is the elder scrolls online pay to win

The question of whether The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is "pay-to-win" (P2W) depends on how you define the term. Heres a breakdown of the monetization and its impact on gameplay: What ESO Sells for Real Money: - Expansions/Chapters: Major content drops (e.g., Morrowind, Summerset, High Isle) must be purchased or accessed via a subscription (ESO Plus). These include new zones, storylines, and sometimes gameplay features (e.g., companions in Blackwood). - DLCs: Smaller zones/dungeons (e.g., Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood) are locked behind paywalls or ESO Plus. - Crown Store: Cosmetic items (outfits, mounts, pets), convenience items (bank/inventory upgrades), and some consumables (potions, food, but nothing exclusive or overpowered). - Crates (Loot Boxes): Contain mostly cosmetics, but also "convenience" items like experience scrolls or mount upgrades (which can be earned in-game). Pay-to-Win Concerns: - No Direct Power Purchases: You cannot buy gear or abilities that give a direct combat advantage over other players. The best gear and skills must be earned through gameplay (e.g., trials, dungeons, crafting). - Convenience Items: Some argue that buying inventory/bank space, or XP boosts (available in the Crown Store) can speed up progression, but these dont grant exclusive powerjust faster access to whats already available. - Crafting Bag (ESO Plus): The biggest "advantage" is the infinite crafting material storage, which is a huge quality-of-life boost but doesnt affect combat power. Competitive Play: - PvP (Cyrodiil, Battlegrounds): Skill and build knowledge matter far more than paid items. No paid gear gives an edge. - PvE (Trials, Dungeons): All top-tier gear is earned in-game. Crown Store items wont help you clear veteran content. Verdict: Not P2W, But Some "Pay-for-Convenience" ESO is not pay-to-win in the traditional sense (no "I win" button for sale). However, it does have "pay-for-convenience" elements (e.g., crafting bag, XP boosts) that can make progression smoother. The core competitive experience remains fair for free-to-play players, though subscribing (ESO Plus) or buying expansions/DLCs unlocks significant content. TL;DR: No: You cant buy power. Yes: Paying saves time/unlocks content. ESO Plus is highly recommended for serious players due to the crafting bag and access to DLCs. If youre okay with grinding or dont mind missing out on some QoL, you can play without spending beyond the base game.