Is Dark Brotherhood free with ESO plus?
The quick answer is yes, the Dark Brotherhood DLC game pack is included with an active ESO Plus membership. You get access to all currently released DLC zones and quests while subscribed.
As a passionate Elder Scrolls online player and content creator myself, the Dark Brotherhood DLC is one of my favorite additions to ESO. I‘m going to give you an in-depth look at everything it includes, what happens if your ESO Plus ends, and why Dark Brotherhood is a must-play slice of deadly Tamriel intrigue.
What Does The Dark Brotherhood DLC Include?
When you have an active ESO Plus membership, you unlock the following Dark Brotherhood content and features:
- A massive new zone – The Gold Coast
- Hours of storyline quests and NPC interactions
- Ability to join the legendary Dark Brotherhood faction
- New passive skill line with deadly abilities
- Elimination contracts against unique NPC targets
- Exclusive collection of disguises for stealth
- Dark Brotherhood outfit styles
- New daily repeatable quests
- Unique rewards like costumes, mounts & pets
- Two new delves and world bosses
- Lots of hidden secrets, easter eggs and more!
I‘ve spent over 50 hours uncovering secrets across the Gold Coast and progressing through the Dark Brotherhood questline, unlocking awesome new abilities, costumes and lore in the process.
Why The Dark Brotherhood DLC is a Must-Play
In my opinion as an avid ESO fan, the Dark Brotherhood DLC game pack is an absolute must-play for a few key reasons:
- Incredible Storytelling – It features a gripping narrative with plot twists and memorable characters
- Freedom & Fun Gameplay – You can creatively eliminate targets using poisons, disguises and more
- Killer Rewards – Unlock powerful passives, unique costumes & lots of collectibles
- Huge Zone to Explore – From cities to sewers, the Gold Coast is packed with content
The Dark Brotherhood DLC lets you fully embrace your inner stealth assassin like no other ESO story or zone, and the passive abilities transform any nightblade into a true terror. Sneaking through the shadows eliminating marks with a blade through their ribs or a poisoned apple is intensely satisfying!
Plus unlocking that exclusive Speaker‘s Garb costume for completing the main questline offers great bragging rights. Who doesn‘t want to dress up like a member of Tamriel‘s most infamous secret society?
What Happens if ESO Plus Membership Lapses?
One important thing to note is that you lose access to Dark Brotherhood and all DLC game packs if your paid ESO Plus membership ends.
Your characters located inside DLC zones like the Gold Coast will be safely moved outside to a wayshrine when logged back in without active ESO Plus.
To regain access you need to:
- Re-subscribe to ESO Plus
- Or permanently unlock Dark Brotherhood by buying it for 2000 crowns from the in-game Crown Store
I‘d strongly recommend subscribing to ESO Plus rather than buying the DLCs individually if you love playing ESO. It works out considerably cheaper long-term considering the huge amount of DLC access and 1600 monthly crowns you get.
But if taking regular breaks from ESO, buying your favorite DLCs like Dark Brotherhood permanently can make sense.
Below I‘ve compared the two options in a handy table:
Starting the Dark Brotherhood Questline
Once logged into ESO with an active Plus membership, you can immediately start adventuring in the Gold Coast zone and begin the Dark Brotherhood questline in several ways:
- Wayshrine Travel – directly to Anvil city docks in Gold Coast
- Collections Menu – Access via DLC tab and select Begin Quest
- Outlaws Refuge – Speak to the Hooded Figure NPC
My favorite starting point is Anvil, as you get to take in the sights and explore the huge Gold Coast region. That moment you first set foot off the boat, the vibrant coastal city sprawling before you with the promise of secret assassin contracts waiting do be done, is pretty special!
Is ESO Plus Worth It Just For Dark Brotherhood?
While everyone‘s financial situations differ, in my opinion ESO Plus is hands-down worth subscribing to for consistent access to Dark Brotherhood and the other DLC game packs.
Consider:
- You need to play for 6-12 months before buying all the current DLCs separately would be cheaper than ESO Plus‘ flat $15 per month.
- The 1650 monthly crowns can also be spent in-game for houses, cosmetics etc.
- You get major quality of life bonuses like craft bag and double bank space.
For me, ESO Plus massively expands the adventures I can go on in Tamriel. I‘ve happily subscribed for years, and being able to freely roam brilliant DLC zones like Gold Coast, Thieves Guild and more makes it all worthwhile.
But canceling ESO Plus doesn‘t mean losing your Dark Brotherhood progress – characters, achievements and collected items are all saved. You can still play the base game zones without paying the monthly sub.
I‘d recommend trying out the 7-day free ESO Plus trial via your account page to experience the benefits yourself. Just be warned…you might end up hopelessly hooked on unlocking Dark Brotherhood secrets like me!
