The Witches Festival is returning to ESO in 2026! Battle Tamriel’s monsters, get double XP, and earn creepy new rewards during the ESO Witches Festival in-game event! learn everything you need to know about the frightening fete here.
Quick Event Facts
- Event Dates: Wednesday, October 21 until Wednesday, November 4 (15 days)
- How to Start: Complete the quest “The Witchmother's Bargain" by acquiring Guts and Pumpkin from the world, guildies or guild store and an Essence of Death from any Delve Boss.
- Total Trade Bars: 4,500 (300 per day x 15 days)
- Event Bonuses: 100% more Experience passively and Plunder Skulls drop from all Boss-type monsters
- Requirements: Base game only
-
New Rewards:
Zhekleg outfit style, first fragment for the
Grotto of Desires house
Global Bonuses and Effects
- 100% more Experience passively
- Plunder Skulls drop from all Boss-type monsters. All Incursion, Quest, Delve, Public Dungeon, Dungeon, Trial, Arena, Tho'at in Infinite Archive and World Bosses will drop Plunder Skulls.
The
Witchmother's Whistle tool is still required to complete the
Sacking Skeletons and
Cauldron Conjurer achievements.
Related: All sources of Experience Boost
How to Start Witches Festival 2026
To get started in the Witches Festival Event in the Elder Scrolls Online, complete the following steps:
- Navigate to the Events section of the Crown Store and acquire the free Event quest. You can also travel to The Witches Cove in Auridon, Glenumbra or Stonefalls.
- Complete the quest “The Witchmother's Bargain" by acquiring Guts and Pumpkin from the world, guildies or guild store and an Essence of Death from any Delve Boss.
-
Return to Witchmother Olyve to receive your
Witchmother's Whistle Tool if you're doing the quest for the first time.
- You now have access two additional Event Daily Quests you can complete: Plucking the Crow and the The Lord of Fear Quest. Read more about them further down in the guide.
How to get Trade Bars
During the Witches Festival Event, you can earn 300 Trade Bars per day when defeating a boss-type creature for the first time that day. The Trade Bars alongside a Plunder Skull will need to be looted.
Boss types: Incursion, Quest, Delve, Public Dungeon, Dungeon, Trial, Arena, Tho'at in Infinite Archive and World Bosses.
How to get Plunder Skulls
During the Witches Festival, you'll earn two types of reward containers: Normal Plunder Skulls and Dremora Plunder Skulls. While both offer great loot, only Dremora Plunder Skulls contain the newest event items.
- Normal Plunder Skulls drop from any defeated boss in the world during the Witches Festival. This includes bosses in delves, public dungeons, world bosses, group dungeons, trials, arenas, and even Imperial City Sweepers. There is no daily limit on how many normal Plunder Skulls you can acquire.
- Dremora Plunder Skulls are special, once-per-day, per-account rewards. You receive one Dremora Plunder Skull for defeating the first boss of a specific type each day. There are 10 unique Dremora Plunder Skull types, each linked to a different boss category.
The fastest and easiest way to earn Plunder Skulls
In ESO only the top 12 damage dealers get loot from bosses excluding incursions. We recommended you pick an activity where you feel you get the best rewards for your time. Have fun farming!
- Easy dungeons: You can quickly clear base game dungeons like normal Fungal Grotto I Dungeon with a group of four damage dealers. The bosses are easy, the mechanics are simple, there's no competition for loot and you don't need to wait for boss spawns.
- Incursions: Join an incursion group. Geysers in Summerset, Harrowstorms in The Reach, Dragons in Northern Elsweyr/Southern Elsweyr, Volcanic Vents in Galen and Y'ffelon/ High Isle and Amenos, Mirrormoor Mosaics in West Weald and Siege Camps in Solstice award the loot to everyone that hits the boss even once with a light attack.
- Minmax your farm: Combine farming Plunder Skulls with some other farming you're going to do anyway! This is a good time to farm missing Antiquity leads from different Boss types. Another popular farm is killing Dragons in Southern Elsweyr as they drop expensive alchemy reagents you can sell to other players: Dragon's Blood and Dragon Rheum*.
Avoid Crowded Places: Avoid Alik'r Desert Dolmens, unless you're sure you'll be in the top 12 damage dealers (chests don't drop Plunder Skulls, only the bosses do). All other dolmens are less crowded and fine places to farm. World Bosses can be a good source of Plunder Skulls if they're not crowded or if you can always deal enough damage to get loot.
*Dragon Rheum starts dropping after you've completed the Dragonguard Operative achievement and the The Good Bits quest from Dahfnar in Southern Elsweyr.
All 10 Dremora Plunder Skull Types
Each day, your first defeated boss of a specific type will reward you with a special golden Dremora Plunder Skull, which has a chance to drop this years new rewards and specific Dremora motif chapters.
Here's a breakdown of each Dremora Plunder Skull type and the specific motif pages they can contain:
| Plunder Skull | Drop source | Motif page |
| 1. Dremora Plunder Skull, Arena | Final boss in Maelstrom Arena, Dragonstar Arena, Blackrose Prison, Vateshran |
- -Legs include: |
| 2. Dremora Plunder Skull, Insurgent | Dark Anchors, Geysers, Harrowstorms, Dragons, Volcanic vents, Mirrormoors Mosaics and Siege Camps |
- - Hands include: |
| 3. Dremora Plunder Skull, Delve | Delve bosses |
- -Waists include: |
| 4. Dremora Plunder Skull, Dungeon | Final Boss in a Dungeon |
- Helmets include: - Maces include: |
| 5. Dremora Plunder Skull, Public & Sweeper | Any Public Dungeon Boss or Imperial City Sweeper boss |
- - Boots include: |
| 6. Dremora Plunder Skull, Trial | Final boss in a Trial |
- Swords include: - Chests include: |
| 7. Dremora Plunder Skull, World | World Bosses |
- Shoulders include: - Axes include: |
| 8. Dremora Plunder Skull, Crowborne Horror | Quest return reward | Does not drop Dremora motif pages directly, but can contain all of this years rewards in a single skull. |
| 9. Dremora Plunder Skull, Lord Hollowjack | Quest return reward | Does not drop Dremora motif pages directly, but can contain all of this years rewards in a single skull. |
| 10. Dremora Plunder Skull, Infinite Archive | Tho'at loot |
Can drop any |
Plunder Skull Rewards
During the Witches Festival, you'll earn two types of reward containers: Normal Plunder Skulls and Dremora Plunder Skulls. While both are packed with creepy goodies, only Dremora Plunder Skulls contain the newest event items. List of all furnishing can be found towards the end of this page.
Dremora Plunder Skull Rewards
Dremora Plunder Skulls are special and drop from the first boss of each type you defeat daily (once per day, per account). These are your go-to for the rarest Witches Festival rewards, with a chance to drop:
If you need data on item prices please visit the ESO Trading Hub page.
| NEW in 2026 |
|
| Outfit Styles |
Dremora outfit style pages (see the table above) |
| Treasure Maps and Writs |
Glenmoril Wyrd Treasure Maps (lead to Glenmoril Wyrd weapon style pages) Witches Festival Writs (reward |
| Recipes | Furnishing and provisioning recipes |
Normal Plunder Skull Rewards
Normal Plunder Skulls drop from any boss you defeat and can contain a variety of useful items, including:
| Outfit Style Items | A small chance for Hollowjack or Dremora style items |
| Materials | Alchemy reagents, Worms, Crawlers, Guts and Insect Parts |
| Recipes | Witches Festival provisioning recipes (link to full list) |
| Furnishing recipes | Witches Festival-themed furnishing recipes (link to full list) |
| Furnishings | Witches Festival-themed furnishings (link to full list) |
| Miscellaneous | Treasures |
New Witches Festival Rewards in 2026
Zhekleg Outfit Style
Regular Plunder Skull RewardsOutfit StylesWitches Festival motif style itemsA small chance for Hollowjack or Dremora style itemsCrafting MaterialsAlchemy reagentsWorms, Crawlers, Guts and Insect PartsRecipesWitches Festival furnishing and provisioning recipes (full lists at the end of this page)FurnishingsWitches Festival-themed furnishings (full list at the end of this page)MiscellaneousTreasuresFeathers for the Plucking the Crow quest
During the Witches Festival, you have a few ways to acquire the
Zhekleg Outfit StylePages: they can randomly drop from the Dremora Plunder Skulls you receive after defeating bosses. You can purchase bound pages directly from the Impresario for 500 Trade Bars each or you have the option of buying them from other players via guild traders or direct trade.
Looking for a good deal or trying to sell your extras? Check out our ESO Market Trade Center page!
Grotto of Desires House
The
Grotto of Desires is a collectible house assembled from three separate fragments that are bought with Trade Bars from the Impresario. You can buy the first fragments during the Witches Festival: Floating Desires Petal.
Other collectibles you might not know about
Exorcised Coven Cottage house is available for purchase in Glenumbra (view location on map) for either in-game Gold or Crowns only during the Witches Festival. You can buy the Cottage with 250,000 Gold after completing the An Unsparing Harvest meta-achievement. You don't need the achievement if you buy it with Crowns.
Hat:
Witch's Infernal Hat is awarded to you after you complete 13 Witches Festival Writs which also gives you the Wicked Writ Apprentice achievement.
Character title: Witch is awarded to you after completing 28 Witches Festival Writs which also gives you the Wicked Writ Witch achievement.
Impresarios Wares
The Impresario is the primary event merchant in The Elder Scrolls Online, exchanging Trade Bars for limited-time collectibles and fragments. View her full inventory, locations and event availability on the Impresario guide.
| Item | Fragments | Trade Bar Cost |
|
|
Floating Desires Petal | 1,000 |
|
|
Crimson Bat Statuette, Red Rose Petals, Sharp Rosebush Thorn | 1,000 each |
|
|
Embellished Dance Card, Rosy Boutonniere, Sanguine's Goodbye Kiss | 1,000 each |
|
|
Blooming Saddle, Gilded Stirrups, Withered Antlers | 1,000 each |
|
|
Boots, Bracers, Breeches, Girdle, Helm, Jerkin, Pauldrons | 500 each |
|
|
Breeches, Epaulets, Gloves, Hat, Jerkin, Sash, Shoes | 200 each |
|
|
Breeches, Epaulets, Gloves, Hat, Jerkin, Sash, Shoes | 200 each |
|
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Breeches, Epaulets, Gloves, Hat, Jerkin, Sash, Shoes | 200 each |
|
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Breeches, Epaulets, Gloves, Hat, Jerkin, Sash, Shoes | 200 each |
|
|
Axe, Battle Axe, Bow, Dagger, Greatsword, Mace, Maul, Shield, Staff, Sword | 200 each |
|
|
Aged Fetid Fish, Cold Iron Cauldron, Fenwood Ladle, Fresh Gorapples, Poise Guide, Stale Creek Water, Viscous Slime | 200 each |
|
|
Bonedust Pigment (10 needed) | 200 each |
|
|
Horned Owl Feathers (10 needed) | 200 each |
|
|
Possessed Shred (10 needed) | 200 each |
|
|
Skeletal Marionette Parts (10 needed) | 200 each |
|
|
Rune-Carved Bone Fragment (10 needed) | 200 each |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
- | 200 |
|
|
Furnishing | 100 |
|
|
Furnishing | 100 |
|
|
Furnishing | 200 |
|
|
Furnishing | 300 |
|
|
Furnishing | 400 |
|
|
Furnishing | 400 |
|
|
Furnishing | 500 |
| Companion Guild Commendations | Fighters, Mages and Undaunted Guild Commendations | 300 each |
| Impresario's Group Repair Kit | - | 200 |
Event Merchant Assistants Wares
The Event Merchant's Assistant Philius Dormier has the following items available during this event:
Event Merchant's Assistant, Philius Dormier (updated 1 Oct 2026)
| Item | Fragments | Trade Bar Cost |
|
|
Aurelite Gryphon Feather, Gilded Gryphon Barding, Sacred Seeds of Akatosh | 1,000 each |
|
|
Vial of Bubbling Daedric Brew, Vial of Scalding Daedric Brew, Vial of Simmering Daedric Brew | 1,000 each |
|
|
Cold Iron Gauntlet, Grim Iron Mask, Tyrant's Soul Gem | 1,000 each |
|
|
Bottled Skin Dyes, Ground Jade Lily Powder, Pressed Silver Leaves | 1,000 each |
|
|
Anchor Chain Fragment, Dark Anchor Pinion, Effigy of the Dominator | 500 each |
|
|
Chartreuse Lily Petals, Enchanted Silver Flute, Mystical Sheet Music | 500 each |
|
|
Hallowed Hourglass Basin, Illuminated Dragon Scroll, Kvatchian Incense | 500 each |
|
|
Deadlands Flint, Rune-Etched Striker, Smoldering Bloodgrass Tinder | 500 each |
|
|
Instructions (500), plus Firepot, Front Legs and Rear Legs (200 each) | 500 / 200 |
Indrik Vendor Wares
Nenuluare the Indrik Vendor allows you to purchase feathers and berries using Trade Bars to create and evolve classic Indrik mounts. See the Indrik Vendor guide for evolutions, costs and when her stock changes.
| Item | Fragments | Trade Bar Cost |
|
|
Emerald Indrik Feather Gilded Indrik Feather Onyx Indrik Feather Opaline Indrik Feather |
500 each |
|
|
Luminous Berries of Bloom Luminous Berries of Budding Luminous Berries of Growth Luminous Berries of Ripeness |
1,000 each |
|
|
Icebreath Berries of Bloom Icebreath Berries of Budding Icebreath Berries of Growth Icebreath Berries of Ripeness |
1,000 each |
|
|
- | 1,000 |
|
|
- | 1,000 |
Witches Festival Quests
There are three unique quests to the Witches Festival. Plucking the Crow and the The Lord of Fear are daily quests which you can repeat once per day, while The Witchmother's Bargain is the Event's Intro quest that you can only complete once per character.
- The Witchmother's Bargain (intro quest)
- The Lord of Fear
- Plucking the Crow
The Witchmother's Bargain Quest
You can redeem The Witchmother's Bargain Quest in the Crown Store. Witchmother Olyve will appear and offer you a quest which asks you to bring her a boon.
You need to acquire Guts and a Pumpkin from the world, guildies or guild store and an Essence of Death from any Delve Boss. Return to Witchmother Olyve in Auridon, Glenumbra or Stonefalls.
Upon completing the quest, you will receive the
Witchmother's Whistle memento. The memento is no longer needed for the XP buff as it is passive, but it is still required to complete the
Sacking Skeletons and
Cauldron Conjurer achievements.
The Lord of Fear Quest
Warning: Quest contains jump scare(s) and loads of general creepyness.
You can now confront Lord Hollowjack himself! The daily quest giver Priest Maxien Roudille is found inside the Witches Cove in Auridon, Glenumbra or Stonefalls.
Priest Maxien Roudille will task you with rescuing three Haunted people in the three different base game zones; Grahtwood, Deshaan and Stormhaven. After rescuing the haunted once on a character, the next time you pickup the daily quest with that character, it will ask you to just defeat Lord Hollowjack.
We recommend brining friends as he has some stuns, resources and 6,6 million health. We also have a ESO Lord Hollowjack Boss Fight Guide for you to enjoy!
Lord Hollowjacks Special Loot
-
The Trophy: Lord Hollowjack is awarded to you after defeating him and earning the
Pumpkin Plunderer achievement
- Bust: Lord Hollowjack has a chance to drop from Lord Hollowjack.
You can join groups to defeat Lord Hollowjack and potentially obtain his bust, even if you haven't picked up the associated quest as long as someone in the group has a quest for him.
Plucking the Crow Quest
You will find Witchmother Taerma at Impresarios tents and the Witches Coven. She will offer you the Plucking the Crow Quest. Your objective is to collect 30 Feathers in order to defeat a powerful Crowborne Horror in Evergloam.
You will receive these feathers from the Plunder Skulls which drop from all boss monsters. As soon as you have received all the feathers, you can return to Olyve’s Brewery and turn to the alchemy table to craft the effigy. You then have to show Witchmother Taerma the effigy and hand it to her.
Following a ritual, a portal will open and lead you to a pocket dimension in which the Crowborne Horror is waiting for you to defeat it. It is absolutely advisable to bring friends!
Provisioning Recipes
You can obtain the following Provisioning Recipes from the Plunder Skulls in the Witches Festival:
-
Recipe:
Sweet Sanguine Apples
-
Recipe:
Crisp and Crunchy Pumpkin Snack Skewer
-
Recipe:
Crunchy Spider Skewer
-
Recipe:
Ghastly Eye Bowl
-
Recipe:
Bowl of "Peeled Eyeballs"
-
Recipe:
Frosted Brains
-
Recipe:
Witchmother's Potent Brew
-
Recipe:
Witchmother's Party Punch
-
Recipe:
Bewitched Sugar Skulls
-
Recipe:
Purifying Bloody Mara
-
Recipe:
Corrupting Bloody Mara
-
Recipe:
Pack Leader's Bone Broth
Furniture Recipes
You can obtain the following Furnishing recipes from the Plunder Skulls in the Halloween Event:
| Category | Recipes |
| Hearth > Baskets and Bags |
|
| Hearth > Meals |
|
| Hearth > Produce |
|
| Hearth > Utensils |
|
| Lighting > Braziers |
|
| Lighting > Candles |
|
| Lighting > Enchanted Lights |
|
| Lighting > Lamps |
|
| Lighting > Sconces |
|
| Undercroft > Grave Goods |
|
| Undercroft > Remains |
|
| Undercroft > Symbolic Decor |
|
| Undercroft > Torture |
|
| Workshop > Tools |
|
Furniture
You can obtain the following furniture from Plunder Skulls in the Witches Festival Event:
If you have further questions about the Witches Festival in ESO (The Elder Scrolls Online) please visit our community Discord server.