Update 50 Antiquity Leads Sources

MoonPile · April 17

U50 Antiquity Leads, especially furnishings – Has anyone gotten new lead drops naturally yet?

(I've puttered around Glenumbra a bit and done some of the Thieves' quest, but only got the old ones (Well, Kingmaker's Trove). However I have not (and do not want to) use Maps, reasons being 1. Disappointment, 2. Multi-source leads also end up in them, muddying the waters anyway. EDIT: Despite reason 2, I used 10 Maps. No lead. That's unusual for 1/3 (see prior link), so hope this means they're not in Maps. But given that my account seems to be cursed with no luck right now, better if others test.)

UPDATE 04.28.2026:
I got ZERO leads in 2 weeks questing and looting in Glenumbra. Thanks to @MidnightDuel for all of the findings so far!

Thieves Guild Armory Station Leads:

Antique Lockpicking Kit – Thieves' Troves in Glenumbra
Brigand's Dagger – Thieves' Troves in Glenumbra
Surreptitious Cabinet – Thieves' Troves in Glenumbra
Wooden Display Board – Thieves' Troves in Glenumbra
Camouflaged Hood – Thieves' Troves in Glenumbra OR Heists

Potentially all of these leads drop from either of these two sources:

Other furnishings:

Zenithar Devotional Stele furnishing – World Bosses located at The Wolf's Camp
Fool's Gold Pile – ????
Tapestry of the Prince's Hunt – ????
Window of Divinity – ????

MoonPile · April 20

Has anyone found any leads by now?

MoonPile · April 20

@MidnightDuel adding your found leads to this dedicated thread –

Armory lead from a Thieve's Trove in Glenumbra
Lead for Zenithar Devotional Stele dropped from the Glenumbra World Bosses located at The Wolf's Camp

OP:

MidnightDuel wrote: »

onyxorb wrote: »

Oh I have needs for that gold pile and the window could be fun too.
Not going to hold my breath yet. If they are tied to Glenumbra maps, all that will happen is that glenumbra maps will shoot up in price, and I still won't be able to afford them.

Hopefully they can be farmed some other way (stealing/looting etc).

The one lead that I found for the Armory was from a Thieve's Trove in Glenumbra. So there's a good chance the other parts will drop from other nefarious activities in the zone. Could also be tied to Hew's Bane activities too, since the leads are excavated there. I would expect some to drop from delve and WBs, in keeping with what we saw with the other multi-part crafting stations.

There are new "Favors" and random "Incursions" being added with U50. Perhaps those could be sources for the tapestry, window and stele leads.

The Zenithar Event is also currently on the PTS, so it's also possible that the "Zenithar Devotional Stele" could come from the event activities, but I really hope not. If it's a rare drop from a short-time event, that could further complicate collecting the codex required to purchase additional copies. Edited to add: Lead for Zenithar Devotional Stele dropped from the Glenumbra World Bosses located at The Wolf's Camp

Additional Note: It took two times killing the WB to get the first lead and another four times killing them to get the second lead.

If anyone else has been spending time on the U50 PTS, have you found any leads?

And agree @onyxorb , re: Gold Pile – it's the one I did not want to name:

MoonPile wrote: »

I've now taken a look at the U50 Antiquities on PTS... there's one in particular that's really awesome, that I'm trying not to be pre-sad about. I don't even want to name it yet because it's basically false advertising if we can't even get it I will only say it's very large and shiny.

I've sent in a feedback asking for it not to be in Maps, at least. I hope it's not too naive to hope they'll go the Stone-Nest Gazebo route with this new item – make it fun and reasonable to get!

At least Glenumbra maps are not (for now) as wildly expensive as newer-DLC ones, which is a significant bulk of the problem. But the grind is still so horribly boring and long, I do not want to do it for ANY items.

MidnightDuel · April 21

The lead for Antique Lockpicking Kit drops from Thieves Troves in Glenumbra.

It's part #3 of 5 of the Thieves Guild Armory Station.

Previously, I had gotten the lead for Brigand's Dagger (part #5 of 5), also from a Thieves Trove in Glenumbra.

MidnightDuel · April 21

Part #2 of 5 found from a Thieves Trove in Glenumbra too.

MidnightDuel · April 21

I haven't gotten any more leads today, even from Thieves Troves in Glenumbra. Been doing pickpocketing to see if that's a source. Killing lots of Werewolves too. Over four more hours and nothing.

Must say I'm a little worried about Thieves Troves being a lead source for three of the Armory Station leads. There are already too few spawn locations in Glenumbra. Troves spawn randomly and at a much lower rate than safeboxes or treasure chests. With Thieves Guild being base game, all players can see/loot Thieves Troves now too. So finding them is going to be extremely rare when U50 goes live. It's hard enough hitting the spawn location on PTS with an extremely low population.

ESO_player123 · April 22

MidnightDuel wrote: »

I haven't gotten any more leads today, even from Thieves Troves in Glenumbra. Been doing pickpocketing to see if that's a source. Killing lots of Werewolves too. Over four more hours and nothing.

Must say I'm a little worried about Thieves Troves being a lead source for three of the Armory Station leads. There are already too few spawn locations in Glenumbra. Troves spawn randomly and at a much lower rate than safeboxes or treasure chests. With Thieves Guild being base game, all players can see/loot Thieves Troves now too. So finding them is going to be extremely rare when U50 goes live. It's hard enough hitting the spawn location on PTS with an extremely low population.

It's those flowers or safeboxes in Shadowfen situation all over again except that flowers are more abundant and safeboxes are in fixed spots. So, it looks like it could be even worse.

MidnightDuel · April 22

ESO_player123 wrote: »

It's those flowers or safeboxes in Shadowfen situation all over again except that flowers are more abundant and safeboxes are in fixed spots. So, it looks like it could be even worse.

This is exactly what worries me. And because it's a furnishing and not a mythic piece of gear, it's not likely that anything will be done to avoid the situation or remedy it after it goes live.

allochthons · April 22

It really makes me wonder if any of the devs who make lead decisions have EVER tried to get a lead on a Live server. Much less the 3 needed to buy a furnishing. Thieves Troves for 3 of 5? I hope it's overland treasure chests too!

MidnightDuel · April 22

allochthons wrote: »

It really makes me wonder if any of the devs who make lead decisions have EVER tried to get a lead on a Live server. Much less the 3 needed to buy a furnishing. Thieves Troves for 3 of 5? I hope it's overland treasure chests too!

I spent hours looting overland treasure chests and safeboxes in Glenumbra and Hew's Bane hunting for the new leads and got nothing from either. I was limited on what chests I was able to dig up with maps, so I can't rule that source out.

I did some pickpocketing too, but it's never been my favorite pastime and I get bored quickly. I had hoped for a least one of the new furnishings that are supposed to drop in the zone but had no luck.

MoonPile · April 23

MidnightDuel wrote: »

Part #2 of 5 found from a Thieves Trove in Glenumbra too.

Ahh, thank you, this will be the one I was missing in Hew's Bane on PTS; it's just scryed there.

I was about to look some in Hew's Bane too, but the Patch Notes say the 5 leads all come from Glenumbra:

5 new furnishings can be earned from Antiquity Leads in Glenumbra, including a new Armory Station!

No luck at all on my end.

MidnightDuel · April 24

Finding "natural" leads on the PTS is frustrating. There are few hints in the Patch Notes as to the sources, which can come from so many activities and locations. While template characters can supply the leads, there is no information about the sources and only point to where they can be scried and excavated. It's pure luck we find any of the sources at all.

MidnightDuel · April 25

Another lead found for the Armory Station from yet another Thieves Trove in Glenumbra. Wooden Display Board (#1 of 5)

Wondering now if all of the leads for the station drop from Thieves Troves in Glenumbra. So far looting Thieves Troves in other zones hasn't produced a lead.

MoonPile · April 25

MidnightDuel wrote: »

Another lead found for the Armory Station from yet another Thieves Trove in Glenumbra. Wooden Display Board (#1 of 5)

Wondering now if all of the leads for the station drop from Thieves Troves in Glenumbra. So far looting Thieves Troves in other zones hasn't produced a lead.

Oh geez. You probably already sent in-game feedback? This is going to be a trainwreck if everyone's going after Thieves Troves at the same time

MidnightDuel · April 25

MoonPile wrote: »

Oh geez. You probably already sent in-game feedback? This is going to be a trainwreck if everyone's going after Thieves Troves at the same time

It's taken looting at least 5 or 6 Thieves Troves before getting each of the leads for the Armory Station so far. The problem is that there just aren't that many trove spawn locations in the zone. I've only seen a couple other players running around in a few locations on PTS, mostly in Daggerfall. So I've mostly had the map to myself and am still struggling to find active troves.

I know of three throve spawn locations on live that have yet to have a box show up on PTS. When I go back to live I see them no problem, but on PTS the troves just don't show in those locations. As you may know, the zone has had a huge amount of cosmetic updates and looks great, but I fear that some of the Thieves Trove locations were either moved or eliminated during the visual updates.

While exploring possible lead locations for the other Antiquities, I've run many delves, killed countless werewolves, and fought several dolmen. I've also bug reported that dolmen chests aren't spawning loot chests after completing a dolmen fight and pulling the fifth pinion.

After close to 40 hours on the PTS, I still have no idea where the leads for the other three Antiquity furnishings drop.

MidnightDuel · April 26

Nearly certain that the final lead for the Thieves Guild Armory Station doesn't drop from a Thieves Trove. After another 16 hours and opening some 30+ Thieves Troves in Glenumbra, still don't have the final lead.

The lead is also not dropping from Safeboxes or overland treasure chests or from pickpocketing.

MoonPile · April 26

Every time I go on PTS, at all odd hours of the day or night, there are no Thieves Troves spawned anywhere and I'm like "Midnight has been here..."

Same for me, I haven't had a single lead drop from any sources – PP, safeboxes, chests, mining, TG dailies (so far), etc. I was casually trying things that logically seem like they'd drop a "Fool's Gold Pile", but no, nothing. I really hope they haven't put it in one of the dungeons or trial either

EDIT: It's possible the new Dynamic event drops some leads, but Idk, I haven't been able to complete any.

MidnightDuel · April 27

MoonPile wrote: »

Every time I go on PTS, at all odd hours of the day or night, there are no Thieves Troves spawned anywhere and I'm like "Midnight has been here..."

IDK if I'm taking all the troves. I'm certainly looting any I see.

Seriously, I know of 16 Glenumbra Thieves Trove spawn locations by heart (I don't use any add-ons on PTS and don't use add-ons for treasure chest or trove locations when I play on live either.) There could be and probably are more than that, but I've been going to the ones I know exactly where they are on live as of U49. On a good run, half of them might be up for looting on the PTS, when I haven't seen another player the entire time. Two of the ones I know have never been up on PTS, and one of them has been slightly buried with only a faint blue glow showing where the trove actually hides.

MoonPile wrote: »

Same for me, I haven't had a single lead drop from any sources – PP, safeboxes, chests, mining, TG dailies (so far), etc. I was casually trying things that logically seem like they'd drop a "Fool's Gold Pile", but no, nothing. I really hope they haven't put it in one of the dungeons or trial either

I had thought the Hircine tapestry would drop from the Wolf's Camp, but the Zenithar Stele lead drops from there instead. Next I thought it could drop from killing werewolves, but after slaughtering scores of them I gave up that idea.

I suppose a lead could drop from the Red Petal Bastion dungeon. It's not really werewolf or Thieves Guild themed, but then again I don't know what Zenithar's Stele has to do with a wolf camp either.

MoonPile wrote: »

EDIT: It's possible the new Dynamic event drops some leads, but Idk, I haven't been able to complete any.

I don't believe the Dynamic events are solo-able. Not only are they timed, but they have mechanics that require players to split up and be in more than one place at a time. They are not something that can be properly tested in low populations, such as the PTS. I expect they will hold their secrets (bugs and all) until U50 goes live, much like the Writhing Wall camps and other Solstice event content. Let's just say, I'm not impressed with the "experimental content" we've seen thus far.

MoonPile · April 27

I was just criming about in Glenumbra on PTS since Live is down and got excited for ONE second...

🤣

This game hates me.

Funny enough, this same Antiquity (but different lead) popped for my real, Live-server NA account just a few hours ago, when I was actually hoping for the Vitrified Soul Crystal. Disappointing as usual.

...and yet another example of clumpy RNG: I've screenshots of a bunch of events like this now – alt accounts & toons getting the same plan or type within hours, etc, as if there are theme-days to drops. Like today, apparently it's the "Dreams" Music Box day.

Also really over the 3/3-codex-to-buy thing. Just make it ONE.

allochthons · April 27

MidnightDuel wrote: »

I've only seen a couple other players running around in a few locations on PTS, mostly in Daggerfall.

Do the leads drop from thieves troves in any zone? While I still don't like it, it's significantly better than just thieves troves in Glenumbra.

MoonPile · April 27

allochthons wrote: »

MidnightDuel wrote: »

I've only seen a couple other players running around in a few locations on PTS, mostly in Daggerfall.

Do the leads drop from thieves troves in any zone? While I still don't like it, it's significantly better than just thieves troves in Glenumbra.

All of the leads are supposed to drop only in Glenumbra, according to the patch notes

MidnightDuel · April 27

MoonPile wrote: »

allochthons wrote: »

Do the leads drop from thieves troves in any zone? While I still don't like it, it's significantly better than just thieves troves in Glenumbra.

All of the leads are supposed to drop only in Glenumbra, according to the patch notes

The patch note never actaully said "only" in Glenumbra:

Technically, with four leads for the station dropping in Glenumbra from Thieves Troves, even a lead from someplace else for the fifth part wouldn't make that statement in the patch notes untrue.

I have a few Thieves Trove paths in other zones that I ran on the PTS, but none of them produced any leads.

I went back today on the PTS with my EU account, since the character copy changed, and got two of the leads again from Thieves Troves in Glenumbra. It looks like the armory station leads are the source for at least four (4) of the five parts of the antiquity. Interestingly, they moved the achievement purchasing site from Glenumbra to Hew's Bane, where all the parts are excavated. Makes me wonder if the last lead comes from that zone.

Additionally, I got this from a Thieves Trove in Glenumbra:

I never got one of those fragments during the NA character copy with 60+ hours of PTS time farming for Thieves Troves and a bunch of Safeboxes in Glenumbra. It now makes me wonder about this statement from the first week U50 PTS patch notes:

With Thieves Troves now supplying one of the parts to the new Rogue's Refuge house in Glenumbra, there is going to be a frenzy of players seeking them out, ultimately making them harder to find.

Of the now 20 Thieves Trove locations I know of in Gleaumbra, only 5 were active when was on the PTS immediately after today's patch. Running around for over two hours those locations yielded 2 leads and the one "Collectable Fragment."

MoonPile · April 27

Re:
ONLY in Glenumbra, I guess you could read that patch note as:

"5 new furnishings can be earned [...] in Glenumbra," – meaning the furnishings are from Glenumbra, but the Leads are not necessarily. Or something like that.

Versus my understanding of it, "5 new furnishings can be earned from Antiquity Leads in Glenumbra..." – meaning the Leads should definitely be in Glenumbra.

I could be misremembering, but they haven't been THAT mysterious about Lead locations in past notes. If there were multiple zones to find something, they'd say so, e.g., "in Glenumbra and Hew's Bane".

I guess it's worth asking for clarity, although I kinda doubt anyone would answer us:
@ZOS_Kevin @ZOS_JessicaFolsom – would it be possible to confirm if Glenumbra is the ONLY zone these leads drop in?

Anyway,
Yes, if there are really that many things hidden ONLY in Thieves Troves, ONLY in Glenumbra, it will indeed be an awful mess on Live. A repeat of that mythic lead in safeboxes, no doubt. (I'm so glad I wasn't playing then; I got it later – and IIRC the odds on that were even improved. But how frustrating for players who choose to play and subscribe while content is fresh, to be excited about new things but not actually be able to get them. I know how that feels: not good, to say the least.)

MidnightDuel · April 28

The patch note have always been rather vague about the source of Antiquity leads. Saying they drop in a particular zone is honestly quite generous.

That leads for at least four (4) of the five armory station parts drop in Glenumbra is good to know. That the only known source is Thieves Troves is nonetheless troubling.

It took killing the WB in Glenumbra six (6) times before the lead dropped on EU for the first time. (Got the lead on the first try on PTS during the NA character copy.) And the boss dropped two leads at once this time:

Still no idea on the source for the other three antiquity furnishings.

MoonPile · April 28

Recent ones have been pretty clear, e.g.:

PTS Patch Notes v9.2.0
In addition, you may come across new Leads in the following zones:
[all of the zones are explicitly listed; this was the patch that introduced new Antiquities like the Dibella Shine, Stone Frog, etc.]

A variety of new furnishings can be found in West Weald, including: ... 13 new antiquity furnishings, including a music box and a blacksmithing station!

12 new furnishings can be earned from Antiquity Leads in Solstice, including a Blacksmithing Station!

5 new antiquity furnishing leads can be discovered from activities in the Night Market, and once your codex entry is complete, can be purchased from the achievement vendor Lozotusk in Coldharbor.

So based on the last few years' notes, I don't see a reason to believe they wouldn't be in Glenumbra.

Regardless, I'm glad you're having good luck finding some! If you happen to find a lead in HB or elsewhere I'll be happy to be wrong. I'm still 0 for 0 (albeit going about it very casually; I'm burned out enough on Live leads as it is.)

EDIT:
Goofed, accidentally opened the Antiquarian's Folio of Leads.
Even if I dig any up, given the usual odds of 2/3, that means I'll probably never find any of them during the EU PTS 😑 I hope some other people will take up the torch. Good luck.

MidnightDuel · April 28

Looks like the final lead (and possibly the others) for the Thieves Guild Armory Station will drop from Heists.

After getting two of the leads, Thieves Troves stopped dropping any more today, despite looting more than a dozen additional troves and another six hours of hunting. Troves just don't respawn with any reliability.

I did a couple Heists during the NA character copy, but didn't get a lead for the station. As you may recall, Heists already drop the lead for the Morwha's Blessing, which had a super low drop rate. Heists can be done either in Hew's Bane or the new Thieves Guild location inside the Daggerfall Outlaw's Refuge. I haven't unlocked Heists on EU and it's too much bother just for PTS.

RicAlmighty · April 28

What an incredibly player hostile decision this is. I thought we were past the age of endless grind? @ZOS_Kevin

MoonPile · April 28

RicAlmighty wrote: »

What an incredibly player hostile decision this is. I thought we were past the age of endless grind? @ZOS_Kevin

Even with all the good QOL updates recently, Antiquities – especially Housing related – have been left behind so far.

It's an odd choice to punish active subscription instead of rewarding it. When it takes months or literally years of frustration to get what you need for your gameplay, then in my experience, it can be better to leave and maybe return when it's reasonable:

Just for one example, I left ESO just before Greymoor, until late 2022. I just barely missed the whole Murkmire Safebox debacle. By the time I returned, 1. Tons of people had complained and drop rates were improved, 2. Most people who wanted Oakensoul already got it, so by the time I tried to get it, there were plenty of safeboxes in Murkmire and it was easy to get. Yay for me, but... sorry for everyone who was supporting the latest content at the time.

But I'll stop there; this thread was supposed to be for recording the lead sources; I'll update the OP with Midnight's findings. Just for reference, there's at least a couple others active about these Antiquity problems:

BetweenMidgets · April 28

I hate to say it, but reading this thread is so disheartening.

PVP and Housing were my bread and butter in ESO for ages.
A lot of the PVP changes have made me less interested in playing as often, basically only when my friends are playing too.

To see more nested RNG lead drops that I'd have to repeat many times over is just... well it isn't fun "gameplay".

MoonPile · April 28

BetweenMidgets wrote: »

I hate to say it, but reading this thread is so disheartening.

I'll be happy if the single one I really want (Fool's Gold Pile) is not in Maps.
But if it's anything like the Vitrified Soul Crystal or Moons-Blessed pool, it's... barely better. Barely. Then it's only a huge time-sink, and not also a waste of gold.

But yes, I feel for everyone who will really want that Armory station. At least if all the leads are also in Heists, those are player-exclusive, and multiple characters can do them per day.

MidnightDuel · April 29

MoonPile wrote: »

At least if all the leads are also in Heists, those are player-exclusive, and multiple characters can do them per day.

I spent the better part of the day in Hew's Bane on live unlocking Thieves Guild Heists on another alt Character for when U50 goes live. Heists are only unlocked at Thieves Guild level 4. Each character is limited on how many Heist quests can be done each day. Normally, it's just one Heist quest per character per day, but Heists can be shared with other players, Players can also group up to complete heists.

I really don't know how many leads will drop from Heists. I know that originally four different leads dropped from Theives Troves during the NA character copy, but I could never get the fifth. Most recently, I was able to get two leads from troves on the EU character copy, but I wasn't able to test the Heist drops.