The Daedric Artifacts of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are among the most powerful and lore-rich items in the game. Each is tied to a Daedric Prince and acquired through a specific quest. While all of them have their uses, some stand out in terms of sheer lethality, versatility, and long-term impact on gameplay. Below is a ranking of the deadliest artifacts, listed from least to most devastating.
15. The Rueful Axe
Although it looks imposing and deals decent base damage, the Rueful Axe is let down by its incredibly slow swing speed. Its stamina damage effect is of limited use, especially when compared with other two-handed weapons. It is also not technically a true Daedric Artifact in some endings of the Clavicus Vile quest.
14. Masque of Clavicus Vile
Stylish and charming, but mostly useful for speech bonuses and improved prices with vendors. It offers little in combat and is more a utility item than a deadly weapon or armour piece.
13. Saviour’s Hide
Provides decent magic and poison resistance, which has its moments, but overall lacks the defensive strength or offensive synergy of other gear. Best suited for light-armour builds, but easily outclassed by crafted alternatives.
12. Ebony Blade
Once feared in Oblivion, the Skyrim version of the Ebony Blade is disappointingly weak until fully powered. Its life-drain effect improves as the player betrays friendly NPCs, which is thematically strong but impractical for many playstyles.
11. Ring of Namira
Boosts stamina and allows you to feed on corpses for a health bonus. While sinister and immersive, it does not hold up in terms of consistent usefulness during serious combat encounters.
10. Volendrung
This Daedric warhammer has high base damage and absorbs stamina, making power attacks easier to chain. However, it is slow and unwieldy, requiring careful timing to use effectively in high-stakes battles.
9. Skull of Corruption
When fully charged, this staff deals considerable damage, particularly if powered up with dreams. Still, the dependency on dream-harvesting makes it impractical for fast-paced or straightforward combat builds.
8. Wabbajack
Completely unpredictable but potentially game-breaking. It can instantly kill enemies or turn them into rabbits, but it can just as easily backfire. Its randomness prevents it from being consistently deadly, though in the right moment, it can shift the tide of battle.
7. Sanguine Rose
Summons a powerful Dremora that can tank, distract, and deal heavy damage. While the summon does expire, it refreshes quickly enough to make it a dependable asset in most encounters. Especially useful for non-conjuration builds.
6. Mace of Molag Bal
Inflicts stamina and magicka damage, and fills soul gems. Brutal in execution and excellent for necromancer or enchanter builds. The damage output and utility make it one of the better one-handed weapons available early in the game.
5. Ring of Hircine
Effectively removes the once-per-day limit on werewolf transformation, giving lycanthropes a massive boost in flexibility. When used strategically, it lets you dominate entire dungeons or cities with repeated transformations and enhanced melee damage.
4. Dawnbreaker
Devastating against undead, it causes explosions and turns or kills draugr, vampires, and skeletons with ease. In regions like Skyrim’s crypts and barrows, it becomes one of the most reliable weapons available.
3. Azura’s Star (or The Black Star)
A reusable soul gem sounds tame on the surface, but it unlocks a limitless supply of soul trapping. The Black Star variant is particularly potent, as it accepts black souls, which are the most powerful and easily found in human enemies. It indirectly powers every enchanted weapon in your arsenal without ever running dry.
2. Mehrunes’ Razor
Its small chance to instantly kill makes it a potential one-hit wonder against any enemy, including dragons and bosses. Fast, lightweight, and with solid base damage, it rewards aggressive play and rapid strikes. The chance-based nature is balanced by how often it can be triggered.
1. Ebony Mail
This is not just armour. It passively damages nearby enemies with a poison cloak while muffling your movement, making it ideal for stealth-heavy builds or melee fighters who wade into crowds. The constant passive damage stacks with other effects and works even when not directly attacking, giving the wearer a lethal edge in prolonged engagements. Its versatility makes it arguably the deadliest Daedric Artifact in the game.
While personal playstyle may influence the ranking, the items listed above are measured by their consistent effectiveness, damage potential, and synergy with different builds. In a land as harsh as Skyrim, choosing the right artifact can make the difference between a narrow victory and a quick death.
