How to Acquire the Dragonbane Sword in Skyrim

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Skyrim is filled with an impressive variety of weapons to discover, but some, like the Dragonbane, can be easily overlooked until much later in your journey. This game is designed to keep players engaged with its expansive world, and any seasoned adventurer understands the importance of being well-equipped, especially when facing dragons—with a weapon that inflicts extra damage against them.

The Dragonbane is one of the few weapons styled after the Akaviri design, aside from the Akaviri Sword available in the Dawnguard DLC. If you don’t own the DLC, the Dragonbane is a fantastic alternative, perfect for players who appreciate its aesthetic and feel nostalgic about Oblivion.

Where to Find the Dragonbane Sword

To obtain the Dragonbane, head to the Sky Haven Temple, the stronghold of The Blades faction in Skyrim. As you progress through the main storyline, you will naturally visit this location, making it nearly impossible to miss unless you intentionally sidestep the main quests.

The temple is located east of Markarth, and once you’ve visited it, you can easily fast-travel back by opening your map. You will find the Dragonbane resting on a wooden table in a small room on the left side of the temple, glowing enchantingly.

How to Access Sky Haven Temple

An opened quest journal displaying the Alduin's Wall quest with objectives visible, including one directing the player to Sky Haven Temple.

If you haven’t completed the main storyline yet, you need to finish the Alduin’s Wall quest to gain access to Sky Haven Temple. This is the only standard method for entering it during a typical playthrough.

Once you’re inside, there are no additional steps required to acquire the Dragonbane. You can simply grab it right off the table.

Dragonbane Stats and Upgrading

An inventory screen showing the Dragonbane with a base damage of 17, weight of 10, value of 789, and a bonus damage to dragons and other enemies.

At character level 57, the Dragonbane’s base stats are 17 damage, a weight of 10, and a value of 789. This provides a solid starting point for a sword. What truly sets this weapon apart is its enchantment, which adds 20 extra damage against dragons and an additional 10 damage to other foes.

While the Dragonbane cannot be disenchanted or re-enchanted, it is upgradeable. You can enhance it at any Grindstone, such as the one located near the entrance of Whiterun by Warmaidens. To upgrade the weapon, you will need the following materials:

Requirement	How to Obtain
Arcane Blacksmithing Perk	This is unlocked with a Smithing skill of 60.
Steel Smithing Perk	This is the first perk available in Smithing.
Quicksilver Ingots	These can be purchased from blacksmith merchants, or you can mine the ore required to make them in Dawnstar’s Quicksilver Mine using a pickaxe.

Once you have all the necessary items, you can upgrade the Dragonbane like any other weapon. For instance, the first enhancement will yield an ‘Exquisite’ version, which raises its damage to 24 and its value to 874. This makes it even more effective for taking down dragons in style.