The new scribing system in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) has revolutionized the game, introducing over 4,000 skill combinations along with a collectible currency and upgrade system. If you’re wondering how to master this system, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you're looking to unlock new abilities, gather rare components, or get the most out of your toolkit, our ESO scribing guide will help you get started on the right foot.

In this guide, we'll break down the essentials of the ESO scribing system, including how to unlock it, how to farm the necessary resources, and how to make it work for you without overwhelming grind. Let’s dive in!

What is Scribing in ESO?

Scribing is a brand-new crafting system in ESO, offering players the ability to create new abilities by combining different components. Think of it as a way to expand your toolkit, providing flexibility and utility to your gameplay. It’s not an overpowered spell system but a sophisticated method to enhance your character's strengths.

Key Components in Scribing:

●Grimoire: The base ability.

●Focus Script: Defines the function of the ability.

●Signature Script: Adds effects to the ability.

●Affix Script: Provides buffs or debuffs.

To successfully create an ability, you’ll need to combine all four components. It may seem complex, but once you get the hang of it, the process becomes streamlined.

Unlocking the Scribing System

Unlocking the scribing system in ESO is straightforward. Once you own the Gold Road expansion, a new NPC called Adept Nard will appear at Mages Guilds throughout the world. If you prefer, you can activate the scribing upgrade directly from your Collections Menu. This will lead you to Adept Nard in Skrat, where your scribing journey begins.

The intro quest will introduce you to Nalia, your companion for this journey. The quest is short, taking about 15 to 20 minutes on your first playthrough. However, after you complete it once, it becomes even quicker—taking under 5 minutes if you skip the dialogue.

Completing the intro quest unlocks your first grimoire and three scripts, officially granting access to ESO scribing skills on that character.

Getting More Grimoire and Scripts

Once you unlock the scribing system, the next step is to gather grimoire and scripts. Initially, you’ll receive three scripts from the intro quest, but there are many more to obtain—67 in total.

●Intro Quest: Unlocks the first grimoire and three scripts.
●Wing of the Indri Quest: Completing this quest gives you nine more grimoire, which are critical for advancing in the scribing system.

How to Get More Grimoire:

1.Vendors: Purchase from Fandel in the Scarium.
2.Ink Drops: Gather from mobs.
3.Daily Quests: Earn scripts from completing various dailies.

The Indri Sigil upgrade, unlocked during the Wing of the Indri Quest, is account-wide, so you only need to complete it once. This gives you a huge advantage when farming across multiple characters.

Farming Scripts Efficiently:

Scripts fall into three categories:
●Focus Scripts: Found in delve dailies and major Guild dailies.
●Signature Scripts: Found in World Boss dailies, Fighters Guild dailies, and Cyrodiil dailies.
●AIC Scripts: Earned from Undaunted dailies and Imperial City dailies.

Tip: Each day, you’ll receive one guaranteed drop of each script type from the respective dailies. After that, there’s a 25% chance to receive additional scripts.

How Much Does Scribing Cost?

One of the most critical aspects of the scribing system is its cost. While ESO does provide some free resources, unlocking and mastering scribing can be expensive.

Grimoire Cost:
●First Grimoire: 50,000 gold.
●Subsequent Grimoire: 10,000 gold each.

To unlock all 11 grimoire on a single character, you’ll need around 500,000 eso gold. For multiple characters, the costs can easily add up, but there are ways to mitigate this. If you’re patient, events like the Zeal of Zenithar can reduce these costs by 10%.

Advanced Scribing: Mastering the System

Once you’ve unlocked the basics, it’s time to dive into advanced scribing. This involves gathering rare scripts and Mastery Scripts, which provide a unique bonus depending on your character’s class. Mastery Scripts are unlocked by collecting scraps from trials, dungeons, and PvP.

How to Unlock Mastery Scripts:
●Collect 50 scraps from trials, dungeons, PvP, or master writs.
●Once collected, these fragments will be consumed automatically, and you’ll earn the achievement that unlocks the ability to purchase the Class Master Script for 5,000 gold.

Farming Tips for Scribing

If you're eager to dive into scribing but want to avoid excessive grind, here are some efficient strategies:

1.Prioritize Dailies: Focus on dailies that reward motifs or have a high drop rate for useful items. This helps maximize both your script farming and your gold income.
2.Vendor Shopping: Each week, Fandel in the Scarium offers new scripts, so be sure to check in regularly. The price of these scripts reduces if you already have one character that knows them.
3.Infinite Archive: The Infinite Archive offers incredible rewards and helps you improve as a player. It's a great way to mix farming with skill-building.

By focusing on these activities, you can steadily farm the resources you need without overwhelming yourself with grind.

Scribing Grind – How Long Will It Take?

For those concerned about how long it takes to fully master scribing, the reality is it’s a long-term investment. Here’s a rough estimate of how long it will take to collect all the scripts:

●Focus Scripts: 20 days per character.
●Signature Scripts: 16 days per character.
●AIC Scripts: 14 days per character.

While this may seem daunting, remember that the ESO scribing system is designed to grow and evolve over time. The vendors in Scarium and Infinite Archive help reduce the grind by providing opportunities to purchase scripts without relying solely on random drops.

Conclusion

The ESO scribing system is a game-changer, adding depth and strategy to your gameplay. Whether you're in it for the new abilities or the challenge of collecting rare scripts, the system offers plenty of rewards for those who invest the time. While it may seem complex at first, by following this guide and taking it step-by-step, you’ll be on your way to mastering the best ESO scribing system in no time!

Start your journey now, plan out your farming strategy, and don't forget to check in with vendors each week. You’ll soon find that the effort pays off with new abilities and exciting gameplay options that keep your character ahead of the game.