Skyrim drops you into a frozen province on the brink of civil war, then hands you the soul of a dragon and lets you go anywhere. The Special Edition adds 64-bit support, better lighting, and full mod compatibility on top of the 2011 base game. You can play 200 hours and still trip over a quest you never saw.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daedric Bow | S | Stealth archers who want raw sneak-shot numbers | The highest base-damage bow in the unmodded game, craftable at the Atronach Forge or smithed with Daedra Hearts. |
| Mehrunes' Razor | A | Assassins finishing the Pieces of the Past quest | A dagger with a flat chance to instantly kill any target, scaling beautifully with sneak multipliers. |
| Chillrend | A | One-handed builds wanting crowd control | A leveled glass sword that frost-damages and has a chance to paralyze, best grabbed at high level for the strongest version. |
| Dragonbane | B | Players hunting dragons on higher difficulty | A katana from the Blades questline that shocks targets and deals bonus damage to dragons. |
| Auriel's Bow | B | Vampire-hunting archers in the DLC | A Dawnguard bow that fires sun damage and, with Sunhallowed arrows, can stagger most enemies in daylight. |
S-Tier: Daedric Bow
The highest base-damage bow in the unmodded game, craftable at the Atronach Forge or smithed with Daedra Hearts.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Stealth archers who want raw sneak-shot numbers |
| Key Mechanic | shout system |
| Recommended Build | Stealth Archer |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Daedric Bow: Pairs naturally with Stealth Archer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Mehrunes' Razor
A dagger with a flat chance to instantly kill any target, scaling beautifully with sneak multipliers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Assassins finishing the Pieces of the Past quest |
| Key Mechanic | skill perk trees |
| Recommended Build | Two-Handed Berserker |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Mehrunes' Razor: Pairs naturally with Two-Handed Berserker thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Chillrend
A leveled glass sword that frost-damages and has a chance to paralyze, best grabbed at high level for the strongest version.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | One-handed builds wanting crowd control |
| Key Mechanic | smithing and enchanting |
| Recommended Build | Destruction Mage |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Chillrend: Pairs naturally with Destruction Mage thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Dragonbane
A katana from the Blades questline that shocks targets and deals bonus damage to dragons.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Players hunting dragons on higher difficulty |
| Key Mechanic | standing stones |
| Recommended Build | Conjuration Summoner |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Dragonbane: Pairs naturally with Conjuration Summoner thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Auriel's Bow
A Dawnguard bow that fires sun damage and, with Sunhallowed arrows, can stagger most enemies in daylight.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Vampire-hunting archers in the DLC |
| Key Mechanic | alchemy crafting |
| Recommended Build | Sword and Board Paladin |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Auriel's Bow: Pairs naturally with Sword and Board Paladin thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Whiterun
- Mehrunes' Razor → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Chillrend → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Daedric Bow → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Rush The Lover Stone near Markarth at low level for 15% faster skill gains across the board.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guides
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Overview
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Best Builds
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Tier List
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Walkthrough
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Beginner's Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Tips & Tricks
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Combat Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Boss Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Maps & Locations
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Crafting Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Classes & Characters
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