The land of Tamriel is fraught with unimaginable danger. To defend oneself is of paramount importance in order to survive the perils that lurk around every corner. A plethora of weaponry is at hand, all crafted from materials ranging from the mundane to the fantastic. Swords, in particular, are no exception.
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In fact, there exists in the world ofThe Elder Scrollsa select number of swords that come straight from the realm of myth and legend. Acquiring these special weapons has the potential of making the player immensely powerful on the battlefield. Finding these fabled blades can often be dangerous, but the rewards far outweigh the risks.
10Dawnbreaker
Striking a bargain with a Daedric Prince is typically a dangerous proposition. The mystical artifacts they often bestow on the heroes that manage to please them tend to grant awesome benefits. Dawnbreaker, a gift from Meridia, is one such reward.
Imbued with the power tosmite the undeadit’s a fearsome weapon to behold when raiding a tomb. All manner of unliving creatures, vampires, skeletons, and everything in between, are no match for this blade. It was crafted by Meridia herself to cleanse the world of necromancy and unnatural life. It gets the job done, to be sure.
9Dawnfang/Duskfang
A highly unique blade that functions as two swords in one, Dawnfang/Duskfang is one of the most powerful weapons inThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Akaviri in origin it remains a mystery how the ancient sword was found discarded in an Ayleid ruin by an Orc adventurer.
The blade dealsfire or frost damagedepending on the time of day. Once the sword has extinguished the lives of a certain number of enemies it transforms into a superior version of itself. Keeping Dawnfang/Duskfang “nourished” with the souls of fallen enemies maintains the heavy-hitting power of this intimidating weapon.
8Chrysamere
Known as the Paladin’s Blade, this fearsome claymore is as dangerous as it is beautiful. Its remarkable fame stems partly from its storied history. The sword has been in the possession of no less than four protagonists ofThe Elder Scrollsfranchise.
The Eternal Champion, the Hero of Daggerfall, and the Nerevarine have all wielded this sword. The blade itself seems to reemerge anytime a worthy hero needs use of it. In addition, Chrysamere also appears inThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimasCreation Club content. It wouldn’t be fair to leave out the Dragonborn after all.
7Shadowrend
This ebony weapon takes the form of either an axe or a sword depending on the player’s offensive preferences. Found in the Shivering Isles its acquisition is dependent on defeating a twisted doppelganger of the player character.
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It’s a highly valuable reward for defeating oneself in single combat. According to the lore, only heroes willing to face their true selves in the aptly named Grove of Reflection are worthy of wielding the blade. Thus, the weapon itself is unique to the person taking part in the physical as well as psychological trial.
6Goldbrand
A Daedric artifact associated with the Prince Boethiah this particular blade takes the form of a golden katana. The sword was purportedly crafted byancient dragonsand gifted to a knight who was sworn to protect them. Since then, it has found its way into the hands of other various heroes.
Goldbrand inflicts fire damage, making it doubly useful for enemies weak to flames. Like other mythical weapons its ownership has changed hands many times. Famous wielders of this blade include the Champion of Cyrodiil and the Nerevarine.
5The Sword Of The Crusader
Pelinal Whitestrake was a renowned holy warrior from the First Era. Supposedly, he was sent by the god Shor to protect mankind from the tyranny of the ancient Elves. His celebrated exploits and eventual martyrdom made him a well-known figure in Tamrielic history.
Pelinal’s blade, the Sword of the Crusader, is considered a highly-valued relic by the Knights of the Nine. The blade’s holiness is so sacred that only warriors with a pure heart are worthy enough to use it. This weapon, along with the Divine Crusader’s other relics, was crafted personally by the Eight Divines. Thus, only heroes blessed by the gods themselves are able to utilize this sacred equipment.
4Red Eagle’s Bane
Red Eagle was yet another ancient champion who achieved nearly mythical status during his lifetime. He became a beloved folk hero of the Reach by defending his people from the encroaching Empire. His last stand against Imperial forces is still memorialized by the descendants of the Reach, the Forsworn.
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Red Eagle’s Bane is acquired by defeating the eponymous Red Eagle inside Rebel’s Cairn. Once the resurrected legend is defeated once more, his famous sword can be retrieved at the entrance to the tomb, buried in a stone pedestal.
3The Ebony Blade
A cursed weapon ofimmense evil, this blade belongs to theDaedric Prince Mephala. The power of this sword stems from its ability to drain the life forces of its victims. The stolen vitality is transferred to the sword’s wielder, thereby making him even stronger.
Those in possession of this weapon slowly lose their minds as their very souls become corrupted by its malevolent influence. Power comes at a tremendous cost. Once the person’s mind is completely broken the sword disappears for a time before reemerging to find a new victim.
2Ghostblade
A wholly unique weapon due to its ethereal nature the Ghostblade is a useful tool to possess. InThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimit’s the lightest one-handed sword in the entire game. It does three extra points of damage that ignores armor and never needs recharged with soul gems.
The blade is found in Ansilvund, given as a reward by the ancient Nordic couple of Fjori and Holgeir, for freeing them from the clutches of a vengeful Redguard sorcerer. It’s also worth noting that upgrading the Ghostblade requires ectoplasm rather than traditional blacksmithing materials.
1Umbra
A sword with a mind of its own, Umbra is one of the most dangerous weapons in all of Tamriel. The blade presents itself to a worthy owner before beginning the slow process of taking over the person’s mind. Once entrapped, the wielder’s personality transforms and manifests itself as the sinister Umbra.
Brandishing the terribly powerful blade comes with an acute psychological cost. Losing one’s identity in return for short-term power is a bargain that few are aware they are making when the Umbra sword is discovered. Like most weapons with aDaedric originthis one is perhaps the most perilous.
