Unleash Chaos: Unlocking the Wabbajack in Skyrim - The Ultimate Mind of Madness Guide

The Wabbajack, a notorious magical item, originally appeared in Daggerfall and returns in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. This staff possesses the ability to produce unpredictable effects, both beneficial and detrimental, all of which are remarkably potent.

In Skyrim, players have the opportunity to obtain the Wabbajack by completing one of the memorable quests presented by the Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath. Sheogorath was previously featured as a prominent character in the "Shivering Isles" expansion for Oblivion, but in Skyrim, his presence is limited to a brief cameo.

The Path to Madness

To start the quest "The Mind of Madness," players should head over to The Winking Skeever, a nearby tavern, and inquire about any recent rumors from the bartender. According to the bartender, there is a peculiar individual roaming the streets and rambling nonsensically. Players can locate this person near the Bards College. Alternatively, the quest can be initiated without visiting the tavern, as the objective marker makes it simpler to locate Dervenin.

Dervenin, who was last seen in the "Shivering Isles" expansion for Oblivion, appears to be going through a difficult period. He expresses concern about his master's extended absence and requests the Dragonborn's assistance in persuading him to return. Dervenin reveals that his master is currently in the Pelagius Wing of the Blue Palace, which serves as the Jarl's residence. As a token of appreciation, Dervenin provides the player with Pelagius' Hip Bone upon accepting the quest.

First, in order to gain access to the Pelagius Wing, players must acquire the key. The key is held by Una and Erdi, who serve as the cleaning staff of the Blue Palace. The player can obtain the key by dishonestly claiming that Falk, the castle steward, has granted them permission. Passing a secret Speech check with a requirement of only 25 is necessary to successfully deceive Una and Erdi. Alternatively, players can also approach Falk directly and request the key, but he will only provide it after they have completed the quest "The Man Who Cried Wolf."

Inside an Emperor's Mind

Players can begin their adventure by obtaining the key and hip bone. With these items in hand, they can navigate towards the objective marker, guiding them towards the desolate and neglected Pelagius Wing. Following the designated path, players will suddenly find themselves transported to an entirely different setting. Patience is required as two individuals engage in a conversation at a nearby table. Once they conclude their discussion, players should approach the remaining person for further interaction.

After conversing with Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, players will be furnished with the Wabbajack staff, a set of exquisite attire, and no other belongings. While in this specific location, the ability to access the inventory, magic, and map menus is restricted, leaving the Wabbajack as the sole means to unravel the area's puzzles and return to Skyrim. Luckily, the Wabbajack possesses unlimited charges throughout this quest.

Three sets of stone archways guide to three distinct destinations within Pelagius' psyche. The Arch of Paranoia leads to an arena where two atronachs engage in combat, observed by a man flanked by two bodyguards on the opposite side. Players can employ the Wabbajack to alter the elemental nature of "their" atronach, yet it will never triumph against its adversary. Instead, players must focus on one of the bodyguards across the arena, transforming them into wolves who will eliminate the opponent and unravel the puzzle.

Players must use the Arch of Night Terrors to cure Emperor Pelagius' nightmares. This involves a two-step process. First, they need to aim the Wabbajack at Pelagius. Secondly, they must target the creature that appears before it reaches the emperor. This will transform the monster into something less threatening, such as a child or an unreachable chest. Repeating this process five times will awaken Pelagius and complete the challenge.

The Arch of Self-Hatred leads to a fight between Pelagius' Hatred and Confidence. Hatred is depicted as a giant in Imperial armor, while Confidence is portrayed as a small person in regular clothing. To solve this puzzle, players should begin by using the Wabbajack to reduce Hatred's size, bringing him down to Confidence's level. Then, they should use the Wabbajack on Confidence to make him the giant. It is crucial to avoid first enlarging Confidence, as Hatred will shrink him with each punch. During the fight, two spectral warriors called Self-Doubt may appear and start battling each other, but players can ignore them safely.

After finishing all the areas, Sheogorath will praise the player and express dissatisfaction with returning to the Shivering Isles. Nevertheless, he will entrust the Wabbajack to the Dragonborn and teleport them back to the Pelagius Wing. Before leaving the wing, it is important to proceed ahead and descend the stairs to the basement room. Inside this room, one will find the Surfeit of Thieves, a skill book that enhances Lockpicking.

Beyond Pelagius' consciousness, the Wabbajack possesses numerous potential outcomes:

Deal 60 points of fire, frost, or shock damage

Absorb 50 percent of the target's health, magicka, or stamina

Heal the target by 75 points

Turn the target invisible.

Turn the target into any of the following: an animal, dremora, sweet roll, stack of coins, or pile of ash. Skyrim, the fifth installment of The Elder Scrolls series, can be accessed on PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.