Do You Really Need to Buy All the ESO Expansions?

As a new or returning player to the massively popular MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, you may be wondering if you need to buy all of the game‘s expansions and DLC content to fully enjoy it.

The short answer is no – you definitely do not need every single piece of ESO content available to get hundreds or even thousands of hours of adventuring, questing, and endgame experiences. By picking up just a select few of the newer Chapters and DLC packs, you can unlock a majority of the worthwhile zones, stories, abilities and gear.

In this detailed guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about ESO‘s additional content, from the major expansions to smaller DLCs. You‘ll learn:

• How Chapters and DLCs work in ESO
• If an ESO Plus membership is worth it
• Which specific expansions are most valuable
• Smart ways to get DLCs cheaper or free
• What content you need for endgame

Let‘s dive in!

Demystifying ESO‘s Expansions and DLCs

Since its launch in 2014, Elder Scrolls Online has seen several major expansions that extend the world of Tamriel and add key features:

Chapters – These huge expansions add new zones along with 30+ hours of main story quests, special abilities, etc. The Chapters so far are:

• Morrowind (Vvardenfell zone)
• Summerset (Summerset Isle zone)
• Elsweyr (Northern Elsweyr zone)
• Greymoor (Western Skyrim zone)
• Blackwood (Blackwood zone)

DLC Game Packs – Smaller DLCs that range from new dungeons to small zones. There are over 15 DLCs including Orsinium, Thieves Guild, Murkmire, etc.

Collector‘s Editions – Optional upgrades to Chapters that give mounts, pets, costumes and other digital rewards.

This is a lot of content, so do you really need it all to properly experience ESO? Let‘s find out.

ESO Plus Gives You Access to Most DLCs

One thing that makes ESO more accessible is the ESO Plus membership program. For $14.99/month, you get the following perks:

• Access to all DLC game packs (except latest Chapter)
• 1650 Crowns monthly to spend in Crown Store
• Craft Bag for unlimited crafting inventory
• Double bank space
• 10% bonus to XP and gold gain
• Double housing furnishing space

Based on a recent quote from the official ESO Plus overview, "With an ESO Plus membership, you‘ll have access to all DLC game packs currently available in the in-game Crown Store."

This means you can enjoy all of the small zone DLCs like Thieves Guild, Imperial City, and Murkmire without having to pay for each one separately. ESO Plus is absolutely worth the monthly fee for most players.

But what about the Chapters?

Only the Newest Chapters Must Be Bought Separately

Here‘s a tip that will help you save money – with ESO Plus, you get access to all previous Chapters, except the most recent one.

For example, when Blackwood released in 2021, members got Blackwood automatically. Now with High Isle in 2022, ESO Plus grants Blackwood but not High Isle.

Based on this pattern, ESO Plus should provide access to every Chapter except High Isle until the next big expansion arrives.

So in summary, ESO Plus is almost mandatory, and the only Chapters you may want to buy separately are the latest one or two. Everything else is included!

But what if you want to own the Chapters permanently or get the special rewards from Collector‘s Editions?

Collector‘s Editions Offer Cool Rewards for Chapter Fans

While ESO Plus grants access to old Chapters, you won‘t permanently own or unlock any of the chapters. If your ESO Plus membership lapses, you‘ll lose access.

For hardcore fans who want to fully own Chapters to keep their zones, quests, abilities etc., buying them is recommended. However, you generally only need the latest Chapter fully unlocked since older ones come with ESO Plus.

For example, Greymoor and Blackwood are worth buying if you want permanent access. The previous chapters not so much.

One exception is the Collector‘s Editions for each Chapter. These optional upgrades give cool digital rewards like mounts, pets, player homes and costumes.

Collector‘s Edition rewards are usually around 2,000 to 4,000 Crowns, or $20 – $40. If you love collecting rare items in ESO, the Collector‘s Editions can be worthwhile purchases on top of ESO Plus.

Getting ESO DLCs & Expansions at the Lowest Cost

Between ESO Plus and buying Chapters/Collectors Editions, what‘s the most affordable way to get access to all of ESO‘s content? Here are some money-saving tips:

• For new players on a budget, signup for Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass. This gives you most of the major ESO DLC packs and Chapters for just $10-15 a month.

• Watch for ESO sales on official stores or sites like Green Man Gaming. Chapters often see 50% off sales.

• Upgrade to the latest Chapter Collector‘s Edition for around $20-$40 extra to permanently own that Chapter.

• Buy DLC bundles like the Guilds and Glory pack for better value than individual DLCs.

• Once you‘ve unlocked most content, an ESO Plus membership will let you access it all going forward.

With ESO Plus and buying only newer Chapters or Collector‘s Editions on sale, you can get 80-90% of the game‘s content at a reasonable price.

What ESO Expansions Do You Need for Endgame?

Let‘s say you mainly care about experiencing ESO‘s challenging endgame content at the veteran level cap. Is it necessary to buy every DLC and Chapter?

The good news is you can enjoy a majority of endgame without having all the expansions. However, a few tips on getting content for veteran play:

• The latest Chapter unlocks new veteran dungeons and trials for the first few months. Most rewarding to own right away for endgame.

• DLCs like Imperial City add new challenging veteran dungeons and PVP areas.

• Certain DLCs have must-have gear sets and monster helms. For example, Maw of Lorkhaj (Thieves Guild DLC) provides one of the best monster sets.

• Summerset is highly recommended for the Jewelry Crafting skill plus the challenging Cloudrest trial.

While ESO‘s endgame offers hundreds of hours of content to all players, owning key DLCs like Summerset, Imperial City, and the latest Chapter will help you experience it fully.

The Bottom Line – What You Should Buy

After this deep dive into ESO‘s ever-growing library of expansions and DLCs, what should you actually buy as a new or returning player? Here are my top recommendations:

• Get ESO Plus – this provides access to 90% of all content and is ESO‘s best value.

• Buy the latest Chapter – gives you the newest zones and dungeons.

• Pick up 2-3 standout DLCs like Summerset and Imperial City for must-have skills/gear.

• Optionally, buy Collector‘s Editions of your favorite Chapters for bonus rewards.

With this approach, you can get 80+ hours of fulifilling solo questing, hundreds of hours of endgame veteran challenges, and lots of great loot – all without breaking the bank. Welcome back to Tamriel, adventurer!