Gauldur Blackblade
| Gauldur Blackblade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Base Damage | 11 |
| Speed | 1 |
| Weight | 15 |
| Value | 1286 |
| Level | Level 36+ |
| Category | Sword |
| Class | Ancient Nordic |
| Variants | Ancient Nord Sword, Drainheart Sword, Eduj, Red Eagle's Bane, Red Eagle's Fury, Hjalti's Sword, The Pale Blade, Ceremonial Sword, Nord Hero Sword, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, Ghostblade |
| Skill | One-Handed |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | 000F5D1D |
| Game/DLC | Skyrim |
The Gauldur Blackblade is a unique leveled honed ancient Nord sword. At level 36 and above it deals 11 base damage. Mikrul Gauldurson carries it in Folgunthur, where he is fought during Forbidden Legend.
Weapon Enchantment
Each hit absorbs Health from the target. The amount scales with level, from 5 points at level 1 to 25 points at level 36 and above.
The Enchantment Effects page lists every weapon enchantment.
| Level | Enchantment |
|---|---|
| 1-11 | Absorb 5 points of health |
| 12-18 | Absorb 10 points of health |
| 19-26 | Absorb 15 points of health |
| 27-35 | Absorb 20 points of health |
| 36+ | Absorb 25 points of health |
How to Get Gauldur Blackblade Location Guide
Gauldur Blackblade Map Location and Quest Guide
Gauldur Blackblade map location:
The Gauldur Blackblade is carried by Mikrul Gauldurson in Folgunthur. He is fought during Forbidden Legend.
- Read Lost Legends or a Gauldur Amulet Fragment to begin Forbidden Legend.
- Travel to Folgunthur.
- Read Daynas Valen's journal and notes.
- Fight through the ruin to Mikrul Gauldurson.
- Defeat Mikrul and take the Gauldur Blackblade.
Map credit by Map Genie.
The Blackblade is leveled to the character.
Smithing Guide
Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.
Upgrades
Gauldur Blackblade is improved at a grindstone with one Steel Ingot per improvement. The Dwarven Smithing perk doubles the improvement, so each quality tier needs less Smithing skill. An enchanted copy can only be improved with the Arcane Blacksmith perk.
| Quality | Smithing | With Perk | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | 14 | 14 | +1 |
| Superior | 31 | 22 | +3 |
| Exquisite | 65 | 40 | +5 |
| Flawless | 100 | 57 | +7 |
| Epic | 134 | 74 | +8 to +9 |
| Legendary | 168 | 91 | +10 |
| Level | Upgrade Material | Smithing Level | Smithing Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-11 | Steel Ingot | - | Dwarven Smithing |
| 12-18 | Steel Ingot | - | Dwarven Smithing |
| 19-26 | Steel Ingot | - | Dwarven Smithing |
| 27-35 | Steel Ingot | - | Dwarven Smithing |
| 36+ | Steel Ingot | - | Dwarven 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.
Gauldur Blackblade is leveled. Its damage and enchantment are set by the character's level when it is first picked up, and the strongest version comes at level 36 or higher.
| Level | Damage | Weight | Value | Enchantment | Level ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-11 | 8 | 12 | 234 | Absorb 5 points of health | 000AB702 |
| 12-18 | 8 | 12 | 465 | Absorb 10 points of health | 000F5D1A |
| 19-26 | 11 | 15 | 669 | Absorb 15 points of health | 000F5D1B |
| 27-35 | 11 | 15 | 975 | Absorb 20 points of health | 000F5D1C |
| 36+ | 11 | 15 | 1286 | Absorb 25 points of health | 000F5D1D |
How It Plays
The Gauldur Blackblade is an old draugr sword with a strong enchantment. Its physical damage is low, as with every Honed Ancient Nord weapon. The life drain is what makes it worth carrying. At its best, each hit takes a solid chunk of Health from the target and gives it straight to the wielder.
That healing suits a melee fighter in the middle levels. A character who trades blows in close combat can keep fighting longer without stopping to heal.
Disenchanting
Many players value the Blackblade most as a way to learn Absorb Health. The sword is one of the few sure sources of that enchantment in the game. Destroying it at an Arcane Enchanter teaches the effect for good. It can then go onto a stronger sword, an axe or a bow of the player's own making.
Absorb Health deals extra damage and heals the wielder by the same amount. On a well made weapon, it turns every fight into a steady flow of healing. The Blade of Woe is the other well known source, but taking it from Astrid early is difficult. Enchanted weapons of Absorption, Consuming and the Vampire also carry the effect, but they only turn up at random.
Compared with Other Swords
The Blackblade sits in the middle of the unique swords. Its damage is low next to most swords of the same stage. Its drain makes up for that in a long fight.
One ranking of the strongest unique swords places the Blackblade in the middle of its list, as a decent pick for fans of the ancient Nord look.
The Nightingale Blade is the closest rival. It absorbs both Health and Stamina, and its base damage is higher at the top level. It comes much later, at the end of the Thieves Guild story. The Blackblade is open to any character from the moment Lost Legends is read.
Quest Background
Gauldur was a powerful wizard in the court of High King Harald, long ago. His three sons, Jyrik, Mikrul and Sigdis, murdered him out of jealousy. They took his amulet in three pieces and fled. The brothers then raided settlements across Skyrim. Harald sent his battlemage, Lord Geirmund, to hunt them down. The book Lost Legends tells the tale, and reading it is the usual way to begin Forbidden Legend.
The brothers were defeated and sealed away in three separate tombs. Mikrul lies in Folgunthur, Jyrik in Saarthal, and Sigdis in Geirmund's Hall. Each brother rises as a draugr, and each holds one Gauldur Amulet Fragment. Mikrul fights with the Blackblade. Sigdis carries the Gauldur Blackbow, and Jyrik carries his own staff.
The three fragments come together at Reachwater Rock, a cave below a waterfall southeast of Markarth. The ghosts of the brothers rise one by one to stop it. Mikrul comes first, at the head of a band of draugr thralls. Sigdis follows, splitting into copies of himself, and Jyrik comes last, vanishing and reappearing around the chamber. Once all three fall, the ghost of Gauldur rises from his coffin, blasts his sons away and forges The Gauldur Amulet whole again. The finished amulet raises Health, Magicka and Stamina alike, and it is the true prize of the quest.
Folgunthur
Folgunthur is an old Nord tomb south of Solitude. A small abandoned camp stands outside its entrance. It belonged to Daynas Valen, a Dark Elf scholar who spent his life on the Gauldur legend and came to Skyrim from Cyrodiil. His journal lies in one of the tents. He went into the tomb with the Ivory Dragon Claw and never came out.
Draugr burst from their coffins in sealed rooms on the way down. Daynas Valen's body lies deeper inside, with his notes and the Ivory Dragon Claw. The claw opens the puzzle doors that lead on to Mikrul's crypt.
Mikrul smashes out of his coffin as the Dragonborn approaches, and draugr thralls rise to join him. He fights as a strong draugr with no special powers beyond his sword. The thralls deal only minor damage, so strike at Mikrul first. His body holds the Blackblade, his Writ of Sealing and the first Gauldur Amulet Fragment. The fragment already works as an amulet that raises Health. Behind Mikrul's crypt, the Ivory Dragon Claw opens one last wall onto a boss chest and a Word Wall with a word of the Frost Breath shout.
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 | 
|
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 | 
|
12 | 1 | 14 | 1949 | Absorb 30 points of stamina. | XX000A4B | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Cyrus' Sabre | 
|
14 | 1 | 6 | 1500 | Enchantable | XX000D63 | 1+ | Steel Ingot | Steel Smithing | One-Handed | Creation Club |
| Dawnfang/Duskfang | 
|
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 | 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+ | Corundum 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 |