guide-2026/”>Skyrim‘s Daedric quests stand apart from the main storyline, offering players a chance to strike bargains with the most powerful entities in Tamriel. These missions, granted by various Daedric Princes, don’t just tell interesting stories, they reward you with legendary artifacts that can fundamentally change how you play. Completing all 15 artifact-yielding Daedric quests unlocks the coveted “Oblivion Walker” achievement. Whether you’re chasing relics, exploring dark pacts, or simply trying to experience everything Skyrim has to offer, understanding the mechanics, requirements, and payoffs of each quest is essential. This guide walks you through the eight major Daedric quests step-by-step, detailing level requirements, critical decisions, and exactly where to find each reward.
Key Takeaways
- Skyrim Daedric quests walkthrough missions unlock unique Daedric artifacts and the ‘Oblivion Walker’ achievement when all 15 are completed, with level requirements ranging from 20 to 30+.
- Each Daedric quest presents moral choices such as sacrificing followers or betraying allies, fundamentally changing how you experience the game and which rewards you receive.
- Major artifacts like Mehrunes’ Razor (instant-kill dagger), Ebony Mail (poison cloak armor), and Azura’s Star (reusable grand soul gem) provide unique gameplay benefits that optimize different build types.
- Quest triggers include visiting Daedric shrines, reading random loot books, or encountering connected NPCs—exploration often reveals these contracts without consulting guides.
- Sheogorath’s quest ‘The Mind of Madness’ stands apart by offering whimsical trials and the unpredictable Wabbajack staff, prioritizing entertainment and chaos over serious combat optimization.
- Clavicus Vile’s quest uniquely rewards you for refusing betrayal, making it one of the few Daedric quests with a morally positive outcome while still granting a powerful artifact.
Understanding Daedric Quests in Skyrim
Daedric quests differ fundamentally from radiant or faction jobs. Each is a unique narrative tied to a specific Daedric Prince, and most players trigger them by visiting shrines, reading certain books, or encountering NPCs connected to the Daedra in question. The minimum level requirement varies, some unlock at level 20, others demand level 30 or higher, so rushing these quests isn’t always viable on fresh playthroughs.
Rewards are worth the effort. Each successful Daedric quest typically yields a unique Daedric artifact, weapons or armor with special enchantments that can’t be found elsewhere. These aren’t just cosmetic upgrades: items like Mehrunes’ Razor and Ebony Mail become staples in optimized builds. Understanding the moral choices tied to these quests matters too. Some ask you to sacrifice NPCs, betray allies, or commit acts most heroes would refuse. Playing a Dragonborn with principles? Certain Daedric quests will force uncomfortable decisions.
Most quests can be discovered through exploration. Visit shrines, read random loot books, or simply wander Skyrim and stumble upon NPCs offering dark contracts. The Elder Scrolls Wiki and community walkthroughs provide detailed triggers if you’d rather skip the hunt.
Boethiah’s Calling Quest Guide
Level Requirement: 30
How to Start: Travel to the Sacellum of Boethiah (northeast of Windhelm, on the road toward Dawnstar), or find the book “Boethiah’s Proving” as random loot. Speaking to the Priestess at the shrine triggers the quest.
Quest Steps:
- Speak to the Priestess of Boethiah at the shrine. She demands a sacrifice, a living follower on the Altar of Sacrifice.
- Bring a companion to the altar and interact with it while they’re standing on it. They’ll be trapped, and you’ll enter combat.
- Defeat the Priestess and any cultists in the area. The battle isn’t difficult if you’re level 30+, but keep your follower alive, they’ll help you fight.
- Travel to Knifepoint Ridge (southwest of Markarth) and face Boethiah’s current champion. This is a one-on-one duel. Defeat them.
- Return to the shrine to claim your reward.
Reward: Ebony Mail (heavy armor, chest piece)
- Grants Poison Cloak: anyone hitting you in melee takes poison damage.
- Provides Muffle, reducing detection when sneaking.
- Weighs 36 units with heavy armor benefits.
Pro Tip: If you’re attached to a specific follower, summon a temporary companion (like a Conjuration spell) or recruit an NPC you don’t mind sacrificing. The “sacrifice” doesn’t permanently kill them, they’re freed once the trial ends.
The Black Star and Azura’s Quest
How to Start: Visit the Shrine of Azura (south of Winterhold, on the road toward the Throat of the World). Alternatively, find Aranea Ienith inside Azura’s Star if you’ve already begun.
Quest Steps:
- Speak to Aranea at the shrine. She’ll ask you to retrieve Azura’s Star from Ilinalta’s Deep (west of Morthal’s Longhouse in Morthal).
- Travel to Ilinalta’s Deep and navigate through a Dwemer ruin infested with Falmer and Dwarven automatons. This dungeon is lengthy, bring potions.
- Reach the star and interact with it. You’ll be transported inside and meet Malyn Varen, a mage corrupted by the star’s power.
- Defeat Malyn in combat. He’s not overly difficult but casts strong spells, block or use magic resistance gear.
- Exit the star and return to Aranea. Here comes the choice:
- Give the star to Aranea (side with Azura): Aranea becomes your follower, and you receive Azura’s Star, a reusable grand soul gem that fills with any soul except human/black souls. Useful for soul trapping without ethical issues.
- Give the star to Nelacar (side with Peryite): Nelacar becomes your follower, and you receive The Black Star, a reusable black soul gem that captures humanoid souls. Perfect for soul crafting and enchanting optimization.
Reward Comparison:
- Azura’s Star: Clean conscience, works with creature souls exclusively.
- The Black Star: Morally darker but far more efficient for crafting since human souls are powerful.
Both are permanent questline rewards, so choose based on your playstyle and moral alignment.
Mehrunes’ Razor and Dagon’s Revenge
Quest Name: “Pieces of the Past”
Level Requirement: 20
How to Start: You’ll receive a pamphlet from a courier titled “A Daedra’s Best Friend” in your inventory. Travel to Dawnstar and locate Silus Vesuius in his museum. He initiates the quest to recover Mehrunes’ Razor.
Quest Steps:
- Silus will tell you three pieces of the razor are scattered across Skyrim. He gives you specific locations.
- Retrieve the Razor pieces from:
- Cracked Tusk Keep (northwest of Solitude)
- Broken Spire Tower (northeast of Markarth)
- Lost Valkygg (northwest of Solitude, highest location)
Expect combat at each location, dragons may even spawn nearby.
3. Return the pieces to Silus. He’ll arrange a meeting at Mehrunes Dagon’s shrine (southeast of Dawnstar, isolated on a snowy mountain).
4. At the shrine, Mehrunes Dagon himself appears. This is where it gets interesting: Dagon demands Silus die. You can refuse or comply.
- Kill Silus with the Rueful Axe or any weapon: You obtain Mehrunes’ Razor immediately. This is the Daedric artifact path.
- Refuse or don’t kill Silus: You don’t receive the artifact, but you keep Silus alive (and can loot his corpse later if you’re petty).
Reward: Mehrunes’ Razor (dagger)
- Chance to instantly kill any target, regardless of health. This makes it absurdly powerful in PvP-equivalent scenarios (legendary dragons, difficult bosses).
- Base damage is modest (11), but the instant-kill proc is the real draw.
- Weighs 5 units, excellent for stealth or dual-wielding builds.
Pro Tip: When Dagon manifests, a Dremora Lord appears. Killing this daedra separately yields bonus loot (often valuable souls, gear). The quest rewards Mehrunes’ Razor regardless, killing Dagon’s minion is pure profit.
Clavicus Vile’s Bargain Quest
Quest Name: “A Daedra’s Best Friend”
How to Start: Travel to Falkreath and talk to Lod, a blacksmith. He mentions his dog has gone missing. Agree to help, and you’ll encounter Barbas, a small dog claiming to be the companion of Clavicus Vile.
Quest Steps:
- Barbas will follow you to Haemar’s Shame (south of Riften, near the coast). He’s slow, but you can’t fast-travel with him.
- At Haemar’s Shame, interact with the statue of Clavicus Vile. The Daedric Prince speaks to you via the statue, demanding you retrieve the Rueful Axe from Rimerock Burrow (northeast of Whiterun).
- Travel to Rimerock Burrow and defeat the inhabitants (typically Falmer and hagravens). Locate the Rueful Axe in a chest or on a pedestal.
- Return to Barbas and Clavicus Vile’s statue. The pivotal choice:
- Kill Barbas with the Rueful Axe: You keep the Rueful Axe (a two-handed axe dealing extra damage against beasts) but DON’T receive a Daedric artifact.
- Refuse to kill Barbas: Barbas returns to Clavicus Vile, and you receive the Masque of Clavicus Vile, the actual Daedric artifact.
Reward Options:
- Masque of Clavicus Vile (heavy armor, helmet):
- +1 Charisma
- +10% to bartering (cheaper purchases, higher sale prices)
- Excellent for speech-based builds or merchants roleplays.
- Rueful Axe (if you betray Barbas):
- Two-handed weapon dealing extra damage to beasts.
- Choose the Masque if you care about collecting all Daedric artifacts.
Narrative Note: This quest is unique because it actually rewards you for not betraying a companion. Barbas is genuinely likable, making this one of the few Daedric quests with a “good” ending.
Sheogorath’s Golden Touch Quest
Quest Name: “The Mind of Madness”
How to Start: Travel to Solitude and find Dervenin, a scholar wandering near the Blue Palace. He’s distressed about Sheogorath possessing the palace. Agree to help him, and you gain access to the Pelagius Wing (northeast tower of the Blue Palace).
Quest Steps:
- Enter the Pelagius Wing and navigate through his mind, a surreal, shifting environment filled with chaos.
- Meet Sheogorath in his throne room. He’s surprisingly hospitable and explains that Pelagius XIII, a former Skyrim emperor, has gone mad. Sheogorath wants you to “balance” his mind by completing three trials.
- Trial 1, Confidence vs. Fear: You’ll face two opposing forces. Use the Wabbajack staff (provided) to hit enemies and Pelagius, aiming for balance. This is more puzzle than combat, experiment with shots until the trial completes.
- Trial 2, Night Terrors: Combat against nightmare creatures (Dremora, spectral creatures). Use the Wabbajack on them and Pelagius to progress. The staff’s random effects make this chaotic but fun.
- Trial 3, Anger vs. Tranquility: Another balance trial. Transform Pelagius and enemies using the Wabbajack until equilibrium is reached.
- Sheogorath declares the game won. You’re ejected back to Skyrim, and Dervenin thanks you.
Reward: Wabbajack (staff)
- Random effects on hit: damage, heal, summon creatures, transform targets into chickens or frogs, paralyze, etc.
- Not reliable for serious builds, but incredibly fun and unpredictable.
- Perfect for playthroughs where you want chaos and laughs over optimization.
- Weighs 10 units.
Why It’s Special: Unlike other Daedric quests, this one is whimsical. Sheogorath is genuinely entertaining, and the trials break the mold of typical combat or fetch quests. The staff’s randomness makes it a collectible even if you never use it seriously. Skyrim Daedric Weapons: Your Complete Guide to the Most Powerful Armaments in Tamriel covers this and other daedric artifacts in depth.
Conclusion
Skyrim’s Daedric quests represent some of the game’s most unique and rewarding content. Each contract with a Daedric Prince comes with memorable stories, difficult moral choices, and powerful artifacts that justify the trouble. Whether you’re hunting the instant-kill potential of Mehrunes’ Razor, the utility of Azura’s Star, or the chaos of Wabbajack, completing these quests enriches your playthrough. For the completionist, collecting all 15 artifact-granting Daedric quests unlocks the “Oblivion Walker” achievement, a badge of honor among Skyrim veterans. Use this walkthrough as your reference, follow the level requirements and quest triggers, and you’ll experience some of the Elder Scrolls V’s darkest, most captivating storylines.
