ESO Scribing Database

The Scribing system in Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is a feature introduced with the Gold Road Chapter and closely tied to the Mages Guild. It enables players to collect, build, and customize unique skills—called Scribed Skills—to diversify combat and support roles.

To access Scribing, you must own the Gold Road Chapter. Scribing is a free base game feature as of july 2025.

The scribing questline can be started one of three ways:

• In the Collections > Collectibles > Update menu, right-click the Scribing icon.
• Speak to Adept Irnard Rirnil, located outside any Mages Guild building.
• Read the pamphlet On Behalf of the Mages Guild of all Tamriel posted on the wall west of the Skingrad City Wayshrine.

The first quest, The Second Era of Scribing, requires a character level of at least 30 (or access to Champion Points). After completing all Scribing quests on one character, subsequent characters only need to finish the first quest to gain most benefits—such as Luminous Ink drops, Script drops, and access to Script vendors (Chronicler Firandil in the Scholarium and Filer Ool in the Infinite Archive).

There are six quests in the Scribing questline in ESO. While your main character must complete all six to unlock the full system, alt characters only need the introductory quest.

Scribed Skills integrate directly into your existing skill bars, costing Magicka or Stamina depending on the selected Grimoire + Focus combination. Unlike traditional skills:

• No skill points are required to unlock or morph scribed skills.
• No experience-based leveling is needed—customize or rescribe at will (each modification costs 1 Luminous Ink per changed script).
• Each Grimoire allows only one active scribed skill at a time per character; others remain stored in your Archive.
• Scribed weapon skills require the appropriate weapon equipped.

The name and icon of a scribed skill depend on the chosen Focus Script; some Affix and Signature Scripts can alter its visual effect. Any passive skills tied to the Grimoire’s skill line become active when you slot the scribed skill.

Luminous Ink is the core crafting material for Scribing. ESO Plus subscribers store it automatically in their Crafting Bag’s miscellaneous slot—freeing up inventory space and making ink accessible to all characters.

Crafting a new scribed skill costs 3 Luminous Ink (one per script type). Modifying an existing skill costs 1 Ink per changed script. These are obtained from:

• Quest rewards (each Scribing quest grants Ink).
• Harvesting nodes (unlocked after The Wing of the Netch).
• Enemy drops (unlocked after The Wing of the Gryphon).
• Looting containers (backpacks, urns, Dwemer pots).
• Purchased from guild traders View in Trade Center

Luminous Ink does not drop from survey nodes. As of Update 43, it can also rarely drop from treasure chests and heavy sacks if you have the Dragon Luminary’s Blessing or Gryphon Luminary’s Blessing.

Grimoires are books that unlock new skills for scribing. There are 12 total. Purchase each once per character from Chronicler Firandil in the Scholarium and use it from inventory to unlock in the Scribing interface.

Most Grimoires cost 50000 Gold for the first purchase and 10000 Gold for subsequent copies of the same grimoire. Exceptions for this are Wield Soul and Soul Burst which can be obtained for free by doing their respecive quests.

Grimoire	Skill Line	Requirement
Banner Bearer	Support
Elemental Explosion	Destruction Staff	Reach Rank 25 in the Destruction Staff Weapon Skill Line.
Mender's Bond	Restoration Staff	Reach Rank 25 in the Restoration Staff Weapon Skill Line.
Shield Throw	One Hand and Shield	Reach Rank 25 in the One-Hand and Shield Weapon Skill Line.
Smash	Two Handed	Reach Rank 25 in the Two-Handed Weapon Skill Line.
Soul Burst	Soul Magic	Complete the final quest in the Scribing quest line.
Torchbearer	Fighters Guild	Reach Rank 5 in the Fighters Guild Skill Line.
Trample	Assault	Reach Rank 5 in the Assault and Support skill lines.
Traveling Knife	Dual Wield	Reach Rank 25 in the Dual Wield Weapon Skill Line.
Ulfsild's Contingency	Mages Guild	Reach Rank 5 in the Mages Guild Skill Line.
Vault	Bow	Reach Rank 25 in the Bow Weapon skill line.
Wield Soul	Soul Magic	Complete the Scribing tutorial quest.

To scribe a skill, you need three scripts: Focus, Signature and Affix. Each combination of scripts + Grimoire yields a unique skill - 9585 total possible variations.

Scripts are learned when used from inventory. In the Scribing UI (Scholarium Altar), tick “Usable” to filter only your known scripts. Unticking shows all compatible scripts (even unlearned).

Reward coffers curate drops so that each character learns every script of that type before random repeats. For mailed coffers (like Premium Undaunted supplies), curation is based on who opened the mail; for container-delivered scripts, it’s based on who opened the container.

8.2 Focus Scripts

Focus Scripts determine a scribed skill’s name, resource cost (Magicka or Stamina), and primary function. Some Focus scripts cannot pair with certain Signature/Affix scripts (e.g., offensive vs. defensive restrictions).

After obtaining the Sigil of the Luminary Gryphon, Focus scripts drop from:

• Rewards for the Worthy containers (PvP)
• Mages Guild daily quests (Alvur Baren)us
• DLC zone daily delve quests

All looted Focus scripts are bound and curated per character. The first coffer from each source daily gives a guaranteed Focus script; subsequent coffers have a 25% chance.

Script	Name	Compatible Grimoires
	Physical Damage	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Torchbearer Trample Banner Bearer
	Poison Damage	Traveling Knife Vault Smash
	Disease Damage	Vault Soul Burst Wield Soul Trample
	Bleed Damage	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer
	Magic Damage	Traveling Knife Mender's Bond Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Trample Banner Bearer
	Shock Damage	Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Banner Bearer
	Frost Damage	Traveling Knife Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample
	Flame Damage	Vault Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Banner Bearer
	Trauma	Elemental Explosion Trample
	Multi-Target	Traveling Knife Shield Throw Banner Bearer
	Taunt	Vault Smash Shield Throw
	Knockback	Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample
	Pull	Traveling Knife Shield Throw Soul Burst Wield Soul
	Immobilize	Vault Mender's Bond Shield Throw Soul Burst Ulfsild's Contingency Banner Bearer
	Stun	Traveling Knife Smash Elemental Explosion Wield Soul Torchbearer Trample
	Dispel	Elemental Explosion Trample
	Healing	Vault Mender's Bond Smash Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer
	Restore Resources	Mender's Bond Banner Bearer
	Damage Shield	Mender's Bond Smash Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency
	Generate Ultimate	Mender's Bond Torchbearer
	Mitigation	Mender's Bond Banner Bearer

8.3 Signature Scripts

Signature Scripts add unique mechanics—enhanced effects, secondary triggers, or interactions. After the Sigil of the Luminary Dragon, Signature scripts drop from:

• Daily Cyrodiil town & mission board quest coffers
• Fighters Guild daily quests (Cardea Gallus)
• DLC zone world boss daily quests

Bound and curated per character; first coffer per source daily guarantees one; subsequent coffers have a 25% chance.

Script	Name	Compatible Grimoires
	Lingering Torment	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample
	Hunter's Snare	Traveling Knife Vault Mender's Bond Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample
	Knight's Valor	Mender's Bond Shield Throw
	Leeching Thirst	Traveling Knife Smash
	Immobilizing Strike	Smash Elemental Explosion Trample
	Assassin's Misery	Traveling Knife Elemental Explosion Trample
	Anchorite's Cruelty	Soul Burst Wield Soul
	Class Mastery	Traveling Knife Vault Mender's Bond Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample Banner Bearer
	Sage's Remedy	Vault Mender's Bond Smash Shield Throw Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Banner Bearer
	Warmage's Defense	Traveling Knife Mender's Bond Elemental Explosion Banner Bearer
	Druid's Resurgence	Vault Mender's Bond Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Wield Soul Torchbearer Banner Bearer
	Thief's Swiftness	Vault Shield Throw Trample Banner Bearer
	Crusader's Defiance	Vault Mender's Bond Smash Soul Burst Torchbearer Banner Bearer
	Fencer's Parry	Traveling Knife Smash Shield Throw
	Gladiator's Tenacity	Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer
	Anchorite's Potency	Soul Burst Wield Soul
	Wayfarer's Mastery	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Shield Throw Trample Banner Bearer
	Warrior's Opportunity	Traveling Knife Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample
	Cavalier's Charge	Trample Banner Bearer
	Growing Impact	Ulfsild's Contingency

8.4 Affix Scripts

Affix Scripts add buffs or debuffs to scribed skills. After obtaining the Sigil of the Luminary Netch, Affix scripts drop from:

• Imperial City daily district quest coffers
• Undaunted daily delves (Bolgrul)
• DLC incursion daily quests

Bound and curated per character; first coffer per source daily gives one; subsequent have 25% chance.

Script	Name	Compatible Grimoires
	Off Balance	Traveling Knife Vault Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Trample
	Interrupt	Smash Shield Throw Soul Burst
	Savagery and Prophecy	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample Banner Bearer
	Expedition	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Soul Burst Trample
	Resolve	Shield Throw Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Banner Bearer
	Evasion	Vault Mender's Bond Shield Throw Torchbearer
	Vitality	Mender's Bond Smash Shield Throw Wield Soul Torchbearer
	Berserk	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Banner Bearer
	Brutality and Sorcery	Traveling Knife Vault Smash Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer Trample Banner Bearer
	Empower	Mender's Bond Wield Soul
	Protection	Mender's Bond Ulfsild's Contingency Trample Banner Bearer
	Courage	Mender's Bond Soul Burst Banner Bearer
	Heroism	Mender's Bond Torchbearer Trample Banner Bearer
	Intellect and Endurance	Vault Mender's Bond Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Banner Bearer
	Force	Traveling Knife Vault Mender's Bond Smash Ulfsild's Contingency
	Vulnerability	Traveling Knife Vault Mender's Bond Ulfsild's Contingency Trample
	Maim	Traveling Knife Vault Mender's Bond Smash Shield Throw Soul Burst Wield Soul
	Cowardice	Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Wield Soul Torchbearer Trample
	Enervation	Shield Throw Elemental Explosion Ulfsild's Contingency
	Mangle	Smash Torchbearer Trample
	Breach	Mender's Bond Smash Soul Burst Wield Soul Ulfsild's Contingency Torchbearer
	Lifesteal	Traveling Knife Vault Elemental Explosion
	Defile	Elemental Explosion Wield Soul Trample
	Brittle	Mender's Bond Elemental Explosion
	Uncertainty	Traveling Knife Torchbearer
	Magickasteal	Elemental Explosion Soul Burst Ulfsild's Contingency