Blade of Woe
| Blade of Woe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Base Damage | 12 |
| Speed | 1 |
| Weight | 7 |
| Value | 880 |
| Level | 1+ |
| Category | Dagger |
| Class | Daedric Artifact |
| Variants | None |
| Skill | One-Handed |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | 0009CCDC |
| Game/DLC | Skyrim |
The Blade of Woe is the famous dagger of the Dark Brotherhood. In Skyrim it belongs to Astrid, the leader of the last Dark Brotherhood group in the province. Astrid keeps it as her symbol of rank. The dagger is the reward for Death Incarnate, late in the Dark Brotherhood questline, in the burning Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary near Falkreath.
The Blade of Woe has the highest base damage of any dagger in the base game. Its enchantment drains health from each target and gives it to the wielder. It suits an assassin who strikes from the shadows far better than a fighter who trades blows in the open.
The dagger can change hands in three ways. Astrid hands it over at the end of Death Incarnate. A skilled thief can pickpocket it from her. A Dragonborn who refuses the Brotherhood and kills Astrid in the Abandoned Shack can loot it from her body.
Weapon Enchantment
Each hit absorbs 10 points of Health from the target and adds it to the wielder's own. Fortify Destruction gear cuts the charge each hit uses. Four items at 25% each stop it using charge at all.
The Enchantment Effects page lists every weapon enchantment.
| Enchantment |
|---|
| Absorb 10 points of health |
How to Get The Blade of Woe Guide
Blade of Woe Map Location and Quest Guide
Blade of Woe map location:
The Blade of Woe is carried by Astrid, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. It is the reward for completing Death Incarnate.
- Enter the Falkreath Sanctuary at the start of Death Incarnate.
- Help the survivors and kill the Legion soldiers inside.
- Hide in the Night Mother's coffin.
- Talk to Astrid, then kill her.
- Take the Blade of Woe from Astrid's body.
- Return to the Night Mother.
Map credit by Map Genie.
- The blade can also be pickpocketed from Astrid with the Misdirection perk.
- Killing Astrid in the Abandoned Shack also yields the blade, but it fails With Friends Like These...
How It Plays
The Blade of Woe hits hard but swings slowly. It shares the attack speed of a sword rather than a dagger, which makes it the slowest dagger in the game. In an open fight, a faster dagger deals more damage over time. The Blade of Woe shines in a single strike, not in a long exchange of blows.
That makes it an assassin's weapon. Its burst damage favors a stealthy character. The slow swing matters little when the first strike ends the fight. A stealth character can open with the Blade of Woe and finish most foes before they turn around.
The enchantment is small. Ten points of health per hit will not turn a losing fight around. It does keep the wielder topped up during a string of quick kills. Its charge is also small and runs out fast in a long fight against several strong enemies.
Perks and Builds
The Sneak skill tree is where the Blade of Woe becomes deadly. The Assassin's Blade perk makes a sneak attack with a dagger deal fifteen times normal damage. That multiplier applies to the highest base damage of any dagger in the base game.
The Dark Brotherhood adds a second multiplier. Its Shrouded Gloves double the damage of every backstab. With Assassin's Blade and the gloves together, a dagger sneak attack deals thirty times normal damage. With the Blade of Woe, that is enough to kill many enemies in a single blow.
The One-Handed skill still matters in open fights. Armsman raises the damage of every one-handed weapon.
Compared with Other Daggers
The Blade of Woe deals more base damage than a Daedric Dagger. That puts top dagger damage in the hands of any character who finishes the Dark Brotherhood questline.
The Dragonbone Dagger from the Dawnguard DLC matches its base damage and weighs a little less. It also swings at normal dagger speed, so it wins in open combat. The Blade of Woe keeps its edge in burst damage from stealth and in its health drain.
Mehrunes' Razor takes a different route. Its enchantment has a small chance to kill the target outright. The Blade of Woe trades that gamble for steady damage and a reliable heal on every hit.
Quest Background
Death Incarnate begins with the Penitus Oculatus attacking the Sanctuary. The agents have set the hideout on fire. Festus Krex lies dead outside, pinned to a tree by arrows. Veezara lies dead inside. Nazir is found locked in a duel with Arcturus, one of the agents.
The Night Mother calls out from her coffin and tells the Dragonborn to climb inside. Explosions shake the Sanctuary while the coffin keeps the Dragonborn safe. Nazir and Babette later open the coffin. The Night Mother then orders the Dragonborn to speak with Astrid.
Astrid lies in her chamber, burned almost beyond recognition. She has performed the Black Sacrament on herself, with the Blade of Woe beside her. Astrid confesses that she was the traitor. She sold out the Dragonborn to the Penitus Oculatus in the hope of saving the rest of the Family. She now asks for a mercy killing and passes on her blade.
After Astrid dies, the Night Mother speaks her verdict. "Astrid is dead. It is as it should be. May she find redemption in the Void." The questline then moves on to Hail Sithis!
Astrid can still be pickpocketed while she lies dying. A failed attempt makes her stand up and attack, but she stays in her burned state and can still be killed. Stealing the blade from her earlier, during With Friends Like These..., means two copies once Death Incarnate ends.
Lore
The Blade of Woe is far older than Astrid. Long before her, the Speaker Lucien Lachance handed it to a new recruit of the Dark Brotherhood in Cyrodiil. His words greeted the recruit: "Please accept this token from the Dark Brotherhood. It is a virgin blade, and thirsts for blood."
That blade began as a plain ebony dagger. The Night Mother enchanted it at the end of the recruit's service, as a reward for loyalty.
Gameplay Tips
- Any grindstone tempers it free of materials.
- Pickpocket it from Astrid with the Misdirection perk during With Friends Like These... to end up with two copies once Death Incarnate is done.
- It swings slower than every other dagger.
Smithing Guide
Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.
| Crafting Materials | Upgrade Materials | Smithing Level | Smithing Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannot be crafted | None required | - | Steel Smithing |
Weapon Levels
Some weapons in Skyrim are Levelled. The power of a levelled weapon is based on your charcters level when you get them. Some get stronger in both physical and magical aspects, while others only improve their enchantments. These items don't get better as your character levels up.
Blade of Woe has the same damage at every character level.
| Level | Damage | Weight | Value | Enchantment | Level ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1+ | 12 | 7 | 880 | Absorb 10 points of health | 0009CCDC |
One-Handed Weapon Categories
All Unique Daggers
| Name | Image | Damage | Speed | Weight | Value | Enchantment | Item ID | Level | Upgrade Material | Crafting Perk | Skill | DLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alessandra's Dagger | 
|
5 | 1.3 | 1 | 10 | Cannot be enchanted | 00043E1E | 1+ | Cannot be upgraded | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Blade of Sacrifice | 
|
10 | 1.3 | 4 | 144 | Cannot be enchanted | 00079B1D | 1+ | Ebony Ingot | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Blade of Woe | 
|
12 | 1 | 7 | 880 | Absorb 10 points of health | 0009CCDC | 1+ | Cannot be upgraded | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Bloodthorn | 
|
5 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 183 | If the target dies within 3 seconds, it fills a soul gem | 000A4DCE | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Borvir's Dagger | 
|
8 | 1.3 | 4 | 18 | Enchantable | 000ECD54 | 1+ | Refined Moonstone | Elven Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Kahvozein's Fang | 
|
6 | 1.3 | 5 | 9 | Yields Dragon Hearthscales | 000D0758 | 1+ | Cannot be upgraded | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Keening | 
|
8 | 1.3 | 4 | 5 | Chance to absorb 10 points of health, magicka and stamina on hit | 0006A13C | 1+ | Cannot be upgraded | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Mehrunes' Razor | 
|
11 | 1.3 | 3 | 860 | Hits have a small chance to instantly kill | 000240D2 | 1+ | Ebony Ingot | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Nettlebane | 
|
6 | 1.3 | 10 | 5 | Cannot be enchanted | 0001C492 | 1+ | Ebony Ingot | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Rundi's Dagger | 
|
5 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 18 | Cannot be enchanted | 000ECD53 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Valdr's Lucky Dagger | 
|
5 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 15 | 25% chance of a critical hit | 000B994E | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Ancient Nord Dagger | 
|
5 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 5 | Enchantable | XX000E44 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Honed Ancient Nord Dagger | 
|
8 | 1.3 | 9 | 8 | Enchantable | XX08A1ED | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Nord Hero Dagger | 
|
8 | 1.3 | 2 | 55 | Enchantable | XX08A1E4 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Rulnik's Dagger | 
|
8 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 115 | 10 points of extra damage to Spriggans | FEXXXECE | 1+ | Cannot be Upgraded | None | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Fang of Haynekhtnamet | 
|
13 | 1.3 | 6.5 | 1446 | Target takes 25 points of shock damage, and half as much Magicka damage | XX000ED3 | Dragon Bone | Dragon Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |