[PSA] There are 45 Skyshards in Cyrodiil -- easy skill points!

Amadis001

For the people for whom double AP was not enough of a reason to visit Cyrodiil for the first time -- I want to let you know how EASY it was for me to quickly gather most of 15 available skill points. Cyrodiil is a very large zone. You can ride for very long distances without ever encountering another player if you stay away from the small number of currently contested keeps. And if you go at quiet times, such as early in the morning, you may find that there is no fighting at all going on. The only people on the server are yourself and a couple of other people collecting skyshards, doing dolmens and clearing delves. It has taken me less than 10 hours of solo play time to collect almost all the skyshards, clear most of the dungeons and do most of the dolmens. I was killed by random PvP'ers only a couple of times when I got reckless. One random who caught me unaware near a delve paid with his own life. Mostly I was left entirely to myself. So even if you don't like PvP, get in there and do your Cyrodiil PvP for the skyshards and achievements. I was surprised how simple it was. I didn't even need to bother with PvP gear.

There were really only 2 challenges in the whole effort. The spawn timers on some of the dungeons is slow. I spent 30 or 40 minutes in one delve trying to get the third boss to spawn. From what I've read, I actually got lucky on this. People have complained about waiting much longer. The other thing is that there are two skyshards behind enemy gates in each of the two enemy home bases. You can only get those if the gates are open, which only happens if your alliance has swept that part of the map. If you must have ALL the skyshards, like me, you're going to have to wait for a time when you are able to get through those gates.

mrdiamond666

If anybody wants to team up and take care of some cyradiil things, add me, same name, on PS4 na. I've only gotten 3 skyshards there, plus we can do some fishing, I got some bait.

O_LYKOS

Actually 46 in total

Shadzilla

Get a zerg and do a coordinated run, only takes a couple hours.

Feanor

That advice is far too reasonable, OP. Much better to demand a PvE only Cyrodiil server from ZOS.

Jciampi

Yep 46 total. The one on the top of the mountain in ebonheart area. I just got my achievement the other day for every skyshard in game. I had two left behind aldemieri and one behind ebonheart and thanks to the pvp event I got all 3. XD love that color blue it unlocks.

The delves were pains if you wanted the clear. Cause like you I had many bosses with slow Spawn times. I played on non cp servers usually late at night to avoid interaction, that's how I got most of my skyshards and all the dolmen and missions done. But i was on a normal cp server for the pvp event.

abigfishy

I met someone from another faction in a delve and without talking we never attacked each other and took down the bosses together.

HHQ

I just got my 100% Skyshard achievement knocking out the last few I needed in Cyrodiil last week. I totally forgot about the blue dye (thx 4 the reminder!) as I was just excited to be able to purchase my very own Skyshard!

Some of the delves trying to get the boss completion was somewhat of a grueling process. Bloodmayne Cave especially, I visited 3-4 times spending 3 hrs the last time waiting by myself for the last boss I needed to spawn. Finally, after repeated boss kills of the other 2 bosses - a low level player walked in and that eluding NPC finally and gloriously spawned! After that experience I didn't visit solo anymore.

Enslaved

Amadis001 wrote: »

For the people for whom double AP was not enough of a reason to visit Cyrodiil for the first time -- I want to let you know how EASY it was for me to quickly gather most of 15 available skill points. Cyrodiil is a very large zone. You can ride for very long distances without ever encountering another player if you stay away from the small number of currently contested keeps. And if you go at quiet times, such as early in the morning, you may find that there is no fighting at all going on. The only people on the server are yourself and a couple of other people collecting skyshards, doing dolmens and clearing delves. It has taken me less than 10 hours of solo play time to collect almost all the skyshards, clear most of the dungeons and do most of the dolmens. I was killed by random PvP'ers only a couple of times when I got reckless. One random who caught me unaware near a delve paid with his own life. Mostly I was left entirely to myself. So even if you don't like PvP, get in there and do your Cyrodiil PvP for the skyshards and achievements. I was surprised how simple it was. I didn't even need to bother with PvP gear.

There were really only 2 challenges in the whole effort. The spawn timers on some of the dungeons is slow. I spent 30 or 40 minutes in one delve trying to get the third boss to spawn. From what I've read, I actually got lucky on this. People have complained about waiting much longer. The other thing is that there are two skyshards behind enemy gates in each of the two enemy home bases. You can only get those if the gates are open, which only happens if your alliance has swept that part of the map. If you must have ALL the skyshards, like me, you're going to have to wait for a time when you are able to get through those gates.

Gl at several delves, such as pothole caverns. Sometimes it takes well over an hour for all bosses to spawn at least once. Also, at least 4 shards are pretty hard to get if not on buff campaigns. These are locked behind enemy gates and requires 2 lask keeps in a row to be taken by other alliances, so the gate is open. Even if so, there are a ton of NPCs waiting for you on the gate, pretty deadly at non CP campaigns. Even if you go trought them, gankers tend to wait on shard for easy kills.

DurzoBlint13

O_LYKOS wrote: »

Actually 46 in total

this^^^ everyone forgets the lonely Shard on top of the mountain

Bonzodog01

Plus if you do ALL the delves, cyrodill dailies (just once mind you), and all the dolmens, along with having done Cadwells silver and Gold, there are three increasingly rare titles awaiting you - Tamriel Hero, Explorer, and Savior of Nirn.

Its worth noting that the delve nearest the ebonheart gates is seriously bugged and has been for the longest time. As part of the delves mechanics, you need to get to the lower cavern, and can only do this by using the whirlpools. When you use the whirlpools, it sometimes drops you into a cave section in between the upper and lower caverns, and its impossible to leave unless you use /stuck and port back to your gates. PITA.

Bombashaman

As I don't want to give any PvP player the satisfaction of killing my toon, I'm not going to get those skyshards. Gladly I couldn't care less about achievements, and I already have enough skill points. Phew, dodged that bullet.

TequilaFire

Bombashaman wrote: »

As I don't want to give any PvP player the satisfaction of killing my toon, I'm not going to get those skyshards. Gladly I couldn't care less about achievements, and I already have enough skill points. Phew, dodged that bullet.

You act like it actually hurts or even costs you anything.
Nobody will even remember your name.
Worst excuse in the world.

Good job OP, that is the spirit!

Bonzodog01

Bombashaman wrote: »

As I don't want to give any PvP player the satisfaction of killing my toon, I'm not going to get those skyshards. Gladly I couldn't care less about achievements, and I already have enough skill points. Phew, dodged that bullet.

The easiest way to obtain this stuff is using a "buff" campaign, one of the low pop ones. Hell, you could even use the no-CP Sotha Sil campaign. Just avoid the central ring of forts, and stick to the expansive countryside. Just be careful when doing the quests around Vlastarus, Cropsford and Bruma. Those are seizable villages, and if you kill the guards and take the flags, there is a chance of someone else on an opposing side noticing that they have changed hands, and coming to take them back.

Bombashaman

TequilaFire wrote: »

Bombashaman wrote: »

As I don't want to give any PvP player the satisfaction of killing my toon, I'm not going to get those skyshards. Gladly I couldn't care less about achievements, and I already have enough skill points. Phew, dodged that bullet.

You act like it actually hurts or even costs you anything.
Nobody will even remember your name.
Worst excuse in the world.

Good job OP, that is the spirit!

I already said. I don't want to give the satisfaction to PvP player for offing my toon. It is a reason enough for me, could not care less if it isn't that for others. Also, don't need the skill points. So, not going there.

Of course logically if some other isn't bothered by his/her toon being killed by PvP player or is a need of skill points, then there you go, happy harvesting.

Takes-No-Prisoner

Amadis001 wrote: »

For the people for whom double AP was not enough of a reason to visit Cyrodiil for the first time -- I want to let you know how EASY it was for me to quickly gather most of 15 available skill points. Cyrodiil is a very large zone. You can ride for very long distances without ever encountering another player if you stay away from the small number of currently contested keeps. And if you go at quiet times, such as early in the morning, you may find that there is no fighting at all going on. The only people on the server are yourself and a couple of other people collecting skyshards, doing dolmens and clearing delves. It has taken me less than 10 hours of solo play time to collect almost all the skyshards, clear most of the dungeons and do most of the dolmens. I was killed by random PvP'ers only a couple of times when I got reckless. One random who caught me unaware near a delve paid with his own life. Mostly I was left entirely to myself. So even if you don't like PvP, get in there and do your Cyrodiil PvP for the skyshards and achievements. I was surprised how simple it was. I didn't even need to bother with PvP gear.

There were really only 2 challenges in the whole effort. The spawn timers on some of the dungeons is slow. I spent 30 or 40 minutes in one delve trying to get the third boss to spawn. From what I've read, I actually got lucky on this. People have complained about waiting much longer. The other thing is that there are two skyshards behind enemy gates in each of the two enemy home bases. You can only get those if the gates are open, which only happens if your alliance has swept that part of the map. If you must have ALL the skyshards, like me, you're going to have to wait for a time when you are able to get through those gates.

Pretty much how I completed all my skyshards on multiple characters. +1 Good job OP

Only tricky part is gating the enemy alliance to get the 4 behind their gates. But that is mostly a timing thing.

zaria

mrdiamond666 wrote: »

If anybody wants to team up and take care of some cyradiil things, add me, same name, on PS4 na. I've only gotten 3 skyshards there, plus we can do some fishing, I got some bait.

And if you team up with somebody you are totally safe. Extremely few will mess with two players who stick together.
Skyshard and delves is solo activity after all.

Beardimus

Cool thread man. Goes to show we don't need a PvE Cyrodiil server like people.keep saying

Jamini

@Bonzodog01

Don't bother arguing with a Carebear like him. Some players have this massive chip on their shoulder about anything competitive at all and seem determined to *** on the target of their hatred with their entire being despite the fact that the only toxic element of what they hate is actually their own *** attitude.

@EveryoneElseWhoIsnotabigotedidiot

Cyrodiil is fairly quiet away from keep paths, and specialized gear (impen) is most certainly not required for the PvE portions of it. (Hell, I have a PvP character that has exactly one piece of impen, and he still wreaks face.). You may need to change your bars to have a little more direct damage and applied dots instead of ground dots, and I would recommend slotting a few of your healing/survival skills.

The only thing that is important is understanding that you will probably die to another player at some point, and not allowing it to get to you when it happens. Once you get over that hump, PvP can even become rather enjoyable (exception being: your computer cannot handle it for whatever reason.)

Takes-No-Prisoner

zaria wrote: »

mrdiamond666 wrote: »

If anybody wants to team up and take care of some cyradiil things, add me, same name, on PS4 na. I've only gotten 3 skyshards there, plus we can do some fishing, I got some bait.

And if you team up with somebody you are totally safe. Extremely few will mess with two players who stick together.
Skyshard and delves is solo activity after all.

This is very good advice. While I did most of my PvEing solo in Cyro, having a friend means you get a chance to get resurrected if things go south. Plus an extra pair of eyes to look for danger.

zaria

TequilaFire wrote: »

Bombashaman wrote: »

As I don't want to give any PvP player the satisfaction of killing my toon, I'm not going to get those skyshards. Gladly I couldn't care less about achievements, and I already have enough skill points. Phew, dodged that bullet.

You act like it actually hurts or even costs you anything.
Nobody will even remember your name.
Worst excuse in the world.

Good job OP, that is the spirit!

This, skyshard, delves and dolmens is pve last I checked.
The only players doing it are other who need it. Trust me I got killed once by players doing not only all the delves in Cyrodil but also all the non daily town quests.
Only downside of getting killed by an player is that you have to res at an keep not your location, just as if you was out of skyshard in PvE. Most players will avoid you as they also do pve, wear an stupid costume like the nordic bath towel or the wedding dress that way they don't know if you wear heavy armor

Riptide

I already said. I don't want to give the satisfaction to PvP player for offing my toon. It is a reason enough for me, could not care less if it isn't that for others. Also, don't need the skill points. So, not going there.

Of course logically if some other isn't bothered by his/her toon being killed by PvP player or is a need of skill points, then there you go, happy harvesting.

I think you are missing out, but not really trying to convince you here - just sharing my thoughts.

In my experience most folks pvping don't delight in others' inconvenience or misfortune, not unless they exhibited ugly behavior or are just outright skilled and hard fights. You don't get much of any AP or benefit by killing a low ranked player, and most people are not psychopaths who enjoy someone else's trouble for the sake of it. Sure there are a few like that, but they are rare.

If you are out and about in a quiet campaign and aren't near a contested keep or resource, you'd be surprised how often folks,use and respect the universal sign of peace - use and hold block, and make it clear you are no threat. I respect it, so do heaps of others.

Cyrodil is expansive. It is just very big, wide open. Most fighting goes on at chokepoints - the vast, vast majority of the map is quiet and open to exploration. It gives you a feeling of being in the frontier. With speed boost you get immediately from the assault line, a fast mount, and hide, you can experience it in safety. And it really is fun. It feels just a little dangerous, though dying costs you nothing.

Most enjoyable skyshard hunting in the game, I promise you

Bombashaman

Jamini wrote: »

@Bonzodog01

Don't bother arguing with a Carebear like him. Some players have this massive chip on their shoulder about anything competitive at all and seem determined to *** on the target of their hatred with their entire being despite the fact that the only toxic element of what they hate is actually their own *** attitude.

@EveryoneElseWhoIsnotabigotedidiot

Cyrodiil is fairly quiet away from keep paths, and specialized gear (impen) is most certainly not required for the PvE portions of it. (Hell, I have a PvP character that has exactly one piece of impen, and he still wreaks face.). You may need to change your bars to have a little more direct damage and applied dots instead of ground dots, and I would recommend slotting a few of your healing/survival skills.

The only thing that is important is understanding that you will probably die to another player at some point, and not allowing it to get to you when it happens. Once you get over that hump, PvP can even become rather enjoyable (exception being: your computer cannot handle it for whatever reason.)

Didn't know carebear refers to someone who doesn't want to compete, always thought it refers to someone who wants play easy mode. Oh well.

Bombashaman

Bonzodog01 wrote: »

Bombashaman wrote: »

As I don't want to give any PvP player the satisfaction of killing my toon, I'm not going to get those skyshards. Gladly I couldn't care less about achievements, and I already have enough skill points. Phew, dodged that bullet.

The easiest way to obtain this stuff is using a "buff" campaign, one of the low pop ones. Hell, you could even use the no-CP Sotha Sil campaign. Just avoid the central ring of forts, and stick to the expansive countryside. Just be careful when doing the quests around Vlastarus, Cropsford and Bruma. Those are seizable villages, and if you kill the guards and take the flags, there is a chance of someone else on an opposing side noticing that they have changed hands, and coming to take them back.

Thanks for the tips, but I'll pass and stick to the PvE adventuring

Bombashaman

Riptide wrote: »

I already said. I don't want to give the satisfaction to PvP player for offing my toon. It is a reason enough for me, could not care less if it isn't that for others. Also, don't need the skill points. So, not going there.

Of course logically if some other isn't bothered by his/her toon being killed by PvP player or is a need of skill points, then there you go, happy harvesting.

I think you are missing out, but not really trying to convince you here - just sharing my thoughts.

In my experience most folks pvping don't delight in others' inconvenience or misfortune, not unless they exhibited ugly behavior or are just outright skilled and hard fights. You don't get much of any AP or benefit by killing a low ranked player, and most people are not psychopaths who enjoy someone else's trouble for the sake of it. Sure there are a few like that, but they are rare.

If you are out and about in a quiet campaign and aren't near a contested keep or resource, you'd be surprised how often folks,use and respect the universal sign of peace - use and hold block, and make it clear you are no threat. I respect it, so do heaps of others.

Cyrodil is expansive. It is just very big, wide open. Most fighting goes on at chokepoints - the vast, vast majority of the map is quiet and open to exploration. It gives you a feeling of being in the frontier. With speed boost you get immediately from the assault line, a fast mount, and hide, you can experience it in safety. And it really is fun. It feels just a little dangerous, though dying costs you nothing.

Most enjoyable skyshard hunting in the game, I promise you

Well, if I am in any need for additional skill points, Cyrodiil is the only place for them for me...or buying some DLC's. In that case, I think I'd rather take the low chance to have my toon killed in PvP than paying any (more) real money for the game.

Nestor

Bombashaman wrote: »

I already said. I don't want to give the satisfaction to PvP player for offing my toon. It is a reason enough for me, could not care less if it isn't that for others. Also, don't need the skill points. So, not going there.

@Bombashaman

Spent last weekend finishing up the Delves in Cyrodiil on my AD (yellow character). I did this on a low population 7 day resource campaign. The entire map was Red, all the way to the gates of DC and AD. I only saw 3 other EP players, and they were all PvEing too. Not one fight with another player up there. Heck, I even rode over to a keep and a few resources that were being attacked to see what was going on. It was a group of 3 or 4 players taking over resources. So, I had to put out effort to even find the interplayer combat, and even then, they ignored me.

So, find a low pop campaign and jump in. No worries

Bombashaman

@Bonzodog01 @Riptide @Nestor

your persuasive words have...persuaded me. I shall have a go at it someday. At 4:00 AM I can maybe even put those additional skill points to some use, try some weird builds just for laughs.

Wreuntzylla

I agree it's very rare for PvP to happen. I've completed the achievements or the majority of the tasks on some 10 toons without so much as seeing another person. My major gripe is the ride time. Have a movie playing while you do it.

Quest hub completion is a bit different. In the distant past, we would have to clear a hub of enemy gankers every so often, but since Imperial City provides much greater rewards to a ganker, it's pretty rare. The main threat at quest hubs is other people leveling.

As an aside, the only thing with faster leveling than Cyrodiil quest hubs is Skyreach. The hubs are arguably even faster on per minute basis. But you have to add in the travel time between hubs and you are capped on a per day basis by the overall number of dailies. You also get a piece of Cyrodiil gear (random gear box) for each quest, and these sell really well, especially to people twinking for the lowbie server.

VvardeFellow

Several of my characters went to and beyond 50 just running around getting skyshards, doing zone dungeone, and getting all the exploration achievements. I can attest that if one hunts down skyshards one will have more than they can even use.

Takes-No-Prisoner

Nestor wrote: »

Bombashaman wrote: »

I already said. I don't want to give the satisfaction to PvP player for offing my toon. It is a reason enough for me, could not care less if it isn't that for others. Also, don't need the skill points. So, not going there.

@Bombashaman

Spent last weekend finishing up the Delves in Cyrodiil on my AD (yellow character). I did this on a low population 7 day resource campaign. The entire map was Red, all the way to the gates of DC and AD. I only saw 3 other EP players, and they were all PvEing too. Not one fight with another player up there. Heck, I even rode over to a keep and a few resources that were being attacked to see what was going on. It was a group of 3 or 4 players taking over resources. So, I had to put out effort to even find the interplayer combat, and even then, they ignored me.

So, find a low pop campaign and jump in. No worries

While I also did some PvE in a low population campaign, there was a lot of risk involved going into an all red map. So kudos for being a non-red and attempting it on that kind of campaign.

I've been attacked before even in low pop campaigns with my alliance gated, but it's still nothing I mulled over since I have PvP EXP with me. But that danger is ever present.

Bombashaman wrote: »

your persuasive words have...persuaded me. I shall have a go at it someday. At 4:00 AM I can maybe even put those additional skill points to some use, try some weird builds just for laughs.

Ummm you aren't trying those weird builds in PvP are you? I'd recommend sticking to what you know for mowing down PvE mobs if not.

4am your time might be a good idea, however, PvPers do come into caves to get the increase AP buff and some do the dolmens even at those hours.

I would highly recommend creating a plan in case you run into any trouble, and make sure you have a lot of soul gems, food, and plenty of tri-potions immovable, sprinting, invisible potions so you can have options for escape if not using a NB. Think of it as a camping trip and check your map every 5 minutes to enemy movements.

Bombashaman

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

Bombashaman wrote: »

your persuasive words have...persuaded me. I shall have a go at it someday. At 4:00 AM I can maybe even put those additional skill points to some use, try some weird builds just for laughs.

Ummm you aren't trying those weird builds in PvP are you? I'd recommend sticking to what you know for mowing down PvE mobs if not.

4am your time might be a good idea, however, PvPers do come into caves to get the increase AP buff and some do the dolmens even at those hours.

I would highly recommend creating a plan in case you run into any trouble, and make sure you have a lot of soul gems, food, and plenty of tri-potions immovable, sprinting, invisible potions so you can have options for escape if not using a NB. Think of it as a camping trip and check your map every 5 minutes to enemy movements.

I meant I'll then use those new skill points from Cyro skyshards for PvE adventuring. For skyshard hunting, I think I'll mop up some tanky build (on my DK) and hope I'm too hp bloated and tanky looking to be bothered to kill