Summary
The Nowhere Vault is one of the most interesting new additions coming to *The Elder Scrolls Onlinewith Update 51. Unlike traditional ESO dungeons and trials, the Vault puts much more emphasis on puzzles, exploration, traversal, riddles, and environmental challenges.
The important part is that you can start preparing for the Nowhere Vault before Update 51 launches on September 28, 2026. The Vault is a permanent, free addition, and the biggest thing you should start collecting now is Wondrous Nowhere Keys. To get a head start, buy The Elder Scrolls Online Items and secure the keys you'll need.
Here's everything you should do before launch so you can enter the Vault ready to explore.
Why You Should Prepare for the Nowhere Vault Now
The Nowhere Vault doesn't require you to complete a specific storyline before entering. However, you'll need keys to unlock its wings and challenge rooms.
The Vault initially contains three wings:
Arcanum Wing
Lunar Path Wing
Cursed Castle Wing
Each wing contains three challenge rooms plus a story room, with the room order randomized during each run.
The minimum number of keys needed to unlock all three wings is six, while completing all nine challenge rooms requires nine keys. You'll want even more if you plan to open the additional Nowhere Chests that can appear during your run.
That makes key preparation especially important. Starting your farming before Update 51 arrives means you can spend your first sessions solving puzzles instead of immediately worrying about where your next keys will come from.
How to Farm Nowhere Keys Before Update 51
There are several ways to obtain Wondrous Nowhere Keys through Season 1-related content.
Keys can have a chance to drop from activities such as:
Thieves Guild heists
Reacquisition quests
Rumors
Dynamic encounters
Other repeatable Season 1 activities
Drop-based sources are useful, but they aren't the best method if your goal is to guarantee a supply before launch.
Complete Favors for Guaranteed Keys
Favors are the most reliable preparation method.
There are 20 favors to complete for each client, and each favor series can be completed once per character. The 10th and 20th favors provide guaranteed Nowhere Keys.
By completing all the required favors, you can obtain six guaranteed keys per character.
The catch is that this preparation takes time. Completing the favor process requires a minimum of 20 days per character, so waiting until Update 51 launches means you'll miss out on valuable preparation time.
That's why starting now is one of the best things you can do.
Build a Key Stockpile Before September 28
If you're planning to explore the entire Vault when Update 51 goes live, don't stop at six keys.
Six keys allow you to access the three wings, while nine keys are required to unlock all nine challenge rooms. Additional keys may also be necessary for Nowhere Chests found inside the Vault.
A practical goal is therefore to prepare at least nine keys, with additional keys being even better if you want to maximize your rewards.
Use Multiple Characters
Favors can be completed on a per-character basis, making alternate characters valuable for preparation.
If you have several characters available, start their favor progress as early as possible. This lets you build a larger key supply before the Vault opens.
You don't need to wait for Update 51 to begin this process. The earlier you start, the more guaranteed keys you can have ready on launch day.
What to Expect Inside the Nowhere Vault
Once you've collected enough keys, you can enter the Vault through a portal in the new Thieves Guild section of the Daggerfall Outlaws Den in Glenumbra.
Speak with Early to enter.
You'll arrive at the Nexus, the central area of the Vault. From there, you can access the three initial wings and begin collecting pieces needed to restore the Nexus orrery.
The challenges are deliberately different from normal ESO combat content. You may encounter:
Sequential puzzles
Riddles
Mazes
Hide-and-seek challenges
Jumping and traversal sections
Environmental hazards
Patience and sustainability challenges
Combat encounters
The difficulty setting can affect the combat portions, so choose your preferred difficulty before starting.
Don't Expect to Finish Everything in One Run
The Nowhere Vault is designed to encourage repeated exploration.
Each wing has three challenge rooms and a story room, but their sequence is randomized. The story room can provide a useful hint, although you only receive one hint per wing per run.
More importantly, the Vault contains secrets that connect different rooms. Completing the standard challenges is therefore only part of the progression.
Explore Every Room Carefully
During your run, look for hidden treasure and unusual environmental details. Some rooms can contain additional reward chests, including Nowhere Chests that require another key.
This is another reason to stockpile more than the minimum number of keys.
If your goal is simply to complete the Vault, nine keys can cover the nine standard challenge rooms. If your goal is to collect everything, you'll want a larger reserve.
Nowhere Vault Rewards Make Key Farming Worthwhile
The Vault isn't just a puzzle playground. It also provides a substantial collection of rewards.
You can obtain:
Two new skill-style fragments, including Evasion and Summon Shade styles
Curated gear sets, including some trial sets
New furnishings
Alchemy reagents
Crafting materials
Archival Fortunes
Furnishing recipes
Tradeable Antiquity Leads
The Antiquity Leads are particularly useful because some can provide alternative access to existing furnishings. This includes items that would otherwise require specific activities or lead hunting.
There's also a new mount waiting for players who uncover all of the Vault's secrets.
Prepare for Update 51 Today
The best preparation strategy is straightforward:
Start Favors Immediately
Begin working through your available Favors now. Because the guaranteed-key rewards are tied to the 10th and 20th Favors, starting early gives you more time to complete the process.
Farm Season 1 Content
Don't rely exclusively on Favors. Participate in Thieves Guild heists, reacquisition quests, rumors, dynamic encounters, and other repeatable activities that can drop Nowhere Keys.
Aim for More Than Nine Keys
Nine keys are enough for the standard challenge rooms, but additional keys give you more freedom to open Nowhere Chests and explore without running out of resources.
Bring Friends If You Want
The Nowhere Vault supports up to four players. While the challenges aren't necessarily designed to require a group, some traversal and puzzle sections can be easier with friends.
Final Preparation Checklist
Before September 28, make sure you:
Start completing Favors on your characters
Work toward the guaranteed key rewards
Farm Season 1 activities for additional key drops
Aim for at least nine Nowhere Keys
Stockpile extra keys if you want to loot hidden chests
Prepare multiple characters if you want a larger supply
Be ready to explore rather than simply fight
The Nowhere Vault offers a very different type of ESO experience, and its rewards give players plenty of reasons to keep returning. More importantly, its key system means preparation can make your first few runs much smoother.
If you want to experience the Nowhere Vault as soon as Update 51 launches, the best time to start preparing is today. Stocking up on Wondrous Nowhere Keys and useful consumables will let you dive right in—and The Elder Scrolls Online Items can help you fill any gaps in your preparation without the last-minute grind.
