There are a great number of weapons to find inThe Elder Scrolls 5:Skyrim,and determining which one is most powerful depends on a player’s skills and level. Having said that, there are a number of weapons that are either so powerful they break the game or can propel lower-leveled players to incredible heights in no time.
There is a mixture of weapon types in the game to ensure each player finds something useful, and the variety of powerful weapons like these is all over the place, too. Be wary that wielding some of these weapons can makeSkyrimso easy that it loses all sense of fun… unless players enjoy feeling overpowered, of course.
Updated on June 10, 2025, by Gerardo Molina: One of the greatest mistakes most novice Skyrim players make, is to think that they should only focus on a weapon’s base damage while ignoring its passive effects. Many of the best weapons within the game do not deal an outstanding amount of base damage, but have very useful passive effects that can range from draining Health, Magicka, or Stamina from opponents to staggering them indefinitely and more. Although some of the weapons on this list can be easily obtained, others will require a ton of effort and patience from players to wield. Also, if players are low on Gold, they can sell many of these weapons for a hefty price.
22Zephyr
A Fast Bow To Deal More Damage In Shorter Periods
Zephyrdoes not have the best base damage in the Bow category, nor is it the most valuable in the game. At a glance, the bow would appear unimpressive, and even common. However, what makes it so great, is that it allows the Dragonborn to fire 30% faster than they would with a regular bow.
This can make a night-and-day difference when dealing with a bunch of enemies or fighting a mighty Dragon Priest from a distance. Getting Zephyr is no easy task, but the effort and time spent doing it will be justly rewarded.
How To Get Zephyr
Zephyr can be obtained during the quest “Lost to the Ages”. Players will encounter a large chasm, which Katria later explains is the spot where she died. She’ll mention her bow is still sitting there, at the end of a log.
21Dragonbane
Deals Extra Damage To Dragons
Dragonbaneis one of the best weapons in the game, not only because it has an amazing appearance to it, but also because, as its name suggests, it’s extremely effective against Dragons. One of the best things about this weapon is that players will not have to grind excessively or do intricate quests to obtain it, as they can get it simply by following the main story.
Dragonbane requires Quicksilver Ingot to be upgraded, as well as the Steel Smithing perk, which most players who have advanced enough through the game should have.
How To Get Dragonbane
Dragonbane can be obtained in the Sky Haven Temple in the quest “Alduin’s Wall”. All players have to do is find a table in the atrium left of the main chamber.
20Chillrend
Great To Paralyze Enemies In A Tight Situation
Chillrend is an iconic glass blade in The Elder Scrolls that makes an appearance inSkyrimas well. This sword is a leveled weapon, meaning that it’ll be relevant from the very moment the Dragonborn gets their hands on it.
Watching enemies get frozen and paralyzed by this weapon is a ton of fun. Unique weapons are a blast to use inSkyrim, and the Chillrend is no exception here.
How To Get Chillrend
The blade is found inside the tunnels under Riften’s Riftweald Manor. Players can enter these tunnels during the quest The Pursuit. Alternatively, players can use a bit of parkour to reach the balcony of the Riftweald Manor and pick the lock instead.
19Miraak’s Sword
Amazing For Continuous Hits
One of the strongest weapons in the game, players shouldtry and get their hands on Miraak’s Swordas soon as possible. Of course, this entails the completion of an entire DLC’s questline, which is no easy feat.
This sword lets players absorb their enemy’s stamina with each hit, ensuring that they never run out themselves. It’s one of the best swords in the game that the Dragonborn should definitely acquire, and the fact that it’s pretty light to boot is a bonus.
How To Get Miraak’s Sword
Players need to loot this sword from Miraak’s body after defeating him in the quest At the Summit of Apocrypha.
18Dragonbone Greatsword
Deadly Damage To Decimate Enemies
Sometimes, weapons don’t need to have additional effects to be useful. Instead, all they need to be is extremely powerful and damaging.
This is where the Dragonbone Greatsword comes into the picture. It’san extremely powerful two-handed swordthat can mow down most enemies with ease.
How To Get Dragonbone Greatsword
Can be found as random loot when the player is at a high level. Alternatively, players can craft this weapon with the appropriate materials instead.
17Bloodskal Blade
One Of The Greatest-Looking Weapons In The Game
This glass greatsword is one of the best-looking weapons in the game. The red hue of this weapon adds a menacing vibe that makes the Bloodskal Blade a blast to use in battle… quite literally!
A power attack with this weapon unleashes an additional energy blast that hits like a truck. This special effect, in itself, makes the Bloodskal Blade extremely satisfying to use in any combat encounter.
How To Get Bloodskal Blade
Can be obtained from the skeleton of Gratian Caerellius in the depths of Bloodskal Barrow.
16Stalhrim Sword
Very Deadly And Lightweight
Ebony swords are extremely powerful inSkyrim, but there’s no denying that their weight can be a huge drawback for players picky about their weight. To combat this issue, players should use a Stalhrim Sword instead.
This weapon boasts the same level of power as an Ebony Sword without the unnecessary weight. It’s a great weapon to use and looks pretty great to boot.
How To Get Stalhrim Sword
Can be obtained as loot after reaching a certain level. Alternatively, the Dragonborn can purchase this from either Baldor Iron-Shaper in the Skaal Village or Glover Mallory in Raven Rock.
15Mehrunes Razor
A Small Chance For Insta-Kills
Mehrunes Razor is one of the most frustrating and most powerful weapons in the game. Whenever it stabs it has a chance to instantly kill whatever it strikes. This is true from lowly Goblins up to the Dragons and bosses of the game. Only three entities are immune to this thing, Miraak, Karstaag, and Ebony Warrior if he triggers his Reflect Blows.
The problem is that the chance of this insta-kill happening is about 1.98%. Most of the time enemieswill fall the old-fashioned way, raw base damage. It’s recommended to have this in the left hand and equip something else. Players will forget they have it until something suddenly drops to the ground.
How To Get Mehrunes Razor
Players must go to the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon near Dawnstar and begin the “Pieces of the Past” quest and choose to kill Silus Vesuvius at the end (otherwise it gets added to the Mythic Dawn Museum).
14Staff Of Paralysis
Paralyzing Enemies Can Be Great For Crowd Control
This is perhaps the only non-unique weapon in the game and one of the easier to find. The Staff of Paralysis has a spell that can paralyze enemies for 10 seconds. An important quirk about this spell is that it incapacitates the enemy for about 12 seconds. This is because after the spell wears off it takes a second or two to get back up and into the fight.
During that time enemies are completely vulnerable to any and all attacks. Or it could buy precious time to chug healing potions or retreat. The Staff itself doesn’t do any damage but can be dual-wielded with something that does. It’s one of thebest early weapons Skyrimoffers andworth the effort of tracking down.
How To Get The Staff of Paralysis
It’s found in a variety of locations throughout the world, including in random chests and being sold rarely by upper-level mages at the College of Winterhold. One can always be found in Snapleg Cave, too.
13Sanguine Rose
Dremora Can Be Great Allies In Combat
The Sanguine Rose doesn’t do any damage on its own but summons a leveled Dremora who will fight for the player. This Dremora can increase DPS in a fight or act as an effective meat shield. When the Dremora dies there is a chance it can drop a Daedric Greatsword of Scorching which is handy in battle or fetches a great price.
Outside of battle, these Dremora can beused to train skills and level up. Unfortunately, this very useful item can only be obtained at level 14 so players will have to find another way through the game before picking this up.
How To Get The Sanguine Rose
Players must start the “Night to Remember” quest, one of the more famous quests ofSkyrimwhich features the player tracking down the events of a night gone wrong, a laThe Hangover. It can only be started at level 14.
