Firesong is a new DLC coming to The Elder Scrolls Online on November 1st. As usual, this concludes the entire year and brings a new area and some minor innovations. But MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch took one of these innovations to heart when he first played it: stroking.
In 2022, ESO was all about the Bretons and the High Island. The setting wasn’t that exciting for me and in general a problem arose between me and ESO. Everything runs according to plan when it comes to innovations and updates. There’s a big expansion, two dungeon DLCs, and a new area at the end.
While I know I get good content all the time, the game doesn’t really manage to surprise me.
Firesong, however, surprised me with a small but entertaining change. Because I love chasing achievements, interacting with things and seeing cute animals. And it all combines in the new achievement “The Adventurer’s Best Friends.”
ESO lets me pet and feed hundreds of animals
For me, the new feature is as simple as it is ingenious. In the new Firesong area, there are various animals that I can interact with. There are dogs, cows and horses that I can walk to and then stroke or cuddle.
When I interact with the animals, there’s a kind of little cutscene that zooms right in to the petting. And the reactions of the animals are just heartwarming.
Admittedly, with only six animals, the achievement is not particularly difficult to master. But it has such a positive effect and finding the animals is built up like a little scavenger hunt through clues in the achievements. In addition, the achievement is useful because it brings fragments with which you can unlock a new deck for the card game Stories of Glory.
Also, I now hope to see more pets and achievements of this type introduced to the rest of Tamriel.
Druids, story and the eruption of the volcano
The main focus of Firesong is of course the new area and the associated story. Jason Barnes, who has taken the lead for the new zone, walked me through all the key points including the new city and a druid outpost to the far north.
This outpost in particular appealed to me because there was something natural and incredibly calming about it. The water reflects turquoise blue, the mountains appear calm and a waterfall trickles away. Definitely a place I would set up camp myself.
In stark contrast to this is the east of the map, which resembles a wild jungle. Everything is darker and more dangerous here, full of enemies that want to get at me.
Also visible in the new area is the volcano, which you may already know from High Isle. This continues to develop as the story progresses and finally erupts at the end, as Barnes told me.
As usual, the new zone has everything an ESO heart desires: quests and side stories, world events with the volcanoes and world bosses that require a group. There are also new heavenly shards and of course some Easter Eggs, such as an NPC that is pushed into the fire or an enemy frog that Jason Barnes always builds into his areas.
You will also meet old friends, such as the NPC Quen, who you last met in the thieves’ guild. The story of the entire High Isle expansion is then completed with the DLC.
New sets and new decks of cards
Aside from the new area, Firesong also brings other innovations that should appeal to all players. For example, there is a new druid deck for the card game.
Theorycrafters and players who would like to optimize their build can devote themselves to the new Mythic items and the new sets. There is an interesting innovation especially for Magicka players: A set where you use Magicka instead of Stamina when dodging.
In addition to petting the animals, there are other achievements and titles you can earn.
What do you think of the new DLC? Does the setting and content appeal to you, or do you prefer to wait and see what ESO 2023 has to offer?
We have summarized everything about the content of Firesong for you here:
ESO: Everything about the new DLC Firesong and the content for 2022