Crafting 101 in ESO — The New Player’s Complete Guide to Crafting, Research, and Profit
Crafting in The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the most rewarding systems for new players: it delivers self-sufficiency, powerful gear, steady income, and deeper immersion into Tamriel’s economies and cultures. This guide walks you from absolute beginner steps to confident crafter status. You’ll learn where to start, how to level multiple crafts efficiently, how to research and apply traits, how to read and use style and set information, and how to convert crafting into in-game gold and progression. Expect practical routines, clear step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting tips you can use immediately.
This guide covers:
how to unlock and use every crafting station;
the research system and trait management;
gathering, storage, and use of materials (including the Craft Bag);
crafting writs, provisioning, and improving consumables;
efficient leveling routes and multi-crafting workflows;
how to profit from crafting and avoid early mistakes.
Throughout the guide you’ll find examples and recommended daily and weekly routines so you can slot crafting into playtime even if you only have 30–60 minutes each day.
Getting started — which crafts to pick first
The game offers multiple disciplines: Blacksmithing, Clothier, Woodworking, Alchemy, Enchanting, and Provisioning. As a new player, choose the crafts that directly match your immediate needs.
Combat-focused players should prioritize Blacksmithing, Clothier, and Woodworking for weapons, armor, and shields/bows.
Magic players get the most value from Enchanting and Alchemy for powerful glyphs and potions.
Hybrid and roleplay players often combine Provisioning for food/drink buffs with either armor trades or enchanting.
If you want a steady income early, Provisioning and Enchanting can be lucrative because consumables and glyphs sell frequently.
Start with one armor trade and one support trade (for example, Clothier + Provisioning) so you learn station locations, material nodes, and research systems without getting overwhelmed.
Understanding crafting stations and where to find them
Crafting stations are found in major cities, homesteads, and many outdoor crafting areas. Each station handles specific functions:
Blacksmithing station: weapons, heavy armor, weapon tempering.
Clothier station: light/medium armor and clothing.
Woodworking station: staves, bows, shields.
Alchemy station: potions and poisons.
Enchanting table: glyph creation, runes extraction.
Provisioning table: cook meals and brew drinks.
Improvement and Transmutation: deconstruction, trait extraction, and improvement.
Map out the nearest city that provides a full complement of stations — often your starting zone’s main city or faction hub. Once you find one, set a waypoint and visit often until you know where each station sits. Many players use a central crafting hub (a major city or player house with crafting stations) to streamline routines.
Tip: if you join a guild, ask for access to a guild bank or guild hall that hosts crafting stations — these can save travel time and be closer to marketplaces.
Basic UI and inventory terms you must know
Inventory: holds raw materials, crafted items, and discovered motifs/styles.
Craft Bag: available to ESO Plus subscribers; stores crafting materials separately and helps manage inventory space. Consider prioritizing resources into the Craft Bag if you subscribe, or use stash/guild bank management otherwise.
Mat/Item tiers: Normal (white), Fine (green), Superior (blue), Epic (purple), and Legendary (gold). Items and mats scale with level and Champion Points caps.
Trait research: the process by which you unlock the ability to craft items with special properties (like Sharpened, Reinforced). Research times scale with the trait and your level.
Deconstruction: breaks unwanted equipment into crafting materials and grants research progress if the item has an unresearched trait.
Provisioning recipes: learned by discovering dishes via recipes or buying them from vendors; they often require multiple ingredients and grant timed stat bonuses.
Getting comfortable with these terms makes the rest of crafting logic intuitive.
Leveling crafting efficiently — core principles
Research while leveling: Always slot an item to research while you craft or explore. It’s passive progress that costs time, not playtime, and is the main limiter on progression.
Deconstruct everything: Early on, deconstruct old equipment rather than selling it. You’ll earn materials and research progress.
Craft what you can use or sell: Don’t waste expensive materials crafting items you don’t need unless you’re optimizing specific trait research or writs.
Prioritize trait research order: Start with traits that matter for your build and trade goals (e.g., Infused and Sharpened for weapons; Divines and Reinforced for armor, depending on role).
Daily routines: Combine daily writs, trait research, and leveling crafting in short sessions to maximize efficiency.
Follow these principles and crafting becomes a background activity that supports other gameplay goals.
Research mechanics and trait management
Trait research is the backbone of mid- and late-game crafting. Each piece of craftable equipment can have multiple trait options that dramatically affect its performance.
To research a trait, place an item with that trait into a research slot at the appropriate crafting station and start the timer.
Research time depends on your crafting level and the trait rarity; it is measured in hours. Research speed improves with skill points in the relevant craft skill line and with certain Champion Points and consumables.
Each trait must be researched once per item type (weapon head, body armor, shield, etc.) per material and motif combination. That’s why many players research using cheap, low-quality items or items dropped in low-level zones to minimize material loss.
Use deconstruction to obtain materials and to accelerate research: deconstructing a crafted item before researching wastes the trait opportunity, so plan carefully.
Recommended research order for new players:
Start with core traits for the role you play (damage traits for DPS, defensive traits for tanks, Divines for healers who want maximum support).
Expand to utility or niche traits later.
Use inexpensive, local-zone items for early research to reduce resource waste.
Gathering, nodes, and resource management
Gathering resources is the most repeatable activity early on. Different resources connect to crafts: ore for blacksmithing, fibrous plants for clothier, wood for woodworking, herbs for alchemy, and so on.
Run with a gathering mindset and collect nodes as you pass them. Nodes are fixed in many zones and respawn after a set time.
Use an inventory sorting routine: separate materials into the Craft Bag (if you have it), stash duplicates in guild banks, and keep exact amounts for current research.
Convert raw nodes into usable materials at the appropriate stations: Smelt ore for ingots at a blacksmithing station; cut plants into provisioning ingredients where needed.
Learn which zones drop the materials required for specific traits or styles. Some materials are zone-specific and are required for crafting set pieces.
Tip: gather passively while questing to avoid dedicated grind sessions.
Crafting the first useful items — step-by-step
Visit the crafting station for your chosen discipline.
Select the recipe for a basic item of your level (for armor/weapons choose a set matching your level).
Choose the material tier (Normal > Fine > Superior as appropriate). Using the highest tier available is unnecessary early.
Craft a full set of equipment to gain more experience and materials from eventual deconstruction.
Put one item with a desired trait into the research slot and start research while you continue playing.
Example: If you picked Clothier and your level is 10:
Craft light armor pieces from your local zone material (e.g., Rawhide, Linen).
Equip the best pieces and deconstruct the worst ones to get clothier materials and progress research.
Queue research on a single trait like Divines on a helmet; while the timer runs, continue gathering or doing quests.
This loop — craft, equip/use, deconstruct, research — is the foundation of crafting progression.
Improving and tempering items — transmutation and improvement
Improvement and tempering (the systems that upgrade gear quality and change traits) require improvement materials. Use these to:
Upgrade item quality (e.g., from normal to superior to epic); this increases gear stats.
Transmute or craft higher-tier items as game updates and systems allow.
For daily play:
Save improvement materials and use them when you craft or buy a full set intended for long-term play.
Don’t waste rare reagents improving low-level gear — improve items you plan to keep or sell as high-value pieces.
Provisioning (food and drink creation) is simpler: recipes require ingredients that are often cheap and abundant. Level provisioning by cooking the highest-level recipes you can create for the experience and keep a stock of common buff foods for trials and dungeons.
Enchanting and glyph economy
Enchanting converts runes and soul gems into glyphs that add attributes to jewelry, weapons, and armor.
Unlock glyphs by disenchanting items that carry the desired effect.
Combine glyphs appropriately: Weapon glyphs grant damage or utility effects; armor glyphs grant resistances or stats.
Glyph sizes vary by gear type; ensure you use the correct glyph on the correct slot type.
Enchanting can be profitable early because many players need low-level glyphs to optimize builds. Keep an eye on your guild trader’s listings to see which glyphs sell — focusing on high-demand, low-material-cost glyphs will increase income.
Provisioning basics for buffs and profit
Provisioning is among the fastest ways to make consistent progress because consumables have recurring demand.
Learn high-value recipes: meals and drinks that grant popular stat combos are always in demand.
Keep a rotation: cook a batch, list some on guild traders, and use the rest.
Pair Provisioning with Alchemy: many players buy both potions and food for trials and PvP sessions.
Start by collecting common herbs and ingredients in zones you already play. Provisioning recipes can be learned from vendors, treasure chests, or as rewards and are often tied to specific zones or activities.
Daily and weekly crafting routine (30–60 minute plan)
Daily (30–60 minutes):
Pick up and complete crafting writs if available.
Start a new research project for each station you’re leveling.
Craft a set or batch of items at your current level (weapons/armor or consumables) and deconstruct any excess.
Gather nodes along a short, efficient route or while completing other content.
Stock the guild trader with 1–3 high-demand crafted items or glyphs.
Weekly:
Complete crafting events, motif hunts, or trading opportunities.
Review trait research progress and re-evaluate which traits to pursue next.
Consolidate materials, move redundant items to guild banks, and update your crafting checklist.
This routine keeps research timers active and ensures steady material flow without long grind sessions.
Writs, crafting quests, and reputation
Crafting writs are repeatable quests that yield experience, materials, and often improvement items. They also provide a steady source of gold and can reward motifs or recipes.
Complete writs daily — they are typically quick and give strong rewards for the time invested.
Advance faction-specific crafting reputation by completing zone-based tasks and writs to unlock unique motifs and recipes.
Some writs require specific traits; use them strategically to research or practice new traits.
Writs accelerate access to higher-quality recipes and improvement materials.
Motifs, styles, and cosmetics
Motifs determine the cosmetic appearance of crafted gear. They’re separate from performance stats but are valuable for fashion and roleplay.
Learn motifs by buying them, finding them in world chests, or receiving them as writ rewards.
You can craft a given motif only after learning it. If you want to sell cosmetically themed gear, learn high-demand motifs (e.g., imperial or expansion-specific motifs).
Style pages and motif fragments can be expensive; focus on motifs that match your audience if you plan to sell.
Collect motifs as you explore and check guild traders for motifs that are in demand but relatively affordable to craft and sell.
Troubleshooting common beginner problems
Problem: research timers feel too long Solution: always keep at least one research timer active and rotate through crafts. Use short research items when you must finish faster, and stagger timers overnight.
Problem: running out of inventory space Solution: use the Craft Bag or a guild bank for overflow. Deconstruct low-value items frequently to free space and get materials.
Problem: not making money from crafting Solution: research market demand in guild traders; create consumables, glyphs, or starter sets that new players need. Avoid crafting niche prototypes early.
Problem: confused about traits or motifs Solution: focus on one or two traits that directly benefit your class and build. Save motifs for vanity crafting once the main gear path is built.
Profit strategies and market basics
High-volume low-cost: craft inexpensive consumables like basic potions or food and sell them in stacks; these sell frequently.
Niche high-value: craft unique or sought-after sets and charge more; this requires investment in traits and rare materials.
Service crafting: advertise in guilds or trade chat to craft pieces for other players for a fee — this is low-risk and builds reputation.
Monitor supply and demand: check traders at your primary guild daily to see what sells; adapt your production to what movers are buying.
Balance quick gold with longer-term investments. Early on, focus on consumables and glyphs to build starting capital.
Advanced tips — multi-crafting workflows and addons
Build a crafting checklist listing traits, items, and material queues for each craft. Tackle them in blocks to reduce time wasted switching stations.
Use macros or keybinds to move between stations faster. Assign a hotkey to open the nearest crafting menu.
Consider community addons that track research timers, node locations, and material counts (where allowed). They reduce micromanagement and streamline workflows.
Trade and organize across characters: keep a main crafting alt that centralizes materials and research.
If you aim for mastery, adopt a production schedule: research on one character, craft and sell on another to avoid inventory clutter.
Example progression plan (Level 1–50 and Champion Points)
Phase 1: Levels 1–15
Focus: learning stations, gathering nodes, and basic recipes.
Actions: craft basic armor/weapons, deconstruct drops, and research one trait per piece.
Phase 2: Levels 16–40
Focus: fast research rotations, start writs, and learn high-demand glyphs and recipes.
Actions: sell consumables and low-cost sets; save rare materials.
Phase 3: Levels 41–50
Focus: finish primary traits, start improving items, and craft for profit.
Actions: craft full sets for trials and dungeons; improve quality for sale.
Phase 4: Champion Points onward
Focus: refine trait list, farm rare motifs, and craft high-end sets.
Actions: specialize in a profitable niche (e.g., PvP sets, trial consumables, transmutation crafts) and use guild networks to expand sales.
Adapt this plan to your play speed and which zones you prioritize.
Best early traits for common playstyles
DPS melee: Sharpened, Infused, Nirnhoned (end game)
Tanks: Reinforced, Sturdy, Infused
Healers/Support: Divines, Infused
PvP builds: Infused, Defending
Research traits according to what you wear and what your guild demands. Delay researching expensive rare traits across many item types until you understand demand.
How to use the Craft Bag effectively
If you have access to the Craft Bag:
Keep raw materials in it; this avoids inventory overflow.
Only withdraw items you need for immediate crafting or research.
Use the Craft Bag to centralize resource management across characters.
If you don’t have the Craft Bag, emulate the same order via guild banks and careful inventory purges.
Safety nets and smart resource usage
Before researching an expensive trait, ensure you have backup materials to craft replacement items.
Don’t improve an item beyond the level you intend to use unless it’s for sale. Upgrading consumes valuable improvement materials.
Track your most-used materials and maintain craft buffers: 50–200 common ingredients, smaller amounts of rare reagents.
This avoids being stranded mid-project and reduces the need to farm the same node repeatedly.
Quick-reference cheat sheet (one-session actionable plan)
Visit a full crafting station hub.
Start or renew research on one item per craft.
Craft three consumables or one set matching your level.
Deconstruct duplicates and start the next research queue.
Post 1–3 crafted items or glyphs to a guild trader.
Gather nodes for 10–20 minutes en route to quests.
Use this loop every session to make steady progress.
Glossary
Trait: special property on a piece of gear that modifies behavior or stats.
Research: unlocking the ability to craft an item with a trait.
Deconstruction: breaking items into materials and sometimes gaining research progress.
Motif: cosmetic style used to craft gear with a specific appearance.
Craft Bag: account-bound storage for crafting materials.
Writs: repeatable crafting quests that reward items, materials, and gold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many traits do I need to research for a functional set? A: For a working set, research the main trait(s) you want on chest, legs, and head first — these are the largest stat contributors. Research at least one trait per slot you plan to craft; expand later.
Q: Should I craft in high-level zones for better mats? A: Crafting with higher-tier materials increases item stats but also costs more. Early on, use low-level or local zone materials for research and craft higher-tier items only when you need competitive gear or want to sell for profit.
Q: How do I know which items to sell versus deconstruct? A: Sell items with high aesthetic or set demand or pieces you’ve improved to high quality; deconstruct generic drops and items with unresearched traits you need. If in doubt, deconstruct for materials and research.
Q: Is subscribing to ESO Plus worth it for crafting? A: The Craft Bag from ESO Plus greatly reduces inventory management friction and is highly recommended if you plan to craft across multiple characters. It’s a convenience-to-cost tradeoff that many crafters find worthwhile.
Q: How many crafting professions should I level? A: For flexibility, level two offensive/defensive crafts (e.g., Blacksmithing + Woodworking) plus one support trade (Enchanting or Alchemy). This combo covers most equipment and consumable needs without splitting resources too thinly.
Q: Can I craft sets from recent expansions? A: Yes, but many expansion sets use zone-specific materials and motifs. Research the set’s requirements and plan gathering runs in those zones. Some sets are gated behind content or achievements.
Q: How do I speed up research timers? A: Research timers are primarily time-based. Reduce perceived downtime by staggering research across crafts, playing while timers run, and using shorter research items for urgent needs. There are skill line passives that can reduce time for related crafts.
Q: Where do I find motifs and recipes? A: Motifs and recipes are found in chests, purchased from vendors, earned from writs, or gained through exploration. Some come from specific questlines or daily rewards.
Closing recommendations and next steps
Pick your two primary crafting trades and one support trade, then follow the daily routine until you feel confident with the mechanics. Keep research active at all times and deconstruct everything non-essential. Use guild traders to assess demand and generate early income. Consider specializing later: profitable niches make crafting sustainable and fun.
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