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Skyrim - Swords


Skyrim Dragonbone Sword.webp

Swords are the largest weapon class in Skyrim at 50 weapons, and the fastest one-hander after daggers. They hit for up to 16, one below a war axe of the same material and two below a mace, and they make it back on speed and on the one class perk that works where the others do not.

Combat


Where it wins

  • Bladesman is the only weapon perk that works against undead, Dwarven automatons and anything else with no armour and no blood. Maces and war axes both go dead against those.
  • Fastest of the three one-handed classes, so damage per second stays competitive despite the lowest damage per hit.
  • Deepest class in the game: 50 weapons, which is where most of the named and quest weapons live.
  • Lowest stamina cost per power attack of the one-handers, which matters for a dual wielding build burning stamina on both hands.

Where it loses

  • Lowest base damage of the three one-handed classes. A Daedric Sword does 14 where the mace does 16.
  • Bladesman is a 20 per cent chance of critical damage at rank 3, and critical damage is a fraction of base damage, not of the total. At 100 skill that works out near 3 per cent more damage per swing.
  • No armour penetration and no bleed, so against a heavily armoured target the class has no answer where a mace does.
  • The class ceiling is 16, one below the strongest war axe and well behind any two-hander.

Builds


The sword build is the generalist one-handed build, and its real strength is dual wielding.

  • Armsman first, 5 ranks, which is a flat multiplier on every one-handed swing.
  • Dual Flurry and Dual Savagery for a character holding two. Sword speed is what makes dual wielding worth the stamina.
  • Bladesman only after those. It is the weakest of the three class perks numerically, and it is worth taking mainly for the undead and automaton coverage the others lack.
  • Where the next chunk of damage comes from: smithing, not perks. Tempering raises base damage, and Armsman multiplies it.
Statistic Lowest Highest
Damage 1 16
Weight 0 (Phantom Sword) 20 (Madness Sword)
Value - 3413 (Goldbrand)
In the class 50 weapons

Best Swords


Weapon Image Damage Weight Value Why Take It
Miraak's Sword Skyrim Miraak's Sword.webp 16 3 427 16 damage and the class ceiling, from Dragonborn. Its tentacle effect also staggers.
Madness Sword Skyrim Madness Sword.webp 16 20 250 16 damage, tied for highest in class, from the Saints & Seducers Creation.
Chillrend Skyrim Chillrend.webp 15 16 1442 15 damage with a strong frost enchantment, and it levels with the player, so the version found at level 46 or above is the one worth having.
Dragonbone Sword Skyrim Dragonbone Sword.webp 15 19 1500 Highest in class at 15 damage.
Goldbrand Skyrim Goldbrand.webp 15 17 3413 Highest in class at 15 damage.

Notes


  • Bladesman gives swords a 10, 15 or 20 per cent chance of critical damage at 30, 60 and 90 One-Handed.
  • It is the only one of the three class perks that functions against armourless and bloodless enemies, which covers draugr, skeletons and Dwarven automatons.
  • Critical damage is calculated from the weapon's base damage, so the perk is worth proportionally less the more skill and smithing raise the total.
  • Swords, war axes and maces all draw on Armsman equally. The class perks are the only mechanical difference between them.

Daedric and Faction Swords


Dawnbreaker is the sword of the Daedric Prince Meridia. It is the reward for The Break of Dawn. Each hit burns the target with fire, and killing undead with it can set off a fiery explosion that turns other undead nearby.

Several factions hand out signature swords. Karliah gives the Nightingale Blade to the hero during the Thieves Guild quest Hard Answers. It once belonged to Gallus, and it absorbs both Health and Stamina from each target. Chillrend waits in a display case in Mercer Frey's house in Riften during the same questline.

Windshear is a scimitar lodged in the bowsprit of the Katariah. The ship opens only during the Dark Brotherhood quest Hail Sithis. Its enchantment makes bash attacks knock enemies off their feet.

The Dawnguard DLC adds Harkon's Sword, carried by Lord Harkon, the leader of the Volkihar vampires. It can be taken from him by pickpocketing or after his defeat. It looks like a Blades Sword with a golden finish and a guard shaped like bats.

Swords from Quests and Ruins


Many unique swords sit at the end of a quest or a ruin. Dragonbane hangs in Sky Haven Temple, the old base of the Blades. It deals extra damage to dragons and shock damage to other enemies. Its strength depends on the character's level when it is picked up during Alduin's Wall.

Ghostblade is a translucent Ancient Nord Sword from Ansilvund. The spirits of Fjori and Holgeir give it as thanks after Lu'ah Al-Skaven is defeated. The Gauldur Blackblade is held by Mikrul Gauldurson in Folgunthur during Forbidden Legend. It absorbs Health from each target and is leveled as well.

Red Eagle's Fury belonged to Red Eagle, a legendary warrior of the Reach. Recovering the sword and slaying Red Eagle himself turns it into the true blade, Red Eagle's Bane. That sword adds fire damage and turns undead.

Other legendary blades lie hidden across the province. Bolar's Oathblade, the katana of the Blade Acilius Bolar, rests at a Shrine of Talos in Bloated Man's Grotto. Eduj, a Nord Hero Sword, was a favourite weapon of the Nord warrior Kvenel the Tongue, alongside the war axe Okin. The Pale Blade comes from Frostmere Crypt during The Pale Lady and adds frost damage and fear.

Swords for Others


Some swords belong to other people, and returning them earns a reward. Amren in Whiterun asks the hero to recover Amren's Family Sword, a plain Iron Sword, from a dungeon. Bringing it back raises One-Handed and Block.

The ghost who haunts Old Hroldan Inn asks for Hjalti's Sword, an Ancient Nord Sword. Returning it to the ghost also raises One-Handed and Block.

Oengul War-Anvil in Windhelm wants Queen Freydis's Sword, a legendary steel blade. It lies in a cave chosen when the quest starts.

Forging and Special Materials


Forged swords follow the usual metals. Iron, Steel, Orcish, Dwarven, Elven, Glass, Ebony and Daedric come from the base game. The Dawnguard DLC adds the Dragonbone Sword, and the Dragonborn DLC adds Stalhrim and Nordic swords.

A few sword materials follow special rules. Silver Swords deal extra damage to undead, and werewolves take the bonus too. The Nord Hero Sword can be forged only at the Skyforge in Whiterun, after the Companions quest Glory of the Dead. The Skyforge Steel Sword comes from Eorlund Gray-Mane, the smith at the Skyforge.

The Dragonborn DLC also adds two cursed scimitars. Bloodscythe and Soulrender belonged to the pirate king Haknir Death-Brand. Both lie in Gyldenhul Barrow on Solstheim, and Bloodscythe grows stronger when it is wielded together with Soulrender.


All Swords



Name Image Damage Speed Weight Value Enchantment Item ID Level Upgrade Material Crafting Perk Skill Unique DLC
Akaviri Sword Skyrim Akaviri Sword.webp 11 1 10 300 Enchantable XX014555 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None One-Handed Yes Dragonborn
Amren's Family Sword Skyrim Amren's Family Sword.webp 7 1 9 25 Cannot be enchanted 000647AC 1+ Iron Ingot None One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Ancient Nord Sword Skyrim Ancient Nord Sword.webp 8 1 12 13 Enchantable 0002C66F 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Blades Sword Skyrim Blades Sword.webp 11 1 10 300 Enchantable 0003AEB9 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Bloodscythe Skyrim Bloodscythe.webp 13 1 10 1859 When wielded with Soulrender, absorbs 15 health and has a chance to lower the target's armor XX018DDD 1+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed Yes Dragonborn
Bolar's Oathblade Skyrim Bolar's Oathblade.webp 11 1 10 1014 Does 25 points of Stamina damage. Creatures and people up to level 12 flee from combat for 30 seconds 000C1989 1+ Quicksilver Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Ceremonial Sword Skyrim Ceremonial Sword.webp 8 1 12 5 Cannot be enchanted 0008ADFC 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Chillrend Skyrim Chillrend.webp 15 1 16 1442 Target takes 30 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina. Chance to paralyze the target for 2 seconds 000F8318 Level 46+ Refined Malachite Glass Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Daedric Sword Skyrim Daedric Sword.webp 14 1 16 1250 Enchantable 000139B9 Level 46+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Dawnbreaker Skyrim Dawnbreaker.webp 12 1 10 740 Burns for 10–15 points, and if killing undead, a chance to cause a fiery explosion that turns or destroys nearby undead 0004E4EE 1+ Ebony Ingot None One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Dragonbane Skyrim Dragonbane.webp 14 1 14 2596 40 points of extra damage to dragons, 10 points of shock damage to others 000F71D0 Level 46+ Quicksilver Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Dragonborn
Dragonbone Sword Skyrim Dragonbone Sword.webp 15 1 19 1500 Enchantable XX014FCE Level 46+ Dragon Bone Dragon Smithing One-Handed - Dawnguard
Drainheart Sword Skyrim Drainheart Sword.webp 11 1 3 73 Absorb 15 points of stamina 000F71DD 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Dwarven Sword Skyrim Dwarven Sword.webp 10 1 12 135 Enchantable 00013999 12+ Dwarven Metal Ingot Dwarven Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Ebony Sword Skyrim Ebony Sword.webp 13 1 15 720 Enchantable 000139B1 36+ Ebony Ingot Ebony Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Eduj Skyrim Eduj.webp 11 1 9 300 Target takes 10 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina 0008FFDF 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Elven Sword Skyrim Elven Sword.webp 11 1 13 235 Enchantable 000139A1 19+ Refined Moonstone Elven Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Falmer Sword Skyrim Falmer Sword.webp 10 1 18 67 Enchantable 0002E6D1 1+ Chaurus Chitin None One-Handed - Skyrim
Forsworn Sword Skyrim Forsworn Sword.webp 10 1 13 70 Enchantable 000CADE9 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Gauldur Blackblade Skyrim Gauldur Blackblade.webp 11 1 15 1286 Absorb 25 points of health 000F5D1D Level 36+ Steel Ingot Dwarven Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Ghostblade Skyrim Ghostblade.webp 8 1 1 300 Does 3 points of extra damage, ignoring armor 00094A2B 1+ 3 Ectoplasm None One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Glass Sword Skyrim Glass Sword.webp 12 1 14 410 Enchantable 000139A9 Level 27+ Refined Malachite Glass Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Grimsever Skyrim Grimsever.webp 12 1 14 727 Target takes 15 points of frost damage to health and stamina 00053379 1+ Refined Malachite Glass Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Harkon's Sword Skyrim Harkon's Sword.webp 8 1 9 1472 Absorbs 15 points of Health, Magicka, and Stamina if wielded by a vampire XX0067CF 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Dawnguard
Herebane's Courage Skyrim Herebane's Courage.webp 11 1 13 639 Burns the target for 25 points. Targets on fire take extra damage 000F9648 1+ Refined Moonstone Elven Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Hjalti's Sword Skyrim Hjalti's Sword.webp 8 1 12 13 Cannot be enchanted 00068976 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Honed Ancient Nord Sword Skyrim Honed Ancient Nord Sword.webp 11 1 15 23 Enchantable 0005BF14 1+ Steel Ingot Dwarven Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Honed Falmer Sword Skyrim Honed Falmer Sword.webp 12 1 18 205 Enchantable 0006F6FF 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None One-Handed - Skyrim
Imperial Sword Skyrim Imperial Sword.webp 8 1 10 23 Enchantable 000135B8 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Iron Sword Skyrim Iron Sword.webp 7 1 9 25 Enchantable 00012EB7 1+ Iron Ingot None One-Handed - Skyrim
Lunar Iron Sword Skyrim Lunar Iron Sword.webp 7 1 9 158 While the moons are out, burns the target for 20 points 0003B0C4 Level 6+ Iron Ingot None One-Handed - Skyrim
Lunar Steel Sword Skyrim Lunar Steel Sword.webp 8 1 10 138 While the moons are out, burns the target for 20 points 0003B0BD Level 8+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Miraak's Sword Skyrim Miraak's Sword.webp 16 1 3 427 Absorb 15 points of stamina XX039FB4 1+ Daedra Heart, Ebony Ingot Dwarven Smithing One-Handed Yes Dragonborn
Nightingale Blade Skyrim Nightingale Blade.webp 14 1 15 1665 Absorb 25 points of health and stamina 000F6527 Level 46+ Ebony Ingot None One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Nord Hero Sword Skyrim Nord Hero Sword.webp 11 1 9 135 Enchantable 00068C7B 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Nordic Sword Skyrim Nordic Sword.webp 11 1 12 290 Enchantable XX01CDB1 26+ Quicksilver Ingot Advanced Armors One-Handed - Dragonborn
Orcish Sword Skyrim Orcish Sword.webp 9 1 11 75 Enchantable 00013991 Level 6+ Orichalcum Ingot Orcish Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Phantom Sword Skyrim Phantom Sword.webp 1 1 0 0 Cannot be enchanted 000771B9 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None One-Handed - Skyrim
Queen Freydis's Sword Skyrim Queen Freydis's Sword.webp 8 1 10 45 Enchantable 000AB85D 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Red Eagle's Bane Skyrim Red Eagle's Bane.webp 11 1 15 100 Undead up to level 13 are set on fire and flee for 30 seconds 000AB703 1+ Steel Ingot Dwarven Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Red Eagle's Fury Skyrim Red Eagle's Fury.webp 8 1 12 97 Burns the target for 5 points. Targets on fire take extra damage 0009FD50 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Scimitar Skyrim Scimitar.webp 11 1 10 5 Enchantable 0007A91A 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Silver Sword Skyrim Silver Sword.webp 8 1 7 100 20 points of extra damage to undead 0010AA19 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None One-Handed - Skyrim
Skyforge Steel Sword Skyrim Skyforge Steel Sword.webp 11 1 10 70 Enchantable 0009F25C 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Stalhrim Sword Skyrim Stalhrim Sword.webp 13 1 14 985 Frost Enchants are 25% stronger XX01CDB8 35+ Stalhrim Ebony Smithing One-Handed - Dragonborn
Steel Sword Skyrim Steel Sword.webp 8 1 10 45 Enchantable 000557F5 2+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed - Skyrim
Soulrender Skyrim Soulrender.webp 13 1 10 1000 When wielded with Bloodscythe, absorbs 15 magicka and has a chance to lower the target's magical defenses XX036689 1+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed Yes Dragonborn
The Pale Blade Skyrim The Pale Blade.webp 11 1 15 914 Creatures and people up to level 16 flee from combat for 30 seconds. Target takes 25 points of frost damage to Health and 50 points of Stamina damage 000F5D2D Level 27+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Vilkas's Sword Skyrim Vilkas's Sword.webp 11 1 10 70 Cannot be enchanted 0009F25C 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Windshear Skyrim Windshear.webp 11 1 10 40 Bash attacks made with this weapon have a chance of knocking enemies down 0006EA8B 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Wooden Sword Skyrim Wooden Sword.webp 2 1 3 25 Enchantable 03004D91 1+ Firewood None One-Handed - Hearthfire
Dragon's Oath Skyrim Dragon's Oath.webp 14 1 10 3103 Burns the target for 30 points. Targets on fire take extra damage FEXXX84F 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Master Sword Skyrim Master Sword.webp 12 1 12 235 Enchantable XX00081F 1+ Refined Moonstone Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Skyrim
Storm-Bear Sword Skyrim Storm-Bear Sword.webp 14 1 10 3230 Target takes 30 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina FEXXXD61 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Torment Skyrim Torment.webp 18 1 16 3163 Burns the target for 30 points. Targets on fire take extra damage XX000B5F 1+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Ebony Scimitar Skyrim Ebony Scimitar.webp 15 1 14 800 Enchantable XX000E38 1+ Ebony Ingot Ebony Smithing One-Handed - Creation Club
Goldbrand Skyrim Goldbrand.webp 15 1 17 3413 Burns the target for 30 points. Targets on fire take extra damage FEXXXD61 1+ Gold Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Sword of the Crusader Skyrim Sword of the Crusader.webp 14 1 13 Burns the target for 15 points. Targets on fire take extra damage FEXXX80c 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Grand Champion's Sword Skyrim Grand Champion's Sword.webp 14 1 12 2500 Enchantable FEXXX807 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Blackwater Blade Skyrim Blackwater Blade.webp 12 1 14 1949 Absorb 30 points of stamina. XX000A4B 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Cyrus' Sabre Skyrim Cyrus' Sabre.webp 14 1 6 1500 Enchantable XX000D63 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Dawnfang/Duskfang Skyrim Dawnfang Duskfang.webp 14 1 16 2449 In daytime, deals 7 points of fire damage. At night, deals 7 points of frost damage. FEXXXD63 1+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Madness Sword Skyrim Madness Sword.webp 16 1 20 250 Enchantable XX000BE9 1+ Madness Ingot Quest One-Handed - Creation Club
Amber Sword Skyrim Amber Sword.webp 15 1 14 1600 Enchantable XX000BE0 1+ Amber Ingot Quest One-Handed - Creation Club
Dark Sword Skyrim Dark Sword.webp 12 1 11 250 Enchantable XX000823 1+ Quicksilver Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed - Creation Club
Golden Sword Skyrim Golden Sword.webp 11 1 11 250 Enchantable XX000822 1+ Gold Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed - Creation Club
Bloodthirst Skyrim Bloodthirst.webp 14 1 16 1619 Absorbs 15 points of health. Increases speed by 7%. Targets take additional bleed damage. FEXXXC92 1+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Boneshaver Skyrim Boneshaver.webp 11 1 9.5 605 Attacks cause 3 points of extra bleeding damage for 4 seconds. FEXXX8D6 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Remnant Scimitar Skyrim Remnant Scimitar.webp 12 1 10.5 325 Enchantable FEXXX805 1+ Corundum Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club
Remnant Scimitar of Fire Skyrim Remnant Scimitar of Fire.webp 12 1 10.5 759 Burns the target for 20 points. Targets on fire take extra damage. FEXXXE44 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing One-Handed Yes Creation Club


One-Handed Weapon Categories




Subcategories

This category has the following 7 subcategories, out of 7 total.

Pages in category "Skyrim - Swords"

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