Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Blackreach

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · Searching for the Elder Scroll

Blackreach is a vast, bioluminescent underground cavern connecting the Dwemer ruins of Alftand, Mzinchaleft, and Raldbthar. During the quest "Discerning the Transmundane" and the main quest "Elder Knowledge," you must navigate this subterranean realm to reach the Tower of Mzark. Inside the Tower of Mzark, you solve an ocular Dwemer puzzle to transcribe the Lexicon and retrieve the Elder Scroll (Dragon).

Region: Skyrim Subterrane
Getting there: Access through the lowest levels of Alftand (Alftand Cathedral), Mzinchaleft (Mzinchaleft Gatehouse), or Raldbthar (Raldbthar Deep Market) using the Attunement Sphere
Connects to: Alftand, Mzinchaleft, Raldbthar, Tower of Mzark
Related quests: Elder Knowledge · Discerning the Transmundane · A Return to Your Roots
Services and people: Sinderion's Field Laboratory
Enemy types: Falmer · Chaurus · Dwarven Centurion · Dwarven Sphere · Dwarven Spider · Wispmother · Chaurus Reaper · Frostbite Spider

Items

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Elder Scroll (Dragon): Tower of Mzark, retrieved from the central mechanism after solving the Lexicon puzzleRuned Lexicon: Tower of Mzark, retrieved from the receptacle pedestal after aligning the lenses with the puzzle buttonsCrimson Nirnroot: Growing throughout Blackreach near water and glowing mushrooms, with dozens of harvestable nodes

Secrets

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Summoning the hidden dragon Vulthuryol by aiming the Unrelenting Force shout directly at the massive artificial glowing orange orb hanging above the Debate Hall

Key fights

The Silent City Dragon

Enemies: Vulthuryol

Threats: Uses Fire Breath shouts, melee bite attacks, and swooping ground attacks; fights exclusively on foot after being summoned

Weaknesses and resistances: Weak to Frost damage, vulnerable to Dragonrend, Poison, and stagger effects; resistant to Fire damage

Tactics: Triggered by using the Unrelenting Force shout on the massive brass orb hanging over the Silent City Debate Hall; stay at range on the elevated stone platforms and perimeter walkways to avoid his powerful melee bites and Fire Breath, kiting him between the architecture of the Silent City

Rewards: Dragon Bones, Dragon Scales, random leveled loot, and a dragon soul (though he does not grant a soul in unpatched original versions, he does in Special Edition)

Enemies

Falmer

Steal / drop Falmer gear, Poisons

Common blind enemies dwelling in camps and fungal huts throughout the cavern

Chaurus

Weak to FrostSteal / drop Chaurus Chitin, Chaurus Eggs

Armored insectoid creatures often accompanying the Falmer

Dwarven Centurion

Weak to Frost, ShockSteal / drop Centurion Dynamo Core, Grand Soul Gem

Massive automated construct guarding several pathways and courtyards

Vulthuryol

Steal / drop Dragon Bones, Dragon Scales

Secret named dragon summoned by shouting at the central glowing orb

Tips

Harvesting your first Crimson Nirnroot automatically starts the quest "A Return to Your Roots," which requires collecting 30 samples scattered across the cavern.
You can unlock three great lifts—Alftand, Mzinchaleft, and Raldbthar—from inside Blackreach to provide permanent, direct shortcuts to the surface.
Crimson Nirnroots emit a loud, distinct chimes sound when you are close to them, making them easier to locate in the dark.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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