The Strongest Unique Swords In Skyrim, Ranked

Skyrim has so many different ways to damage enemies that it can be hard to decide which method to use. When in doubt, you can always pull out one of your trusty and reliable swords to slice straight through your foes.

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There are so many unique swords in Skyrim that deciding which ones to search for first can be a daunting task. This list will guide you through which swords you need to collect right away and maybe show you a few swords you didn’t even know existed. From paired sibling blades to a vampire’s best friend, here are the best unique swords in all of Skyrim.

Updated on May 18, 2025, by Britt Poteet: Players continue to enjoy Skyrim over a decade after its release. We’ve added a couple more swords to help players find the most powerful, unique blade that fits their style, whether playing for the first time or returning to an old favorite.

21

The Legend Of Zelda Master Sword

This is one of Skyrim’s coolest but arguably most underwhelming unique swords. Having one of the most famous swords in gaming culture is nothing short of an honor, especially when paired with the equally famous shield. It’s remarkably stronger than a standard steel sword, the only drawback being that it requires moonstone to upgrade.

That said, it’s still surprisingly low-key for such a renowned weapon. It’s out-damaged by an elven blade, which is pretty low by mid and late-game standards. It’s also only available on the Nintendo Switch version of the game. While that seems fair, the limited accessibility ranks it lower on the list. You can get it instantly using an Amiibo. But if not, you need to make the terribly inconvenient trek to the top of the Throat of the World to find it.

20

Ghostblade

The Ghostblade doesn’t deal a lot of damage, as its base damage is only eight. However, the Ghostblade has a unique spectral appearance and an effect that allows it to deal three extra points of damage that ignore the enemy’s armor.

If you want a sword with a unique design and useful effect, the Ghostblade may be a great fit for your character. It may not be the strongest weapon in Skyrim, but the Ghostblade has its place among the most interesting swords that you can obtain in the base game.

19

Chillrend

Many weapons in Skyrim deal powerful frost damage; however, there aren’t many swords better than Chillrend for this ability. Chillrend is a glass sword that deals 15 base damage along with 30 extra points of frost damage. You also have a chance to paralyze an enemy when you hit them with Chillrend.

Not only does Chillrend have a really great design since it’s a glass sword, but it’s also one of the strongest one-handed weapons you can acquire in Skyrim. One downside about Chillrend is that you have to join the Thieves Guild to eventually obtain it, which may not be preferable if you are role-playing a hero.

18

Drainheart Sword

Another spectral sword, the Drainheart Sword is a powerful weapon that appears ghostly in its design. The Drainheart Sword deals 11 base damage and absorbs 15 stamina from enemies it hits. It is particularly useful if you are playing as a warrior since stamina is essential for this character type.

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There are better options in Skyrim if you want the strongest unique sword in the entire land; however, the Drainheart Sword is a useful weapon perfect for stealing stamina from the enemies you encounter on your adventure.

17

Eduj

Eduj is perhaps the weakest of the bunch on this list, but it’s a nice early-game sword. It has the Ancient Nordic appearance but comes with a generic Frost enchantment. Eduj deals 11 base damage and inflicts ten Frost damage to both health and stamina. Given how Frost is one of the best enchantments, it’s a good pick for beginner warriors.

To get Eduj (and its twin Okin), head to Volunruud to begin the “Silenced Tongues” quest. You need to defeat Kvenel the Tongue, who wields these two weapons in combat. Once he’s down, grab the sword from his corpse. If you’re struggling to find this location, you might want to wait until a Dark Brotherhood quest that has you looking for Amaund Motierre leads you here.

16

Bolar’s Oathblade

The Oathblade has been a highlight among unique swords due to its cool appearance. It looks like a katana, similar to the Blades swords. The Oathblade deals 11 points of base damage, and on top of that, it inflicts 25 Stamina damage as well. Any enemies level 12 or under will run away for 30 seconds when hit.

To get your hands on it, head over to the Bloated Man’s Grotto, where Acilius Bolar placed his blade on the Shrine of Talos along with a written message before he was slain by Thalmor in combat.

15

Red Eagle’s Fury

During the Legend of the Red Eagle questline, you can acquire the Red Eagle’s Fury sword as a reward. This one-handed Ancient Nord blade deals out fire damage to your enemies for 30 seconds during combat.

A solid alternative to Dawnbreaker, it gives you a leg up against undead enemies up to level 16 as they flee from your flames. This unique sword is great for fighting vampires and draugr.

14

Gauldur Blackblade

If you like the Ancient Nordic style of weapons, the Gauldur Blackblade is a decent choice. With 11 base damage, it also removes 25 health points from a target and transfers them to the wielder. The sword doesn’t have a set level, so depending on how high a level you are when finding it, its stats might be lower or higher.

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To find this blade, you need to begin the quest “Forbidden Legend” by reading a book called Lost Legends or alternatively reading a Writ of Sealing found randomly in some Nordic ruins. The sword is wielded by Mikrul Gauldurson, and you must defeat him before you can loot the sword off his corpse.

13

Grimsever

There aren’t that many unique Glass swords in Skyrim, which is why Grimsever is quite a rare item in the game. Sadly, due to the nature of the quest, you don’t actually get to keep this sword unless you hire Mjoll the Lioness as a follower and access her inventory. To start the quest, head to Riften and speak with Mjoll, who will give you the quest to find her lost sword.

Grimsever deals 12 base damage, and it also inflicts decent Frost damage to both health and stamina. While many generic enchanted swords might be better than Grimsever, it can still be a powerful weapon early on in the game.

12

Dawnbreaker

Dawnbreaker is a very unique-looking sword and a Daedric artifact. As a weapon, it has split the opinions of fans on numerous occasions. However, there is a time and place for this sword to be incredibly useful, given how often you have to fight against hordes of undead Draugr.

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The Dawnbreaker is the reward for completing Meridia’s quest “The Break of Dawn,” which is started by randomly finding Meridia’s Beacon as loot. It does 12 base damage and also burns enemies for ten seconds. If you perform a killing blow on an undead enemy, it has a chance of creating an area of effect explosion that affects any undead nearby. This is a warrior’s go-to weapon when diving deep into Nordic ruins.