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Bleak Falls Barrow
Bleak Falls Barrow is an ancient Nordic tomb located in the mountains southwest of Riverwood, explored during the early main quest "Bleak Falls Barrow" and the side quest "The Golden Claw". Players must fight through bandits, frostbite spiders, and leveled draugr to navigate puzzles and reach the final sanctuary chamber. At the end of the dungeon, you defeat a Draugr boss to retrieve the Dragonstone for Farengar Secret-Fire and learn your first dragon shout from a Word Wall.
- Region
- Whiterun Hold
- Levels
- 6+
- Getting there
- South-west of Riverwood, across the bridge, following the winding mountain path uphill past an abandoned watchtower
- Connects to
- Riverwood
- Related quests
- Bleak Falls Barrow · The Golden Claw
- Services and people
- Arvel the Swift
- Enemy types
- Bandit · Frostbite Spider · Draugr · Skeever
Achievements here
Items
0/4
Secrets
0/2
Key fights
Enemies: One giant Wounded Frostbite Spider (and webbed Arvel the Swift)
Threats: Ranged Poison Spit (inflicts stamina damage and lingering health poison), rapid high-damage melee bites, and web snaring
Weaknesses and resistances: 33% Weakness to Fire, vulnerable to Frostbite Venom, broad hitbox easily staggered
Tactics: Kite backward through the narrow webbed doorway threshold to exploit the spider's inability to pursue into the narrow hall, or attack from behind pillars using ranged attacks and Fire spells (Flames)
Rewards: Frostbite Venom, Spider Eggs, freedom to free/kill Arvel the Swift for the Golden Claw and Arvel's Journal
Enemies: One Draugr Overlord (or leveled Draugr Scourge/Death Overlord) awakened from the central sarcophagus
Threats: Unrelenting Force Shout (causing knockdown/stagger), Frost enchanted two-handed or one-handed power attacks, high base armor and health pool
Weaknesses and resistances: 50% Resistance to Frost, 33% Weakness to Fire, vulnerable to Turn Undead and sneak attacks before awakening
Tactics: Stand across the subterranean river or atop the stairs flanking the Word Wall to pelt him with ranged attacks, exploit the slow sarcophagus burst animation for free opening damage, and continuously circle-strafe/kite around the altar to avoid his heavy melee power swings and Shouts
Rewards: Dragonstone (quest item), leveled enchanted weapon, ancient Nord armor, access to the Word Wall for Unrelenting Force (Fus), and the boss chest containing leveled enchanted loot and gold
Enemies
Several bandits occupy the exterior entrance and the first few interior chambers.
An oversized wounded frostbite spider drops from the ceiling above Arvel the Swift.
Undead warriors that emerge from upright sarcophagi throughout the ruins.
The dungeon boss that bursts from the central sarcophagus when you approach the Word Wall.
Tips
- For the first pillar puzzle before the trap gate, rotate the three stones to match Snake, Snake, Whale from left to right to avoid triggering the poison dart wall trap.
- For the circular door in the Sanctum, use the Golden Claw to turn the outer rings to Bear, Butterfly, Owl from top to bottom before activating the keyhole.
- Shoot or cast fire spells at the hanging oil lanterns suspended above oil slicks to instantly burn groups of sleeping draugr.
Not listed for this area: shops and people.
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