Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Ustengrav

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · Retrieving the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller

Ustengrav is an ancient Nordic ruin located northeast of Morthal that you must explore to complete the Main Quest "The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller." After fighting through bandits, draugr, and a subterranean cavern, you reach the final tomb chamber only to find that the horn was taken by an unknown party. You must retrieve a note left in its place, which redirects you to the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood.

Region: Hjaalmarch
Getting there: Northeast of Morthal
Connects to: Ustengrav Depths
Related quests: The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller
Enemy types: Bandit · Draugr · Frostbite Spider · Skeever

Items

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Word Wall for Become Ethereal:: Mystery of Talara, v 2Ustengrav Depths, on an altar near the throne room and waterfallA Mysterious Note: Ustengrav Depths, placed on the altar where the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller was supposed to rest

Secrets

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Hidden Path to a Chest: Just outside the word wall area in the main cavern, there is a set of stone pillars and stairs that can be navigated or jumped across to access a hidden chest resting high on a rock ledge.

Enemies

Bandit

Guards the surface ruins and the initial interior chambers of Ustengrav.

Draugr

Weak to Fire

Common undead found throughout the deeper stone chambers, some lying in alcoves or sarcophagi.

Skeevers

Found in smaller packs in the dirtier, lower passages.

Frostbite Spider

Weak to FireSteal / drop Frostbite Venom

Encountered in web-covered side tunnels and the lower caverns.

Skeleton

Steal / drop Bone Meal

Fragile ranged and melee undead guarding the catwalks and lower corridors.

Tips

To bypass the puzzle with the three red activation stones that open three corresponding portcullises, sprint past the stones to trigger them and immediately use the Whirlwind Sprint shout to dash through the gates before they slam shut.
In the puzzle room with the fire traps on the floor tiles, stepping on incorrect pressure plates will ignite the grates, so using Whirlwind Sprint or carefully observing the tile paths will help avoid heavy fire damage.
Activating the stone raised-hand pedestal near the empty horn altar refunds the dragon soul you spent earlier to learn Whirlwind Sprint or provides a free dragon soul upon interaction.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Thalmor Embassy

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