Skyrim:Dawnbreaker
| Dawnbreaker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Base Damage | 12 |
| Speed | 1 |
| Weight | 10 |
| Value | 740 |
| Level | 1+ |
| Category | Sword |
| Class | Daedric Artifact |
| Variants | None |
| Skill | One-Handed |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | 0004E4EE |
| Game/DLC | Skyrim |
The Dawnbreaker is the best swords in SKyrim to use against undead enemies thanks to its unique enchantment 'Meridia's Retribution'. It's also possible to get two Dawnbreakers to duel wield. The Dawnbreaker is also one of the 17 Daedric Artifacts required for the Oblivion walker Achievement/Trophy.
Weapon Enchantment
Dawnbreaker has a unique enchantment effect called Meridia's Retribution: it infects the target for 10 seconds, when 10 seconds has passed (the target does not have to die) they have a chance to explode and cause nearby undead to flee or be destroyed. The chance of the explosion increases with each hit. In addition to this Dawnbreaker burns targets for 10-15 points of fire damage with each hit. This damage can be further increased with the Augmented Flames Perk.
The Dawnbreaker cannot be disenchanted.
You can find full breakdown and information of all Weapon Enchantment Effects.
| Enchantment |
|---|
| Burns for 10–15 points, and if killing undead, a chance to cause a fiery explosion that turns or destroys nearby undead |
How to Get Dawnbreaker Guide
Where to find Dawnbreaker Location?
To get the Daedric Artifact Dawnbreaker you must start the quest The Break of Dawn, this quest can only be started by reaching level 12 and then finding the randomly located radeint quest item, Meridia's Beacon. Normally you can find Maridia's Beacon in boss chests as you are exploring Skyrim. Once found Meridia will summon you to her temple, Statue to Meridia. Alternatively once you reach level 12 you can go straight to Meridia's Statue near Solitude to start the quest.
The Break of Dawn:
- Find Meridia's beacon
- Bring Meridia's beacon to Mount Kilkreath
- Replace the beacon
- Guide Meridia's Light through the temple
- Destroy Malkoran
- Retrieve Dawnbreaker
How to get 2 Dawnbreakers
It is possible to obtain two Dawnbreakers. This can be done before picking up Dawnbreaker when during the quest The Break of Dawn. You can use either a Shout, or spell with a displacement effect, like the Unrelenting Force Shout or the Fireball or Rune spell. You mast cast this spell at the Dawnbreaker sword pedestal before you remove it from its alter. This will cause an additional copy of Dawnbreaker to go flying across the room while the other remains in its pedestal. Make sure you pick up the copy before you pick up the original Dawnbreaker from the alter, since doing so will end the quest and teleport you to the outside of the dudgeon.
Gameplay Tips
- The Dawnbreaker may not have the highest damage in Skyrim, but its unique enchantment makes it very effective at dealing with undead, especially in Nordic tombs which are overrun by Draugr. If the player focuses their efforts on higher level undead like the Draugr Deathlord the Dawnbreakers explosion effect will instantly defeat/fear the lower level undead around him. The weapon is also extremely effective against Vampires in the Dawnguard Questline.
- While the fire damage the Dawnbreaker deals can be further increaced with the Augmented Flames perk in the Destruction Skill tree, it only increases the fire damage from 10 to 12 and then 15, this may not be worth the perk investment unless you are playing a spell sword build.
Smithing Guide
Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.
| Crafting Materials | Upgrade Materials | Smithing Level | Smithing Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannot be crafted | Ebony Ingot | - | None |
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.
The Dawnbreaker is not a leveled weapon.
| Level | Damage | Weight | Value | Enchantment | Level ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1+ | 12 | 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 |
One-Handed Weapon Categories
All Unique Swords
| Name | Image | Damage | Speed | Weight | Value | Enchantment | Item ID | Level | Upgrade Material | Crafting Perk | Skill | DLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akaviri Sword | 
|
11 | 1 | 10 | 300 | Enchantable | XX014555 | 1+ | Cannot be Upgraded | None | One-Handed | Dragonborn |
| Amren's Family Sword | 
|
7 | 1 | 9 | 25 | Cannot be enchanted | 000647AC | 1+ | Iron Ingot | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Bloodscythe | 
|
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 | Dragonborn |
| Bolar's Oathblade | 
|
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 | Skyrim |
| Ceremonial Sword | 
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 5 | Cannot be enchanted | 0008ADFC | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Chillrend | 
|
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 | Skyrim |
| Dawnbreaker | 
|
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 | Skyrim |
| Dragonbane | 
|
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 | Dragonborn |
| Drainheart Sword | 
|
11 | 1 | 3 | 73 | Absorb 15 points of stamina | 000F71DD | 1+ | Cannot be Upgraded | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Eduj | 
|
11 | 1 | 9 | 300 | Target takes 10 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina | 0008FFDF | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Gauldur Blackblade | 
|
11 | 1 | 15 | 1286 | Absorb 25 points of health | 000F5D1D | Level 36+ | Steel Ingot | Dwarven Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Ghostblade | 
|
8 | 1 | 1 | 300 | Does 3 points of extra damage, ignoring armor | 00094A2B | 1+ | 3 Ectoplasm | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Grimsever | 
|
12 | 1 | 14 | 727 | Target takes 15 points of frost damage to health and stamina | 00053379 | 1+ | Refined Malachite | Glass Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Harkon's Sword | 
|
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 | Dawnguard |
| Herebane's Courage | 
|
11 | 1 | 13 | 639 | Burns the target for 25 points. Targets on fire take extra damage | 000F9648 | 1+ | Refined Moonstone | Elven Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Hjalti's Sword | 
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 13 | Cannot be enchanted | 00068976 | 1+ | Cannot be Upgraded | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Miraak's Sword | 
|
16 | 1 | 3 | 427 | Absorb 15 points of stamina | XX039FB4 | 1+ | Daedra Heart, Ebony Ingot | Dwarven Smithing | One-Handed | Dragonborn |
| Nightingale Blade | 
|
14 | 1 | 15 | 1665 | Absorb 25 points of health and stamina | 000F6527 | Level 46+ | Ebony Ingot | None | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Queen Freydis's Sword | 
|
8 | 1 | 10 | 45 | Enchantable | 000AB85D | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Soulrender | 
|
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 | Dragonborn |
| The Pale Blade | 
|
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 | Skyrim |
| Vilkas's Sword | 
|
11 | 1 | 10 | 70 | Cannot be enchanted | 0009F25C | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Windshear | 
|
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 | Skyrim |
| Dragon's Oath | 
|
14 | 1 | 10 | 3103 | Burns the target for 30 points. Targets on fire take extra damage | FEXXX84F | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Master Sword | 
|
12 | 1 | 12 | 235 | Enchantable | XX00081F | 1+ | Refined Moonstone | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Skyrim |
| Storm-Bear Sword | 
|
14 | 1 | 10 | 3230 | Target takes 30 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina | FEXXXD61 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Torment | 
|
18 | 1 | 16 | 3163 | Burns the target for 30 points. Targets on fire take extra damage | XX000B5F | 1+ | Ebony Ingot | Daedric Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Goldbrand | File: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 | Creation Club |
| Sword of the Crusader | 
|
14 | 1 | 13 | Burns the target for 15 points. Targets on fire take extra damage | FEXXX80c | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club | |
| Grand Champion's Sword | 
|
14 | 1 | 12 | 2500 | Enchantable | FEXXX807 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Blackwater Blade | File:Skyrim Blackwater Blade.webp | 12 | 1 | 14 | 1949 | Absorb 30 points of stamina. | XX000A4B | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Cyrus' Sabre | File:Skyrim Cyrus' Sabre.webp | 14 | 1 | 6 | 1500 | Enchantable | XX000D63 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Dawnfang/Duskfang | 
|
25 | 1 | 47 | 3750 | Fire/Frost damage 15pts on strike | 00079066 | 30+ | Ebony Ingot | Ebony Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Bloodthirst | 
|
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 | Creation Club |
| Boneshaver | 
|
11 | 1 | 9.5 | 605 | Attacks cause 3 points of extra bleeding damage for 4 seconds. | FEXXX8D6 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Remnant Scimitar | 
|
12 | 1 | 10.5 | 325 | Enchantable | FEXXX805 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Remnant Scimitar of Fire | 
|
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 | Creation Club |
