The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Weapons Guide: Swords

We have built our Skyrim character, we have chosen his race and we have developed his skills to customize him as much as we wanted. We have developed our magic skills and took a good look at the different Dragonshouts, the power that only the Dragonborn can wield. All’s well and good but we still need a certain something to be able to go adventuring in Tamriel: weapons. And just as you may expect, there are a lot of different weapons to be found in Skyrim, allowing adventurers to chose what really suits them and the character they have created.

There are a lot of different weapons in Skyrim, ranging from swords and maces to aces, bows and dagger. Even if there are so many weapons, they are grouped together in only three different type: one handed, two handed and bows. If you have checked out our perks and skills guides you already know that you can improve your skills with these weapon types by using the weapons themselves in battle.

The weapons’ level depends on the material: the weakest weapons are the one made from iron while the strongest are the unique Daedric Weapons. If you have downloaded the Dawnguard DLC pack you’ll also be able to obtain the Dragonbone weapons which are even stronger than Daedric Weapons.

Weapons can be obtained in a variety of ways: they can be bought, looted, stolen, forged, or received as a reward. Weapons can also be upgraded at a grindstone with the right material.

Grindstones are found all over the world of Skyrim: using them will also improve your smithing skills. Since weapons don’t have durability in Skyim, the only weapon stat you’ll be able to improve is damage. You can also apply enhancements on the weapons to enhance their battle performance. While most weapons require ingots of their material to improve, some others will require some unique materials which are harder to find. Weapons upgrades are ranked as fine, superior, exquisite, flawless, epic, and legendary: each quality level requires a certain Smithing level which can be decreased with a few perks.

Quality                 Skill  LV  With Perks

Fine                           14           14
Superior                    31           22
Exquisite                  65           40
Flawless                    100         57
Epic                           150         74
Legendary                196         91

• Swords

Swords are the second fastest weapon type of Skyrim: only daggers are faster than them. Just like with the other weapons, Swords can be improved using the grindstones found all over the world. The weakest Swords are made of wood while the strongest are the ones made with Dragonbone. Total damage caused by Swords also depends on your one handed weapons skills. If you’re a Conjurer you’ll also be able to summon a special Bound Sword with the right Conjuration spell.

Akaviri Sword

Amren’s Family Sword – Iron Ingot

Ancient Nord Sword – Steel Ingot

Blades Sword – Steel Ingot

Blooodscythe – Ebony Ingot

Bolar’s Oathblade – Quicksilver Ingot

Ceremonial Sword – Steel Ingot

Chillrend – Refined Malachite

Daedric Sword – Ebony Ingot

Dawnbreaker – Ebony Ingot

Dragonbane – Quicksilver Ingot

Dragonbone Sword – Dragonbone

Drainheart Sword

Dwarven Sword – Dwarven Metal Ingot

Ebony Sword – Ebony Ingot

Eduj – Ebony Ingot

Elven Sword – Refined Moonstone

Falmer Sword – Chaurus Chitin

Forsworn Sword – Steel Ingot

Gauldur Blackblade – Steel Ingot

Ghostblade – 3 Ectoplasm

Glass Sword – Refined Malachite

Grimsever – Refined Malachite

Harkon’s Sword – Steel Ingot

Herebans’ Courage – Refined Moonstone

Hjalti’s Sword

Honed Ancient Nord Sword – Steel Ingot

Honed Falmer Sword

Imperial Sword – Steel Ingot

Iron Sword – Iron Ingot

Lunar Iron Sword – Iron Ingot

Lunar Steel Sword – Steel Ingot

Miraak’s Sword – Daedra Heart/ Ebony Ingot

Nightingale Blade – Ebony Ingot

Nord Hero Sword – Steel Ingot

Nordic Sword – Quicksilver Ingot

Orcish Sword – Orichalcum Ingot

Phantom Sword

Queen Freydis’s Sword – Steel Ingot

Red Eagle’s Bane – Steel Ingot

Red Eagle’s Fury – Steel Ingot

Scimitar – Steel Ingot

Silver Sword

Skyforge Steel Sword – Steel Ingot

Stalhrim Sword – Stalhrim

Steel Sword – Steel Ingot

Soulrender – Ebony Ingot

The Pale Blade – Steel Ingot

Vilkas’ Sword – Steel Ingot

Windshear – Steel Ingot

Wooden Sword – Firewood