Can You Solo Dungeons in ESO?

Yes, players absolutely can solo normal and some veteran dungeons in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). While group gameplay is the intent for 4-player dungeons introducing new mechanics and challenges, skilled players have proven it is possible to defeat these encounters all on your own.

Breaking Down ESO‘s Solo Content

ESO offers a substantial amount of content for solo players beyond group dungeons:

• Hundreds of hours of questing content and main storyline
• Huge open world zones with delves and world bosses
• Public dungeons with group event fights
• Maelstrom Arena – solo arena with progressive difficulty
• Antiquities system – solo mini-game rewarding legendary gear
• Companions – unlockable NPCs who can assist solo combat

However, for hardcore solo players seeking even greater challenges, the normal and veteran group dungeons offer that extreme test of skill.

(Table summarizing solo potential of various ESO dungeon difficulties)

So while not all dungeons can be easily soloed, normal base game options do provide an approachable starting point.

The Appeal of Soloing Group Dungeons

Soloing dungeons in ESO appeals to a certain type of player personality – one seeking immense combat challenges requiring mastery of many interlocking systems to overcome alone:

• Hyper-optimized character build – Reaching damage, sustain, and survivability limits
• Intimate mechanic knowledge – Learning tells for every lethal attack
• Consummate gearing – Perfectly traited sets, ideal mundus, mythic items
• Flawless execution – Patient, precise, risk-managed gameplay

The thrill comes from defeating epic bosses, some with notorious one-shot attacks, completely solo through your own skill and determination.

Let‘s discuss tips veterans recommend for players aiming to solo dungeons in ESO.

7 Core Tips For Solo Dungeoneering

Succeeding at soloing dungeons requires optimizing your character to limits beyond that needed for casual group play. Here are key areas to focus on:

1. High Shielding Uptime

• Damage shields provide an essential survivability buffer since you lack a dedicated healer
• Light/Heavy armor skill lines and various class abilities offer strong shield options
• Shields mitigating 10-20k+ damage are recommended

2. Heavy Attack Builds

• Heavy attacking not only boosts damage, but provides essential sustain
• Reduce ability costs and boost heavy attack returns via CP slots like Tenacity
• Sets like Hexos‘s Ward return resources on heavy attacks

3. Reach Penetration Caps

• Solo builds should reach penetration caps to counteract enemy resistances
• Major Breach + Alkosh brings Physical Penetration to the 18.2k cap
• Spell Erosion brings Spell Penetration to about 52% mitigation

4. Learn Boss Mechanic Tells

• Study videos to identify the early tells preceding devastating one-shot mechanics
• React instantly to block, dodge roll, or shield through these telegraphed attacks

5. Emergency Healing & Escapes

• Vigor, healing ultimates, & burst self-heals offer an emergency lifeline
• Escape abilities like Streak get you to safety when overwhelmed
• Know when to retreat and reset an encounter if things go badly

6. Food & Consumable Buffs

• Proper blue food gives major boosts to health, mag/stam, and recovery
• Potions, poisons, and spell power drinks provide short term boosts
• Every last bit of optimization counts when soloing hard bosses

7. Practice & Patience

• Prepare to wipe many many times learning mechanics and build limits
• Stay patient, analyzing each death for improvement areas
• Record attempts to review and identify small optimization tweaks

With practice, mastery of mechanics, and relentless incremental optimization, solo players can ultimately experience the satisfaction of overcoming the ultimate challenges ESO bosses can offer.

Easiest Dungeons To Start With

For players inspired to test their skill at solo dungeoneering, where should you start? While everyone’s power level and skill differs, here are some easier entry points recommended:

Normal Base Game Dungeons:

• Fungal Grotto I
• Darkshade Caverns I
• Wayrest Sewers I
• City of Ash I
• Elden Hollow I

These early dungeons have simpler mechanics compared to newer DLC dungeons, giving you room learn. Fungal Grotto I in particular only has basic damage-over-time effects to contend with.

Once you perfect your strategy and build on normal base games dungeons, only then try advancing to the following:

Veteran Base Game Dungeons:

• Volenfell
• Tempest Island
• Blackheart Haven

Their additional monster sets can help push your build higher. But be prepared for deadly one-shots and additional boss phases at veteran difficulty!

Ultimately, soloing ESO dungeons provides nigh-impossible challenges to keep you learning for hundreds of hours. Master this end-game content, and you can truly call yourself one of ESO’s top solo masters!