Research is the option within crafting that allows you to extract traits from an item in exchange for the destruction of said item. Not all items are researchable.
Researching new traits will take a very long time, as well as destroying the item involved, so it it advised you pick carefully. There are a total of nine Traits that you can research for a single piece of gear, and traits are researched for a specific item type (e.g. Axe) and item slot (e.g. Head); this means that If you research a trait for Axes, you will not learn the trait for Swords. If you learn a trait for Helms, you will not learn it for Sabatons, etc.
- Please see Transmutation for details on how to use your researched traits to change the assigned traits of any weapons or armor you have.
How to Research Traits in ESO
- You must own an item with the trait you want to research
- Go to the crafting station for the Item type, such as blacksmith or clothier
- Find the research tab and select your item. It will be destroyed during the process and cannot be reclaimed
- Agree to the warning and wait.
Consider the following exponential time investment when researching: Research has a cooldown timer which varies per item based on how many traits you've already unlocked. The first time you research an item it takes 6 hours before it completes the Trait unlock. The time for each item after that doubles. With ESO Plus, research times are reduced by 10%. Lapidary Research skill will also reduce the time required for research. In addition to that, the ingame Crown Store also offers Instant Research Scrolls that can reduce the time needed for trait research.
| Per Trait | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| 2nd | 12 hours | 18 hours |
| 3rd | 24 hours (1 day) | 42 hours (~2 days) |
| 4th | 48 hours (2 days) | 90 hours (~4 days) |
| 5th | 96 hours (4 days) | 186 hours (~8 days) |
| 6th | 192 hours (8 days) | 378 hours (~16 days) |
| 7th | 384 hours (16 days) | 762 hours (~32 days) |
| 8th | 768 hours (32 days) | 1530 hours (~64 days) |
| 9th | 1536 hours (64 days) | 3066 hours (~128 days) |
ESO Research Tips
- Investing into Trade Skills that allow for simultaneous and faster research is vital. These skills are: Metallurgy, Stitching and Carpentry.
- 1 item, all 9 traits = Without any skills reducing research time: 1 item, all 9 traits: 127.75 days; with Rank 4: 77.8125 days
- Armor research:
The most popular PvP trait is Impenetrable.
The most popular PvE trait is Divines. However Reinforced, Infused and Training are also popular. Nirnhoned used to be popular but its popularity is decreasing with the changes from Dark Brotherhood. - Weapon research:
The most popular Damage Traits are Sharpened and Precise. Some people also like Nirnhoned.
The most popular Healing Trait is Powered.
For more info on researching Traits, Please visit the page located Here.
Anonymous
- Anonymous
If I do research on one character, does the research effect be available on all my other characters. Or do I have to do research on each character to get the effects?
- Anonymous
Does the style (Orc, Khajiit, Breton, Wood Elf, etc.) of the armour piece that you research matter, for example:
If I research an infused trait on a heavy iron girdle (Wood Elf style), can I apply the learned trait to a heavy iron girdle (Khajiit style)?
9th trait time should be updated, the first 8 are currently (2021) still correct
No plus 0/4 skill = 960 hours (40 days)
No plus 4/4 skill = 30 days
Plus 0/4 skill = 36 days
Plus 4/4 skill = 27 days
- Anonymous
can a instant research scroll clear a research thats like 30 days ?
- Anonymous
The research time is it in game time (while one is playing) or if I log off does the research continue?
- Anonymous
The "How to Research" section literally doesn't say a single thing about how to research things. Is there a menu somewhere? Do I need to be at a specific crafting bench? Please offer a single piece of information of any kind.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
is there some sort of requirement for research items? random gear drops and overland sets only flag as researchable for me if theyre purple, but i noticed today that dungeon sets are able to be researched if theyre blue? it makes sense gameplay wise but i cant for the life of me guess at what these requirements are
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