When looking into the best trials in Elder Scrolls Online, a few things must be considered. The first, how difficult they are. Some players are looking for a constant challenge whereas others are looking to simply try them out. The second element is replayability and enjoyment. Nothing is worse than not getting the set the player desires and not wanting to complete the trial again. The last is the loot itself. No one wants to play a trial where they won't get anything as a reward.
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Luckily, with eleven different trials to complete at different difficulties, any player is guaranteed to find one they enjoy. It's just undeniable that some are much better than others in Elder Scrolls Online.
11 Aetherian Archive
- Location: Craglorn
- Difficulty: Beginners
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Defending Warrior | Tank |
Infallible Mage | DPS |
Quick Serpent | DPS |
Vicious Serpent | DPS |
Wise Mage | DPS |
Eternal Warrior | Healer/ DPS |
The Craglorn trials are considered the easiest, so if players are beginners it's worth trying this one out before going into the tougher selections. That being said, it's vital to have good communication with the group as well as some powerful DPS' as they are the key to succeeding in this trial.
Nevertheless, it's a brutal and exciting fight that includes four bosses in its normal mode. They have some powerful AoE's and will use almost all the skills players are required to learn before going into the harder trials.
10 Hel Ra Citadel
- Location: Craglorn
- Difficulty: Beginners
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Berserking Warrior | DPS |
Infallible Mage | DPS |
Poisonous Serpent | DPS |
Vicious Serpent | DPS |
Destructive Mage | DPS/ Healer |
Eternal Warrior | Healer/ DPS |
The Hel Ra Citadel is relatively beginner-friendly but the lack of variety in its rewards and the fact that the players will have to split off into smaller groups just makes it feel like a normal dungeon just longer and a little tougher.
It's by no means easy but there's just nothing particularly special about it that makes players want to revisit it. Despite this, players will have fun fighting the bosses and could get some great rewards for any DPS-inclined fighter.
9 Sanctum Ophidia
- Location: Craglorn
- Difficulty: Beginners
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Immortal Warrior | Tank |
Infallible Mage | DPS |
Twice-Fanged Serpent | DPS |
Vicious Serpent | DPS |
Wise Mage | DPS |
Eternal Warrior | Healer/ DPS |
One of the main reasons the Sanctum Ophidia is the highest-ranking base game trial is due to its design. When players aren't fighting the four tough and terrifying bosses, they are treated to a beautiful landscape filled with mystery, a less than forgiving landscape, and lighting to amaze anyone.
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This combined with the beginner-friendly nature, the fact it's available on the base game, and the bosses who will quickly teach beginners what it's like to be in a trial all make this an experience well worth having.
8 Rockgrove
- Location: Blackwood
- Difficulty: Beginner/ Advanced
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Bahsei's Mania | DPS |
Sul-Xan's Torment | DPS |
Stone-Talker's Oath | Healer/ DPS |
Saxhleel Champion | DPS/ Healer/ Tank |
Eternal Warrior | Healer/ DPS |
Rockgrove is one of the more recent additions to ESO and is surprisingly beginner-friendly, although it's recommended players try out easier trials first to get an idea of how to play it.
Nevertheless, this is an exciting trial filled with challenges for each role and the alignment of communication, damage, and protection to create an exciting but challenging fight. It's recommended that the players equip some good AoEs to take out the smaller enemies since they can do some deadly damage when players get a little co*cky with their abilities.
7 Dreadsail Reef
- Location: High Isle
- Difficulty: Beginner/ Advanced
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Whorl of Depths | DPS |
Pillager's Profit | Healer |
Coral Riptide | DPS |
Pearlescent Ward | Tank |
Despite not having as much of a variety in armor sets, this is a great trial. There's a set for each role and players have a brand new set to try out, especially since this is relatively new.
Regardless of the rewards, this is a unique and fun trial to do, if a little complicated. However, the party will need to split up, which does hinder its progress and requires a strong understanding from all members. This makes it a bit complicated and rather unforgiving for anyone falling behind, but for those who aren't, they'll love it.
6 Cloudrest
- Location: Summerset
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Aegis of Galenwe | Tank |
Arms of Relquen | DPS |
Mantle of Siroria | Healer/ DPS |
Vestiment of Olorime | DPS/ Healer |
With a range of powerful sets and enough bosses to last the player a lifetime, this is a trial many will never get bored of.
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Players will really need to hone their skills for this fight and will need to keep their communication to a point. The many bosses and their often frustrating abilities will put even the veteran players under a bit of stress so make sure to get a lot of practice in before attempting Cloudrest.
5 Asylum Sanctorium
- Location: Clockwork City
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Rewards:
Armor/ Weapon Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Unfathomable Darkness | DPS |
Timeless Blessing | Healer |
Piercing Spray | DPS |
Disciplined Slash | DPS |
Concentrated Force | DPS |
Chaotic Whirlwind | DPS |
Mad Tinkerer | DPS |
Livewire | Tank |
The Asylum Sanctorium has got some fantastic loot, particularly for a DPS, and comes with some great weapons that will appeal to anyone looking to bring a new fighting style or an upgrade.
As for the actual gameplay, it's a challenge and can be a little repetitive but the views, the bosses, and the atmosphere that surrounds this trial makes it well worth it. Just try to face the boss with bravery and if something is working, keep doing it!
4 Maw Of Lorkhaj
- Location: Reaper's March
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Moondancer | DPS/ Healer |
Twilight Remedy | Healer/ DPS |
Roar of Alkosh | DPS/ Tank |
Lunar Bastion | Tank |
Being the first DLC trial to be released into Elder Scrolls Online many would expect this one to be just as easy as the base trials. They would be very wrong and are likely to come in extremely under-prepared.
This is filled with debuffs, challenging spells, and bosses that can kill the most experienced players with ease. When players are at the right level and experience for this trial they will quickly find themselves in the perfect challenge with the perfect enemies in the perfect setting. It's well worth trying out.
3 The Halls Of Fabrication
- Location: Clockwork City
- Difficulty: Advanced/ Expert
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Automated Defense | Tank |
Inventors Guard | Healer |
Master Architect | DPS |
War Machine | DPS |
One of the best things about this Elder Scrolls Online trial is how well the sets work for the group. While there may be a lot more than the normal four players see in a dungeon, there is a set perfectly designed for each role, allowing for useful swaps and hopefully loot for everyone.
The trial itself is beautiful to explore. On top of great loot and beautiful scenery, this trial brings along a fantastic NPC that helps the party out and hopefully stops players from dropping as quickly as they will when underprepared. Be ready to fall and have a player who can revive as these bosses are less than forgiving.
2 Kyne's Aegis
- Location: Greymoor
- Difficulty: Expert
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Kyne's Wind | Healer |
Roaring Opportunist | DPS |
Vrol's Command | Tank/ DPS |
Yandir's Might | DPS |
Kyne's Aegis requires players to know exactly what they are doing at exactly the right time. Roles, understanding, and perfection are key to surviving and succeeding in this tricky trial.
It's a lot of fun to play but if players aren't adept in these battles they will quickly get frustrated and will find themselves on the floor more than they are fighting. If players can hold their own they will have a great time defeating these bosses and their annoying sidekicks.
1 Sunspire
- Location: Elsweyr
- Difficulty: Expert
- Rewards:
Armor Set | Best For |
|---|---|
Claw of Yolnahkriin | Tank |
Eye of Nahviintaas | Healer |
False God's Devotion | DPS |
Tooth of Lokkestiiz | DPS |
The best trial in Elder Scrolls Online does not necessarily need to be impossible. It needs to be fun, have a balanced and useful set as a reward, and should force the players fully into their roles.
Sunspire is exactly that. It's enjoyable, with three fantastic bosses that live up to the dragon lore in Elsweyr. The last dragon is really what makes this trial a joy. After all, who doesn't want to fight a terrifying but beautiful gold dragon with their friends?
Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on PC, macOS, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia.
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