Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Tower of Mzark

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · Using the Oculory to obtain the Elder Scroll

The Tower of Mzark is a Dwemer observatory located above Blackreach where the player solves a puzzle using a Lexicon and an Oculory. Operating the control console aligns the ceiling lenses to transcribe knowledge onto the Blank Lexicon and unlock the central sphere. Completing this mechanism reveals the Elder Scroll (Dragon), which is required for the main questline.

Region: Blackreach
Getting there: accessed via a Great Lift exit in south-western Blackreach, or entered from the surface south-west of Dawnstar and north-west of the Hall of the Vigilant once unlocked
Connects to: Blackreach, Skyrim
Related quests: Elder Knowledge · Discerning the Transmundane
Enemy types: Dwarven Sphere · Dwarven Spider

Achievements here

Elder KnowledgeComplete the main quest "Elder Knowledge" by transcribing the lexicon and retrieving the Elder Scroll from the Tower of Mzark.

Achievement guide and roadmap →

Items

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Blank Lexicon: received from Septimus Signus before arriving, placed on the pedestal at the control consoleRuned Lexicon: retrieved from the pedestal at the control console after completing the puzzleElder Scroll (Dragon): inside the central containment sphere that lowers after solving the puzzle

Secrets

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A Skeever and a bed are located in an elevated side room along the ramp, where a set of Dwarven metal ingots rests on a table.

Enemies

Dwarven Spider

Weak to ShockSteal / drop Dwarven oil, soul gems

Located in the lower maintenance corridors near the elevator exit

Tips

Insert the Blank Lexicon into the receptacle to illuminate the first two console buttons before attempting the puzzle.
Press the second button from the right until the third button illuminates, then use that one to open the final button and complete the alignment.
Do not leave without taking back the transcribed Runed Lexicon from the pedestal, as it is needed to complete the quest "Discerning the Transmundane."
Use the great lift on the lower level to unlock a shortcut back to the surface of Skyrim.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Septimus Signus's Outpost

Throat of the World

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