ESO Crafting Styles (Racial Motifs)

Article has been replaced with another with a complete list of motifs, not just the racial ones: ESO Motifs

There are many exotic crafting styles that represent the culture and prowess of the various races of Tamriel.  Each style provides a distinct appearance to an item and within a style  there are several appearance substyles for various levels.

Summary

Crafted equipment can have different appearancesThere are currently 20 crafting styles. A crafter will automatically know their racial style and can learn others by using motif books / scrolls found around Tamriel. The styles are: Altmer, Argonian, Bosmer, Breton, Dunmer, Khajit, Nord, Orc, Redguard, Dwemer, , Ancient Elf, Barbaric, Daedric, Imperial, and Primative. The motif books are found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases).  The standard motifs (blue – character races) are found in non-veteran rank areas and the rarer ones in veteran regions. Some of the rarer ones can be found in areas where the main questline, guild questlines (mages’ guild, fighters’ guild), and added content  (Imperial City, Orsium, etc.) take place.

 

What are the Styles?

Styles is the ESOTU term for an items appearance.  Style items used during the crafting process will determine its appearance.

What is a Character’s Default Style?

Each character will be able to craft items of his/her native style. Eg. Redguards can craft Redguard items. It is suggested that Imperial characters (if available) are a good equipment crafter candidate as the Imperial style book is very rare and as a result very expensive to purchase.

Summary of Crafting Styles

Name Rank Material Notes
Altmer 1 Adamantite Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Argonian 1 Flint Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Bosmer 1 Bone Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Breton 1 Molybdenum Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Dunmer 1 Obsidian Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Khajit 1 Moonstone Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Nord 1 Corundum Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Orc 1 Manganese Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Redguard 1 Starmetal Found in standard containers (backpacks, cabinets, chests, dressers, nightstands,  trunks, urns, and vases) in faction areas.
Dwemer 9 Dwemer Frames / Dwemer Scraps (10) Introduced in Patch V1.5.2, this style requires the exploration of Dwemer ruins to rediscover this lost style.
Ancient Elf 1 Palladium Found in Cadwell’s Gold veteran regions
Barbaric 1 Copper Found in the Cadwell’s Silver veteran regions.
Daedric 1 Daedra Heart Found in Cadwell’s Gold veteran regions
Imperial 1 Nickel Rare drop in various questline dungeons. Available to owners of Imperial Edition and they can convert most items to Imperial Style.
Primal 1 Argentum Found in the Cadwell’s Silver veteran regions.
Akaviri 9 Goldscale / Ancient Scale (10). Introduced in Patch V2.2.4 (Orsinium), this style can be purchased with Alliance Points earned in PVP combat. Chapter prices vary from 100k to 500k AP. Ancient Scale 5k AP.
Ancient Orc 1 Cassiterite / Cassiterite Sand (10) Introduced in Patch V2.2.4 (Orsinium), this style can be found on mobs in the Orsinium public dungeons.
Glass 10 Malachite / Malachite Shards (10) Introduced in Patch V2.1.4 (Imperial City), Chapters of this style have been torn into unreadable Fragments and can be occasionally be found slipped into the Writ rewards for Blacksmiths, Clothiers, and Woodworkers. Refined style items are not tradeable. When combined, random chapter is created.
Mercenary 1 Laurel Introduced in Patch V2.2.4 (Orsinium), Undaunted Pledges reward chests.Laurel, is found by killing the final boss of dungeons, Chance is determined by how many chapters are known and improved by boss type.
Xivkyn 9 Charcoal of Remorse Introduced in Patch V2.1.4 (Imperial City), the style of Molag Bal’s personal guard, the Xivkyn, could be learned during adventures in the Imperial City by gathering trophies to unlock special warded chests. Charcoal of Remorse is purchased at Tel Var General merchants in your alliance’s base in the Imperial Sewers

Notes

The standard motifs (blue – character races) are found in non-veteran rank areas and the rarer ones in veteran regions.

Some of the rarer ones can be found in areas where the main quest line, guild quest lines (mages’ guild, fighters’ guild) take place. The Barbaric and Primal motifs can be found in the Cadwell’s Silver veterans’ regions which are unlocked when you complete the main quest line. Daedric and Ancient Elf motifs are found in Cadwell’s Gold veteran regions.

Akaviri  style components can be purchased from Siege merchants in Cyrodiil will sell chapters for large amounts of Alliance Points. Chapter prices vary from 100k to 500k AP.

The pages of the Ancient Orc Crafting Motif are split between the enemies in Old Orsinium and Rkindaleft, with each Public Dungeon having the chapters that the other does not. Defeating these foes will rarely grant a chapter of the Motif – or, if one proves exceptionally lucky, the entire Motif book. Cassiterite Sand, the Raw Style Item needed to craft in the Ancient Orc Style, can be found in resource nodes all throughout Orsinium. The greater your knowledge of the Ancient Orc Style, the more likely you are to find Cassiterite Sand. Your knowledge of Metalworking, Tailoring, and Woodworking do not alter your chances. Once you have ten units of Cassiterite Sand, you can refine them at any equipment-crafting bench into Cassiterite, used to make Ancient Orc items. This refining process does not bind the Cassiterite to your account.

The Dwemer motif only drops from dwemer type containers. Most containers are located in Dwemer ruins but there are a few scattered around Tamriel and Oblivion. The Dwemer style is broken down by type: Axes, Belts, Boots, Bows, Chests, Daggers, Gloves, Helmets, Legs, Maces, Shields, Shoulders, Staves, and Swords.  It is possible to find a very rare book with the complete dwemer style knowledge.

Glass Motif can obtained from writ rewards. Once you’ve gathered ten Fragments, you can reconstitute them into a readable Chapter (or, if you’re exceptionally lucky, the whole Book) with some Merethic Restorative Resin, which can be purchased from Mystic vendors.

The Mercenary Motif is available only through Undaunted activities. To earn the Chapters of the Mercenary style, you must complete Undaunted Pledges and open their reward chests. Bronze, Silver, and Gold chests all have a good chance to grant a Chapter of the Mercenary style, with Silver having a better chance than Bronze, and Gold having a better chance than Silver. All three chests have a small chance to drop the full Book of the style, as well. The Style Item for Mercenary, Laurel, is found by killing the final boss of Normal and Veteran dungeons, with Veteran dungeons’ final bosses having a better chance than Normal final bosses.This chance is also modified by your knowledge of the Mercenary style: If you know zero Chapters of the style, you will never receive a Laurel from any source. If you know all 14 Chapters, you will always receive a Laurel from Veteran dungeon final bosses, every time you kill one.

Xivkyn Motif can be obtained by finding the Chapters for it, which are sometimes kept in certain well-warded chests in Imperial City. These chests require items that drop from many Daedra and their servants to open.

Where to Find Pictures?

A good ESO fashion site is ESOFashion.com.

What Achievements are Available?

There are three achievements available:

  • Rare Style Master (50): Ancient Elf, Imperial, Barbaric, Primitive, and Daedric
  • Dwemer Style Master (50): Dwemer Axes, Dwemer Belts, Dwemer Boots, Dwemer Bows, Dwemer Chests, Dwemer Daggers, Dwemer Gloves, Dwemer Helmets, Dwemer Legs, Dwemer Maces, Dwemer Shields, Dwemer Shoulders, Dwemer Staves, Dwemer Swords
  • Alliance Style Master (15): Breton, Reguard, Orc, Dark Elf (Dunmer) , Nord, Argonian, High Elf (Altmer) , Wood Elf (Bosmer), and Khajiit.

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