Tips for getting to Skyshards in Cyrodil?

Thepeug

As the title indicates, does anyone have advice for how to access those hard-to-reach skyshards in Cyrodll? I'm thinking of the ones deep behind enemy lines, usually near the Elder Scroll temples. I don't play much PVP, and trying to reach these areas without being insta-killed is a challenge, to say the least. Is my only option to wait until my faction has taken over the entire map? We've come close before (EP), but I've never seen every area conquered/accessible.

At this point, I've collected every shard in the game except for 4 in Cyrodil.

belial5221_ESO

Best to try on weekends,make sure to swap campaigns til a lower pop in your alliance is capturing everything.Or during Midyear Mayhem(twice a year) it's easier sometimes.

SirAndy

Also, you don't have to home a campaign to get the skyshards, you can guest any campaign.

Try off hours, find one where either your alliance or the other alliance you are *not* looking for is dominating.
That will give you the best chance that the gates will be open and you can enter the otherwise locked area you need to get into.

Stealth and speed are your friend. Don't worry about the guards at the gate, just gallop right through, get a bit of distance and then stealth.

Colecovision

From a pve only perspective, there is no magic formula. If you pvp enough, the gates will eventually just be open and you'll be in a zerg with a scroll.

1. Join a campaign and leave the alerts on. Even when you are not in cyrodil you'll get a notice that the gates are open. If there is no line to get in, you can probably get to the skyshard.

2. Keep an eye out on the night capping on the various campaigns. When there is only one team playing late at night, they frequently take the whole map and leave the gates open.

3. Watch closely during pvp events. There are extra campaigns, lots of one sided happenings there and frequently no one cares. I got one on my main years ago at the end of an event and a giant group of players just let me walk by to get the skyshard.

If you need a sneaky build and aren't a vamp, try Darloc brea + night silence + the ring of wild hunt. You can sneak at speed cap with full resources. Just be sure not to get into a fight in that build.

GuildedLilly

1. There are PVP guilds, PVX guilds, and even some PVE guilds that make skyshard runs in Cyrodil--check out the guild section of the forums for ideas, pay attention to zone chat, and join up if you see something happening.
2. If you can find 5-6 like minded players, you can typically ride to the protected gate, easily take out the npcs even if you're NOT good at PVP, and hoof it to the skyshards before the enemy alliance players realize what you've done.

Make sure you've leveled your mount speed and stamina-- it comes in handy to get the heck out of dodge.

• If you have access to rapid maneuvers under the assault line, slot it
• If you have continuous attack/assault unlocked in the assault line passives, sinking one point in will give you major gallop (+30% riding speed)
• Slotting gifted rider from the green CP skill tree will also give you a speed boost

Its_MySniff

I did the four behind gates within 30 minutes on an alt a few weeks back. I didn't die once. Look for the low pop where your alliance is running the map. Look at the map, look for open gates. If it all lines up, it is so easy. I never understand why so many are scared or struggle. Happy hunting.

Thepeug

Great suggestions, all. Many thanks!

AuraStorm43

Thepeug wrote: »

As the title indicates, does anyone have advice for how to access those hard-to-reach skyshards in Cyrodll? I'm thinking of the ones deep behind enemy lines, usually near the Elder Scroll temples. I don't play much PVP, and trying to reach these areas without being insta-killed is a challenge, to say the least. Is my only option to wait until my faction has taken over the entire map? We've come close before (EP), but I've never seen every area conquered/accessible.

At this point, I've collected every shard in the game except for 4 in Cyrodil.

Best to hop in on a toon with high mount speed and just track them down, long as you avoid high traffic areas you won’t get ganked usually, did most of my hunting in Grayhost

The only hard ones are the 4 behind the other factions gates, thats just a matter of hoping into the right campaign at the right time when the gates pop

SeaGtGruff

(1) Keep a watchful eye on the map of Cyrodiil so you can see when a gate to one of the skyshards you still need is open. You don't need to be in Cyrodiil to check the map for your home campaign, so that helps; but don't forget to watch the maps of the other campaigns, too.

(2) When you see an open gate, get there as quickly as you can so you can get inside before it closes. Do whatever is needed to increase your riding speed. Of course, it helps if you're able to port to the closest possible keep so you don't have as far to ride, but don't count on that being the case. Also, you might be able to just ride past the guards and through the gate if you're fast enough, then you can try to drop into sneak once you're far enough away from them.

(3) Make sure you know where the skyshard is located so you can grab it as quickly as possible and leave.

redspecter23

I got mine during the last event when there were extra campaigns available. Toward the end of the event, when interest is dying down, many campaign maps tend to flip to a single color. I was able to finish off all 18 toons at that point.

FluffWit

I've gotten past the guards at the gates dozens of times. Ride as fast as you can at the gate, once you get dismounted just keep moving through healing and dodge rolling.

TheImperfect

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

Tenthirty2

In addition to mount speed also have mount stamina maxed so you can take a few hits before being dismounted if you run into unfriendlies

SeaGtGruff

TheImperfect wrote: »

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

I don't know; I think it adds an interesting element to getting them.

Also, I think I actually got those 4 skyshards on my mains before getting all of the other Cyrodiil skyshards. I don't PvP much at all, but I do enjoy going to Cyrodiil for a bit of PvE questing from time to time, and I'm not too timid to jump into PvP action every now and again. Back when I still needed one or more of the gate-locked skyshards, I just took off like a rocket to grab them whenever I saw that a gate happened to be open.

Besides, those 4 skyshards amount to just 1.33 Skill Points, and there seem to be plenty enough Skill Points in the rest of the game for just about any build you could cone up with, so it isn't like 1.33 Skill Points are going to break you.

Fennwitty

Outside of contested areas or 'main roads' there's very little traffic.

One day I took my non-pvp Warden into Cyrodiil to do treasure maps and collect skyshards. This was outside of prime time, daytime on a weekday.

Saw one person that wanted to fight and I just kept riding.

Another person saw me but I was so far behind enemy lines (and wearing a silly outfit helps!) they understood I was collecting shards.

The 'no intent to fight' signal is typically hold block and don't move or fight back, though not everyone takes the time to pause and think before they attack.

If you come across a group that's where you're more likely to get steamrolled before anyone has a chance to consider the situation.

I was collecting so many behind enemy lines I got bored and killed myself on NPCs to leave :P

SeaGtGruff

I think one of the hardest Cyrodiil skyshards to get is the one on top of the mountain-- not because of the giant beside it, but just because it can be confusing to correctly navigate through the mountain tunnels to reach it!

FluffWit

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

I think one of the hardest Cyrodiil skyshards to get is the one on top of the mountain-- not because of the giant beside it, but just because it can be confusing to correctly navigate through the mountain tunnels to reach it!

I love the troll chest in there.

DMuehlhausen

Thepeug wrote: »

As the title indicates, does anyone have advice for how to access those hard-to-reach skyshards in Cyrodll? I'm thinking of the ones deep behind enemy lines, usually near the Elder Scroll temples. I don't play much PVP, and trying to reach these areas without being insta-killed is a challenge, to say the least. Is my only option to wait until my faction has taken over the entire map? We've come close before (EP), but I've never seen every area conquered/accessible.

At this point, I've collected every shard in the game except for 4 in Cyrodil.

Just get in there and get lucky really. That's how I did it. I only need the ones behind the gates for AD. Went in there and was derping away and the gates opened and I ran and got them.

The other option, if you don't mind buying crowns, is just make a toon on each faction. Collect them all for each faction then buy them for each character from the opposing factions.

redlink1979

Check the campaign(s) often and get those shards when your Alliance is dominating the map.

Canperial35

The way we got all skyshards with my friend was sieging those gate keeps in the early morning (it was like 4-5 a.m.) with a couple of random guys. We literally went to those 4 keeps and captured them as 4 people. Luckily no one from other alliances was online, it took us only like an hour to get those 4 skyshards.

SirAndy

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

I think one of the hardest Cyrodiil skyshards to get is the one on top of the mountain-- not because of the giant beside it, but just because it can be confusing to correctly navigate through the mountain tunnels to reach it!

Or just climb the mountain on the outside. There are several ways up there.

SeaGtGruff

SirAndy wrote: »

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

I think one of the hardest Cyrodiil skyshards to get is the one on top of the mountain-- not because of the giant beside it, but just because it can be confusing to correctly navigate through the mountain tunnels to reach it!

Or just climb the mountain on the outside. There are several ways up there.

That's actually how I found it the first time, because I didn't realize there were tunnels through the mountain. I was trying to get past the mountain to reach an EP keep's resource on the other side, and wasn't expecting to find a skyshard at the top.

After I reached the top and found the skyshard, I checked out the nearby entrance to a tunnel and found out that it led to some exits down at ground level.

freespirit

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

TheImperfect wrote: »

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

I don't know; I think it adds an interesting element to getting them.

Also, I think I actually got those 4 skyshards on my mains before getting all of the other Cyrodiil skyshards. I don't PvP much at all, but I do enjoy going to Cyrodiil for a bit of PvE questing from time to time, and I'm not too timid to jump into PvP action every now and again. Back when I still needed one or more of the gate-locked skyshards, I just took off like a rocket to grab them whenever I saw that a gate happened to be open.

Besides, those 4 skyshards amount to just 1.33 Skill Points, and there seem to be plenty enough Skill Points in the rest of the game for just about any build you could cone up with, so it isn't like 1.33 Skill Points are going to break you.

Yes BUT they are also needed for the "Skyshard" achievement furnishing which was my main reason and for a long time annoyance about never striking lucky to get them. 😱

SeaGtGruff

freespirit wrote: »

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

TheImperfect wrote: »

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

I don't know; I think it adds an interesting element to getting them.

Also, I think I actually got those 4 skyshards on my mains before getting all of the other Cyrodiil skyshards. I don't PvP much at all, but I do enjoy going to Cyrodiil for a bit of PvE questing from time to time, and I'm not too timid to jump into PvP action every now and again. Back when I still needed one or more of the gate-locked skyshards, I just took off like a rocket to grab them whenever I saw that a gate happened to be open.

Besides, those 4 skyshards amount to just 1.33 Skill Points, and there seem to be plenty enough Skill Points in the rest of the game for just about any build you could cone up with, so it isn't like 1.33 Skill Points are going to break you.

Yes BUT they are also needed for the "Skyshard" achievement furnishing which was my main reason and for a long time annoyance about never striking lucky to get them. 😱

Do you get that free, or do you have to buy it after qualifying for it? I'm guessing the latter? (You can probably tell that I've never bought a single achievement furnishing yet, and have no idea what's available to buy.)

freespirit

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

freespirit wrote: »

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

TheImperfect wrote: »

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

I don't know; I think it adds an interesting element to getting them.

Also, I think I actually got those 4 skyshards on my mains before getting all of the other Cyrodiil skyshards. I don't PvP much at all, but I do enjoy going to Cyrodiil for a bit of PvE questing from time to time, and I'm not too timid to jump into PvP action every now and again. Back when I still needed one or more of the gate-locked skyshards, I just took off like a rocket to grab them whenever I saw that a gate happened to be open.

Besides, those 4 skyshards amount to just 1.33 Skill Points, and there seem to be plenty enough Skill Points in the rest of the game for just about any build you could cone up with, so it isn't like 1.33 Skill Points are going to break you.

Yes BUT they are also needed for the "Skyshard" achievement furnishing which was my main reason and for a long time annoyance about never striking lucky to get them. 😱

Do you get that free, or do you have to buy it after qualifying for it? I'm guessing the latter? (You can probably tell that I've never bought a single achievement furnishing yet, and have no idea what's available to buy.)

You have to buy it 😕 They are 25k each but they have many possibilities for use in projects ... so I HAD to have the achievement!

Those 4 skyshards were the bain of my life for many, many months AND I actually do PVP quite a bit, I was just never there at the right time! 🤯

SeaGtGruff

freespirit wrote: »

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

freespirit wrote: »

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

TheImperfect wrote: »

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

I don't know; I think it adds an interesting element to getting them.

Also, I think I actually got those 4 skyshards on my mains before getting all of the other Cyrodiil skyshards. I don't PvP much at all, but I do enjoy going to Cyrodiil for a bit of PvE questing from time to time, and I'm not too timid to jump into PvP action every now and again. Back when I still needed one or more of the gate-locked skyshards, I just took off like a rocket to grab them whenever I saw that a gate happened to be open.

Besides, those 4 skyshards amount to just 1.33 Skill Points, and there seem to be plenty enough Skill Points in the rest of the game for just about any build you could cone up with, so it isn't like 1.33 Skill Points are going to break you.

Yes BUT they are also needed for the "Skyshard" achievement furnishing which was my main reason and for a long time annoyance about never striking lucky to get them. 😱

Do you get that free, or do you have to buy it after qualifying for it? I'm guessing the latter? (You can probably tell that I've never bought a single achievement furnishing yet, and have no idea what's available to buy.)

You have to buy it 😕 They are 25k each but they have many possibilities for use in projects ... so I HAD to have the achievement!

Those 4 skyshards were the bain of my life for many, many months AND I actually do PVP quite a bit, I was just never there at the right time! 🤯

Yeah, you have to keep an eye out on the map-- and on those "The Gate of Whatchamacallit is open" announcements-- and be ready to drop everything at a moment's notice to go grab the skyshard.

I actually grabbed a couple of the skyshards when one enemy alliance had opened the gates of the other enemy alliance. You have to take advantage of every opportunity!

AlnilamE

TheImperfect wrote: »

I'd love it if they moved the 2 skyshards locked behind enemy gates just outside, if you don't get a lot of time to pvp they are near impossible to get.

I got the skyshards behind enemy gates on all my alts, and for some of them, those are the only skyshards in Cyrodiil they have (until it's their turn to clear the rest of the zone).

It's really not hard. As others have said, join a campaign, turn on the alerts and if you get the notification that one of the enemy gates is open, you can log into Cyrodiil and run there.

Maybe 1 in 4 gates I ran into an enemy player that killed me. If that wasn't the last one I needed, I just went to a different gate first.

Having full speed and stamina on your horse definitely helps.

If your faction is the one that holds the entire map, you can run in one gate, suicide at the temple and then revive at the keep nearest the next gate you need.

Note that you can always see the state of the map in Cyrodiil for your home campaign if you are outside. And you can go into the other campaigns to check the lay of the map there.

WhyMustItBe

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

The other option, if you don't mind buying crowns, is just make a toon on each faction. Collect them all for each faction then buy them for each character from the opposing factions.

Does this actually work? So the achievement to unlock buying the zone's skyshards is account-wide then? How much does it cost to buy a zone's skyshards on a character once it is unlocked? It might just be worth it for a completionist.

EF321

Just check Cyrodiil map from time to time while you are doing stuff, when you see that gates are open, queue and rush there. Might wanna have some invis pots with you.

renne

Everyone keeps saying "wait until your Alliance is dominating the map" for the skyshards behind the scroll gates and you absolutely do not need to do that. As long as your alliance or the other alliance holds the trikeeps required to open the third alliance's scroll gates, you can get through. It just has to be open. Obviously going through immediately with a foreign alliance is probably not recommended for health reasons... but you know.

I've posted this in various forms previously about my experiences getting the skyshards behind the gates, which I've done it on a couple of toons - one templar, one nightblade, different alliances - back before I was in any way interested in PvP:

---

MYM is probably the best time to get them, as you can bounce from campaign to campaign looking to see if the gates are open (you can tell if a gate is open if the keep closest and the next one out is taken by a different alliance to the one who "owns" the gates) and there's way more likely to be scroll raiding happening.

If you are going for them and you've never done it before (or for other first timers), my suggestions are as follows:

- check out the maps of where the skyshards are specifically online before you go in there and drop a marker
- if you're not on a nightblade, craft some invisibility pots, because even when the gates are open there's still guards unless you follow your alliance's zerg through
- if you are on a nightblade, unlock shadowy cloak and make sure you have enough mag to keep it up
- if you don't want to go the invisibility way - as I didn't with my templar - getting in as close as you can and hitting rapids (if you have them unlocked) or having any other speed boost is a bonus (NOTE: this was originally posted back when the speed was on rapids, now you can have the passive unlocked plus any speed upgrades in CP)
- have a spam heal if you can
- once you get through the gate and out of aggro with the gate guards, crouch ASAP to get into stealth from them AND any players
- don't waste your time trying to fight the guards, just get in, get your skyshard and either get out or get murdered to blood port to another location

You don't have to be of the Alliance who opened the gates either, if they're open they're open for EVERYONE.

I also recommend once you get through the gate heading left or right at a right angle the moment you get through the gate and especially once you can get into stealth safely, because that means any unfriendly players coming to the gate won't see you once you're crouched because you're effectly invisible unless they're too close to you.

Take a breather to let the adrenaline settle, then go get your skyshard. Stay off roads, stay in the wilderness. People generally ride on the road or in a direct line between their home base and the gate so avoid that. You don't have to stay in stealth but you can if it makes you more comfortable.

Get the skyshard and let the good in.

Rinse and repeat three more times.

DreamyLu

All what I do in Cyrodiil (treasure maps, skyshards and such more PvE stuff), I go into the "no CP" version and/or with a toon lower than 50 into the "below 50" version. Those both maps are empty. I then just run through avoiding main roads and never cross anyone alive.

Edited for an add: note that for treasure maps, I have created one alt in each faction (below level 20). Depending on what zone is the treasure, I take the toon of the corresponding faction. I'm then "on my side" and thats even safer this way.