General:The Imperial City Guide: The Basics

Originally published July 17, 2015. The original article can be found here.

500px|thumb|center|''Between enemy alliance players and Molag Bal's forces, danger lurks around every corner of the Imperial City. Learn the basics and prepare for your first steps in the Imperial City with this guide!''

Entering the Imperial City
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Press the "L" key or the Alliance War button on the menu bar to open up the Alliance War screen. Next, travel to your home campaign, or guest in a campaign of your choosing.

In Cyrodiil, travel to one of your alliance's two home gates and talk to one of your alliance's Imperial City captains, listed below, to obtain the quest to go to the Imperial City. You can also obtain the quest from one of your alliance's generals in the Imperial Sewers. (You must accept and complete this quest in order to begin the Imperial City quest-line.)
Aldmeri Dominion: Captain Mulamurr or Captain Seriril in Cyrodiil, or General Nedras in the Imperial Sewers
Daggerfall Covenant: Captain Durida or Captain Veranim in Cyrodiil, or General Aklash in the Imperial Sewers
Ebonheart Pact: Captain Alesace or Captain Rythe in Cyrodiil, or General Nesh-Tan in the Imperial Sewers
There are three dragon icons on your map around Lake Rumare. These icons correspond with gates that lead to the Imperial Sewers. Use your keep transport network to travel as close to Lake Rumare as you're able, then ride to the door and enter the Sewers via one of the gates.
When you enter the Imperial City, you'll arrive in your alliance's home base location—a safe area within the Imperial Sewers. If you've taken the quest from one of your alliance captains in Cyrodiil, you can advance the story by speaking to the general in this area. If you haven't taken the quest, the general will also offer you the questline.
Talk to the Drake of Blades in your alliance's home base to complete the quest, and begin your Imperial City adventure!

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Activities in the Imperial City
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The Imperial City offers many activities you can participate in. Whether you're interested in strictly PVE, PVP, or a little of both, here are some of the ways you might choose to spend your time in the Imperial City: 

Run through the White-Gold Tower or Imperial City Prison dungeons with three friends.
You can queue for these dungeons outside of the Imperial City, but you must have the DLC game pack.
You can also use each dungeon's front door from within the Imperial City.
You can teleport directly to the dungeons via your Point of Interest map icons for the dungeons, as long as you are not in Cyrodiil or the Imperial City.
Battle enemy-alliance players and Molag Bal's forces, including the Xivkyn, in the Imperial Sewers and six Imperial Districts.
Earn Daedric trophies from your monster kills to open Trophy Vaults—found around the Imperial City—for Veteran Rank 16 jewelry sets and other rare finds.

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Play through the Imperial City storyline, started by the Drake of Blades.
Collect Tel Var Stones by defeating Molag Bal's minions and enemy alliance players—and try to keep yours from being taken!
Enter the Imperial Sewers and hunt Trove Scamps for gold and crafting supplies, and Cunning Scamps for Tel Var Stones.
Search for Xivkyn motif Chapters to craft the new Xivkyn style armor and weapons.

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Get powerful new Veteran Rank 16 weapons and armor by completing the White-Gold Tower and Imperial City Prison dungeons (and the Undaunted Pledges for them), and Veteran Rank 16 armor sets by trading in your Tel Var Stones.
Craft three new weapon and armor sets via the set-specific crafting stations found in Imperial City.
Earn new collectibles by completing achievements, slaying Molag Bal's elite forces in the Imperial Sewers, and by trading in Tel Var Stones.

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Leaving the Imperial City
There are two ways you can leave the Imperial City: by way of the Imperial City Prison or White-Gold Tower, and through your alliance's home base in the Imperial Sewers.

To leave the Imperial City, you go through your alliance's home base in the Imperial Sewers, the same way you came in. This will return you to your home base in Cyrodiil (the same campaign you entered through.)
If you leave the Imperial City by way of exiting the Imperial City Prison or White-Gold Tower dungeons, you will return to your alliance's capital city.

Traveling Around the Imperial City
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In each Imperial Sewer base, you'll find a transit hub. Use the transit hub ladders to quickly travel to each of the six Imperial Districts.

You can also run between the Imperial Districts on foot, or atop your favorite mount. 

Other Tips
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You can travel to and participate in the Imperial City activities, including the group dungeons, starting at level 10. (You are battle-leveled when you enter the Imperial City—this does not apply to the Imperial City Prison and White-Gold Tower dungeons.)
Each alliance base in the Imperial Sewers also has Tel Var Stone merchants, and a full suite of crafting stations for all your crafting needs.
Stealth is your friend! Use crouch and sneak to navigate the Imperial City's dangers for a little extra survivability.
Leave your siege weapons in the bank. Due to the fragile state of many buildings in the Imperial City, siege weapons are not usable.
The Imperial City population is shared with your campaign (the Imperial City Prison and White-Gold Tower are the only areas not connected to the campaign-wide population.)

Now that you're armed with the basics, you're ready to fight for your alliance in the Imperial City—see you there! 

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