The Ultimate Skyrim Artifact Power Rankings: Unleashing the True Power of the Legendary Artifacts!

Highlights

The Elder Scrolls games, including Skyrim, feature a variety of legendary artifacts that are either wielded by heroes or bestowed upon mortals by the gods.

In Skyrim, the search for Daedric artifacts is widely known, however, players can also uncover and harness the power of other notable and potent artifacts with exceptional abilities. The backstory and connection of each artifact in Skyrim hold significant importance, intertwining them with the game's lore and enhancing the overall experience for the player.

The world of The Elder Scrolls is filled with magical items of great fame, which have either been used by heroic individuals or bestowed upon mortals by the gods. This includes games such as Skyrim, where these renowned items appear and disappear throughout the land of Tamriel. Even the greatest heroes of Tamriel have come across certain artifacts, especially those blessed by the Aedra or created by the Daedra.

In Skyrim, the Dragonborn is particularly drawn to the Daedric artifacts, but there are also other iconic items that are equally valuable on the battlefield. These artifacts have left a lasting impression on players throughout The Elder Scrolls series, playing significant roles in Tamriel's rich history or simply possessing enchantments that are impossible to resist. Each artifact in Skyrim has its own unique backstory and purpose, seamlessly fitting into the world and lore of The Elder Scrolls.

S Tier

Auriel's Bow, rumored to have been wielded by the god Auri-El in his battle against The Elder Scrolls' Lorkhan, possesses unparalleled craftsmanship and is highly effective in combatting undead and vampires.

Wuuthrad, acquired through the Companions questline, is meticulously repaired by Eorlund Gray-Mane and was originally brandished by the heroic Nord Ysgramor. Crafted with the aim of subduing the elves, it inflicts additional damage when used against them.

Staff of Magnus: Crafted by the deity Magnus, the God of Magic, the Staff of Magnus has the remarkable ability to absorb 20 points of Magicka per second, and then it proceeds to absorb health.

Auriel's Shield: Capable of storing energy obtained from attacks, Auriel's Shield unleashes this energy in a forceful wave, resembling the mighty Unrelenting Force Shout.

Azura's Star and The Black Star are both extremely valuable Daedric artifacts that function as indestructible soul gems, making them indispensable tools for individuals who rely on enchanted items. The Black Star, which utilizes Black Souls, offers even more utility, although a Dragonborn who is devoted to Azura may prefer the unadulterated version.

The Sanguine Rose, on the other hand, summons a Dremora of varying strength to aid the Dragonborn in combat. As the Dragonborn progresses in levels, the summons can even manifest a Dremora Valkynaz, one of the most formidable Dremora creatures in the entire game.

Ring of Hircine: A must-have artifact for any werewolf Dragonborn, the Ring of Hircine grants the power of unlimited werewolf transformations.

Spellbreaker: Often underestimated, Peryite, a Daedric Prince, possesses an exceptional artifact known as Spellbreaker. Renowned in Skyrim, it even played a crucial role in a legendary altercation with the archmage Shalidor. This artifact effectively deflects all breath attacks from dragons and proves particularly advantageous in combat against mages.

A Tier

Dawnbreaker: The Daedric Prince Meridia's artifact is renowned for its unparalleled ability to empower the Dragonborn in the face of undead foes. With a large number of these adversaries being the fearsome undead draugr, Dawnbreaker's blazing flames and potent Turn Undead enchantments prove invaluable.

Chillrend: A frost counterpart to Dawnbreaker, although not classified as a Daedric artifact. Returning from Oblivion, the Chillrend sword proves particularly effective on Solstheim, where numerous adversaries possess resistance against fire damage but vulnerability to frost.

Mace of Molag Bal: Boasting a soul-capture enchantment, this powerful relic belongs to the Daedric Prince of Domination. It complements the Black Star exceptionally well.

Mehrunes' Razor boasts an impressive 1.98% probability of delivering instant death, a remarkable feat given the swift nature of daggers. Notably, foes with substantial health pools, including formidable bosses, possess heightened odds of triggering the enchantment, rendering it effective even against the mighty Alduin.

Oghma Infinium stands as the coveted artifact of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora. By perusing its sacred pages, the Dragonborn receives the extraordinary ability to enhance various skills and ascend to higher levels. Simply choose among the paths of the Thief, Warrior, or Mage, and witness your abilities ascend to new heights.

Skeleton Key: Found exclusively in the Thieves Guild storyline and required to be eventually returned, Nocturnal's Skeleton Key is a renowned artifact that entirely eliminates the challenge of locks.

B Rank

The Ebony Blade is an exceptional Two-Handed weapon with remarkable capabilities. However, its reliance on sacrificing friendly NPCs creates a hindrance to obtaining it.

Bloodskal Blade: Discovered on Solstheim, this exceptional two-handed weapon unleashes a powerful surge of energy capable of harming adversaries, transcending even solid walls.

Dwarven Black Bow of Fate: Possessed by the Dragonborn, this bow possesses the unique ability to absorb Health, Magicka, or Stamina, surpassing the effectiveness of the Dragonborn's Chaos Damage enchantment.

Ebony Mail: The Ebony Mail is a unique piece of armor in the game that offers the rare ability of Muffle. Additionally, it possesses the capability to poison nearby enemies, serving as a deadly advantage.

Masque of Clavicus Vile: While the Masque of Clavicus Vile may not contribute much to combat, it proves to be invaluable for trade. Created by the Daedric Prince Clavicus Vile, this mask enhances Speech by 10 points and significantly improves prices by 20%.

Volendrung: As one of the superior warhammers in Skyrim, Volendrung serves as the prized possession of the Daedric Prince Malacath. Its remarkable enchantment allows it to nullify any exhaustion resulting from wielding a two-handed weapon, thanks to its ability to absorb a substantial 50 points of Stamina from adversaries.

C Rank

The Keening in Skyrim may look familiar to fans of The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, but it's actually believed to be a counterfeit. The genuine Keening was crafted by Lord Kagrenac during the First Era, along with two companion tools known as Wraithguard and Sunder. These powerful artifacts were famously utilized by the Nerevarine in the Third Era.

Fragment 1: The Blade of Woe, renowned in the Dark Brotherhood, lacks the powerful enchantments that once made it an exceptionally lethal weapon in previous iterations of the game.

Fragment 2: By synergizing the Savior's Hide with additional perks for disease and poison resistance, players can greatly enhance Hircine's second artifact, resulting in an impressive 85% resistance accumulation.

The Skull of Corruption, Vaermina's artifact, cannot be enhanced by perks. However, due to the abundance of sleeping individuals in Skyrim, enhancing its power is easier compared to the process of leveling up the Ebony Blade.

The Ring of Namira, the artifact of the Daedric Prince Namira, bestows a mere 50 points of Stamina. Additionally, consuming corpses is rewarded with a boost in health.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.