The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Standing Stones & Their Effects

Find Skyrim's Standing Stones. Learn the powerful, permanent boons granted by each stone, like the Warrior or Mage Stone, to tailor your character progression.

Standing Stones & Their Effects

Scattered across the landscape of Skyrim are ancient Standing Stones, each imbued with a unique magical aura that grants a powerful, permanent boon to those who discover them. These stones offer sificant advantages in character development, allowing you to tailor your progression to your playstyle and amplify your strengths.

There are thirteen Standing Stones in total, each offering a distinct benefit. The most commonly encountered are the Guardian Stones, located near the starting area of Helgen. These are the Warrior Stone (improves combat skills 20% faster), the Mage Stone (improves magic skills 20% faster), and the Thief Stone (improves stealth skills 20% faster). You can only benefit from one Standing Stone's effect at a time, so choose wisely based on your current character build. Beyond the Guardian Stones, other powerful options exist. The Lover Stone grants a general 15% boost to all skill training, making it excellent for early-game leveling. The Atronach Stone sificantly increases Magicka and Spell Absorption but slows Magicka regeneration, a trade-off that can be powerful for certain mage builds. The Shadow Stone grants the ability to become invisible and unlock doors for 60 seconds once per day, ideal for stealthy characters. The Serpent Stone allows you to paralyze and do 25 points of damage to the target, once per day, useful for escaping dangerous situations. For those seeking defensive capabilities, the Lord Stone provides a boost to armor rating and magic resistance. The Steed Stone increases your carrying capacity and removes the movement penalty from armor, perfect for heavily armored characters. The Tower Stone allows you to unlock any expert or lower level lock once per day. Finally, the Serpent Stone, found on a small island east of the College of Winterhold, allows you to paralyze and damage a target once per day. Remember that you can only have one Standing Stone effect active at a time. If you activate a new stone, the previous effect is removed. However, you can revisit the Guardian Stones and choose a different one if your build changes. Some quests, like the quest for the Aetherial Crown, can allow you to benefit from two Standing Stone effects simultaneously, offering unparalleled customization.

Notable Standing Stones:

  • Warrior, Mage, Thief Stones: Boost skill training speed.
  • Lover Stone: 15% boost to all skill training.
  • Atronach Stone: Increased Magicka and Spell Absorption.
  • Lord Stone: Boosts armor and magic resistance.
  • Steed Stone: Increased carry weight and no armor movement penalty.