Quick Guide
- Gold Road introduces the West Weald zone, featuring an earlier version of Skingrad and new threats.
- Scribing allows players to create unique custom abilities by combining grimoires and scripts.
- Uncover the mystery of Ithelia, a forgotten Daedric Prince capable of altering reality.
- Update 42 delivers essential base game improvements, including PC HDR support and various fixes.
Embark on a New Journey: The West Weald
The Elder Scrolls Online celebrates its 10-year anniversary with the launch of the Gold Road chapter and Update 42, bringing a wealth of new content and improvements to Steam players. At the heart of this expansion is the West Weald, a brand-new zone that invites adventurers to explore a region steeped in history and burgeoning with new threats.
This area, which shares borders with Craglorn, the Gold Coast, and Valenwood, will feel both familiar and fresh to long-time fans. The West Weald was first seen in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, but Gold Road presents an earlier, distinct version.
A Familiar Yet New Landscape
Skingrad, famed across Tamriel for its vineyards, serves as the main quest hub. While reminiscent of its Oblivion counterpart, developers have meticulously crafted an earlier iteration, showcasing how the city might have evolved over eight centuries. The Covalien Highlands are dotted with classic Imperial architecture, but also reveal glimpses of ancient Ayleid culture, a testament to Tamriel's distant past.
Unraveling Chaos in Dawnwood and Wildburn
Beyond Skingrad, the West Weald is not without its perils. In the nearby jungles of Dawnwood, typically part of Valenwood, enormous vines are rapidly growing, destroying homes and displacing citizens. This uncontrolled nature demands the aid of adventurers. Similarly, the Wildburn region is ravaged by uncontrolled magic, corrupting local wildlife into dangerous new forms. As the people of the West Weald face chaos, players will find new delves, public dungeons, world bosses, and quests to lend a hand.
As you traverse the roads, you might encounter dynamic NPC events or witness a Mirrormoor Incursion. These new world events involve crystalline rifts tearing open the skies, allowing Daedra to pour into Tamriel from the realm of Mirrormoor. Players can team up to stabilize these reality-bending cracks and push back the Daedric tide.
Unveiling a Forgotten Prince: Ithelia's Return
A central mystery of the Gold Road chapter revolves around a never-before-seen Daedric Prince, Ithelia. However, as players soon discover, Ithelia is actually a very old Daedric Prince, previously trapped and erased from the memory of all beings. Now released from her prison, she returns as the Mistress of the Untraveled Road, possessing the ability to shape fate and alter reality itself. It's up to players to unravel her enigma, understand the fractures in reality her existence has created, and protect Tamriel from her influence.
Master Your Magic with Scribing and Skill Styles
One of the most anticipated additions in the Elder Scrolls Steam Gold Road Update 42 is the Scribing system, offering unprecedented customization for player abilities. This innovative system allows you to experiment with magic and create brand-new skills.
Crafting Unique Abilities
Scribing involves combining grimoires, scripts, and luminous ink. Each grimoire provides a base ability and allows the slotting of three unique scripts. At launch, this system offers over 4,000 combinations, enabling players to craft truly unique and personalized abilities tailored to their playstyle.
Your journey into Scribing begins by assisting the Order of the Lamp, protectors of the Mages Guild. By helping them investigate the ancient ruin of the Scholarium, you'll be guided through your magical studies by powerful spirits known as the Luminaries. Completing each Luminary adventure not only progresses your understanding but also unlocks new scripts and passives, further expanding your Scribing capabilities.
Experiment with Scribing!
The Scribing system offers over 4,000 unique ability combinations. Don't be afraid to mix and match grimoires, scripts, and luminous inks to discover powerful new skills that perfectly suit your playstyle.
Visual Flair for Your Spells
Beyond functional customization, Gold Road also introduces Skill Styles. These cosmetic changes allow players to alter the appearance of their magic, adding new color choices for spell animations. With 22 earnable Skill Styles available at launch through in-game activities, you can truly make your character's magic visually distinct.
Challenges and Treasures Await
For those seeking group challenges and valuable rewards, Gold Road delivers.
The Lucent Citadel Trial
The latest 12-player trial, Lucent Citadel, transports adventurers to the hauntingly beautiful plane of Fargrave, a demiplane of Oblivion. Here, players must retrieve a mysterious artifact known as the Arcane Knot. All-new bosses await within, featuring unique mechanics centered around mirrors and magic, promising to surprise even veteran trial groups.
New Gear, Antiquities, and Collectibles
West Weald is rich with treasures to uncover. Players can earn 10 new item sets and discover three new Mythic items through the Antiquity system. A whole host of collectibles, including mounts, pets, and style pages, are also available for dedicated adventurers.
Tales of Tribute: Saint Alesia
Fans of ESO's in-game card game, Tales of Tribute, will be pleased to find a new Patron and deck: Saint Alesia. Her playstyle revolves around summoning powerful agent cards and strategically removing enemy agents from the board, adding new tactical depth to matches.
To celebrate a decade of Elder Scrolls Online, a new achievement titled "Adventurer Across a Decade" is now obtainable. Completing all of Tamriel's Zone stories will reward players with the exclusive Fractured Glory skin, a fitting tribute to years of adventure.
Update 42: Base Game Enhancements
Beyond the Gold Road chapter, Update 42 brings significant enhancements to the base game, available to all players without additional purchase. This update includes a series of balance changes, crucial bug fixes, and various quality-of-life additions. Notably, PC players will benefit from HDR support, offering improved visual fidelity, alongside other graphical adjustments and improvements to the mail system. These base game changes ensure a smoother and more polished experience for everyone exploring Tamriel.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road and Update 42 are now live for PC/Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, inviting players to dive into new adventures. For more detailed patch notes and news, visit the official Elder Scrolls Online website.
FAQ
What is the main new zone in The Elder Scrolls Steam Gold Road Update 42?
The primary new zone introduced in the Gold Road chapter is the West Weald, a region that takes inspiration from its appearance in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion but is set 800 years earlier.
What is Scribing and how does it work?
Scribing is a new system in Gold Road that allows players to customize their abilities. You combine grimoires (base abilities) with various scripts and luminous ink to create unique new skills, offering over 4,000 possible combinations.
Who is Ithelia and why is she important?
Ithelia is a newly revealed (but ancient) Daedric Prince who was previously erased from memory. Her return as the Mistress of the Untraveled Road causes fractures in reality, and players must uncover her mystery to protect Tamriel in the main storyline of the Elder Scrolls Steam Gold Road Update 42.
Are there any improvements for all players in Update 42, even without the Gold Road chapter?
Yes, Update 42 introduces several base game enhancements, including balance changes, bug fixes, and additions like HDR support for PC players and improvements to the mail system, all without requiring the purchase of the Gold Road chapter.