard) and speak to a member.

2. Mages Guild: For Magicka Users and Lore Enthusiasts

The Mages Guild is perfect for those who want to boost their magical abilities and delve into the rich lore of Tamriel.

Key Skills: Mages Guild abilities enhance spellcasting and provide unique utility.
Key Passives: Magicka Controller (increased maximum Magicka), Eidetic Memory (removes the need for physical books to learn Lorebooks), Persuade (unlocks additional dialogue options).
How to Join: Find a Mages Guild hall in a major city (Daggerfall, Davon’s Watch, or Vulkhel Guard) and speak to a member. Collecting Lorebooks across Tamriel levels up your Mages Guild rank quickly.

3. Undaunted: For Dungeon Delvers and Group Players

If you enjoy dungeon crawling and tackling challenging group content, the Undaunted guild is your best bet.

Key Skills: Undaunted abilities focus on group synergy and survivability.
Key Passives: Undaunted Command (restores resources when activating synergies), Undaunted Mettle (increased stats based on the number of different armor weights worn), Undaunted Pledges (daily quests to complete dungeons for valuable rewards).
How to Join: Speak to an Undaunted recruiter in a major city after reaching level 45.

DLC/Chapter-Specific Guilds

These guilds require purchasing specific DLCs or Chapters to access. They offer unique skill lines and questlines that tie into their respective storylines.

4. Psijic Order (Summerset Chapter): For Time Mages and Explorers

The Psijic Order is a secretive guild of mages specializing in manipulating time and space.

Key Skills: Abilities focus on mobility, crowd control, and manipulating time.
Key Passives: Enhance exploration and utility.
How to Join: Start the Summerset Chapter questline.

5. Thieves Guild (Thieves Guild DLC): For Sneaky Characters and Master Thieves

If you enjoy stealth, pickpocketing, and embracing the life of a thief, the Thieves Guild awaits.

Key Skills: Abilities focus on stealth, evasion, and thieving activities.
Key Passives: Improved thieving skills and rewards.
How to Join: Travel to Abah’s Landing in Hew’s Bane (Thieves Guild DLC zone) and speak to Quen.

6. Dark Brotherhood (Dark Brotherhood DLC): For Assassins and Contract Killers

For those who prefer the shadows and enjoy completing assassination contracts, the Dark Brotherhood provides the perfect outlet.

Key Skills: Abilities focus on stealth, assassination, and applying poisons.
Key Passives: Enhance assassination effectiveness and provide unique buffs.
How to Join: Travel to Anvil or Kvatch on the Gold Coast (Dark Brotherhood DLC zone) and speak to Amelie Crowe, or encounter the assassin in any Outlaw’s Refuge.

How to Choose the Right Guilds for You

Consider these factors when making your decision:

Your Playstyle: Are you a damage dealer, healer, tank, or a mix of roles?
Your Character Build: Do you focus on Magicka, Stamina, or a hybrid approach?
Your Interests: Do you enjoy PvE, PvP, crafting, or exploring lore?
Your Goals: Are you aiming to maximize your character’s power, complete all the content, or simply have fun?

Tip: You can join all the NPC guilds simultaneously, so don’t feel restricted to choosing just one. Experiment with different guilds and see which ones resonate with you.

Guild Finder Tool

ESO provides a Guild Finder tool (accessed by pressing “G” on PC or through the Social menu on consoles) to help you find player-run guilds that match your interests. This tool allows you to filter guilds based on their focus (e.g., PvP, PvE, trading, roleplaying), language, and alliance.

Guilds and Factions

While you can join multiple guilds, it’s important to understand the difference between guilds and factions. Guilds are organizations with specific skill lines and benefits, while factions (Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, and Ebonheart Pact) determine your starting zone and allegiance in PvP. You can belong to guilds with members from all three factions, but in Cyrodiil (the PvP zone), you can only fight for your chosen faction.

Is Joining a Guild Worth It?

Absolutely! Joining guilds in ESO provides access to unique skills and passives that can significantly enhance your character’s power and utility. It also enriches your roleplaying experience and offers opportunities to complete unique quests and daily content. Even if you’re a solo player, the benefits of joining NPC guilds are undeniable.

The Social Aspect

While this article focuses on NPC guilds, don’t underestimate the value of joining player-run guilds. These guilds offer a sense of community, opportunities for group content, and access to trading networks. A good player-run guild can significantly enhance your ESO experience.

Games Learning Society

For those interested in the educational aspects of gaming and how games can be used for learning, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They explore the intersection of games and education, offering valuable insights into the potential of games as learning tools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you join all 3 NPC guilds in ESO?

Yes! You can join the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, and Undaunted, along with the DLC-specific guilds, simultaneously. There is no restriction on joining multiple NPC guilds.

2. How do you choose a guild in ESO?

Consider your playstyle, character build, interests, and goals. Experiment with different guilds to see which ones align with your preferences.

3. What guilds can you join for free in ESO?

The Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, and Undaunted are available with the base game. The Psijic Order, Dark Brotherhood, and Thieves Guild require specific DLCs or Chapters.

4. How many guilds can you be a member of in ESO?

You can be a member of up to five guilds, including both player-run and NPC guilds.

5. Which guild is best in ESO?

There is no “best” guild. The ideal guild depends on your playstyle and goals. The Fighters Guild is excellent for damage dealers, the Mages Guild for Magicka users, and the Undaunted for dungeon delvers.

6. Can you join all factions in ESO?

No, you can only choose one faction (Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, or Ebonheart Pact) at character creation. This choice determines your starting zone and allegiance in PvP.

7. Can you belong to more than one guild at a time in ESO?

Yes, you can be a member of up to five guilds.

8. Is it worth joining a guild in ESO?

Absolutely! Guilds provide access to unique skills, passives, quests, and social opportunities, enhancing your overall ESO experience.

9. Does it matter what faction you choose in ESO?

Your faction determines your starting zone and allegiance in Cyrodiil (PvP zone). However, it doesn’t restrict your exploration or quest completion outside of Cyrodiil.

10. Can you join both the Fighters Guild and the Mages Guild in ESO?

Yes, you can join all NPC guilds simultaneously.

11. Does ESO Plus unlock Thieves Guild?

Yes, an active ESO Plus membership unlocks access to the Thieves Guild DLC, along with other DLC content.

12. What is the best place to start in ESO?

Khenarthi’s Roost is often recommended for new players due to its beginner-friendly content and tutorial. However, you can choose any of the three alliance starting zones.

13. Can you be Imperial in ESO?

Yes, but the Imperial race requires purchasing the Imperial Edition of the game or the Imperial Upgrade from the Crown Store.

14. How do I join the Dark Brotherhood in ESO?

Travel to Anvil or Kvatch on the Gold Coast (Dark Brotherhood DLC zone) and speak to Amelie Crowe, or encounter the assassin in any Outlaw’s Refuge to begin the questline.

15. What is the most popular faction in ESO?

The Aldmeri Dominion is often cited as the most popular faction, although popularity can vary over time.

Ultimately, the best guild for you is the one that aligns with your playstyle, interests, and goals. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore the various guilds ESO has to offer. Happy adventuring!

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