Quick Guide
- Tales of Tribute is a deck-building card game in ESO, accessible via the High Isle expansion.
- Win by gaining all four patron favors or reaching 80 prestige (or 40 and holding the lead).
- Unlock new decks and cards by completing quests and achievements across Tamriel.
- Focus your strategy on 1-2 patron decks to control your card pool and maximize combos.
- Play gold cards early and convert them to Writ of Coin for better purchasing power.
Step away from the grueling dungeons and epic dragon battles of Tamriel for a moment. If you're playing The Elder Scrolls Online on Steam, you might be looking for a refreshing new challenge. Enter Tales of Tribute, a unique in-game deck-building card game introduced with the High Isle expansion. This engaging diversion offers a strategic break, allowing you to test your wits against NPCs or other players in taverns across the land.
Much like the popular Gwent in The Witcher 3, Tales of Tribute lets you engage in card duels with various NPCs, providing a rich narrative alongside competitive play. It's an excellent way to unwind while still progressing your character through daily quests and unique rewards. But how do you get started, and what makes this game tick? Let's dive into the fundamentals of this captivating card game.
Unlocking Tales of Tribute: Your First Steps
To begin your journey into the world of The Elder Scrolls Steam Tales of Tribute, you'll first need access to the High Isle chapter. This expansion, available for purchase, is the gateway to this entire new game mode. Once you own High Isle, simply teleport to Gonfalon Bay and seek out Bragas in front of the Gonfalon Gaming Hall. He's a professional gambler who will introduce you to the basics and guide you through an initial tutorial.
Following Bragas's instructions, you'll meet Master Razhamad, who generously provides you with four foundational decks: Saint Pelin, Duke of Crows, Grand Master Delaman Hlaalu, and Psijic Loremaster Solaris. Don't forget to visit Kishka the Broker afterward to pick up daily quests, which are crucial for improving your rank and collecting more cards. A fantastic feature of Tales of Tribute is that once you complete the tutorial, all progression is account-bound. This means any card upgrades or achievements you earn on one character are accessible to all others on the same account.
Understanding the Cards and Patrons
Tales of Tribute features a dynamic card pool and a unique patron system. Each match begins with you and your opponent selecting two patrons each, which determines your starting decks. Additionally, six neutral cards are shuffled into play.
Card Types:
- Action Cards: These cards have immediate "play effects" that activate the moment they're used. Many also feature "combos" that trigger additional effects if specific conditions (like playing another card from the same patron) are met. After playing, they go to your cooldown pile.
- Agent Cards: Similar to Action Cards in play effects and combos, but Agents remain on the board until your opponent reduces their health to zero. While active, they provide ongoing benefits.
- Contract Action Cards: These are instantly played and their effects triggered the moment you purchase them from the Tavern. They do not enter your hand or cooldown pile.
- Contract Agent Cards: Like Contract Action cards, these are immediately played upon purchase and stay on the board, offering continuous effects until defeated.
Each of the eight collectible patron decks consists of 20 cards. You can upgrade cards, often indicated by a green symbol in your collection, by winning matches or completing specific quests.
The Role of Patrons:
Patrons are central to Tales of Tribute. Beyond providing their unique decks, they offer powerful "boons" or special abilities. At the start of a match, you don't automatically have their favor. Gaining a patron's favor often requires meeting certain conditions, such as spending coins or power. Once you gain a patron's favor, they "flip" to your side, allowing you to activate their boon. However, your opponent can also win their favor back. Successfully managing patron favor is a key strategic element.
Mastering a few patron decks early can significantly improve your win rate.
Instead of trying to collect and understand all eight decks at once, focus on familiarizing yourself with 1-2 patron sets. This allows for more consistent combo execution and a clearer strategic path.
How a Match Unfolds: Gameplay and Win Conditions
A Tales of Tribute match is a turn-based affair where players strategically acquire and play cards to achieve victory.
Core Gameplay Loop:
- Patron Selection: Both players choose two patrons, determining their initial deck components.
- Starting Hand: You begin with a hand of 10 cards, including standard goods and gold neutral cards.
- The Tavern: The central "Tavern" is a pool of cards (your chosen patron decks and neutral cards) available for purchase using coins.
- Your Turn: You can perform multiple actions:
- Play cards from your hand to gain coins, power, or trigger effects.
- Purchase cards from the Tavern using coins. Purchased cards go directly to your cooldown pile.
- Activate patron boons if you have their favor and meet the requirements.
- Converting Gold: A crucial early strategy is to convert gold cards into "Writ of Coin" cards. Playing two gold cards allows you to use the Treasury patron's ability to transform them into more valuable Writ of Coin cards (which grant 2 coins each) for future turns.
- End of Turn: All played and unplayed cards from your hand go to your cooldown pile, which is shuffled back into your deck once it runs out.
- Timers: Be mindful of the 90-second turn timer. Remaining idle for three consecutive turns results in an instant loss.
Winning the Game:
There are two primary ways to win a Tales of Tribute match:
- Patron Favor Victory: Be the first player to gain the favor of all four patrons simultaneously.
- Prestige Victory: Accumulate 40 Prestige points and maintain that lead through your opponent's turn. If both players keep reaching 40 Prestige, the game continues until one player reaches 80 Prestige, immediately winning the match.
Game Modes and Progression
Tales of Tribute offers various ways to play, catering to different preferences and skill levels. You can challenge NPCs, which is an excellent way to practice and earn rewards without the pressure of competitive play. Alternatively, you can face off against other players.
Player vs. Player (PvP):
- Unranked Casual Matches: Practice against other players without affecting your standing.
- Ranked Competitive Matches: Test your skills and climb the seasonal leaderboards. After five placement matches, your starting rank is determined. Higher ranks offer unique rewards like Tribute Tokens and Transmutation Crystals. Winning matches contributes to your overall rank points and improves your standing.
Regardless of the game mode, simply participating in Tales of Tribute grants you ranked points and rewards, including materials and blueprints. Winning provides extra points, leading to more challenging opponents.
Strategic Tips for Tales of Tribute Success
While the game seems straightforward, mastering Tales of Tribute requires strategic thinking and adaptability.
General Strategies:
- Deck Control: Avoid spreading yourself too thin. Focus on acquiring cards from one or two patron decks to create powerful synergies and combos. For example, the Duke of Crows deck excels at drawing cards and generating power, while Saint Pelin provides power and disrupts enemy Agents.
- Coin Management: Prioritize converting your starting gold cards into Writ of Coin early on. More coins mean more purchasing power in the Tavern, allowing you to acquire stronger cards faster.
- Patron Focus (vs. NPCs): When playing against NPCs, focusing on gaining the favor of all four patrons is often an effective strategy. NPCs tend to prioritize prestige, making it easier for you to secure a patron victory.
- Patron Focus (vs. Players): Against other players, activating patron boons almost every turn is critical. The quicker you flip patrons to your side, the greater your advantage.
Key Card and Patron Interactions:
- Grand Master Delaman Hlaalu: This deck is excellent for resource generation, allowing you to buy cards from the Tavern without spending coins or providing a significant coin boost.
- Psijic Loremaster Solaris: If you want to disrupt your opponent, Solaris is your patron. His cards let you remove desirable Tavern cards, denying your enemy crucial acquisitions, or thin your own deck by sending cards directly to the cooldown pile.
- Neutral Cards: Don't underestimate neutral cards. "Imprisonment" can grant immediate prestige, while "Tithe" can activate two patron boons in a single turn. "Ambush" or "Black Sacrament" are invaluable for quickly dealing with enemy Agents.
- Action Order: Always remember that play effects activate first, followed by combos. Plan your card plays accordingly to maximize their impact.
By understanding these mechanics and practicing your strategies, you'll be well on your way to becoming a Tribute master in The Elder Scrolls Online. For more information, you can always check out the official Elder Scrolls Online Steam page: The Elder Scrolls Online on Steam
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tales of Tribute in The Elder Scrolls Online?
Tales of Tribute is an in-game, deck-building card game accessible within The Elder Scrolls Online, introduced with the High Isle chapter. It offers a strategic diversion from traditional gameplay, allowing players to duel NPCs or other players.
How do I start playing The Elder Scrolls Steam Tales of Tribute?
To begin playing, you must first own the High Isle expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online. Then, travel to Gonfalon Bay in High Isle and speak with Bragas at the Gonfalon Gaming Hall to initiate the tutorial questline.
What are the main ways to win a Tales of Tribute match?
You can win a match in Tales of Tribute either by gaining the favor of all four patrons simultaneously or by reaching 80 Prestige points. Alternatively, you can win by reaching 40 Prestige and maintaining that lead through your opponent's subsequent turn.
Is Tales of Tribute progression account-bound?
Yes, all Tales of Tribute progression, including unlocked decks, card upgrades, and rank, is account-bound. This means anything you achieve with one character will be available and recognized across all your characters on the same account.