Like other popular MMORPGs, The Elder Scrolls Online also has dungeons with formidable bosses that can only be defeated if groups of players work together. Trials in The Elder Scrolls Online are the hardest types of dungeons in the game, requiring a party of twelve players to complete.
Being the World of Warcraft equivalent of Raids, every Trial has between three and six boss fights, each with its own unique mechanics and challenges. The Tanks, Healers, and DPS need to coordinate each fight carefully in order to survive the ordeal. Some Trial boss fights in The Elder Scrolls Online are truly epic, challenging groups in terms of strategy and teamwork.
10 The Serpent - Sanctum Ophidia
The Sanctum Ophidia Trial is the highest-rated Trial in the Elder Scrolls Online base game owing to its beautiful scenery and great boss fights. The Serpent is the endboss for this Trial and requires teamwork and good coordination between players to beat.
The boss's World Shaper ability forces players to execute a perfectly timed run to either side of the boss in order to avoid significant damage. The Serpent also has a poison phase that challenges healers and a Lamia and Magic Bomb that explode, which can jeopardize the group if not handled well. With all of these mechanics, The Serpent is a satisfying boss to face.
9 Turlassil And Lylanar - Dreadsail Reef
The first boss fight in the Dreadsail Reef Trial is against Turlassil and Lylanar. This boss fight is interesting as it requires players to activate two domes - one fire and one ice - and keep the opposing dome over the boss at all times. These domes also need to be switched every now and then, and if they touch, they explode.
As is the case with other powerful bosses, this fight then also requires coordination and communication within the party to defeat the bosses and avoid dying while doing so.
8 The Reef Guardian - Dreadsail Reef
The second boss in the Dreadsail Reef Trial is The Reef Guardian. The Reef Guardian splits into different copies of itself - two medium and two small - which players have to deal with. At some point, the Reef Guardian becomes immune, and a chosen DPS needs to go down one of six holes to destroy the Reef Heart in order for the fight to continue.
Owing to this nice variation in the battle, the Reef Guardian boss fight remains exciting and does not become monotonous at any stage.
7 Saint Olms - Asylum Sanctorium
In the Asylum Sanctorium Trial, players face off against three "Saints" bosses, the last being Saint Olms. The key to this brutal boss fight is group coordination. The boss jumps back and forth across the room and so players need to stay in formation. Saint Olms also has a lighting mechanic that can cause havoc if each team member is not in their assigned position.
Even though the fight with this mechanical dragon might become slightly repetitive, if anyone slips up and does not keep their position, it is over for everyone.
6 Vashai And Skinra - Maw Of Lorkhaj
Also called "The Twins," Vashai and Skinra are the bosses to beat in the second boss fight for the Maw of Lorkhaj Trial. This boss fight depends on players splitting up into groups of two and fighting two bosses, each of which is assigned a color - either blue or yellow.
What makes this fight fun and interesting is that players (who are either allocated blue or yellow) can only significantly damage a boss of the opposing color. At some point, the colors change and some members must join the other team. This mechanic alone keeps players absorbed and makes for an enjoyable boss fight.
5 Rakkhat - Maw Of Lorkhaj
Rakkhat is the endboss for the Maw of Lorkhaj Trial and requires as much coordination as the fight with "The Twins." There are eight pads, and the Tank gains a buff when standing on one. The Tank, therefore, has the responsibility to move with the boss as Rakkhat goes clockwise from one pad to the next.
This mechanic is crucial to beating Rakkhat, and the fight can be jeopardized if players that aren't supposed to be on the pad stand on the pad. The addition of these pads makes the boss fight interesting and is a good test of teamwork.
4 Pinnacle Factotum - Halls Of Fabrication
The second boss fight in the Halls of Fabrication Trial, Pinnacle Factotum, starts almost immediately after the first boss fight ends. At some stage in the fight, four players will need to teleport upstairs and destroy four spheres. These four players also need to activate the synergy at exactly the same time for the fight to go on.
Although it seems simple, this can go horribly wrong if team coordination is poor. The Pinnacle Factotum boss fight is therefore yet another challenge for Trial parties in terms of teamwork.
3 Reassembly Committee - Halls Of Fabrication
The Reassembly Committee is the endboss for the Halls of Fabrication Trial and is a rather long boss fight. The team needs to navigate the mechanical hall as one, focusing on different areas at different times. As such, each player needs to know exactly what to do at each time.
To throw a spanner in the wheel, if a player dies, a version of them will reappear as an enemy of the same class, which the rest of the team has to deal with. This Trial, therefore, tests the Trial as a group and as individual players.
2 Lokkestiiz - Sunspire
Sunspire is considered by many to be the best Trial in The Elder Scrolls Online. In this Trial, parties face off against three dragon bosses, Lokkestiiz being the first. This boss fight requires some sacrifice from a few players in order to avoid massive damage being dealt to the entire team, as well as big responsibility on the part of the Healers.
This fight also has three big waves of enemies that will hit when the boss's health reaches a certain percentage. This boss fight is challenging on all fronts and an epic battle - especially on hard mode.
1 Nahviintaas, The Gold Dragon - Sunspire
The Gold Dragon is the endboss for the Sunspire Trial, and it is a truly satisfying fight. Apart from being visually impressive, there are three phases where a portal will appear, and some players will need to go to another realm to deal with a different enemy. Here, for the remaining members still fighting Nahviintaas, it becomes a game of survival.
With only ninety seconds to kill the serpent in the portal and complete failure if the party does not succeed, this is a sweaty fight. Trial groups will find themselves stretched in all aspects - from skill to coordination.
Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on PC, macOS, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.