The Only Cure Skyrim: Complete Walkthrough & Hidden Secrets (2026 Guide)

Peryite might be the least glamorous of the Daedric Princes, but his quest, The Only Cure, remains one of Skyrim’s most memorable side adventures. This Daedric quest takes you into the abandoned Dwemer ruins of Bthardamz, where you’ll face off against the Afflicted, a group of plague-stricken followers, and eventually confront Orchendor, a rogue mage with some seriously annoying teleportation tricks. The reward? Spellbreaker, one of the best defensive shields in the game, capable of blocking magic like it’s nothing.

Whether you’re hunting down every Daedric artifact or just want a top-tier shield for your build, this walkthrough covers everything you need to know about the only cure Skyrim has to offer. We’ll break down ingredient locations, dungeon navigation, boss strategies, and troubleshooting tips for the quest’s notorious bugs. Let’s immerse.

What Is The Only Cure Quest in Skyrim?

The Only Cure is a Daedric quest centered around Peryite, the Daedric Prince of Pestilence and Natural Order. Even though his domain over disease and tasks, Peryite is oddly reasonable compared to some of his peers. In this quest, he asks you to track down Orchendor, one of his former followers who abandoned his duty and is now holed up in the Dwemer ruins of Bthardamz.

The quest is available to players of any level, though tackling Bthardamz at lower levels can be rough. The Afflicted enemies you’ll encounter deal disease-based damage and can overwhelm unprepared adventurers. The quest doesn’t have any prerequisites beyond knowing where to start, making it accessible early on if you’re feeling brave.

Completing The Only Cure rewards you with Spellbreaker, a unique heavy shield that wards against 50 points of magic damage per second. It’s especially valuable for warriors and sword-and-board builds who struggle against mages. The quest also counts toward the Oblivion Walker achievement, which requires collecting 15 Daedric artifacts.

How to Start The Only Cure Quest

Unlike some Daedric quests that come from rumors or random encounters, The Only Cure requires you to actively seek out Peryite’s shrine. You won’t receive a quest marker until you’ve gathered the necessary ingredients and performed the summoning ritual.

Finding the Shrine of Peryite

The Shrine of Peryite is located in the mountains east of Markarth, nestled in the rocky cliffs overlooking the Reach. The easiest way to get there is to fast travel to Karthwasten and head northeast, following the winding mountain path. You can also approach from Markarth by heading east and climbing the slopes.

When you arrive, you’ll meet Kesh the Clean, an Argonian devotee of Peryite. He’ll explain that Peryite wants to speak with you but requires an offering first. This is where the ingredient hunt begins. Kesh provides a list of four items you’ll need to gather before the ritual can proceed.

Gathering the Required Ingredients

Peryite’s summoning ritual demands four specific ingredients: a Flawless Ruby, Silver Ore, Deathbell, and Vampire Dust. While none of these are especially rare, tracking them down can take some time if you don’t know where to look.

Where to Find a Flawless Ruby

Flawless Rubies are the trickiest ingredient on the list. These gems are random loot from chests, Dwemer ruins, and high-level enemies, but there are a few guaranteed locations:

• Gallus’s Encoded Journal in the Thieves Guild questline often drops one in Snow Veil Sanctum.
• Purchase from court wizards or general goods merchants if your Speech skill is high enough to access their full inventory.
• Dwemer ruins like Nchuand-Zel and Mzulft frequently contain Flawless Rubies in locked chests.
• If you’ve been hoarding gems, check your inventory, you might already have one.

If you’re desperate and have the coin, Khajit caravans occasionally stock Flawless Rubies, though it’s RNG-dependent. Some players investing in potion crafting techniques can also gather enough gold to buy gems from merchants regularly.

Locating Silver Ore and Deathbell

Silver Ore is far easier to find than the ruby. Silver veins are scattered across Skyrim, but the most convenient locations include:

• Karthwasten: The Sanuarach Mine has several silver veins.
• Cidhna Mine: If you’ve completed or started The Forsworn Conspiracy, you’ll have access.
• Markarth’s surrounding areas have multiple exposed silver veins.

Deathbell is a common alchemical ingredient found near water sources. The swamps around Morthal are packed with it, and you’ll often find clusters near river banks throughout the Reach. If you don’t want to forage, alchemists like Arcadia in Whiterun and Bothela in The Hag’s Cure (Markarth) usually have some in stock.

Obtaining Vampire Dust

You’ll need to kill a vampire to get Vampire Dust. Fortunately, vampires are everywhere in Skyrim. Reliable locations include:

• Movarth’s Lair (guaranteed vampire spawns during the Laid to Rest quest in Morthal).
• Broken Fang Cave, northwest of Whiterun.
• Haemar’s Shame, south of Ivarstead.
• Random vampire encounters in dungeons and caves, especially after the Dawnguard DLC.

If you’ve already completed any vampire-related content, check your inventory, you likely have some dust already. Court wizards occasionally sell Vampire Dust, though it’s not always in stock.

Summoning Peryite and Receiving Your Mission

Once you’ve collected all four ingredients, return to Kesh at the Shrine of Peryite. Hand over the items, and he’ll perform the summoning ritual. A green mist will envelop the shrine, and Peryite’s voice will echo from the incense burner.

Peryite explains that Orchendor, one of his most devoted followers, has broken away and is hiding in Bthardamz, a long-abandoned Dwemer ruin. Orchendor’s abandonment has disrupted the natural order Peryite oversees, and the Daedric Prince wants him eliminated. Peryite tasks you with entering Bthardamz, cutting through the Afflicted, his diseased followers who remain loyal, and killing Orchendor.

The conversation is straightforward. Peryite doesn’t offer much in the way of choices or moral dilemmas here. Accept the quest, and you’ll receive a map marker pointing to Bthardamz in the western Reach, southwest of Markarth.

Navigating Bthardamz: Complete Dungeon Guide

Bthardamz is a sprawling Dwemer ruin infested with the Afflicted, a group of plague-ridden followers of Peryite. The dungeon is multi-tiered, with outdoor sections, interior halls, and vertical drops. It’s easy to get turned around, but the layout is fairly linear once you know the route.

Bthardamz Exterior and Entry Points

Bthardamz’s exterior is deceptively large. When you arrive, you’ll see a series of stone structures and ramps leading up the mountainside. The main entrance is at the top of the exterior ruins, marked by a large Dwemer door.

Before entering, explore the outdoor section. You’ll encounter several Afflicted wandering the terraces and balconies. They’re not particularly tough individually, but they can swarm you if you’re not careful. The outdoor area contains several chests and alchemical ingredients, so take your time looting.

There’s also a secondary entrance through Bthardamz Upper District, but it connects to the same interior network. Stick to the main entrance unless you’re trying to skip sections (not recommended on your first run).

Fighting Through the Afflicted

The Afflicted are the primary enemies in Bthardamz. They’re humanoid NPCs afflicted with Peryite’s plague, giving them a sickly green appearance and a nasty habit of vomiting acid at range. This ranged attack deals poison damage and can catch you off guard if you’re expecting standard melee.

Key tips for fighting the Afflicted:

• Resist Disease and Poison: Equip any gear or potions that boost these resistances. The Afflicted’s vomit attack inflicts both.
• Close the Gap Fast: Their ranged attack is their main threat. Get in close with melee or use ranged attacks to take them down before they can hurl bile at you.
• Watch for Groups: The narrow corridors of Bthardamz funnel enemies toward you. AoE spells like Fireball or Ice Storm are excellent here.
• Don’t Underestimate Them: While individually weak, groups of Afflicted can overwhelm you with status effects.

As you progress deeper into Bthardamz, you’ll pass through Dwemer machinery, trapped halls, and flooded sections. Watch for pressure plates and swinging blade traps, standard Dwemer dungeon fare. The dungeon also features several vertical drops and ramps, so keep your bearings. Some players building their alchemical knowledge through crafting systems find stocking up on healing potions invaluable here.

Finding Orchendor: Boss Fight Strategies

After navigating Bthardamz’s twisting halls and exterminating the Afflicted, you’ll reach the Arcanex, the deepest section of the ruin. This is where Orchendor waits.

Orchendor is a High Elf mage and the quest’s final boss. He’s not a pushover. His magic repertoire includes frost and lightning spells, and he’s infamous for one particularly annoying trick: constant teleportation.

Orchendor’s Combat Tactics and Weaknesses

Orchendor’s primary gimmick is his teleportation spam. He’ll blink around the arena constantly, making it difficult to land consistent hits with melee or archery. This can turn the fight into a drawn-out war of attrition if you’re not prepared.

Here’s what to expect:

• Frost and Shock Spells: Orchendor alternates between Ice Storm, Lightning Bolt, and Chain Lightning. These hit hard, especially if you’re wearing light armor.
• Teleportation: Every few seconds, Orchendor will teleport to a new location in the arena. This resets your engagement and forces you to reposition.
• Health Regeneration: He doesn’t regenerate health faster than normal, but his mobility makes it feel like the fight drags on forever.

Orchendor’s biggest weakness is that he’s not resistant to physical damage. He’s a mage with no special armor buffs, so once you land hits, he goes down relatively quickly. The challenge is catching him.

Best Builds and Equipment for the Fight

Melee Builds: This fight is frustrating for pure melee. Your best bet is to corner him or use Unrelenting Force to stagger him when he teleports. Equip gear with high magic resistance (the Lord Stone, Agent of Mara buff, or enchanted armor). Bring plenty of healing potions and magicka resist potions.

Archery Builds: Archers have a slight advantage since you can track him at range. Use paralyze poisons or the Slow Time shout to lock him down. Aim for headshots when he pauses between teleports.

Magic Builds: Ironically, mage builds dominate this fight. Destruction spells like Fireball or Ice Storm can hit him even as he teleports. Summoned creatures (especially Dremora Lords or Storm Atronachs) will chase him around the arena, keeping him occupied while you nuke him from a distance. The mystical schools of magic provide various approaches to controlling battlefield tempo.

Shouts: Marked for Death is incredibly effective, as it stacks damage vulnerability each time you hit him. Dragonrend won’t work (he’s not a dragon), but Slow Time gives you a window to land hits before he blinks away again.

Followers: Bring a tanky follower like Lydia or Frea to distract him. They’ll keep him partially stationary, giving you openings to strike. According to detailed RPG strategy guides, party-based tactics remain viable even in single-player RPGs like Skyrim.

Quest Rewards: Spellbreaker Shield Overview

After defeating Orchendor, loot his body for some decent mage gear and a key to the exit. Return to the Shrine of Peryite (you can fast travel once you exit Bthardamz), and Kesh will summon Peryite again. The Daedric Prince thanks you for eliminating the traitor and grants you Spellbreaker as a reward.

Spellbreaker is a unique Dwemer shield and one of the best defensive items in Skyrim. Here’s the breakdown:

• Base Armor: 38 (Heavy Armor)
• Weight: 12
• Value: 277 gold
• Enchantment: Ward (blocks 50 points of magic damage per second when blocking)

The ward effect functions like a Lesser Ward spell but doesn’t consume magicka. When you raise the shield, it absorbs incoming spells up to 50 points per second. This makes it invaluable against enemy mages, dragon breath attacks, and magical traps.

Key Benefits:

• Negates most mid-tier destruction spells entirely.
• Blocks dragon shouts and breath attacks when timed correctly.
• Pairs beautifully with heavy armor tank builds and battlemages.
• Counts toward the Oblivion Walker achievement.

Drawbacks:

• Requires Heavy Armor skill to maximize effectiveness.
• The ward only activates while blocking, so it won’t help against surprise attacks.
• Some high-level spells (like Master-level Destruction) can overwhelm the ward.

Spellbreaker is especially useful in late-game content like fighting Dragon Priests, tackling the Dragonborn DLC, or dealing with master-level mages. It’s a staple for sword-and-board builds and remains relevant throughout the entire game.

Should You Complete The Only Cure? Pros and Cons

Every Daedric quest comes with moral and gameplay considerations. The Only Cure is relatively straightforward, no innocents die, no world-ending consequences, but it’s worth weighing the pros and cons before committing.

Pros:

• Spellbreaker is one of the best shields in the game, especially for builds that face mages frequently.
• The quest is relatively short compared to multi-stage Daedric quests like The House of Horrors or Pieces of the Past.
• Counts toward the Oblivion Walker achievement.
• No moral gray area, Orchendor is a traitor, and the Afflicted are already doomed.
• Bthardamz contains decent loot, including Dwemer scrap for smithing and soul gems.

Cons:

• The Orchendor boss fight can be tedious due to his teleportation spam.
• If you’re playing a light armor build or mage, Spellbreaker’s Heavy Armor classification makes it less useful.
• Bthardamz is a long dungeon with lots of backtracking if you’re not using fast travel.
• Gathering the initial ingredients can be time-consuming if you don’t already have them.

Roleplay Considerations: Peryite is the Daedric Prince of Natural Order and Pestilence. Serving him doesn’t carry the same moral weight as, say, Molag Bal or Namira. If your character is an adventurer or artifact collector, there’s little reason not to complete this quest. If you’re roleplaying a pure, anti-Daedric paladin, you might skip it.

For most players, the pros outweigh the cons. Spellbreaker’s utility alone makes the quest worth completing, and the dungeon crawl through Bthardamz is solid mid-game content.

Common Bugs and Troubleshooting Tips

The Only Cure has its share of bugs, some of which can break the quest entirely. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them.

Orchendor Won’t Die or Becomes Invincible: This is the most notorious bug. Sometimes Orchendor’s health drops to zero, but he doesn’t die, or he becomes invulnerable mid-fight. Fixes include:

• Reload a save from before entering the Arcanex and try again.
• Use console commands (PC only): Target Orchendor with the mouse, open console (~), type kill, and press Enter.
• Some players report that using Marked for Death or other shouts can reset his health behavior.

Kesh Won’t Accept Ingredients: Occasionally, Kesh refuses to take the ritual ingredients even when you have all four. This is usually a dialogue glitch. Try:

• Dropping the ingredients and picking them back up.
• Leaving the shrine area, waiting 24 hours in-game, and returning.
• Reloading an earlier save.

Peryite Doesn’t Speak After Orchendor’s Death: After killing Orchendor, Peryite should speak to you when you return to the shrine. If he doesn’t:

• Fast travel away and back to the shrine.
• Wait 24 hours in-game and try again.
• Use console commands: setstage DA13 100 (completes the quest and gives you Spellbreaker).

Bthardamz Door Won’t Open: Some players report that the main Dwemer door into Bthardamz won’t open. This is rare but can happen if you’ve previously visited the location. Try:

• Entering through the Bthardamz Upper District entrance instead.
• Fast traveling away and back.
• Reloading a prior save.

Afflicted Respawn Endlessly: In rare cases, the Afflicted will respawn infinitely in certain rooms. This seems tied to the game’s cell reset behavior. If it happens, sprint through the affected area or reload.

If you’re playing on PC, console commands are your best friend for bypassing broken quest stages. For more extensive troubleshooting and community patches, resources like Nexus Mods offer unofficial fixes that address many of these issues. Modding communities continue developing script-level improvements that resolve quest bugs.

For console players, the best defense is saving often and keeping multiple saves. If a bug blocks progress, you can always roll back to a point before it occurred.

Conclusion

The Only Cure remains one of Skyrim’s most rewarding Daedric quests, blending straightforward dungeon crawling with a genuinely useful artifact reward. Spellbreaker’s magic-blocking ward makes it a standout shield for any build that faces mages regularly, and the quest itself offers a satisfying challenge without the moral baggage of some other Daedric tasks.

Whether you’re hunting achievements, optimizing your loadout, or just exploring every corner of Skyrim, tracking down Orchendor in Bthardamz is worth the effort. Just stock up on potions, bring a follower, and prepare for Orchendor’s teleportation spam. For additional insights into tackling Skyrim’s toughest challenges, walkthrough resources remain valuable for both new and veteran players. Happy hunting, Dragonborn.