Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
All missables in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Everything you can permanently miss, in the order you reach it: where it is, how to get it and what locks it out.
| Item | Area | Where and how | What locks it out | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mage Hood | Helgen | From the Torturer in the Helgen Keep torture room, look along the east wall to find the central upright prisoner cage.How: Pick the cage's Novice lock using lockpicks taken from the nearby knapsack or Torturer, then search the dead Novice Mage inside. | permanently locked out once you exit Helgen Keep into the open world during "Unbound", as the internal keep cells become permanently inaccessible. | |
| Novice Robes of Destruction | Helgen | From the Torturer in the Helgen Keep torture room, look along the east wall to find the central upright prisoner cage.How: Pick the cage's Novice lock using lockpicks taken from the nearby knapsack or Torturer, then search the dead Novice Mage inside. | permanently locked out once you exit Helgen Keep into the open world during "Unbound", as the internal keep cells become permanently inaccessible. | |
| Spell Tome: Sparks | Helgen | From the Torturer in the Helgen Keep torture room, look along the east wall to find the central upright prisoner cage.How: Pick the cage's Novice lock using lockpicks taken from the nearby knapsack or Torturer, then pick up the book resting on the cage floor next to the dead Novice Mage. | permanently locked out once you exit Helgen Keep into the open world during "Unbound", as the internal keep cells become permanently inaccessible. | |
| Mace of Molag Bal | Markarth | From the main entrance of Markarth, head up the stone stairs to the left to find the Abandoned House, then descend into its lowest basement chamber to the Altar of Molag Bal.How: Beat Logrolf the Mindless into submission with the Rusty Mace twice, kill him when commanded, and speak with Molag Bal. | permanently locked out if you refuse to help Vigilant Tyranus, kill Logrolf before Molag Bal's altar traps him, or fail to complete the quest. | |
| Ring of Namira | Markarth | From the city entrance, head to the Understone Keep, access the Hall of the Dead to begin the quest with Eola, then travel southeast of Markarth to Reachcliff Cave's deepest shrine room.How: Lure Brother Verulus to the altar, kill him on it, and choose to feed on his corpse. | permanently locked out if you kill Eola at any point before the ritual or refuse to feed on Brother Verulus. | |
| Potion of Mind Exploration | Dawnstar | From the main entrance of Nightcaller Temple on the cliff above Dawnstar, follow Erandur into the temple's laboratory area down the spiral stairs to the lowest tierHow: Pick up the potion bottle labeled "Vaermina's Torpor" resting on the small wooden shelf next to the alchemy lab | missable because the potion must be consumed during the quest "Waking Nightmare" to proceed, leaving no spare copy in the game | |
| Skull of Corruption | Dawnstar | From the entrance of Nightcaller Temple on the hill overlooking Dawnstar, follow Erandur down to the central sanctuary on the lowest level where the staff is suspended inside a magical barrierHow: Attack and kill Erandur while he is chanting to dismantle the barrier, then interact with the Skull of Corruption floating on the altar pedestal to take it | missable because if you let Erandur complete his ritual, he banishes the staff and permanently locks you out of obtaining the Daedric artifact | |
| Dossier: Delphine | Thalmor Embassy | From Elenwen's Salon, go through the exterior courtyard into the Thalmor Embassy, descend the stairs into the Dungeon, and locate the chest sitting next to the torture rack holding Etienne RarnisHow: Open the chest and take the dossier | The Thalmor Embassy interior and dungeon become completely inaccessible once you complete the quest Diplomatic Immunity and exit through Reeking Cave | |
| Dossier: Esbern | Thalmor Embassy | From Elenwen's Salon, go through the exterior courtyard into the Thalmor Embassy, descend the stairs into the Dungeon, and locate the chest sitting next to the torture rack holding Etienne RarnisHow: Open the chest and take the dossier | The Thalmor Embassy interior and dungeon become completely inaccessible once you complete the quest Diplomatic Immunity and exit through Reeking Cave | |
| Dossier: Ulfric Stormcloak | Thalmor Embassy | From Elenwen's Salon, go through the exterior courtyard into the Thalmor Embassy, descend the stairs into the Dungeon, and locate the chest sitting next to the torture rack holding Etienne RarnisHow: Open the chest and take the dossier | The Thalmor Embassy interior and dungeon become completely inaccessible once you complete the quest Diplomatic Immunity and exit through Reeking Cave | |
| Trapdoor Key | Thalmor Embassy | In the Thalmor Embassy Dungeon, carried by one of the two Thalmor soldiers who enter through the upper doorway after you inspect the interrogation chestExact spot: being checkedHow: Kill or pickpocket the Thalmor soldier to retrieve the key from his inventory | The Thalmor Embassy interior and dungeon become completely inaccessible once you complete the quest Diplomatic Immunity and exit through Reeking Cave | |
| Imperial Officer's Helmet | Fort Greymoor | from the exterior blacksmith forge in the main courtyard to the forge area surfacesHow: Retrieve from the exterior blacksmith forge in the central courtyard | permanently missed if the fort is garrisoned by Stormcloaks rather than Imperial soldiers after the Battle for Whiterun (g178) | |
| Word Wall - Marked for Death | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary | From the main central chamber of the Falkreath Sanctuary, head down to the lowest level past the dining table to the curved Nordic Word Wall behind the shallow water pool.How: Walk up to the glowing dragon script on the wall until the word chants absorb. | Permanently inaccessible if you do not enter during the Dark Brotherhood storyline or during "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!", as the sanctuary burns down during "Death Incarnate". | |
| Skull of Corruption | Nightcaller Temple | In the final chamber of Nightcaller Temple, at the center of the dais surrounded by a glowing magical barrier that Erandur dispelsExact spot: being checkedHow: Kill Erandur when the Daedric Prince Vaermina commands you to do so before he completes the banishing ritual, then take the staff from its pedastal | permanently lost if you let Erandur finish the ritual, which destroys the staff. | |
| Nahkriin | Skuldafn Temple | From the entrance of the highest exterior terrace overlooking the Sovngarde portal, head up the stone stairs toward the portal dais where Nahkriin stands beside the dragon seal.How: Kill Nahkriin and loot the mask directly from his ashes. | Skuldafn cannot be returned to once you jump into the portal to Sovngarde. | |
| Dragon Priest Staff | Skuldafn Temple | From the foot of the stairs leading to the Sovngarde portal terrace, approach the dragon seal altar where Nahkriin attempts to retrieve or place the staff.How: Kill Nahkriin before he seals the portal or loot the staff from his ashes or the dragon seal pedestal before entering the portal. | Skuldafn cannot be returned to once you enter the portal to Sovngarde. | |
| Diamond Claw | Skuldafn Temple | From the puzzle door inside Skuldafn Temple, look in the final hallway directly in front of the door where a leveled Draugr (Deathlord or Overlord) stands guard.Exact spot: being checkedHow: Slay the Draugr guarding the puzzle door and loot the claw from its body. | Skuldafn cannot be returned to once you enter the portal to Sovngarde. | |
| Storm Call Word Wall | Skuldafn Temple | From the exterior entry courtyard of Skuldafn, proceed up the ruined stone terraces to the elevated walkway path toward the temple exterior doors to find the curved Word Wall nestled into the mountainside.How: Walk up to the glowing inscriptions on the curved stone wall to learn the word. | Skuldafn cannot be returned to once you enter the portal to Sovngarde. | |
| Roasted Ox Leg | Sovngarde | From the entrance inside the Hall of Valor, head forward to the long dining tables situated on either side of the central fire pit.How: Look at the serving platters on the tables and pick up the Roasted Ox Leg directly from them. | permanently locked out once you speak to Tsun to leave Sovngarde at the end of the quest "Dragonslayer", as Sovngarde cannot be re-entered. | |
| Dragon Bones | Sovngarde | Looted from Alduin's remains after he is defeatedExact spot: being checked | Being checked | |
| Dragon Scales | Sovngarde | Looted from Alduin's remains after he is defeatedExact spot: being checked | Being checked | |
| Four Puzzle Books ("Boneless Limbs", "Delving Pincers", "Gnashing Blades", "Prying Orbs") | Apocrypha | along the puzzle corridors of Waking Dreams on their individual pedestalsExact spot: being checkedHow: pick them up directly from their pedestals before opening the summit | you cannot backtrack into those puzzle corridors after the summit opens |
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