18.06.2025
The Best Dungeons to grind in ESO (2025)
With more than 100 dungeons in The Elder Scrolls Online, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Which ones give the best XP? What's worth farming for gold or sets? And where should you go if you're after motifs or other rare items?
This guide breaks it all down – with clear, category-based lists of the best dungeons to grind in ESO. Whether you play solo or in a group, we'll show you exactly where to go for the best results.
Want to grind smarter, not longer? Start with this blog post!
🤔 Public Dungeons vs Group Dungeons
Before we jump into the best dungeons to grind in ESO, let's first clear up one important thing. ESO – somewhat confusingly – has two types of dungeons: Public dungeons and Group dungeons. You'll see both mentioned throughout this guide, and it's essential to understand what sets them apart. That will help you pick the grind spots that suit your playstyle best.
As a rule of thumb, public dungeons are easier and solo-friendly, while group dungeons are tougher and designed for four-player groups. Each has its strengths and is better suited for specific goals.
Here's a quick breakdown to help you understand the difference:
| FEATURE | PUBLIC DUNGEON | GROUP DUNGEON |
|---|---|---|
| Player limit | No limit! Shared with all players | 4 players, private instanced content |
| Difficulty | Moderate, can be done solo | Harder, especially on Veteran difficulty |
| Best for | XP farming, Overland sets | Dungeon sets, Motifs, Undaunted keys |
| Queue | Enter directly – no queue needed | Can queue via Group Finder |
| Rewards | Overland sets, Skyshards | Dungeon sets, Monster sets, Pledge rewards |
With that out of the way, let's jump into the first "best of" list: Best Dungeons to Grind XP – including both public and group picks.
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💪 The Best Dungeons to Grind XP
Dungeons are a great place for power leveling: they're full of strong enemies, bosses, and bonus objectives – and they all give you experience. Not all dungeons are created equal, though. Some are long slogs, while others are quick, mob-heavy, and perfect for repeat runs. We've focused on the ones that are short, packed with enemies, and easy to clear.
Public dungeons have a clear advantage: you can run them solo. There's no need to wait for a group or queue – you just dive in and get to work. That saves you lots of time and lets you grind at your own pace.
Group dungeons can also be a great source of experience, as many of them are fast, packed with enemies, and rich in XP. Moreover, they offer the chance to earn powerful gear and extra rewards like pledge bonuses.
The Best Public Dungeons for XP Farming 💪🗡
- Crimson Cove
- Forgotten Crypts
- Rulanyil's Fall
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Cove | Malabal Tor | 35+ | Humanoid mob waves spawn all over the place. Perfect for XP loops with AOE builds. |
| Forgotten Crypts | Deshaan | 20+ | Massive dungeon with undead mobs and respawns fast enough to run it in circles. |
| Rulanyil's Fall | Greenshade | 25+ | Easy layout and dense groups make it a strong solo XP spot |
The Best Group Dungeons for XP Farming 💪⚔️
- Wayrest Sewers I
- Crypt of Hearts I
- Spindleclutch II
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayrest Sewers I | Stormhaven | 20+ | Probably the shortest group dungeon in the game. Minimal downtime, max XP. |
| Crypt of Hearts I | Rivenspire | 25+ | Straightforward layout with lots of easy mob packs. Quick and rewarding. |
| Spindleclutch II | Glenumbra | 20+ | Tight corridors and solid boss XP make it excellent for grinding. |
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🪙 The Best Dungeons to Grind Gold
Dungeons can be surprisingly profitable – but only if you pick the right ones. The best gold-farming dungeons are quick to clear, packed with loot-dropping enemies, and occasionally reward valuable items like motifs or tradeable sets.
Both types of dungeons have their strengths: group dungeons tend to offer higher-end rewards, while public dungeons are great for consistent solo farming thanks to non-stop mob spawns and minimal downtime.
The Best Public Dungeons for Gold Farming 🪙🗡
- Crimson Cove
- Forgotten Crypts
- The Vile Manse
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Cove | Malabal Tor | 35+ | Endless waves of humanoid enemies drop tons of gear. One of the best raw gold spots in the game. |
| Forgotten Crypts | Deshaan | 20+ | Massive mob density means more loot to sell or deconstruct – works great during events too. |
| The Vile Manse | Reaper's March | 35+ | Small and dense, with lots of undead mobs and quick loop potential. Easy to run over and over. |
The Best Group Dungeons for Gold Farming 🪙⚔️
- Imperial City Prison
- Vaults of Madness
- Direfrost Keep
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial City Prison | Imperial City | 45+ | Sought-after Xivkyn motifs, solid coin drops, and ties into Tel Var farming for even more profit. |
| Vaults of Madness | Coldharbour | 40+ | Good Daedric loot and fast clears once you know the route. Drops valuable sets and more gear. |
| Direfrost Keep | Eastmarch | 30+ | Quick and simple. Easy gear farming and the chance for common, sellable motifs. |
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🛡 The Best Dungeons to Grind Sets
Many of the best armor sets in ESO come from dungeons. Both public and group dungeons drop them – but not the same kind. Public dungeons reward zone sets: the same gear you can find from overland content, world bosses, and delves. These sets are great for early- and mid-game builds, and some even hold value in PvP or niche PvE roles later on. And they can also be sold at a good price – quite often it's the best way to use them.
Group dungeons, on the other hand, offer exclusive dungeon sets that you can't get anywhere else. These are typically more specialized by role and often part of the current meta. Many group dungeons also drop helmets from monster sets: these are powerful two-piece combinations, the other half of which (shoulders) comes from Undaunted coffers. Monster sets are very valuable and are often used for endgame builds.
The Best Public Dungeons for Sets Farming 🛡🗡
- Obsidian Scar
- Root Sunder Ruins
- Sanguine's Demesne
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Scar | Rivenspire | 35+ | Night Mother's Gaze – a classic stamina DPS set still used in PvP and some PvE setups. |
| Root Sunder Ruins | Grahtwood | 20+ | Torug's Pact – popular among tanks and PvP builds for its trait-enhancing bonus. |
| Sanguine's Demesne | Shadowfen | 30+ | Hist Bark – dodge-heavy tanks and hybrid PvP players still find it useful. |
The Best Group Dungeons for Gold Farming 🛡⚔️
- Shipwright's Regret
- March of Sacrifice
- White-Gold Tower
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipwright's Regret | High Isle | 45+ | Storm-Cursed's Revenge – a top-tier magicka DPS set in 2025 for lightning-heavy builds. |
| March of Sacrifice | Murkmire | 45+ | Blood Moon and Hanu's Compassion – strong for stamina builds and healing roles. |
| White-Gold Tower | Imperial City | 45+ | Spell Power Cure – still one of the best healing sets in the game for group content. |
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🎨 The Best Dungeons to Grind Motifs
Dungeon bosses must be some of the most fashionable creatures in Tamriel, judging by how many motifs you can get from them. If designing impressive, unique looks in ESO is your thing, dungeon grinding is a great way to expand your style library.
Unfortunately for fashionistas who prefer solo play, public dungeons aren't a reliable source of motifs. It's not that you can't get them there at all – you can, but it's completely random and usually tied to specific events. Group dungeons, on the other hand, regularly drop dungeon-specific motifs, especially on Veteran difficulty. If you're looking for consistent and valuable style pages, here are the group dungeons you need to explore:
- March of Sacrifices
- Imperial City Prison
- The Dread Cellar
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| March of Sacrifice | Murkmire | 45+ | Drops the Huntsman motif – stylish, in-demand, and still one of the most popular motifs in the game. |
| Imperial City Prison | Imperial City | 45+ | Drops Xivkyn motif pages, which continue to hold high value for both crafters and sellers. |
| Dread Cellar | Blackwood | 45+ | Drops newer dungeon motifs that are still trending on guild traders due to their rarity and appearance. |
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🔑 The Best Dungeons to Grind Undaunted Keys
In case you didn't know, Undaunted Keys are an important endgame resource that let you open chests from Undaunted vendors. Those chests contain random valuable rewards like monster set shoulders, style pages, and more. The only way to earn these keys is by completing Undaunted Pledges – and that means running group dungeons. (Sorry, solo players – public dungeons don't count for this one.)
The best group dungeons for key farming are the ones you can finish quickly, with minimal mechanics and low risk of wipes. When it comes to Undaunted Keys, speed is really key.
The best group dungeons for key farming are the ones you can finish quickly, with minimal mechanics and low risk of wipes. When it comes to Undaunted Keys, speed is really key.
- Wayrest Sewers I
- Banished Cells I
- Fungal Grotto I
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayrest Sewers I | Stormhaven | 20+ | One of the shortest dungeons in ESO. Easy bosses, simple layout, and a top pick for fast key farming. |
| Banished Cells I | Auridon | 20+ | Straightforward fights and fast boss access make this one perfect for repeat pledge runs. |
| Fungal Grotto I | Stonefalls | 20+ | Often appears in daily pledge rotation. Quick to clear and easy to run back-to-back with minimal coordination. |
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🥊 The Best Dungeons to Level Up Fighters Guild
If you want to level up your Fighters Guild skill line, you need to hunt down specific enemy types: Daedra, undead, and werewolves. That means you're looking for areas packed with those kinds of monsters. Fortunately, both public and group dungeons include great options, so you can choose between solo grinding or teaming up with others.
The Best Public Dungeons for Fighters Guild Grind 🥊🗡
- Brandfire Reformatory
- Forgotten Crypts
- The Vile Manse
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandfire Reformatory | The Deadlands | 45+ | Loaded with Daedra from start to finish. Great for solo runs and constant XP gains. |
| Forgotten Crypts | Deshaan | 20+ | Undead mobs everywhere, fast respawns, and a loop-friendly layout. |
| The Vile Manse | Reaper's March | 35+ | Compact and easy to clear, with plenty of undead in every room. |
The Best Group Dungeons for Fighters Guild Grind 🥊⚔️
- Vaults of Madness
- Banished Cells I & II
- Elden Hollow I
| DUNGEON | LOCATION | RECOMMENDED LEVEL | WHY IS IT GREAT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipwright's Regret | Coldharbour | 40+ | Absolutely packed with Daedric enemies. One of the top Fighters Guild XP dungeons in the game. |
| March of Sacrifice | Auridon | 20+ | Quick clears, lots of Daedra, and easy to stack with Undaunted pledge farming. |
| Elden Hollow I | Grahtwood | 25+ | Features a good mix of Daedra and undead enemies, especially toward the later bosses. Fast-paced and often part of daily pledge rotations, making it a smart choice for stacking rewards. |
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With all these best-of lists in your head, you're now a true dungeon master! You know exactly which instances to visit for XP, gold, gear sets, and more. That means faster progress, smarter farming, and a whole lot less hassle. So if you want to become stronger, it's now easier for you than ever!
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