The Best One-Handed Weapons In Skyrim

Key Takeaways

• Skyrim
  remains a fan favorite for its engaging gameplay and rich graphics that meld the best of Oblivion and Morrowind.
• Players always anticipate the endgame in
  Skyrim
  with the plethora of mods and exclusive content available for exploration.
• The powerful melee builds in
  Skyrim
  , including unique weapons like the Dragonbone Dagger and Bloodthorn, offer diverse combat options.

Fans of Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls series regard Skyrim as one of the most engaging in the franchise. This entry in the series fleshes out Oblivion‘s graphics with a dash of Morrowind‘s combat ingenuity. Players always look forward to the endgame whenever they make their characters.

Updated on September 24, 2024, by Rhenn Taguiam: With The Elder Scrolls: Castles giving players a reverse Fallout Shelter experience by building their kingdom from the ground up (literally), fans of The Elder Scrolls franchise can finally experience what it’s like building a keep in Tamriel instead of solely having to save the world from cults, dragons, and other existential threats. However, fans who prefer serving Jarls and going on adventures might want to go back to Skyrim and equip themselves with some of the most powerful One-Handed Weapons in the game, some of which include an assortment of Maces, Swords close to Daedric Origin, and weapons with a tinge of madness.

38 Bloodthorn

Damage: 5

Befitting a dagger with an edgy name is Bloodthorn, a unique steel dagger located on the balcony of Hag’s End, which is a Nordic tomb to the northeast of Markarth and to the west of Solitude. However, despite its appearance being identical to that of a steel dagger, Bloodthorn is quite a menace to deal with at the hands of a rogue or a stealth character.

While it only has 5 Base Damage, its 2.5 Weight allows players to dish out mean damage extremely quickly. At its core, if Bloodthorn kills a target within three seconds of being attacked, it produces a soul gem. This can be enchanted via a steel ingot and the Arcane Blacksmith, which can double its effects.

37 Dragonbone Dagger

Damage: 6

Forged from the bones of dragons, the Dragonbone Dagger is one of the most powerful dagger types in Skyrim. This small dagger has a simple iron handle and a fine feather-like blade. Players can forge this dagger with a leather strip and a dragon bone. They can further upgrade the weapon via a grindstone with double the improvement if they have the Dragon Smithing Perk.

The Dragonbone Dagger is tied with the Blade of Woe in terms of damage output. However, the Dragonbone Dagger bests the Blade of Woe in terms of speed. Theoretically, the Dragonbone Dagger can have higher DPS than the latter.

36 Grimsever

Damage: 12

For a one-handed sword named Grimsever, it’s quite ironic that its appearance is just a typical glass sword. However, this unique weapon has quite a unique acquisition method as well. Players can get this weapon before and once they begin the “Retrieve Grimsever” quest for Mjoll the Lioness. This is located next to the blood splatter on the ground at the end of the Mzinchaleft Gatehouse.

While players give Grimsever back to Mjoll, they can also get this weapon permanently after the quest. Once she becomes a follower, players can trade the weapon for her. In combat, Grimsever always deals an extra 15 Frost Damage to both Health and Stamina of opponents on top of its initial 12 Damage, making it a mean early-game weapon.

35 The Pale Blade

Damage: 11

Following its themes of lowkey Lovecraftian horror, one of Skyrim’s most decent weapons lies in The Pale Blade. Taking the appearance of an Ancient Nord sword, the Pale Blade initially has 8-11 Damage and 12-15 Weight, similar to the weapon. However, once players acquire this from the body of Ra’jrr in Frostmere Crypt after his death at the hands of the Pale Lady. Players who pick up the blade and place it on the nearby pedestal will appease the Pale Lady and cause her to leave. However, players who want to get this weapon will have to defeat her as she reappears to defend the weapon after it’s picked up.

The Pale Blade is a worthy acquisition, however. While equipped, targets take an extra 25 Frost Damage on hit. Not only that, but people and creatures hit with this weapon will flee from combat for a good 30 seconds, provided they’re until Level 16.

34 Valdr’s Lucky Dagger

Damage: 5

Don’t look down on Valdr’s Lucky Dagger just because it looks like an ordinary steel dagger. While it only boasts the 5 Attack and 2.5 Weight of a typical steel dagger, Valdr’s Lucky Dagger does have quite a unique effect. At its core, it has a 25-percent chance of scoring a critical hit. Considering how it could be upgraded, Valdr’s Lucky Dagger can become a mean weapon at early levels considering the sheer speed of dagger strikes.

It also helps that Valdr’s Lucky Dagger is a relatively easy acquisition. Players can get this from Valdr after finding him in Moss Mother Cavern, where an injured Valdr gives this to the player since his friend Niels and Ari were already killed prior to their adventure.

33 Bolar’s Oathblade

Damage: 11

Fans of katanas would appreciate the Blades Sword for adopting this appearance, despite its base 11 Damage and 10 Weight. As such, looking at Bolar’s Oathblade might seem like looking at an ordinary Blades Sword with a fancy name – although with black leather and a serpentine guard. Players can get this weapon inside the Bloated Man’s Grotto, where the blade is located under the shrine of Talos alongside a note with its oath.

Once belonging to Acilius Bolar, the Oathblade accompanied this Imperial Blades member during the attack on Cloud Ruler Temple. Players who use this weapon can deal 25 Stamina Damage to opponents, as well as force people and creatures up to Level 12 to flee the battlefield for as long as 30 seconds.

32 Dawnbreaker

Damage: 12

Meridia is the Daedric Prince associated with energy and life. With the Sunburst as her symbol, it makes sense for people to also call her the Lady of Infinite Energies. Despite her status as a Daedric Prince, she’s not entirely evil and has a benevolent aura about her. This holds true with her Daedric artifact, Dawnbreaker, which players can retrieve after “The Break of Dawn” quest.

At first glance, Dawnbreaker fits its artifact status. The blade has a circular cross guard with a gem in the middle that constantly emits light. This isn’t just an aesthetic effect, as the light illuminates dark areas. In terms of stats, it has 10 Weight and deals 12 Damage, making it as light as a Steel Sword but as strong as a Glass Sword. However, its additional enchantments make Dawnbreaker deal 10 Fire Damage to targets, with a chance of causing undead to explode upon defeat.

31 Harkon’s Sword

Damage: 8

Lord Harkon boasts not just pure-blooded vampirism and sheer powers, but also his fabled Harkon’s Sword. As the name suggests, this is Harkon’s personal weapon, stylized as a Blades Katana with a sword guard seemingly of Molag Bal’s aesthetic. Unlike a Blades Katana, Harkon’s Sword is bloodied, reflecting its nature. While its 9 Weight and 8 Damage make it slightly stronger than an Iron Sword, Harkon’s Sword does have a unique enchantment.

When Harkon’s Sword hits an enemy, it absorbs 15 Health, Magicka, and Stamina. However, this enchantment only works if a vampire uses the Sword. Harkon’s Sword becomes nothing but an heirloom when looted from Lord Harkon by a mere mortal.

30 Bloodscythe & Soulrender

Damage: 13

Bloodscythe and Soulrender serve as two of the most unique weapons in Skyrim. Despite their appearance as regular scimitars, their enchantments only work when wielded together. They’re the favored weapons of Haknir Death-Brand, the legendary Nord pirate. Players may grow to love dual-wielding these weapons, too, as their 10 Weight and 13 Damage means they’re as light as Steel Swords but as strong as Ebony Swords.

In terms of appearance, they look exactly like normal scimitars, but with a red sheen. When wielded together, they can steal 15 Health and have a chance of granting 50 Armor Reduction for as long as 15 seconds. Players can get these weapons after finishing the “Deathbrand” quest.

29 Nord Hero Mace

Damage: 13

By the time players reach Whiterun, the Skyforge over Jorravskr would likely be one of the first Skyrim attractions they can see. This massive monument is a literal forge, with the location being among the many potential “mainstays” in a player’s gear progression journey – especially when this is the only location allowing players to craft Ancient Nord gear and Nord Hero gear. The latter is accessible after completing the Companions questline, allowing them to “process” Ancient Nord armaments to their Nord Hero counterparts.

Among Nord Hero weapons, the Nord Hero Mace is an exciting acquisition. While essentially possessing traits equivalent to Elven, Nordic, or Skyforge counterparts, the Nord Hero Mace also has one other quality that separates Nord Hero gear from other variants: it’s tied to Iron as the lightest weapon – and, therefore, more DPS.

28 Ebony Sword

Damage: 13

When players reach Gloombound Mine in Narzulbur or Raven Rock Mine in Solstheim, they can access Ebony Ore, which they can eventually process into an Ebony Sword. Belonging to among the highest gear classes in the base game, the Ebony Sword fits the sleek and stylish aesthetic prior to the more menacing Daedric gear. Given its status as being “one step before” accessing Daedric powers, the Ebony Sword is reasonably close to unconventional.

Compared to Oblivion’s Ebony gear that mixes regal gold with a sleek black base, the Ebony Sword of Skyrim borders the alien. Characterized by a hilt that extends into multi-layered plates and spirals, the main blade seems to have a reversed edge with swirling patterns. For players who think the Daedric Sword is too obviously “evil,” the Ebony Sword is more subtle.

27 Ebony War Axe

Damage: 15

Keeping in line with Ebony gear’s more unconventional appearance, the Ebony War Axe adds a much-needed sleeker take on the heavy-duty weapon. Whereas the Ebony War Axe of Oblivion gameplay is more pronounced with its black base and gold highlights, Skyrim’s rendition of the weapon is much curvier.

The shaft itself seems to be made of aged Ebony, with black wraps on the main handle. Its base has a protruding sharp end, while a small cylindrical divider borders its head. The axe has an abruptly curved front end and a longer rear end, with a spike on top. All blades have the Ebony’s characteristic swirling pattern. Its more subdued appearance seems to hint at its nature as pre-Daedric gear, where the Ebony armaments are “tighter” in appearance before “opening up” to a more malicious look when infused with a Daedric Heart.

26 Dark Seducer Mace

Damage: 14

When players acquire the Saints & Seducers Creation, they become introduced to Thoron – a manic mage whose machinations weakened the barriers separating Tamriel and the Shivering Isles. The Elder Scrolls fans know the latter as the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. While players can choose not to engage in Thoron’s storyline directly, finding Joften’s Notes under the bridge at Half-Moon Hill can unlock Dark Smithing – a variation of Daedric Smithing that can help players construct the Dark Seducer Mace.

Although the Dark Seducer Sword shares properties similar to Glass and a similar “dark” origin as Daedric, its appearance is close to Ebony in color but has a Shivering Isles-worthy unconventional design. Compared to traditional maces with straight shafts and a large head, the Dark Seducer Mace begins with a metallic handle and a shaft that twists upwards, leading to a claw-like head with small joint-like balls. This “twisted” appearance seems more like a prelude to the much more colorful weapons not just in the Creation but also stronger armaments in general.

25 Dragonbane

Damage: 14

At first glance, Dragonbane resembles the staple Akaviri katana found inside the Sky Haven Temple. However, beneath its recognizable exterior is a unique effect. This sword is specifically built to kill dragons. At its core, Dragonbane affects its targets in two different ways. First, it deals an extra 40 Damage when attacking dragons. If it attacks a non-dragon target, it deals 10 Shock Damage to them instead.

Dragonbane boasts 14 Weight and 14 Damage, making it the lighter version of the base Daedric Sword. It’s as light as the base Glass Sword but deals more damage. Players can obtain Dragonbane during the “Alduin’s Wall” quest.

24 Stalhrim War Axe

Damage: 15

Despite its status as a normal weapon, the Stalhrim War Axe can be just as refined as its named counterparts. As with most Stalhrim weapons, it can be forged by combining two leather strips and two Stalhrim. What makes it unique is obviously its use of Stalhrim, a rare ore with no random locations. There are only 19 regenerating Stalhrim deposits throughout Solstheim.

This axe has 15 Damage and 16 Weight, making it considerably lighter than its “stronger” counterparts. The Ebony, Daedric, and Dragonbone versions of War Axes have 17 Weight, 18 Weight, and 21 Weight, respectively. As a Stalhrim weapon, it can increase the potency of Frost Damage enchantments by 25%.

23 Stalhrim Mace

Damage: 16

Players who want their Skyrim gameplay to involve using hard-hitting maces would appreciate the Stalhrim Mace. Its appearance alone makes it interesting, as the chunk of Stalhrim used as the main bludgeoning weapon isn’t spiked or flanged compared to other maces in the game. It’s acquired via Smithing 80 and after completing “A New Source of Stalhrim Quest.”

However, perhaps more interesting is its stats. While falling short of Ebony, its 16 Base Damage and 18 Weight make it a relatively lightweight but heavy-hitting weapon. Not to mention, Frost Damage is the best Enchantment to be placed in this weapon, as it receives 25% more potency.

22 Ebony Scimitar

Damage: 15

Despite Ebony Ore being quite a normal appearance in Skyrim gameplay, players might be surprised that the Ebony Scimitar isn’t among the weapons they can immediately craft with the metal. Accessed through the “Ghosts of the Tribunal” Creation, players can create the Ebony Scimitar by combining 2 Ebony Ingots and 1 Leather Strip.

In line with its Ebony siblings, the Ebony Scimitar boasts a heavy curved blade that adds both style and intimidation to its appearance. The curved Scimitar also makes for an appropriate “base form” of the longer and similarly-curved Ebony Greatsword.

21 Daedric Mace

Damage: 16

In the context of Elder Scrolls lore, it’s the Daedric Mace that fits the context of the “otherworldly” among the game’s equipment sets. Characterized by the same red inlays and prevalence of curved spikes like the other Daedric weapon sets, the Mace perfectly fits the aesthetic pattern of the equipment type. Its 16 Base Damage and 20 Weight easily make it the second-most powerful one-handed weapon in the game behind the Mace of Molag Bal.

Ironically enough, players are also able to acquire the Daedric Mace not solely from Dremora creatures. These include Level 46 and Level 47 Smithing, general goods merchants, and ordinary Blacksmiths, as well as special Atronach Forges.

20 Ebony Mace

Damage: 17

Gamers who love customizing their characters in Skyrim would appreciate the Ebony Mace for an edgy but not as gorey look, especially versus Daedric outfits. Funnily enough, versus its Daedric variant, the Ebony Mace not only has the same 15 Base Damage but also boasts a lighter weight of 19 Weight. Moreover, it can be acquired at a much lower price.

Appearance-wise, the Ebony Mace boasts the same silver details and black base as with other Ebony weapons. Its bladed edge has a pristine sheen to it, giving it a sleek and extremely sharp appearance. The combination of these qualities gives the Ebony Mace a more elite feeling compared to other weapon sets in general, making it perfect for players who want a “black ops” feeling to their character.

19 Madness Sword

Damage: 15

The unpredictable nature of Sheogorath in Skyrim extends to the Madness Ore in the “Saints & Seducers” Creation, particularly in the design of Madness Weapons that seem to exude nothing but chaotic patterns. Players who craft the Madness Sword via 2 Madness Ingots + 1 Ebony Ingot + 1 Leather Strip may realize this as soon as they get the weapon in their hands.

Compared to other swords in the game, the Madness Sword boasts an ornate guard that extends to a hand-like spiral pommel and spiky protrusions from its guard that resemble tentacles. Protruding from the top portion of the guard itself is the Madness Ore, forming itself into a crude imitation of a blade that doesn’t seem to have a consistent sharp edge. Players who want a weapon that looks cursed may want to don a Madness Sword, especially for players who want to inflict the very madness of Sheogorath on their foes.