Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Raldbthar
Raldbthar is a sprawling Dwemer ruin located in the mountains west of Windhelm, initially inhabited by bandits before descending into Dwemer Automatons and Falmer. During the College of Winterhold questline, the Dragonborn explores the deep chambers to find the ruins of Mzulft or related Dwemer mechanisms, though Raldbthar itself famously houses a Great Lift that connects to Blackreach. Progressing through the lower level requires unclogging gears in a bridge mechanism jammed with human bones and scraps.
- Region
- The Pale
- Getting there
- West of Windhelm and north of the Ritual Stone, set high in the mountain ridge
- Connects to
- Raldbthar Deep Market, Blackreach
- Related quests
- Mourning Never Comes · Forgotten Names
- Services and people
- Alain Dufont
- Enemy types
- Bandits · Falmer · Chaurus · Dwarven Automatons
Items
0/2
Key fights
Enemies: Alain Dufont, along with 4-5 Bandit Thugs/Highwaymen
Threats: Alain uses a heavily damaging two-handed warhammer (Aegisbane) and heavy armor; bandit archers snipe from elevated wooden scaffolding; bandit melee fighters rush in close quarters
Weaknesses and resistances: Susceptible to stealth critical hits, frost damage (drains Alain's stamina), and illusion crowd control (Fury/Calm)
Tactics: Snipe the archers on the catwalks first, utilize the narrow doorway leading into the forge chamber as a chokepoint, or sneak up the stairs to backstab Dufont before his guards fully alert
Rewards: Aegisbane (unique enchanted warhammer), Alain's armor and loot, Alain Dufont's head (Dark Brotherhood contract objective: "Mourning Never Comes")
Enemies: Dwarven Centurion
Threats: Massive physical clubbing and stomp attacks, high-damage Steam Breath (continuous fire-type damage cone), immense health pool, knockdown capability
Weaknesses and resistances: Immune to frost, poison, and paralysis, 25% magic resistance; vulnerable to shock damage; slow movement speed and wide turning radius
Tactics: Stay on the upper walkways/chokepoint ledge and attack with shock spells or ranged archery, or kite it around the central structural pillars to dodge its linear steam cone and heavy melee swings
Rewards: Centurion Dynamo Core, grand/greater soul, Dwarven scrap metal, access to the Dwemer Mechanism room containing the lift to Blackreach
Enemies
Bandit leader target for the Dark Brotherhood quest "Mourning Never Comes", found near the entrance chambers.
Inhabit the middle and deeper levels of the ruin, often using venomous weapons.
Found guarding the mechanism bridge puzzle area in Raldbthar Deep Market.
Accompany the Falmer in the Deep Market section.
Tips
- If the bridge lowering mechanism in Raldbthar Deep Market fails to lower after pressing the button, inspect the four gear assemblies around the room and remove the bones or scraps jammed in their teeth.
- The button behind the final Centurion in the Deep Market requires the Attunement Sphere to open the stairway leading down into Blackreach.
Not listed for this area: secrets, shops and people.
Stuck somewhere in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition?
Quest Compendium sees your screen while you play: ask about exactly where you are, and keep this guide open right beside your game.
Get live help while you play