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

Collectibles

Track down unique artifacts and rare books in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This guide details sought-after collectibles providing powerful enchantments and lor.

Collectibles

Beyond the main quests and endless side adventures, Skyrim is a treasure trove for the dedicated collector. From unique artifacts with powerful enchantments to rare books that expand the lore, hunting down these items can be a rewarding experience, offering both practical benefits and a sense of accomplishment. This section details some of the most sought-after collectibles and provides actionable steps to acquire them.

Daedric Artifacts

There are 15 Daedric Artifacts in Skyrim, each tied to a specific Daedric Prince and obtained by completing their respective quests. Collecting all 15 is required for the "Oblivion Walker" achievement.

  • Azura's Star / The Black Star:
    • Quest: "The Black Star"
    • Location: Shrine of Azura, south of Winterhold. Speak to Aranea Ienith.
    • Strategy: You'll be sent to the depths of Ilinalta's Deep to retrieve the broken star. Upon returning, you'll have a choice: return it to Azura (Azura's Star, reusable soul gem for white souls) or take it to Nelacar in the Frozen Hearth in Winterhold (The Black Star, reusable soul gem for black souls). The Black Star is generally considered more useful.
  • Dawnbreaker:
    • Quest: "The Break of Dawn"
    • Location: The Statue of Meridia, west of Solitude. Activate the statue.
    • Strategy: Meridia will task you with clearing out the corrupted temple of Kilkreath. Be prepared for a significant number of undead enemies. The sword is awarded upon completion.
  • Ebony Blade:
    • Quest: "The Whispering Door"
    • Location: Dragonsreach in Whiterun. Speak to Hulda, the innkeeper of The Bannered Mare, about Jarl Balgruuf's children, or hear rumors from the court wizard Farengar Secret-Fire.
    • Strategy: The quest involves a mysterious door in the Dragonsreach basement. You'll need to convince Jarl Balgruuf or his children to open it. The Ebony Blade is a powerful two-handed sword that absorbs health.
  • Mace of Molag Bal:
    • Quest: "The House of Horrors"
    • Location: Markarth, near the Abandoned House. A Vigilant of Stendarr will approach you.
    • Strategy: Follow the Vigilant into the house. Be prepared for a dark and disturbing quest involving Molag Bal. The Mace is a one-handed weapon that deals stamina and magicka damage, and soul traps.
  • Masque of Clavicus Vile:
    • Quest: "A Daedra's Best Friend"
    • Location: Falkreath. Speak to Barbas, a talking dog, outside the town.
    • Strategy: Barbas will lead you on a lengthy journey to Haemar's Shame. You'll need to retrieve the Rueful Axe. You can choose to keep the axe or return it to Clavicus Vile for the Masque, a heavy armor helmet that improves prices and speech.
  • Mehrunes' Razor:
    • Quest: "Pieces of the Past"
    • Location: Dawnstar. A courier will deliver an invitation to the Museum of the Mythic Dawn.
    • Strategy: Silus Vesuius will ask you to retrieve three fragments of Mehrunes' Razor. Be prepared for combat in various dungeons. The Razor is a powerful dagger with a small chance to instantly kill enemies.
  • Oghma Infinium:
    • Quest: "Discerning the Transmundane"
    • Location: Septimus Signus's Outpost, north of Winterhold. Speak to Septimus Signus.
    • Strategy: This quest involves collecting blood samples from various races. The Oghma Infinium is a unique skill book that allows you to choose a path (Warrior, Mage, or Thief) and gain 5 levels in each of the six skills associated with that path.
  • Ring of Namira:
    • Quest: "The Taste of Death"
    • Location: Markarth, in the Hall of the Dead. Speak to Brother Verulus.
    • Strategy: This quest involves a gruesome ritual. The Ring of Namira allows you to feed on corpses to restore health and improve stamina.
  • Ring of Hircine / Savior's Hide:
    • Quest: "Ill Met By Moonlight"
    • Location: Falkreath. Speak to Mathies about his daughter's death, or hear rumors from the innkeeper.
    • Strategy: This quest has two possible outcomes, allowing you to obtain either the Ring of Hircine (unlimited werewolf transformations) or the Savior's Hide (light armor with poison and magic resistance). To get both, you must kill Sinding and then kill the hunters outside the cave.
  • Sanguine Rose:
    • Quest: "A Night To Remember"
    • Location: Any inn in Skyrim. Speak to Sam Guevenne, who will challenge you to a drinking contest.
    • Strategy: This quest is a hilarious romp across Skyrim, cleaning up the mess from a drunken night. The Sanguine Rose is a staff that summons a Dremora.
  • Skull of Corruption:
    • Quest: "Waking Nightmare"
    • Location: Dawnstar. Speak to Erandur in the Windpeak Inn.
    • Strategy: Help Erandur clear the Temple of Vaermina. At the end, you'll have a choice to kill Erandur and claim the Skull (a staff that drains dreams and becomes more powerful with collected dreams) or let him destroy it.
  • Spellbreaker:
    • Quest: "The Only Cure"
    • Location: Shrine to Peryite, in the Reach. Speak to Kesh the Clean.
    • Strategy: You'll need to gather specific ingredients for Kesh to summon Peryite. The quest involves clearing out a Dwemer ruin. Spellbreaker is a heavy shield that creates a ward when blocking.
  • Volendrung:
    • Quest: "The Cursed Tribe"
    • Location: Largashbur, an Orc stronghold southwest of Riften. Witness the giants attacking the stronghold.
    • Strategy: Assist the Orcs in their plight, which involves retrieving a giant's toe and then venturing into the Fallowstone Cave. Volendrung is a two-handed warhammer that absorbs stamina.
  • Wabbajack:
    • Quest: "The Mind of Madness"
    • Location: Solitude. Speak to Dervenin, a beggar, in the streets.
    • Strategy: This quest takes you into the mind of Pelagius the Mad. The Wabbajack is a staff that casts a random spell, with unpredictable and often humorous effects.
  • Rueful Axe (Optional, but counts for achievement if kept):
    • Quest: "A Daedra's Best Friend"
    • Location: Haemar's Shame, at the end of the quest.
    • Strategy: During "A Daedra's Best Friend," when Clavicus Vile offers you a choice, you can choose to keep the Rueful Axe instead of receiving the Masque of Clavicus Vile. If you want both the Masque and the achievement, you must obtain the Masque. However, if you choose to keep the axe, it still counts for the "Oblivion Walker" achievement.

Unusual Gems (Stones of Barenziah)

There are 24 Unusual Gems scattered across Skyrim. These are part of the "No Stone Unturned" quest for the Thieves Guild. Collecting all of them, and then returning them to Vex in the Ragged Flagon, will allow you to complete the quest and unlock the "Prowler's Profit" perk, which significantly increases the chance of finding additional valuable gems in chests.

  • General Strategy: Many of these gems are in locations tied to other quests (main quest, faction quests, Daedric quests). It's often efficient to pick them up as you naturally progress through the game. Keep an eye out for small, ornate chests or pedestals.
  • Key Locations (Examples):
    • Whiterun: Inside Dragonsreach, in the Jarl's Quarters.
    • Solitude: In the Blue Palace, on the Jarl's dresser.
    • Windhelm: In the Palace of the Kings, on a table in Wuunferth the Unliving's room.
    • Markarth: In the Treasury House, on a table in the master bedroom.
    • Riften: In the Mistveil Keep, in the Jarl's bedroom.
    • College of Winterhold: In the Arch-Mage's Quarters.
    • Thieves Guild: In the Ragged Flagon - Cistern, in Mercer Frey's room.
    • Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: On a dresser in Astrid's room.
    • Fellglow Keep: In the main ritual chamber, on a table.
    • Pinewatch: In the bandit's hidden basement.
    • Ansilvund: In the burial chamber.
    • Rannveig's Fast: In the main chamber, on a table.
    • Hob's Fall Cave: On a table near the enchanting altar.
    • Dead Crone Rock: At the very top, near the Word Wall.
    • Forsaken Cave: In the final chamber, near the Word Wall.
    • Shriekwind Bastion: In the vampire's lair.
    • Stonehills: In the small mine, on a barrel.
    • Reaching the Cloud District: No, not really. This is a joke.
  • Tracking Progress: The "No Stone Unturned" quest will update in your journal as you find each gem. There are also numerous online maps and video guides available if you get stuck on a particular gem.

Dragon Priest Masks

There are 8 Dragon Priest Masks in the base game, plus an additional 5 in the Dragonborn DLC. Collecting the original 8 and placing them on the busts in Bromjunaar Sanctuary (Labyrinthian) will grant you the powerful Konahrik mask.

  • Locations & Acquisition:
    • Krosis: Found at Shearpoint, a mountaintop dragon lair between Whiterun and Windhelm. Defeat the Dragon Priest Krosis.
    • Volsung: Found at Volskygge, a Nordic ruin west of Solitude. Defeat the Dragon Priest Volsung.
    • Morokei: Found in Labyrinthian, during the College of Winterhold quest "The Staff of Magnus." Defeat the Dragon Priest Morokei.
    • Nahkriin: Found in Skuldafn, during the main quest "The World-Eater's Eyrie." Defeat the Dragon Priest Nahkriin. (Note: Skuldafn is only accessible during this quest, so don't miss it!)
    • Rahgot: Found in Forelhost, a Nordic ruin southeast of Riften. Defeat the Dragon Priest Rahgot.
    • Vokun: Found in High Gate Ruins, a Nordic ruin north of Solitude. Defeat the Dragon Priest Vokun.
    • Hevnoraak: Found in Valthume, a Nordic ruin in the Reach. Complete the quest "Evil in Waiting" and defeat the Dragon Priest Hevnoraak.
    • Otar: Found in Ragnvald, a Nordic ruin in the Reach. Defeat the Dragon Priest Otar.
  • Bromjunaar Sanctuary: Once you have all 8 masks, travel to Labyrinthian. Near the entrance, you'll find a small building called Bromjunaar Sanctuary. Inside, place each mask on its corresponding bust. This will unlock the central bust, allowing you to retrieve the Konahrik mask, which has a chance to heal you and summon a Dragon Priest ally when your health is low.

Unique Books & Skill Books

Skyrim is home to hundreds of books, many of which are purely for lore and flavor. However, some are particularly valuable:

  • Skill Books: Reading a skill book will grant you an immediate +1 increase to the associated skill. These are invaluable for leveling up specific skills without grinding.
    • Strategy: Skill books are often found in dungeons, bandit camps, and wizard's towers, usually on shelves, tables, or in chests. Libraries (like the College of Winterhold's Arcanaeum or the Bards College) are excellent places to find multiple. Always check every bookshelf!
    • Example: For Archery, look for "The Marksmanship Lesson" or "Vernaccus and Bourlor." For Heavy Armor, "The Knights of the Nine" or "Chimarvamidium."
  • Black Books (Dragonborn DLC): These seven unique books are found only on Solstheim. Reading them transports you to Apocrypha, Hermaeus Mora's realm, where you can choose a powerful new ability or perk.
    • Strategy: Each Black Book is tied to a specific location or quest on Solstheim. For instance, "Filament and Filigree" is found in Kolbjorn Barrow during the "Unearthed" quest, and "Untold Legends" is at Benkongerike. Be prepared for challenging encounters within Apocrypha.

Unique Weapons & Armor

Beyond Daedric Artifacts, many other unique weapons and armor pieces exist, often with custom enchantments or appearances. These can be found as quest rewards, boss drops, or in hidden locations.

  • Examples:
    • Chillrend: A powerful glass sword with Frost Damage and Paralysis enchantment, found in the Riften Mists. Acquired during the Thieves Guild quest "The Pursuit."
    • Nightingale Armor Set: A light armor set with various stealth-related enchantments, obtained during the Thieves Guild quest "Trinity Restored."
    • Dragonbane: A katana with bonus damage to dragons and shock damage, found in Sky Haven Temple during the main quest.
    • Red Eagle's Fury / Red Eagle's Bane: A unique sword found in Rebel's Cairn, tied to the quest "Rebel's Cairn."
    • Amulet of Talos: Reduces Shout cooldown. Often found on dead Stormcloaks or in various shrines.
    • Gauldur Amulet: A powerful amulet that boosts Health, Magicka, and Stamina, pieced together from three fragments during the "Forbidden Legend" quest.
  • Exploration is Key: Many unique items are simply waiting to be discovered in the deepest parts of dungeons or in the hands of powerful enemies. Don't be afraid to explore off the beaten path!