Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games

As a seasoned Elder Scrolls veteran with countless hours spent navigating the fantastical realms and intricate narratives of Tamriel, I must say that two questlines stand out as the epitome of epic storytelling – Yagrum Bagarn and Wraithguard in Morrowind and The End of Order in Oblivion: The Shivering Isles.


As a dedicated fan, I can confidently say that Bethesda’s iconic fantasy saga holds a special place in my heart due to its vast, intriguing landscapes, mind-boggling lore, and immersive quest lines. In fact, the masterful design of these quests is one of the main reasons why the games remain a top-tier benchmark for modern open-world RPGs.

More than ten years since the last release, these games still evoke warm feelings and respect. With a new one possibly on the horizon, let’s reminisce about some of the most unforgettable journeys we experienced in the earlier versions.

If you’re after intense combat, mystery, deception, or spine-tingling fear, the adventures in The Elder Scrolls will satisfy all that and beyond!

10 Ghosts of the Tribunal

Canonized Fan Creation

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games

GameSkyrim: Anniversary Edition
Quest LocationRaven Rock Temple
QuestgiverRead Heretic’s Dossier: Blacksmith’s Confessional

Kick things off with our initial addition, which happens to be the most recent one! Originally made available through Skyrim’s Creation Club, Ghosts of the Tribunal was officially added in 2021. Given the thriving modding community among Elder Scrolls fans, this acknowledgment of third-party work is a fitting tribute to their creative efforts.

Of course, “Ghosts of the Tribunal” doesn’t just convey a pleasant idea; it’s also a remarkable quest that strengthens the connection between Morrowind and Skyrim on Solstheim. The narrative revolves around the consequences of the main quest in an adventure set in its aftermath.

If presented with a choice between two distinct spiritual groups, would you favor the contemporary faith based on the “benevolent Daedra” or the Dunmer who remain loyal to the ALMSIVI triad?

Immersed in callback elements from Morrowind and intriguing ways to shape the narrative, Ghosts of the Tribunal showcases how a sense of nostalgia can enhance contemporary gaming experiences.

9 Frostflow Abyss

Horrors Lurk Below

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameSkyrim
Quest LocationFrostflow Lighthouse
QuestgiverNone

In the realm of “The Elder Scrolls” games, you’ll find tales of murder mysteries, monster hunts, and horror stories. It’s no surprise, given that expansions within this universe are devoted to creatures like vampires and werewolves. However, even among these compelling questlines, the Frostflow Abyss remains the most chilling adventure I’ve encountered in the series.

The spooky atmosphere of Frostflow Abyss is largely due to its narrative approach that relies on ambiance and in-game texts rather than traditional game elements like quest givers or living NPCs. Its isolation, with no apparent reason for a player to explore it unless they happen to wander through Winterhold, adds to the sense of mystery and eeriness.

Inside is a scene of slaughter, and hints that you can learn the family’s fate by venturing below…

8 Antabolis Informant

Your Journey Begins

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameMorrowind
Quest LocationBalmora
QuestgiverCaius Cosades

As soon as you step ashore at Seyda Neen village from your ship, the world unfolds before you, inviting exploration. You may find it suggested to seek out a man named Caius Cosades in Balmora city, who can offer more guidance – if you decide to follow that path, of course.

Initially, Caius’s initial mission, referred to as Antabolis Informant, provides an introduction to the main themes of Morrowind’s storyline and gameplay. During this quest, you will make your first visit to one of Vvardenfell’s vast Dwemer ruins. Ordinary adversaries are juxtaposed with a fantastical setting as you hunt for a Dwemer puzzle box to settle your debt with the informant and gain some insight into Morrowind’s past.

What truly sets Antabolis Informant apart is its ability to hint at the subsequent main storyline. Unlike Oblivion or Skyrim, Morrowind does not explicitly reveal the story from the start. Instead, it subtly foreshadows the events to come.

As the story unfolds, it gradually reveals that the data provided by Antabolis turned out to be crucial for your predicted showdown with Dagoth Ur.

7 Diplomatic Immunity

007: Dragonborn

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameSkyrim
Quest LocationRiverwood
QuestgiverDelphine

In the world of The Elder Scrolls, Diplomatic Immunity stands out among its stealth missions due to the need for both skillful stealth and clever manipulation.

The scenario feels somewhat artificial, requiring you to temporarily abandon much of your gear, which is unfortunate because it means you can’t revisit the Thalmor embassy for a raid later on. However, this mission stands out as the most thrilling and impactful in the primary storyline of Skyrim.

As smoothly as 007 himself, I manage to sneak my way into an exclusive gathering, exchange witty banter with the villain, stir up some trouble, and then vanish amidst the ensuing pandemonium.

Investigating the embassy doesn’t just give you access to classified political documents, but also leads you on a guided tour through the Thalmor’s prison cells (with a convenient escape route hidden in a nearby cave).

6 The Purification

Track Down A Traitor

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameOblivion
Quest LocationCheydinhal Sanctuary
QuestgiverOcheeva

In games like Oblivion and Skyrim, The Dark Brotherhood is known for providing unusual missions. However, The Purification quest isn’t just about assassinating targets. Instead, Lucien Lachance tasks you with brutally eliminating fellow members within the guild sanctuary.

As I, a member of the enigmatic Dark Brotherhood, I’m tasked with more than just eliminating a target. The mission at hand seems to be about exposing and ending the rule of a traitor hidden among us – someone who has betrayed the very principles we hold dear, our unwavering loyalty. This revelation casts a heavy shadow over our brotherhood, a solemn reminder that even within our ranks, there can be deceit.

The greatest irony is that Ocheeva gives you the letter to meet Lucien, which in turn results in your mission to kill her. The Purification is a strong quest about loyalty and betrayal, instigating the latter half of Oblivion’s Dark Brotherhood questline.

5 Discerning The Transmundane

To Deal With The Daedra

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameSkyrim
Quest LocationSeptimus Signus’s Outpost
QuestgiverSeptimus Signus

The insidious presence of the Daedric Princes and their oh-so-delightful artifacts are iconic Elder Scrolls experiences. While most Daedric quests are fairly straightforward, Hermaeus Mora’s quest will send you even into Blackreach while trying to unleash his Oghma Infinium from its Dwemer-built prison.

Translating this: Reviving the blood of an extinct species to unlock a mysterious box and uncover ancient eldritch knowledge? Count me in! The intriguing idea and motif behind this quest are made even more captivating by guiding you through the sprawling Alftand ruins and deep into the depths of Blackreach.

That combination of unlocking new areas, disturbing stories, and powerful rewards makes Discerning the Transmundane the best of the Daedric quests.

4 Dealing With Orvas Dren

I’m In Charge, Now

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameMorrowind
Quest LocationEbonheart
QuestgiverDuke Vedam Dren

Experiencing one of the Three Houses as you ascend to power is among the most enjoyable aspects in the game Morrowind. To successfully finish each house’s storyline, it’s essential that you establish your own stronghold and defeat the current leader of the house.

Duke Vedam Dren is keen on bestowing the title of Grandmaster upon you within House Hlaalu. However, there’s a minor issue: his brother Orvas Dren heads the Camonna Tong and harbors strong dislike towards foreigners such as yourself.

Option A: The Camonna Tong are mercilessly ruthless, a dangerous band of bigots trafficking in humans, narcotics, and extortion. To eliminate them is crucial, or else gain the backing of the Duke’s younger sibling.

This quest in Morrowind stands out among all others in The Elder Scrolls series due to its versatility. If you fancy eliminating Dren, go ahead. If you prefer persuading him, it’s challenging but achievable. Or perhaps blackmailing him is more your style, then you’re demonstrating the cunning of a House Hlaalu leader!

As much as I detest this odious antagonist, it’s undeniable that Morrowind captivates me with its numerous options for quest completion. By this stage of the adventure, chances are you’ve made several trips to the Dren Plantation already.

Given the shady activities of the Camonna Tong and the fact that it’s swarming with top-tier enforcers, it’s quite tempting for the timid to steer clear of any confrontation instead.

3 Battle For Windhelm / Battle for Solitude

Skyrim’s True Ending

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameSkyrim
Quest LocationSolitude or Windhelm
QuestgiverGalmar Stonefist or Legate Rikke

In Skyrim, even after vanquishing Alduin, Harkon, and Miraak, it doesn’t truly feel like the end until the Civil War concludes. This conflict determines the final battles based on your alliance choice.

The main storylines in Skyrim are grand battles, but the Civil War plot resonates deeply because it centers around the people of Skyrim. Regardless if you didn’t delve into the Civil War questline for much of the game, this conflict is woven throughout the game’s conversations, character development, and settings.

The Civil War’s final quests aren’t “just” exciting battles—they’re the emotional climax of, I argue, Skyrim’s “true” story.

2 Yagrum Bagarn And Wraithguard

Who Needs Gods, Anyway?

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameMorrowind
Quest LocationTel Fyr
QuestgiverYagrum Bagarn

In Morrowind, as with contemporary games, there are characters known as Non-Player Characters (NPCs) that play crucial roles in the storyline. However, unlike many modern games, you have the ability to eliminate these “essential” NPCs in Morrowind, disrupting the course of any prophecy they may be part of.

Among the entities of the Tribunal, Vivec, a deity, stands out as one who holds such immense power that he suspended a moon above his city mid-air. It appears that if Vivek, not Vivec, is slain, it seems impossible to finish Morrowind’s main quest.

The game includes a secret passageway, and only by disrupting the main storyline can one access the intriguing quest called “Yagrum Bagarn And Wraithguard.” By delivering the Wraithguard to Yagrum Bagarn, the Last Living Dwemer, it is possible to repair this artifact as long as you successfully complete his assignments.

Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House may still fall into ruin!

1 The End of Order

Enjoy Your Throne, Madgod

Best Quests In The Elder Scrolls Games
GameOblivion: The Shivering Isles
Quest LocationSheogorath’s Palace
QuestgiverCaptain of the Palace Guard

Surely you didn’t think I’d leave out Sheogorath?

1) Among all additions to the Elder Scrolls series, whether expansions, DLC or fan-made mods, The Shivering Isles stands out as the best.

Unlike in the main storyline of Oblivion, where characters often fight battles for you, this time around, you’ll be facing off against the Daedric Prince on your own. No help from others, it’s just you and the battle ahead.

The final act of this expansion surpasses, in terms of narrative quality, even the climactic battles against Dagoth Ur in Morrowind or Miraak in Skyrim: Dragonborn.

The secrets unveiled about madness and divinity in this universe indicate that vanquishing Jyggalag is not just about “saving the world” or “preserving Sheogorath’s domain” – your actions could fundamentally alter the very fabric of the Elder Scrolls cosmos.

Among all the grand expeditions and missions within the Elder Scrolls saga, none quite reach the pinnacle like The End of Order does.

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2024-11-05 19:40