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

Unique Items & Artifacts

Find and acquire unique items and Daedric Artifacts in Skyrim. Get guides for Mehrunes' Razor, the Ebony Blade, and the Skull of Corruption.

Unique Items & Artifacts

Skyrim is brimming with powerful and distinctive gear, often tied to epic quests or hidden in the deepest dungeons. This section details some of the most sought-after unique items and Daedric Artifacts, providing clear steps on how to acquire them and what makes them invaluable additions to your arsenal.

Daedric Artifacts

These powerful relics are gifts from the Daedric Princes themselves, each possessing unique enchantments and often requiring a perilous quest to obtain. Collecting all 15 Daedric Artifacts (excluding the Ring of Hircine/Savior's Hide choice) will earn you the "Oblivion Walker" achievement.

Mehrunes' Razor

  • Effect: A dagger with a small chance to instantly kill any opponent.
  • Acquisition:
    1. Travel to Dawnstar and speak with Silus Vesuius at the Museum of the Mythic Dawn. He will initiate the quest "Pieces of the Past."
    2. Follow Silus's instructions to recover the three fragments of Mehrunes' Razor from various locations:
      • Pommel: Found in a chest at the end of the dungeon Cracked Tusk Keep, guarded by Orcs.
      • Blade: Located in a chest within the Forsworn Briarheart camp of Dead Crone Rock, often requiring a fight through Hagravens and Forsworn.
      • Hilt: Recovered from a chest in the bandit-infested dungeon of Morthal, specifically at the end of the quest "Laid to Rest" (though it can be acquired independently).
    3. Return the fragments to Silus in Dawnstar.
    4. Meet Silus at the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon. After a conversation with Mehrunes Dagon, you will be prompted to kill Silus. Do so to claim Mehrunes' Razor.
  • Strategy: The instant kill effect, while rare, can be incredibly useful against high-health enemies or in desperate situations. It's a light weapon, making it suitable for stealth builds or dual-wielding.

Ebony Blade

  • Effect: A two-handed sword that absorbs health from enemies and grows stronger with each "betrayal" (killing friendly NPCs).
  • Acquisition:
    1. Reach level 20.
    2. Enter The Bannered Mare in Whiterun and speak to Hulda, the innkeeper, about rumors. She will mention the Jarl's children acting strangely, initiating the quest "The Whispering Door."
    3. Speak with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater in Dragonsreach about his children. He will direct you to his son, Nelkir.
    4. Nelkir will tell you to speak to the "Whispering Lady" behind the locked door in the Dragonsreach basement.
    5. To open the door, you'll need the key. Nelkir will suggest asking Farengar Secret-Fire or Jarl Balgruuf. Farengar usually has it on him, or you can pickpocket it from him.
    6. Unlock the door and proceed into the chamber. Mephala will speak to you and instruct you to retrieve the Ebony Blade.
    7. Take the Ebony Blade.
  • Strategy: The Ebony Blade is unique as it's considered a two-handed weapon but benefits from one-handed perks. To fully empower it, you must kill 10 friendly NPCs (those you've helped or who are not hostile). This can be done discreetly in isolated areas or by luring enemies to friendly locations. The health absorption is substantial once fully charged.

Skull of Corruption

  • Effect: A staff that drains health from enemies and, if fully charged by sleeping people, can unleash a powerful nightmare attack.
  • Acquisition:
    1. Travel to Dawnstar and speak to Erandur in the Windpeak Inn. He will be troubled by nightmares and initiate the quest "Waking Nightmare."
    2. Follow Erandur to the Temple of Vaermina.
    3. Navigate through the temple, battling various creatures and dispelling magical barriers.
    4. Eventually, you will reach the inner sanctum where Vaermina's Skull of Corruption is located.
    5. Erandur will begin a ritual. Vaermina will speak to you, urging you to kill Erandur before he completes it.
    6. Choice:
      • Kill Erandur: If you kill Erandur, you will claim the Skull of Corruption.
      • Allow Erandur to complete the ritual: If you let Erandur finish, he becomes a follower, and the Skull of Corruption is destroyed.
  • Strategy: To charge the Skull of Corruption, use its secondary attack on sleeping NPCs. This doesn't count as an assault and will not incur a bounty. A fully charged nightmare attack is devastating, making it excellent for crowd control or taking down tough foes.

Unique Weapons & Armor

Beyond the Daedric artifacts, many other unique items offer distinct advantages and interesting lore. These often have fixed enchantments and appearances.

Dragonbane

  • Effect: A one-handed katana that deals extra damage to dragons and shock damage to other creatures.
  • Acquisition:
    1. Progress through the main questline until you reach the quest "Alduin's Wall."
    2. During this quest, you will travel to Sky Haven Temple with Delphine and Esbern.
    3. Inside Sky Haven Temple, in the main chamber with the map, look to the right of the map. There's a small armory area.
    4. Dragonbane is located on a table within this armory.
  • Strategy: This sword is incredibly useful for any Dragonborn, especially during the main quest and beyond, given the prevalence of dragons. Its shock damage also makes it a solid choice against other enemies.

Chillrend

  • Effect: A one-handed glass sword enchanted with Frost Damage and a chance to Paralyze.
  • Acquisition:
    1. Join the Thieves Guild in Riften by completing the quest "A Chance Arrangement."
    2. Progress through the Thieves Guild questline until you reach "The Pursuit."
    3. During "The Pursuit," you will infiltrate Mercer Frey's house in Riften, Riftweald Manor.
    4. Inside Riftweald Manor, you'll need to navigate through traps. Chillrend is located in a display case in Mercer Frey's personal chambers, which can be lockpicked (Master difficulty).
  • Strategy: Chillrend is one of the best early-to-mid game one-handed swords due to its powerful frost and paralysis enchantments. The paralysis effect can turn the tide of a difficult fight.

Helm of Yngol

  • Effect: Heavy armor helmet that increases Frost Resistance by 30% and grants a small boost to your Stamina.
  • Acquisition:
    1. Travel to Yngol Barrow, located east of Windhelm, across the river.
    2. Enter the barrow and proceed through the various chambers, battling Draugr.
    3. You will eventually reach a puzzle room with a series of levers and a gate. The solution involves matching the animal symbols on the pillars to the ones on the wall above them.
    4. Beyond the puzzle, you will face Yngol's Shade, a powerful Draugr Wight.
    5. Defeat Yngol's Shade. The Helm of Yngol will be found on his body.
  • Strategy: This helmet is excellent for characters facing a lot of frost-based enemies, such as mages or Frost Dragons. The stamina boost is a nice bonus for melee characters.