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Halted Stream Camp

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · Clearing the bandit camp for iron ore

Halted Stream Camp is an outlaw mine and camp located north of Whiterun, overrun by poachers hunting mammoths. The primary goal is to fight through the fortified surface defenses, enter the subterranean mine to defeat the bandit chief, and harvest the rich vein network inside. It is widely considered the best early-game location to mine massive quantities of iron ore.

Region: Whiterun Hold
Levels: 6+
Getting there: North of Whiterun, north-northwest of Whitewatch Tower, or north-east of Silent Moons Camp
Connects to: Halted Stream Mine
Related quests: Amren's Family Sword · Bandit Attack · Bounty: Bandit · Dungeon Delving · Radiant Quests
Enemy types: Bandit · Bandit Chief · Pit Wolf

Items

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Spell Tome: Transmute Mineral Ore: On the bandit chief's workbench next to the boss chest inside the mineHalted Stream Mine Key: Carried by the bandit chief or sitting on the table near himPoacher's Axe: Mounted on a wooden chopping block inside the mine cavernHeavy Armor Skill Book: Hallgerd's Tale: Sitting next to a chest inside the main underground cavern area

Secrets

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Hidden spike pit trap: Stepping on the concealed tripwire along the mine's main ramp will release a swinging spiked wall or drop the player into spiked floor stakes.

Key fights

Bandit Chief and the Poachers' Den

Enemies: Bandit Chief accompanied by 1–2 Bandits

Threats: Heavy two-handed melee power attacks, high armor rating (often Orcish or Steel Plate), high health, and close-quarters flanking from subordinate bandits

Weaknesses and resistances: Susceptible to kiting, sneak attacks, paralysis, and frost damage (drains his stamina to prevent two-handed power attacks)

Tactics: Engage from sneak to eliminate the lesser bandits first; use the narrow mine tunnel entrance or wooden walkways as chokepoints, or lure the chief into the nearby spike pit trap to finish him from range

Rewards: Transmute Mineral Ore spell tome (on the chief's desk), Poacher's Axe (unique Woodcutter's Axe with Huntsman's Prowess enchantment), Halted Stream Mine Key, boss chest, and access to rich iron ore veins throughout the camp

Enemies

Bandit Chief

Steal / drop Halted Stream Mine Key, random enchanted gear

Boss of the dungeon found deep within the mine tunnels

Bandit

Steal / drop Iron or steel equipment

Guard the wooden palisades outside and the internal mining tunnels

Pit Wolf

Weak to FireSteal / drop Wolf Pelt

Kept in wooden cages inside the mine that can be opened or lockpicked

Tips

Bring a pickaxe or find one near the mine entrance to harvest the 16 iron ore veins scattered throughout the tunnels.
Use the Transmute Mineral Ore spell obtained here to turn all mined iron ore into silver, and then gold, to easily level Smithing and Alteration early.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Silent Moons Camp

Fort Greymoor

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