Skyrim Daedric Quests: Guide to Artifacts, Choices & Rewards

Introduction

If you love exploration, moral choices, and powerful rewards, skyrim daedric quests are some of the most memorable encounters in The Elder Scrolls V. These short but impactful questlines are offered by Daedric Princes at shrines or through strange events, and they usually end with a unique Daedric artifact. Whether you want Mehrunes Razor, Wabbajack, or Azura’s Star, this guide walks you through how to find each quest, what choices matter, and tips to maximize your rewards and roleplay.

What Are Daedric Quests and Why They Matter

Daedric quests are short, optional missions tied to the Daedric Princes, the godlike beings that populate Tamriel. Each Daedra quest typically involves:

• a shrine or event that starts the quest
• a moral or tactical choice
• a unique Daedric artifact reward

These quests are great for players who want to collect rare items, explore Daedric shrine locations, or learn more about the Daedric Princes such as Azura, Mehrunes Dagon, Sheogorath, Molag Bal, Nocturnal, and Hermaeus Mora. They also tie into other systems like the Thieves Guild and the different endings of certain NPC arcs, so they matter for both loot and lore.

How to Start and Find Daedric Quests

Starting a Daedric quest usually requires finding a specific location or interacting with an odd NPC event. Here are reliable ways to trigger them:

• Visit known Daedric shrine locations: Many quests begin at marked shrines such as Azura’s Shrine on the mountains near Winterhold, or the shrine of Molag Bal in Markarth.
• Talk to unique NPCs: Some quests start when you speak to a character who is secretly an agent of a Daedra, like Barbas who appears in the Clavicus Vile quest.
• Complete related book or side objectives: Books, notes, or odd events can trigger a quest. For example, finding a mysterious artifact or overhearing a conversation can be the spark.
• Explore at high levels: Some Daedric questlines become apparent only after you have progressed and unlocked travel or dialogue options.

Practical tips to find them quickly:

• Check shrines and standing stones for interaction prompts.
• Read Daedra-related books and quest notes you find; they often hint at locations.
• Use fast travel to towns and speak to unusual NPCs; many Daedra agents move between towns.

Notable Daedric Quests and Their Artifacts

Below are the most iconic skyrim daedric quests, what to expect from each, and simple tips for completing them.

Azura: The Black Star / Azura’s Star

How to start: Visit Azura’s Shrine southwest of Winterhold and speak with Aranea Ienith. This quest is story-rich and tied to night and fate. Reward options: Azura’s Star (rechargeable soul gem for non-evil use) or The Black Star (a reusable black soul gem that can trap human souls). Tip: Choose based on your playstyle; The Black Star is best for enchanting and necromancers, while Azura’s Star is safer for general use.

Mehrunes Dagon: Pieces of the Past

How to start: Speak with Silus Vesuius in the Riften museum or visit his house. Expect puzzle elements and traps. Reward: Mehrunes Razor, a dagger with a chance of instant kills and a key role for collectors. Tip: Save before the final battle if you want to farm the instant-kill proc or avoid lethal outcomes.

Sheogorath: The Mind of Madness

How to start: Talk to Dervenin in Solitude about his master’s madness, then visit the Pelagius Wing in the Blue Palace. Reward: Wabbajack, a chaotic staff that casts random effects. Tip: Wabbajack is great for chaotic playthroughs and hilarious outcomes; store it safely if you intend to avoid friendly fire.

Molag Bal: The House of Horrors

How to start: Enter the house near Markarth and discover the horrifying secret. Expect intense roleplay and a grim atmosphere. Reward: Mace of Molag Bal, perfect for stamina and health damage in melee builds. Tip: This quest affects your standing with certain NPCs if you choose to intervene or not, so roleplay accordingly.

Clavicus Vile: A Daedra’s Best Friend

How to start: Meet Barbas, a talking dog who follows you near Falkreath. The quest offers an emotional choice between helping Barbas or siding with Clavicus Vile himself. Reward options: Masque of Clavicus Vile or Rueful Axe depending on choices. Tip: Keep Barbas alive if you want the heartfelt ending and the Masque, which boosts persuasion and barter.

Hermaeus Mora: Discerning the Transmundane

How to start: Find Septimus Signus and complete his research; this leads to Hermaeus Mora. Reward: Oghma Infinium, an ancient book that grants large skill increases if you take it. Tip: This item is powerful but consider the consequences in your roleplay because powerful artifacts often come with narrative cost.

Additional Quests: Hircine, Nocturnal, Namira, Sanguine, and More

Other memorable Daedric quests include:

• Ill Met By Moonlight (Hircine) — unique werewolf rewards like the Ring of Hircine or Saviour’s Hide. Tip: Save and explore both possible endings to see which fits your character.
• The Taste of Death (Namira) — rewards involve the Ring of Namira and dark bargains.
• A Night to Remember (Sanguine) — wild drunken antics that can lead to the Sanguine Rose.
• Boethiah’s Calling (Boethiah) — brutal tests of combat that often reward an exotic item like the Ebony Mail.
• Nocturnal and the Thieves Guild — quests tied to Nocturnal can intersect with stealth and the Thieves Guild, yielding items and the favor of the Night Mother.

These quests give you a mix of Daedric artifacts locations, lore, and moral choices, which is why many players prioritize them while playing Skyrim Special Edition or any vanilla playthrough.

Choices, Morality, and How They Affect Rewards

Daedric Princes often test your morals. Their quests tend to be morally gray, and your decisions can change rewards or endings. Here is how to think about choices:

• Practical vs. Roleplay — Choose the artifact that fits your build. For example, Dawnbreaker is excellent for fighting undead, while the Black Star helps enchanters.
• Short-term vs. Long-term value — Some artifacts are fun immediately (Wabbajack), others are better for crafting and enchanting (Azura’s Star).
• Multiple endings — Save frequently. Some quests have alternate endings or side consequences that affect NPCs and future dialogue.

Tip: If you want to collect every Daedric artifact, create a separate save before finishing each quest. That lets you replay outcomes or choose different rewards without losing progress.

Practical Tips and Examples for Farming or Keeping Artifacts

Daedric artifacts can usually be kept indefinitely, but a few unique situations exist. Use these tips to secure and farm items:

• Save before the reward — Always save before you claim the reward if you want to test alternatives or avoid losing a quest-related item.
• Use multiple save slots — Keep an early save and a post-quest save so you can replay or return after roleplay reasons.
• Trapping souls — If you plan to use artifacts for enchanting, bring filled soul gems or plan to farm souls with the Black Star.
• Use storage wisely — Store artifacts in a safe container in your owned home to avoid losing them to quest scripts or randomized events.
• Exploit special procs — Weapons like Mehrunes Razor have procs; test them on high-health targets and consider save-and-restore to observe rare effects.

Example: If you want both Azura’s Star and the Black Star, complete the Azura quest once, pick one, save, then use a previous save to pick the other. This preserves roleplay while letting you collect both artifacts for separate playthroughs or backups.

Daedric Shrine Locations Cheat Sheet

Knowing the common shrine locations saves time. Here are quick references for popular Daedric shrines:

• Azura — Shrine on a cliff southwest of Winterhold.
• Meridia — North of Solitude, can be triggered via radiant events too.
• Mehrunes Dagon — Various ruins and the quest related areas in Riften.
• Molag Bal — Hidden in contact places near Markarth.
• Clavicus Vile — Appears with Barbas near Falkreath and other roads.

Tip: Keep a journal of shrine locations as you play to speed up completion and collect items early in your playthrough.

FAQ

Q1: How many Daedric quests are there in Skyrim?

A1: Skyrim has around 15 major Daedric quests, depending on how you count repeatable or DLC content. Each quest is tied to a Daedric Prince and usually rewards a unique artifact.

Q2: Can I get all Daedric artifacts in one playthrough?

A2: Yes, you can obtain almost all Daedric artifacts in a single playthrough, provided you save before choices that give mutually exclusive outcomes. Use multiple save files if you want to experience different endings without losing artifacts.

Q3: Do Daedric quests affect your reputation or faction relationships?

A3: Most Daedric quests are isolated and do not drastically change major faction standings, but a few choices can alter NPC reactions, especially if you commit violent acts or break local laws. Some quests tie into Thieves Guild or Dark Brotherhood themes indirectly.

Q4: Are any Daedric artifacts overpowered?

A4: Some artifacts like the Black Star and Oghma Infinium are extremely powerful for long-term builds, while others like Wabbajack are potent but unpredictable. Balance them with roleplay to avoid breaking game challenge.

Q5: Where can I learn more about Daedric Princes and lore?

A5: In-game books, NPC dialogue, and Daedric shrine notes provide rich lore. If you want deeper background, explore books in major cities and quest-linked journals; the Daedric Princes each have unique personalities and motivations that enrich Skyrim’s world.

Conclusion

Daedric quests are a highlight of Skyrim: short, memorable, and loaded with choices, story, and powerful artifacts. Whether you seek the chaos of Wabbajack, the utility of Azura’s Star or the brutality of Mehrunes Razor, these encounters reward curiosity and bold decisions. Use the shrine locations, save often, and pick rewards that match your build and roleplay. Enjoy the strange bargains the Daedric Princes offer — they make every playthrough uniquely thrilling.

End of guide to skyrim daedric quests. Explore, decide, and collect.