Elder Scrolls Online: Skill Styling Guide
The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is a dynamic MMORPG that offers players the ability to fully customize their characters. From gear to abilities, players are encouraged to explore different playstyles, builds, and combat techniques. However, as much as combat mechanics, crafting, and questing are central to the game, aesthetic appeal has become increasingly important to the player experience, particularly when it comes to the Skill Stylist system.
The Skill Stylist is an NPC in ESO who allows players to adjust the appearance of their abilities and weapon styles, adding an extra layer of depth to your character's personal identity. Whether you want your Destruction Staff to look as if it's imbued with powerful arcane energy or prefer the aesthetic of dual-wielding daggers while casting spells, the Skill Stylist has you covered.
In this guide, we will dive deep into the Skill Styling system of ESO, from how it works to the many ways it can be used to make your character feel truly unique. We'll also explore some best practices and tips to get the most out of this feature, enhancing both your visual and gameplay experience.
What is the Skill Stylist in ESO?
The Skill Stylist is an NPC vendor in ESO that allows players to respec the appearance of their abilities and weapons without changing their functionality. While the Skill Stylist cannot alter your character's actual skill effects, damage, or abilities, it can give you full control over how they visually appear during gameplay.
When you access the Skill Stylist, you'll be able to modify the style of your active abilities and weapon skills, which is particularly useful for players looking to express their personal style or immersion through the way their character performs actions in the game world.
What Can Be Styled?
The Skill Stylist can be used to alter a variety of things related to the way your character interacts with the world, including:
Weapon Abilities:
Weapon Skills: You can change the visual style of the skills tied to your equipped weapon, such as sword & shield, dual-wielding, bow, destruction staff, and more.
Weapon Style: Each weapon class in ESO has its own set of visual styles (based on various racial designs), which you can alter. For example, a Breton sword may look drastically different from a Khajiit sword.
Class Abilities:
Certain class skills such as Sorcerer, Nightblade, or Templar can be modified in appearance. This is particularly interesting for players who may want their spells to have an elemental or thematic aesthetic that matches the overall vibe of their character.
Ultimate Abilities:
Ultimate abilities are often your character's most visually dramatic abilities, so customizing these can be a fun way to add flair to your playstyle. This is the big moment in combat, where you unleash devastating power, and it's fitting to want your ultimate ability to stand out.
Animations:
The Skill Stylist can also be used to change the animation styles of certain skills. Some skills have different animation variations depending on the weapon or ability, and this customization is one way to personalize your character even further.
How to Use the Skill Stylist
Using the Skill Stylist is quite simple, though it requires some understanding of where to find this service and how to access the customization options. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how to make use of this feature:
1. Find the Skill Stylist NPC
The Skill Stylist NPC can be found in most of the major cities and zones in ESO. They are usually located in morrowind, Cyrodiil, and High Isle. Additionally, you may encounter them within guild halls or specific content areas.
Here's where you can typically find a Skill Stylist in different factions:
Daggerfall Covenant: Found in Glenumbra.
Aldmeri Dominion: Found in Grahtwood.
Ebonheart Pact: Found in Stonefalls.
Summerset Isles: Located in Alinor.
Once located, you can interact with the Skill Stylist to begin customization.
2. Accessing the Skill Stylist Menu
Once you interact with the NPC, the menu will present you with several customization options. You'll be able to select which skill you wish to modify, including:
Weapon Abilities: Select a weapon skill, and you will see a list of different appearance options (e.g., sword appearance, staff visuals, etc.).
Class Abilities: For class skills, such as Dark Magic or Restoration, you can select from several different visual effects and tweaks.
Ultimate Ability: Ultimates often have multiple variations. You'll be able to customize the visual appearance of your ultimate abilities.
3. Styling Costs
Unlike other Skill Respec activities in ESO, styling your abilities doesn't cost a large amount of ESO gold. However, it requires a special currency—Style Materials—specific to the weapon or ability style you wish to adopt. You will need these materials to change the appearance of your abilities.
These materials are earned by:
Crafting and Mining: Certain styles are tied to crafting materials, which can be gathered or bought from vendors.
Completing Specific Quests: Certain racial or faction-based abilities require specific quests or achievements to unlock.
Purchasing from Guilds or Vendors: You can also purchase some of these materials from guilds, guild stores, or NPC vendors in the game.
Unlocking New Styles and Visual Customizations
The true depth of the Skill Stylist system lies in unlocking new styles and visual effects for your abilities. You can gain new customization options in several ways:
1. Achievements
Many styles in ESO are tied to achievement-based rewards. As you complete certain tasks, you can unlock new styles that were previously inaccessible. Some of the achievements that unlock new skill styles include:
Crafting Achievements: Reach certain crafting milestones to unlock new crafting style motifs, which directly influence the appearance of your weapon abilities.
Factions and Storyline Progression: Completing major story quests or faction-based tasks can reward you with exclusive visual styles based on the region or culture.
2. Motifs
Motifs are style books that grant new weapon styles for various racial or cultural groups in Tamriel. You can obtain these by:
Crafting Style Books: These are rare books that drop from dungeons, bosses, and other in-game activities. Once you acquire them, you can craft weapons and abilities that use the motifs found in these books.
Special Event Motifs: ESO frequently holds in-game events that reward players with limited-time motifs, allowing you to unlock new visual styles tied to specific holidays or seasons.
3. ESO Store or DLC
If you want access to premium visual styles, the ESO Store and DLC packs offer additional styles that can be used in customization. For example, styles from various expansion packs such as Morrowind or Summerset may unlock additional customizations that can only be accessed if you own the relevant content.
How to Style Your Abilities for Maximum Aesthetic Appeal
With so many options available, the Skill Styling system can be overwhelming. However, some strategies can help you get the most out of your customization options.
1. Match the Style to Your Class or Character Theme
The key to successful styling is thematic consistency. Here are some examples:
Nightblade: For a stealthy character, use shadowy or fey-inspired styles. Styles like Vampire, Dark Brotherhood, or Assassin's motifs can give your abilities a sleek and menacing look.
Templar: Bright, radiant light is perfect for Templars. Using Divine and Light-based Motifs such as Aedric can complement your character's healing and holy abilities.
Sorcerer: Opt for magical and elemental styles like Daedric or Storm Atronach motifs, fitting for Sorcerers who summon storms and magical creatures.
Dragonknight: Dragon motifs or fiery flames and lava effects can work well for Dragonknight characters, making them feel more intimidating and dragon-like.
2. Use Transmutation to Experiment
One of the advantages of the Skill Stylist system is that you can experiment and change your ability styles as often as you want. There's no permanent commitment to any specific look. So, feel free to test out different visual styles depending on the environment or situation.
PvE vs PvP: You may want to have a more subtle style for PvP, while using more extravagant visuals when exploring dungeons or taking on large world bosses.
3. Make Your Ultimate Stand Out
Since Ultimate abilities are your character's finishing moves, it's worth investing in a stunning visual. Choose styles that match the ultimate power of your character. For example:
Dark Sorcery Ultimate: Opt for dark, shadowy, or necromantic visuals to make your ultimate ability stand out as an ominous display of raw power.
Elemental Ultimate: A fire-based ultimate can be enhanced by choosing Daedric or Volcanic styles, while frost-based skills might benefit from icy effects.
Conclusion
The Skill Stylist in Elder Scrolls Online offers a great opportunity to take your character's visual identity to the next level. By customizing the appearance of your skills and weapons, you can make your character not only function in combat but also reflect your personal style and narrative.
With a little experimentation and the unlocking of new styles, you'll be able to craft a truly unique experience, whether you're crafting weapons, completing dungeons, or just adventuring through Tamriel. So, get out there, find the Skill Stylist, and start designing your character's signature look!
MMOexp Elder Scrolls Online Team