Dungeons in The Elder Scrolls Online come in many shapes and sizes. There are dungeons in this MMO that come with the base game, and dungeons that require DLC to access. Although most dungeons are similar in length, most have three to five boss fights in total, and a maximum of four players are allowed in a single group.
Some dungeons have become much easier over time, but there are some that have consistently remained difficult to complete. Boss fights also feature mechanics that make each dungeon unique and add a flair of difficulty to every encounter. Here are the ten toughest dungeons you can venture into if you dare.
10 Fang Lair
Fang Lair has a lot of different mechanics to deal with, but most of the bosses aren't too difficult to defeat with an organized group on Veteran difficulty, especially since the final boss is the only one with a Hardmode difficulty. Thurvokun is the final boss, a skeletal dragon that packs quite a punch.
In addition to Thurvokun, a necromancer named Orryn is also present during this fight. One of the primary threats outside of the bosses themselves are the Colossi, which require high DPS to defeat swiftly. Overall, completing Fang Lair on Veteran difficulty isn't too hard, but the Hardmode difficulty will require many tries before you can finally defeat it.
9 Moongrave Fane
Moongrave Fane's third boss, Kujo, particular poses problems for uncoordinated groups; however, the most frustrating challenge in the dungeon comes from Grundwulf, the final boss and the only one with a Hardmode difficulty in the dungeon.
On Hardmode, Grundwulf will spawn many enemies to aid him during the battle. The most notable of these is a bat that will essentially one-shot you if you touch it. You can damage it after using the Hemoglobin synergy and shooting it with it, which is a mechanic that is present throughout the dungeon, but it becomes especially deadly during this boss fight. Overall, there are lots of things that make Moongrave Fane hard, but Grundwulf is easily the most challenging.
8 Scalecaller Peak
Scalecaller Peak was one of the first few DLC dungeons added to The Elder Scrolls Online, but it's still one of the toughest. The first four boss fights require a high degree of group coordination, making them tough for random groups to complete on Veteran difficulty.
The real challenge comes in the form of the final boss known as Zaan the Scalecaller. Many new mechanics are added to the fight in Hardmode, along with the increased potency of Zaan's attacks. Defeating Zaan on Hardmode is a grand achievement, and even on a Veteran it's still a tough fight.
7 Frostvault
Frostvault is a fairly easy dungeon until you get to the final boss. Even on normal difficulty, the Stonekeeper boss has a mechanic that sends your group into a unique room where you need to complete tasks before leaving. You can use the Skeevatrons, which are small mouse-shaped robots, to travel throughout the area and destroy conveyers.
The reason that this mechanic is so difficult is that there's a learning curve to figuring out the buttons that connect to each Skeevatron ability, and you need to think quick on Veteran and Hardmode difficulties if you want to survive and destroy every conveyor on time. Although the actual combat is easy, the Skeevatrons are hard to master initially.
6 Earthen Root Enclave
Earthen Root Enclave is one of the most strategic dungeons you'll encounter because of how many unique mechanics are introduced within it. Like usual, the first two bosses do offer a Hardmode variant, but it requires especially skilled groups to clear all three bosses.
Archdruid Devyric is the main boss you'll encounter in Earthen Root Enclave and there's a lot of mechanics you'll need to familiarize yourself with before you can win the fight. Outside of his standard fire wolf and earthquake attacks, Archdruid Devyric can transform into a bear, which gives him a completely different moveset. If you like unique boss battles with a twist, then the Hardmodes in Earthen Root Enclave are a lot of fun.
5 The Dread Cellar
The Dread Cellar is a terrifying dungeon for a vampire due to all the fire damage involved in it. However, it's challenging, regardless of your vampirism status, especially if you're trying to complete any of its three bosses on Hardmode difficulty.
The Magma Incarnate takes the cake for one of the hardest dungeon bosses in The Elder Scrolls Online, even on regular Veteran mode. You'll need to avoid many fire AOEs, along with a fire tornado while fighting the Magma Incarnate, making it difficult to maneuver around the battlefield. You'll need a solid tank and healer to mitigate the damage taken on The Dread Cellar's Hardmode difficulty.
4 Graven Deep
Like other newer dungeons in The Elder Scrolls Online, there are three primary bosses in Graven Deep, each with a Hardmode difficulty you can activate on Veteran mode. The first two bosses don't pose too much of a threat to organized groups, but Zelvraak is an imposing force that you can only beat with strong group communication.
Zelvraak has many unique mechanics, such as forcing you to turn away from him to avoid his attack. Additionally, you'll need to face three secret bosses to gain every possible buff to use against Zelvraak. If you enjoy a challenge, then Graven Deep is perfect on both regular Veteran mode and even more so on Hardmode.
3 Stone Garden
Stone Garden has three boss fights, each of which includes a Hardmode variant. The first two boss fights are easy enough for an experienced group of adventurers, although the second is harder than the first on Hardmode. However, Arkasis is the final boss of Stone Garden, and the difficult significantly increases during this fight.
Not only is Arkasis a threat during this fight, but you'll also have to fight many extra enemies that are quite powerful on the Veteran and Hardmode difficulties. You'll also have to master a unique werewolf transformation in Stone Garden, which is required to defeat the final boss, adding an extra learning curve to an already difficult fight.
2 Red Petal Bastion
Red Petal Bastion is a fun dungeon that introduces many new concepts and mechanics to unsuspecting adventurers. On standard Veteran difficulty, Red Petal Bastion isn't particularly challenging for a DLC dungeon. However, it includes three bosses with a Hardmode setting, so there's quite a challenge to undertake if you like completing Hardmode fights.
Rogerain, the first boss, isn't too difficult on any difficulty. However, the second and especially third boss will easily defeat an unorganized group due to the boss attacks. Eliam is the quick second boss that moves around a lot, while Prior Thierric is a very challenging boss with an arsenal of attacks that will keep you moving around the battlefield at all times. Having a strong tank is essential to completing all three Hardmode bosses in Red Petal Bastion, due to the amount of damage the tank will take throughout each fight.
1 Coral Aerie
Coral Aerie released shortly prior to the High Isle expansion. There are dozens of mechanics you have to master in order to complete its hardest difficulty, and three bosses with Hardmode variants. Varallion is the final boss, and he's quite powerful for multiple reasons.
Firstly, you'll have to fight Gryphons alongside Varallion, which is quite strenuous for the tank. In addition to the extra Gryphons, there are multiple AoE attacks that can easily kill every group member during this fight if you aren't careful. Even on standard Veteran mode, Coral Aerie is an incredibly tough dungeon to complete.