Maximizing Your Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns & Crown Store

Understanding The Elder Scrolls Online Crown Store

Venturing through Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls Online offers endless adventures, from delving into ancient ruins to battling powerful dragons. As you explore, you might encounter the game's premium currency: Crowns. These Crowns are the key to unlocking a variety of items and services within the in-game Crown Store, which is accessible directly from your game interface. Whether you play The Elder Scrolls Online via Steam or the standalone client, the Crown Store serves as your hub for personalizing your journey and enhancing your gameplay experience.

The Crown Store is designed to provide players with cosmetic upgrades, convenience items, and sometimes even access to DLC content. It's an integral part of the game's economy, allowing players to customize their characters, acquire unique mounts and pets, and save time on certain in-game activities.

Accessing the Crown Store on Steam

For players on the Steam platform, accessing the Crown Store is straightforward. Once logged into The Elder Scrolls Online, you can typically find the Crown Store icon in your top UI bar, often designated by a crown symbol. The default keybind to open it is usually the comma (,) key, though you can also navigate to it through your character or inventory screens. Inside, you'll find a well-organized interface that allows you to browse categories like Bundles, Consumables, Costumes, Mounts, and Pets. Many items offer a convenient preview window, letting you see exactly what you're getting before you commit your Crowns.

Acquiring Your Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns

To make purchases in the Crown Store, you'll first need to acquire Crowns. For players who enjoy The Elder Scrolls Online through Steam, there are primary methods to obtain this valuable currency.

Purchasing Crown Packs

The most direct way to get Crowns is by purchasing Crown Packs. These packs are available in various denominations, allowing you to buy the amount that best suits your needs and budget. If you're playing on Steam, you can conveniently purchase these packs directly through the Steam Store. This integrates seamlessly with your existing Steam wallet and payment methods, making the process quick and easy.

Alternatively, Crown Packs can also be purchased from the official Elder Scrolls Online PC/Mac Store. Always ensure you're buying from trusted sources to guarantee your Crowns are correctly applied to your account.

ESO Plus Subscription Benefits

Another excellent way to consistently acquire The Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns is through an ESO Plus subscription. ESO Plus is a premium membership that offers a host of benefits, including access to all DLC game packs (excluding the latest Chapter), a Craft Bag with unlimited storage for crafting materials, increased experience and gold gains, and a monthly allotment of Crowns.

According to early community reports, the monthly Crown allotment for ESO Plus subscribers was estimated to be around 1,500 Crowns per month, roughly equating to the subscription cost in Crown value. This makes ESO Plus a highly attractive option for players who plan to spend regularly in the Crown Store, as it effectively bundles your Crown purchases with numerous other valuable perks. The Crowns received from an ESO Plus subscription are immediately added to your account, ready for use.

What Can You Buy in the Crown Store?

The Crown Store in The Elder Scrolls Online is a treasure trove of items designed to enhance your gameplay without creating a "pay-to-win" scenario. The offerings typically fall into a few main categories:

Cosmetics: Mounts, Pets, and Costumes

This is arguably the most popular section of the Crown Store. Here, you'll find a vast selection of cosmetic items that allow you to personalize your character and companions:

• Mounts: From majestic horses to exotic guar and scuttlers, mounts are a fantastic way to traverse Tamriel in style. They offer unique appearances and are a prominent feature of player customization.
• Pets: These adorable (or sometimes fearsome) companions follow you on your adventures. While purely cosmetic, they add character to your journey.
• Costumes & Outfits: Transform your character's appearance with a wide array of outfits, from regal attire to rugged adventurer gear. You can preview these costumes directly in the store to see how they'll look on your character before purchasing.

A significant benefit of these cosmetic items is that they are account-bound. This means if you buy a mount, pet, or costume, it becomes available for all characters on your account, current and future. This applies even to items earned in-game, which are retroactively added to your collection system. This system allows you to easily switch appearances or mounts across your characters, providing immense value and flexibility.

Convenience Items & Consumables

Beyond cosmetics, the Crown Store also offers items aimed at improving player convenience:

• Potions & Scrolls: These consumables can provide temporary buffs or aid in various activities. However, it's crucial to note that, as confirmed by early player experiences, Crown Store potions are generally less effective than high-end, player-crafted potions available through in-game means. For example, early Crown Store health potions restored around 6,800 health, whereas top-tier crafted potions could restore over 8,000. This design choice ensures that the Crown Store doesn't offer a direct gameplay advantage over dedicated crafters or players who engage with the in-game economy.
• Experience Scrolls: These can temporarily boost your experience gains, helping you level up faster.
• Repairs: Items that can instantly repair your gear, saving you a trip to a merchant.
• Appearance Change Tokens: Allow you to alter your character's race or appearance.

These convenience items are designed to save players time or offer alternative ways to achieve certain outcomes, rather than providing an insurmountable edge.

DLC & Other Upgrades

The Crown Store is also where you can purchase DLC game packs, which expand the game world with new zones, quests, dungeons, and trials. While an ESO Plus subscription grants access to most DLCs while active, purchasing them outright ensures permanent ownership. You might also find other upgrades, such as extra character slots, bag space upgrades, or unique housing options, available for Crowns.

Is the Crown Store "Pay-to-Win"?

A common concern with in-game stores is whether they create a "pay-to-win" environment. For The Elder Scrolls Online, the developers have largely succeeded in avoiding this pitfall, particularly with how the Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns Crown Store is structured.

As mentioned earlier, the consumable items, such as health and resource potions available in the Crown Store, are typically less powerful than those crafted by players through in-game alchemy. This means that engaging with the crafting system and the in-game economy remains the most effective way to acquire top-tier consumables for end-game content.

Furthermore, the vast majority of Crown Store items are purely cosmetic. Mounts, pets, and costumes offer no statistical advantage in combat or exploration. They are there to allow players to express themselves and customize their characters, adding to the game's rich role-playing elements without impacting game balance. This philosophy ensures that player skill, gear earned in-game, and strategic play remain the primary determinants of success in Tamriel, not the amount of money spent in the Crown Store.

Smart Spending: Prioritizing Your Crown Purchases

With so many options available, deciding how to spend your Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns can be daunting. Here are some tips for prioritizing your purchases:

• Prioritize Essential Upgrades (if needed): If you're not an ESO Plus subscriber, consider purchasing essential DLCs that contain content you frequently play or features you desire (e.g., specific classes or zones). Bag space upgrades or extra character slots can also be highly valuable for long-term play.
• Cosmetics for Personalization: If personal expression is important to you, mounts, pets, and costumes are excellent choices. Remember, these are account-bound, so a single purchase benefits all your characters. Look out for limited-time offers or seasonal items that appeal to your aesthetic.
• Convenience for Time-Saving: If your playtime is limited, convenience items like experience scrolls or repair kits can help you make the most of your time in-game. However, evaluate if the time saved truly outweighs the Crown cost, especially for items that can be acquired or crafted in-game.
• Wait for Sales: The Crown Store frequently features sales and rotating stock. If there's an item you desire but aren't in a hurry for, it often pays to wait and see if it goes on sale.

By carefully considering your playstyle and priorities, you can make informed decisions and get the most value out of your Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns in the Crown Store.

FAQ

How do I access the Crown Store in The Elder Scrolls Online?

You can access the Crown Store directly in-game by pressing the comma (,) key by default, or by navigating through your character or inventory menus. It's a prominent icon in your top UI bar.

Are Crown Store items account-wide?

Yes, most items purchased from the Crown Store, especially cosmetics like mounts, pets, and costumes, are account-bound. This means all your characters, existing and new, can use them.

Can I get crowns for free in The Elder Scrolls Online?

While you typically purchase Crowns, ESO Plus subscribers receive a monthly allotment of Crowns as part of their membership benefits. There are also occasional in-game events or promotions that may reward small amounts of Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns, though these are less common.

Is it worth buying crowns on Steam?

If you play The Elder Scrolls Online through Steam, purchasing Crowns directly from the Steam Store is a convenient and secure method. The value depends on what you wish to buy; if you want specific cosmetics, convenience items, or DLCs, buying Crowns is the way to acquire them.