The Most Difficult Skyrim Quests Ever

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Summary

  • Skyrim quests offer diverse challenges, from difficult decisions like saving or killing a beloved character to facing powerful enemies.
  • Main quests like The Way of the Voice and Elder Knowledge pose challenges due to perilous paths, powerful enemies, and long journeys.
  • Completing tough quests like Paarthurnax and Lost to the Ages requires strategic planning, combat skills, and defeating strong foes.

In Skyrim and its additional content, you’ll find numerous adventures waiting for you. Some of these stories intertwine with specific factions or narratives, while others offer independent side missions. The tasks available in Skyrim encompass a variety of challenges, from gathering rare alchemy components to vanquishing legendary combatants.

If you’re up for a tough test, these quests offer the ideal thrilling experiences. Keeping that thought in mind, let me present the most difficult challenges that lie ahead in the realm of Skyrim.

17.

The Cure For Madness

In the Elder Scrolls saga, Cicero is a significant figure in the Dark Brotherhood storyline. Despite his early act of treachery within this mission, he remains a cherished character among fans, making it challenging to decide whether or not you’ll oppose him. At the end of the quest, you’ll have the option to eliminate Cicero, but alternatively, you can spare him, and upon finishing the Dark Brotherhood storyline, he can join your party as a loyal follower.

Beyond just making a tough choice, The Cure For Madness proves equally challenging as it requires you to delve into an ancient sanctuary of the Dark Brotherhood and vanquish numerous spectral adversaries on your path to locating Cicero. In essence, this mission ranks among the most arduous tasks in Skyrim’s Dark Brotherhood storyline.

16.

The Way Of The Voice

In Skyrim, The Voice Quest stands out as a memorable journey not only due to its status as a primary mission, but also because it presents a treacherous climb fraught with hazards, including formidable beasts that can prove tough to conquer if you’re still at a low character level. Typically, you embark on this quest at a relatively lower level since it’s one of the initial main quests in Skyrim, making it quite a demanding task from the outset.

Apart from facing potent adversaries along the way, this journey will require you to trek for quite some distance, as it starts in Ivarstead and can’t be reached by carriage. Moreover, the path to the summit involves scaling numerous steps, making the quest challenging not just due to its length but also because of the steep climb to meet the Greybeards at the top.

15.

Paarthurnax

One captivating character in Skyrim is Paarthurnax. He boasts a compelling history and exhibits remarkable kindness towards the Dragonborn, setting aside his past to aid in the world’s defense against Alduin. However, Delphine and The Blades may later confront the Dragonborn, requesting they eliminate Paarthurnax; this quest is optional.

Deciding whether or not to confront Paarthurnax can be quite a challenge due to his immense power as a dragon. However, it’s not just about his strength; he has undergone significant changes, making the situation complex. The Blades may have deemed him untrustworthy, but considering his assistance to the Dragonborn and their allies, there’s room for doubt in their verdict. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and both the decision and potential confrontation are extremely difficult.

14.

Destruction Ritual Spell

The Destruction Ritual Spell mission is tough, and what really makes it hard is that you need to attain level 90 in the Destruction ability before you can even begin it. Once you chat with Faralda at the College of Winterhold, you’ll be able to finish this quest and unlock a potent array of Destruction abilities as your reward.

To finish this quest, you’ll need to visit three distinct places. This implies a significant amount of walking and encounters with formidable foes will be part of your adventure if you aim to access the advanced Destruction spells. The multiple stops on your journey, coupled with the challenge of reaching level 100 in Destruction, makes this one of Skyrim’s most difficult missions.

13.

Blood On The Ice

For enthusiasts of crime mysteries, unraveling the Blood on the Ice case in Windhelm promises an engaging experience. However, one might be taken aback by the challenge it presents. Following a series of gruesome murders of young women, you are tasked with identifying The Butcher, the perpetrator.

As I delve into this intricate, immersive game, I find myself playing detective, questioning witnesses, performing autopsies, and even confronting the chilling prospect of a necromantic ritual – all in pursuit of a serial killer. The stakes are high, as one wrong move could lead to missed rewards or even failure of the investigation. Careful strategizing and decision-making are crucial. And once I crack the case, my choices will determine the nature of the rewards that await me.

12.

Hitting The Books

The College of Winterhold’s main questline features several extended tasks that require significant energy and effort to finish. One particularly challenging mission you might undertake for this faction early on is “Hitting The Books,” a major initial assignment dispatched by the college itself.

Following a conversation with Urag, he’ll ask you to retrieve the missing books from Fellglow Keep. These books are protected by magical foes, making this task quite formidable. Not only do you have to navigate through a labyrinthine dungeon teeming with enemies, but you’ll also encounter The Caller, a challenging boss battle that will measure your mettle against powerful magical assaults.

11.

At The Summit Of Apocrypha

In the climax of The Apocrypha’s peak, the ultimate quest within the Dragonborn DLC’s primary narrative unfolds. This quest involves navigating through the Black Book: Waking Dreams and overcoming the formidable adversary, Miraak. Given that Miraak serves as the last major foe in Skyrim, defeating him proves to be a challenging endeavor.

In addition to battling Miraak, you’ll encounter dragons in the fray as well, doubling the challenge for this mission. Miraak is exceptionally formidable because he possesses shouts and an exclusive gear set that significantly boosts his abilities.

10.

The Break Of Dawn

Daedric Artifact quests are usually quite challenging, and The Break of Dawn is no different. Following the discovery of Meridia’s Beacon, you engage in conversation with the Daedric Prince herself. As you make your way to purify her temple, you’ll confront a Necromancer and his tainted spectral entities. These adversaries will hurl powerful spells towards you.

Should you approach this confrontation at Level 12, it’s no walk in the park – it demands careful strategy and top-notch fighting abilities. But fear not, for the prize, the Dawnbreaker weapon, makes all that effort truly rewarding in the long run.

9.

The Wolf Queen Awakened

To earn respect from Solitude and Elisif The Fair, you must accomplish the mission titled “The Wolf Queen Awakened.” While the quest involves numerous minor tasks, the most challenging aspect by far is the final battle. Preceding your encounter with Potema, you’ll have to vanquish hordes of Draugr, which proves to be an extremely tough segment for novice adventurers, particularly if you’re playing on a demanding difficulty setting.

Beyond the challenge already presented, you’ll encounter Potema herself as the climactic foe. Given her ability to wield Destruction magic and summon Atronachs, this confrontation is filled with numerous magical adversaries. Overcoming Potema will fill you with an instant surge of pride, knowing you’ve sent The Wolf Queen to her resting place.

8.

The Black Star

In Skyrim, The Black Star serves as Azura’s Daedric Quest. Distinguished by their increased challenge compared to typical side quests, Daedric Quests are raised to an unprecedented degree in The Black Star due to the unique adversaries it presents.

Starting your journey at the Shrine of Azura, your objective is to retrieve Azura’s Star first, an achievable task. However, the real challenge lies ahead as you must enter the star and vanquish Malyn Varen. It may sound simple, but defeating him is no small feat. Inside the star lurk Dremora minions, a formidable adversary in their own right, becoming increasingly tough on higher difficulty levels.

7.

The Eye Of Magnus

In the College of Winterhold, the Eye of Magnus stands as the most daunting task you can undertake. This is where you confront Ancano, the troublesome High Elf, in a direct battle. As the climactic quest for each of Skyrim’s main factions, it presents a tough challenge. However, what makes battling Ancano unique is that he immobilizes your companions and allies right at the start of the fight.

Ancano has a lot of strong magic abilities and can’t be defeated without using the Staff of Magnus near the Eye of Magnus. With his immense power and your lack of allies, he’s one of the toughest opponents in the main game. Once you defeat him, you become the Arch-Mage of Winterhold, a prestigious title indeed.

6.

Lost To The Ages

“The side quest ‘Lost to the Ages’ poses two main challenges. Firstly, it requires a significant amount of time to finish as you must hunt down scattered Aetherium Shards, each hidden in distinct locations. Secondly, you’ll encounter formidable Dwarven adversaries throughout your journey, culminating in a battle against The Forgemaster before you can claim your Aetherial reward.

The Dawnguard DLC offers an intriguing quest titled “Lost to the Ages,” which you can initiate by journeying to Arkngthamz. If you’re eager for a test and don’t mind your boots getting drenched in Dwarven Oil, then this engaging side mission is tailor-made for adventurers like you!

5.

Elder Knowledge

As a devoted Skyrim enthusiast, embarking on Elder Knowledge is no ordinary quest; it’s an epic journey that spans across the game’s narrative. My objective? Delve into Blackreach and recover the Elder Scroll – the pièce de résistance in any Elder Scrolls adventure. The path to this coveted artifact isn’t just a stroll through picturesque landscapes; it’s a trek through labyrinthine dungeons that test my mettle at every turn. And let’s not forget the formidable foes I’ll encounter along the way, chiefly hordes of cunning Dwarven adversaries!

In the heart of Blackreach, you’ll find Falmer – these are some of the most challenging foes you’ll encounter in Skyrim. Interestingly enough, Elder Knowledge, one of the most difficult quests in the main storyline, revolves around an Elder Scroll. Although it’s a tough nut to crack, it pays off handsomely when you use it to defeat Alduin.

Deep within Blackreach lies a type of formidable enemy known as Falmer. It’s no surprise that Elder Knowledge, one of the toughest quests in Skyrim’s main storyline, centers around an Elder Scroll, especially since it ultimately aids you in defeating Alduin.

4.

A Return To Your Roots

The challenge level of A Return to your Roots can differ based on whether you choose a combative or covert playstyle. Upon finishing Sinderion’s Field Journal within Blackreach, you are tasked with foraging throughout the Dwarven Ruin and gathering 30 Red Nirnroots, which resemble regular Nirnroots but boast a crimson hue instead of green.

In Blackreach, not only is the Crimson Nirnroot scattered across a vast expanse, but you’ll also encounter formidable foes hiding in the dark corners. Gathering all the Crimson Nirnroot in this ruin may take several hours of your time, but the reward is significant – upon returning it to Avrusa Sarethi at Sarethi Farm, you will receive Sinderion’s Serendipity, which grants a 25% chance of crafting an extra potion when making alchemical concoctions.

3.

Under New Management

Completing “Under New Management” is quite an extensive task – the sole method to wrap it up involves progressing through the entire Thieves Guild storyline and accomplishing 20 random missions assigned by the Thieves Guild. Although “Under New Management” isn’t linked to these radiant quests, they are necessary steps to fulfill this mission effectively.

Under New Management aims to carry out a series of criminal activities across Skyrim, restoring the Thieves Guild to its former grandeur. To qualify, you must accomplish 20 random quests for the Thieves Guild, in addition to Imitation Amnesty, Summerset Shadows, Silver Lining, and The Dainty Sload. With such a vast quantity of items to pilfer, even the legendary Dragonborn would find it a daunting task. Upon successfully completing your criminal exploits, you will be crowned as the new leader of the Thieves Guild.

2.

No Stone Unturned

Unlike most other quests, No Stone Unturned isn’t tough primarily due to its battle challenges. Instead, it calls for you to find and return 24 Stones of Barenziah scattered across Skyrim to Vex from the Thieves Guild. These stones can be found in a variety of places such as dungeons and guild headquarters, making the task of collecting them all quite time-consuming, requiring a good deal of perseverance.

Certainly, hunting for all 24 Stones of Barenziah might take some time, but it’s worth the patience because the Prowler’s Profit skill greatly boosts your chances of discovering gems within containers. If you aspire to become Skyrim’s richest adventurer, then gathering the Stones of Barenziah should be a priority for you right away.

1.

The Ebony Warrior

In the grand finale of Skyrim, The Ebony Warrior stands as the ultimate test. Given this climactic showdown, it makes perfect sense that he proves to be a formidable opponent. Upon reaching level 80, you’ll find The Ebony Warrior inside the major cities of Skyrim, eager for a fight. It’s tough to turn down the chance to engage when you know that The Ebony Warrior’s sleek gear will be yours once he is vanquished.

In this conflict, The Ebony Warrior proves to be formidable. His ebony armor packs quite a punch, and he possesses roars akin to a Dragonborn. Moreover, he can heal himself using Restoration magic, making him resilient against substantial harm. It may take several attempts before you can disarm him and acquire his robust equipment.

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2025-04-30 02:36