The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) continues to evolve, introducing new crafting systems, content, and mechanics to engage its dedicated player base. One of the latest and most exciting additions is the Scribing profession, which was introduced with the Necrom expansion. This new crafting skill allows players to create powerful scrolls and glyphs, enhancing their gameplay with buffs and advantages, particularly in the context of PvP (Player vs. Player) and endgame content.
If you're looking to dive into Scribing, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the process of unlocking the Scribing profession in ESO, explain its mechanics, and provide useful tips for maximizing your experience with this new crafting system.
What is Scribing in The Elder Scrolls Online?
Scribing is a crafting skill that allows players to craft Scrolls and Glyphs that grant temporary boosts to characters. These can be used for a variety of purposes, from combat advantages in PvP to support during PvE activities. The introduction of Scribing as a profession opens up new ways for players to customize their gameplay experience by creating powerful consumables.
Unlike other crafting professions in ESO, which focus primarily on gear and consumables, Scribing focuses on creating items that have immediate and often short-term effects. These crafted scrolls are essential for players looking to enhance their abilities, resistances, and damage output during difficult content or PvP scenarios.
Unlocking Scribing: Step-by-Step Guide
The Scribing profession is part of the Necrom chapter, so in order to unlock it, you need to have access to this expansion. Below is a detailed breakdown of how to unlock Scribing, including prerequisites and key actions required:
Step 1: Access the Necrom Chapter
Before you can start unlocking Scribing, you need to ensure you have access to the Necrom chapter, which was released as part of ESO's ongoing expansions. The chapter introduces a variety of new systems, including Scribing.
Purchasing the Chapter: If you haven't already, you will need to purchase the Necrom chapter, either through the in-game store or by buying the full ESO expansion. Once purchased, you can start exploring the content added with the chapter.
Free Access for ESO Plus Members: ESO Plus subscribers can access all expansions, including Necrom, as part of their subscription, so you can skip the purchase if you're subscribed.
Once the expansion is unlocked, you'll have access to the new zone and the crafting profession related to Scribing.
Step 2: Travel to the New Zone – Apocrypha
To begin your Scribing journey, you will need to travel to the new zone introduced in Necrom—Apocrypha. This is a mystical and somewhat eerie location connected to the powers of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora.
Travel to Apocrypha: You can access Apocrypha through the main storyline of the Necrom chapter or directly through the zone's entrance (located in the southeast corner of the map, near the Halls of the Tormentor). The zone is primarily quest-driven, but you'll find that key NPCs related to Scribing are scattered throughout Apocrypha.
NPC for Scribing: In Apocrypha, head to the NPC named Mephala's Scrivener. This character will offer you the first steps for unlocking Scribing and will explain its basics. Interacting with them will start the quest to unlock the Scribing profession.
Step 3: Complete the Introductory Scribing Quest
Once you meet with the Scrivener, you will receive a quest called "The Written Word" or something similar (depending on translation and updates). This quest serves as the introduction to the Scribing profession and will guide you through the basic mechanics.
During the quest, you will be tasked with gathering specific resources required to create your first scrolls or glyphs. You'll learn about the three main components of Scribing:
Paper: You'll be crafting scrolls, so paper is an essential material, obtained from plants and trees in Apocrypha or from special crafting nodes.
Ink: Ink is a secondary crafting component, and it can be created by refining certain types of ingredients (often found in Apocrypha).
Glyphs: Glyphs are the magical sigils that imbue the scrolls with their power. These are sometimes dropped by enemies or can be created by you as part of the crafting process.
By the end of this introductory quest, you'll have successfully crafted your first Scribing consumables and gained the Scribing skill.
Step 4: Leveling Up Your Scribing Skill
Like other crafting professions in ESO, Scribing has its own skill tree, allowing you to unlock additional benefits and powerful abilities as you level up your crafting skill. You'll need to craft various scrolls and glyphs to gain experience points for Scribing, and as you level up, you'll be able to craft more potent items.
Scribing Experience: You'll earn experience towards Scribing by creating scrolls at crafting stations (which can be found in most major cities, such as the Mages Guild). Additionally, you can refine various components you collect from Apocrypha to increase your experience.
Scribing Stations: You'll need to visit Scribing Stations to craft your scrolls. These stations are found in Apocrypha but can also be accessed from a crafting station in any of the major cities. Each station will allow you to combine your paper, ink, and glyphs to create the desired scroll or glyph.
Leveling Progression: As you craft scrolls, you'll unlock new recipes and can experiment with different ink types, papers, and glyphs. This progression system is tied to how many scrolls you craft, and it's important to gather a wide range of materials to optimize your crafting.
Scribing Materials: Where to Gather Resources
To effectively level up your Scribing and craft powerful scrolls, you'll need to gather a variety of materials. These materials can be gathered directly from the world of Apocrypha or from specific nodes and other sources.
1. Paper
Paper can be gathered from trees, plants, and specific craft nodes found throughout Apocrypha.
Some paper types are also dropped by enemies or obtained as quest rewards.
2. Ink
Ink is another key crafting material and is refined from certain ingredients. These ingredients can be harvested from specific resource nodes or by refining various plants.
There are different types of ink in Scribing, each adding unique properties to the scrolls you create, such as increasing the potency of the buff or adding specific effects.
3. Glyphs
Glyphs are the magical sigils that empower the scrolls. You will either find these by defeating certain bosses or enemies, or you may learn to craft them as you level up your Scribing skill.
Glyphs typically come in different rarities and can include buffs like health regeneration, stamina increases, or even elemental damage enhancements.
Crafting Scrolls and Glyphs
With your materials in hand, it's time to head to a Scribing Station to begin crafting your scrolls and glyphs. The process involves a few simple steps:
1. Access a Scribing Station
Scribing Stations can be found in cities or other major hubs throughout Tamriel, as well as in Apocrypha. Simply interact with the station to start crafting.
2. Choose Your Crafting Recipe
Once at the station, select the scroll or glyph recipe you want to craft. These recipes can be obtained from your Scribing skill progression, from certain NPCs, or by acquiring scroll glyphs from other players.
3. Combine Materials
Combine your paper, ink, and glyph to create a scroll or glyph. There are different types of scrolls and glyphs, each with specific effects. The more materials you gather, the more powerful your crafted scrolls will become.
4. Experiment and Improve
As you level up your Scribing skill, you will unlock more advanced crafting options, including crafting higher-quality scrolls with stronger effects. You can experiment with different combinations of ingredients to improve your outcomes.
Benefits of Scribing
The Scribing crafting profession adds a wealth of new utility to your character, particularly for those who engage in PvP or endgame content. Some of the key benefits include:
Powerful Buffs: Scrolls created with Scribing provide temporary boosts to your stats and abilities. These can be incredibly useful for raids, PvP scenarios, or any challenging content that requires a temporary edge.
Customization: Players can tailor their crafted scrolls to their specific needs, whether they want increased damage, resistance to status effects, or stamina regeneration.
Marketable Items: Scribed scrolls and glyphs can be sold to other players in the market, allowing you to earn ESO gold by crafting consumables that others need for tough battles or PvP matches.
Conclusion
Unlocking and mastering Scribing in The Elder Scrolls Online can significantly enhance your gameplay, whether you're engaging in PvP, tackling endgame content, or just experimenting with new crafting mechanics. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to crafting powerful scrolls and glyphs that will give you a competitive edge in both PvE and PvP encounters.
Remember that, like any crafting profession in ESO, Scribing requires patience and resourcefulness. As you progress through the Necrom expansion, gather materials, level up your Scribing skill, and experiment with different crafting recipes to maximize your potential.
MMOexp Elder Scrolls Online Team