Quests (Skyrim)
Quests are tasks the Dragonborn can perform in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Various persons can initiate quests, allowing for rewards to be gained by completing them. Sometimes, rewards are monetary or come in the form of items. Other times, quests increase skill levels or open opportunities to recruit followers or make marriage proposals.
The “main quest” denotes tasks the Dragonborn is compelled to complete as part of the game’s main story. Other quests can be performed for a guild or faction, while others are considered side quests, which skirt on the periphery of the game’s plotlines.
As with most of The Elder Scrolls titles, there are quests for each of the Daedric Princes, excluding Jyggalag. Unique to Skyrim are Radiant Quests, quests which are initiated as part of the Radiant Story artificial intelligence system. These quests can be repeated an infinite number of times, allowing for never-ending gameplay.
Two separate questlines were added to the game with the official plug-ins, Dawnguard and Dragonborn. For coverage of these quests, see Quests (Dawnguard) and Quests (Dragonborn).
Interface
The interface listing all quests can be activated through the map menu or by accessing the journal directly. PC versions of the game allow the journal (pressing “J”) to be accessed directly, while consoles open the journal, game settings, etc through the same button. Quests are listed by faction and relevance to the main quest first, and alphabetically second. Thus, quests in the main quest appear first, but quests involving the Thieves Guild appear later. Miscellaneous quests are grouped together on a separate menu, accessible from the very bottom of the list of quests.
Most quests can be completed in any order, upon activation. However, quests markers will not appear on the world map, on the compass, or in-game unless they are marked as active in the interface. Simply selecting the affirmation button activates the quests, once it has been highlighted in the list. Completed lists are listed at the bottom of the quest menu, below a divider. The names are greyed out, and the bullets next to the objectives are filled, indicating completion. In the menu, quests that are partially completed also have their objectives greyed out or ticked off. Optional tasks within the quest are labeled as such in the list as well.
Main quest
The main quest of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim involves the investigation and resolution of the Dragon Crisis, as foretold by the Elder Scrolls. Two factions must be joined in order to progress the main quest, the Blades and the College of Winterhold. “Paarthurnax” is completely optional and can be completed after the main quest. “Season Unending” operates under special conditions; completing it halts the Civil War questline, while completing the Civil War questline causes this quest not to appear, since it is no longer necessary.
Act I
Unbound
Before the Storm
Bleak Falls Barrow
Dragon Rising
The Way of the Voice
The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller
Act II
A Blade In The Dark
Diplomatic Immunity
A Cornered Rat
Alduin’s Wall
The Throat of the World
Elder Knowledge
Alduin’s Bane
Act III
Season Unending
The Fallen
Paarthurnax
The World-Eater’s Eyrie
Sovngarde
Dragonslayer
Epilogue
Faction quests
Quests performed for the various factions are not considered part of the main questline. Choices made during faction quests are non-canonical, lore-wise. Each faction contains several Radiant Quests which can be completed an innumerable amount of times.
Dark Brotherhood
Darkbrotherhood
Delayed Burial
Innocence Lost
With Friends Like These…
Sanctuary
Mourning Never Comes
Whispers In The Dark
The Silence Has Been Broken
Bound Until Death
Breaching Security
The Cure For Madness
Recipe For Disaster
To Kill An Empire
Death Incarnate
Hail Sithis!
Contracts
Contract: Kill Beitild
Contract: Kill Narfi
Contract: Kill Ennodius Papius
Contract: Kill Lurbuk
Contract: Kill Hern
Contract: Kill Deekus
Contract: Kill Ma’randru-jo
Contract: Kill Anoriath
Contract: Kill Agnis
Contract: Kill Maluril
Contract: Kill Helvard
Contract: Kill Safia
Side quests
Locate the Assassin of Old
Honor Thy Family – Gain re-entry to the Dark Brotherhood. radiant quest
Dark Brotherhood Forever – radiant quest
Other quests
Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!
Where You Hang Your Enemy’s Head
The College of Winterhold
College
First Lessons
Under Saarthal
Hitting the Books
Good Intentions
Revealing the Unseen
Containment
The Staff of Magnus
The Eye of Magnus
Side quests
Arniel’s Endeavor
Daedric Relic
Out of Balance
J’zargo’s Experiment
Onmund’s Request
Brelyna’s Practice
Rejoining the College
Radiant quests
Given by Urag gro-Shub
Fetch me that Book!
Shalidor’s Insights
Given by Tolfdir
Aftershock
Finding Tolfdir’s Alembic
Given by Sergius Turrianus
Enchanting Pick-Up
Restocking Soul Gems
Broken quests
Lost Apprentices
Master-level spell quests
Alteration Ritual Spell
Conjuration Ritual Spell
Destruction Ritual Spell
Illusion Ritual Spell
Restoration Ritual Spell
The Companions
Companion
Take Up Arms
Trouble in Skyrim – radiant quest.
Proving Honor
The Silver Hand
Stealing Plans – radiant quest.
Blood’s Honor
Purity of Revenge
Glory of the Dead
Side quests
Animal Extermination – radiant quest.
Hired Muscle – radiant quest.
Family Heirloom – radiant quest.
Escaped Criminal – radiant quest.
Rescue Mission – radiant quest.
Striking the Heart – radiant quest.
Retrieval – radiant quest.
Totems of Hircine – radiant quest.
Purity
Dragon Seekers – radiant quest.
Thieves Guild
Thieves
A Chance Arrangement
Taking Care of Business
Loud and Clear
Dampened Spirits
Scoundrel’s Folly
Speaking With Silence
Hard Answers
The Pursuit
Trinity Restored
Blindsighted
Darkness Returns
Under New Management
Side quests
Imitation Amnesty
Summerset Shadows
Silver Lining
The Dainty Sload
Deliver Moon Sugar to Ri’Saad
The Bedlam Job – radiant quest.
The Fishing Job – radiant quest.
The Numbers Job – radiant quest.
The Burglary Job – radiant quest.
The Heist Job – radiant quest.
The Shill Job – radiant quest.
The Sweep Job – radiant quest.
No Stone Unturned
The Blades
Paarthurnax
Rebuilding the Blades
Dragon Hunting
Bards College
Tending the Flames
Find Rjorn’s Drum
Find Finn’s Lute
Find Pantea’s Flute
Dawnguard
Dawnguard
Awakening
Bloodline
A New Order
The Bloodstone Chalice
Prophet
Prophet (Dawnguard)
Prophet (Vampire)
Seeking Disclosure
Chasing Echoes
Beyond Death
Unseen Visions
Touching The Sky
Kindred Judgement
Vampire Quests
Protecting the Bloodline
Ancient Power
New Allegiances
Culling the Beast
Deceiving the Herd
The Hunt
Destroying the Dawnguard
Rings of Blood Magic
Amulets of Night Power
The Gift
Dawnguard Quests
Hide and Seek
Rescue
Preemptive Strike
Cleansing Light
Hunting the Monster
A Jarl’s Justice
Lost Relic
Ancient Technology
Bolstering the Ranks
Civil War quests
The brewing Civil War in Skyrim is between two main factions, the Legion and the Stormcloaks. Both sides have the same tasks, with plenty of individuals throughout the region relaying the deeds of both sides. Minor factions, especially in Whiterun between the Battle-Born and Grey-Mane families, exist throughout the empire. Siding with either side impacts gameplay.
Imperial Legion
Joining the Legion
The Jagged Crown
Message To Whiterun
Defense of Whiterun
Reunification of Skyrim
False Front
The Battle For Fort Dunstad
Compelling Tribute
The Battle for Fort Greenwall or The Battle for Fort Sungard (depending on the outcome of the main quest Season Unending)
Rescue From Fort Kastav
The Battle For Fort Amol
Battle For Windhelm
Stormcloaks
Joining the Stormcloaks
The Jagged Crown
Message To Whiterun
Battle for Whiterun
Liberation of Skyrim
Rescue From Fort Neugrad
Compelling Tribute
The Battle for Fort Sungard or The Battle for Fort Greenwall (depending on the outcome of the main quest Season Unending)
False Front
The Battle For Fort Snowhawk
The Battle For Fort Hraggstad
Battle For Solitude
Daedric quests
Prince Quest
Azura The Black Star
Boethiah Boethiah’s Calling
Clavicus Vile A Daedra’s Best Friend
Hermaeus Mora Discerning the Transmundane
Hircine Ill Met by Moonlight
Malacath The Cursed Tribe
Mehrunes Dagon Pieces of the Past
Mephala The Whispering Door
Meridia The Break of Dawn
Molag Bal The House of Horrors
Namira The Taste of Death
Peryite The Only Cure
Sanguine A Night to Remember
Sheogorath The Mind of Madness
Vaermina Waking Nightmare
Nocturnal Thieves Guild*
To earn Oblivion Walker 15 Daedric artifacts must be collected. These can be collected during the above quests, although some outcomes of the quest do not yield artifacts. This is based solely on choices made during quests.
* Does not count towards Oblivion Walker achievement.
Dungeon quests
The following 24 quests relate to specific dungeons and maps. Quests listed with “*” appear as Miscellaneous Quests in the Quest Journal, and are named according to the Official Skyrim Game Guide.[1]
Quest name Location
Medresi Dran and the Wandering Dead Angarvunde
A Love Beyond Death Ansilvund
Composure, Speed, and Precision Angi’s Camp
Leap Before You Look Bard’s Leap Summit
Melka and Petra Blind Cliff Cave
Repentance Darklight Tower
Siege on the Dragon Cult Forelhost
What Lies Beneath Frostflow Lighthouse
The Pale Lady Frostmere Crypt
A Scroll for Anska High Gate Ruins
Ancestral Worship Hillgrund’s Tomb
Forgetting about Fjola Mistwatch
Hunter and Hunted Moss Mother Cavern
The Lost Expedition Nchuand-Zel
The Nilheim Scam Nilheim
Otar’s Mad Guardians Ragnvald
The Legend of Red Eagle (Quest) Rebel’s Cairn
Wilhelm’s Spectre Shroud Hearth Barrow
Ysolda’s Shipment Sleeping Tree Camp
The Savior of Selveni Nethri Southfringe Sanctum
Infiltration Treva’s Watch
Evil in Waiting Valthume
Silenced Tongues Volunruud
Ashore in a Sea of Ghosts Yngol Barrow
Miscellaneous quests
Sorted by place of acquisition: hold, city, or place. Some are actual Side quests and have their own quest lines which count towards the “Sideways” achievement. Others are miscellaneous objective and count toward the “Hero of the People” trophy and achievement.
Eastmarch
Windhelm
Blood on the Ice – side quest.
Repairing the Phial – side quest that requires The White Phial and the Throat of the World.
The White Phial – side quest.
Harsh Master
Rise in the East – side quest.
Find the Thalmor Assassin
Argonian Dock Workers
Shavee’s Amulet
Deliver Adonato’s Book to Giraud Gemane
Return Queen Freydis’s Sword to Oengul War-Anvil.
Plant Viola’s Gold Ring in Viola Giordano’s House.
Narzulbur
Find the Forgemaster’s Fingers
Kynesgrove
Find Roggi’s Knot-Beard’s Ancestral Shield
Darkwater Crossing
Deliver Sondas’s Note to Quintus
Falkreath Hold
Falkreath
Steal the Private Letter for Dengeir
Destroy the vampire Vighar
Deliver Berit’s Ashes to Runil
Other
Help Valdr clear out Moss Mother Cavern
Haafingar
Solitude
Light’s Out! – side quest.
The Man Who Cried Wolf – side quest.
The Wolf Queen Awakened – side quest.
Speak to Greta about going to the Temple of Divines
Convince Vittoria Vici to release the Spiced Wine Shipment
Dragon Bridge
Dragon’s Breath Mead
Old Hroldan Inn
The Ghost of Old Hroldan
Hjaalmarch
Morthal
Laid to Rest – side quest.
Saarthal
Forbidden Legend – side quest.
Kjenstag Ruins
Open Kjenstag Tomb
The Pale
Dawnstar
Visit the Museum in Dawnstar
Rising At Dawn
Collecting the fine cut void salts for Captain Wayfinder
Collect a Quicksilver Ingot and sell it to the mine owner
The Reach
Soljund’s Sinkhole
Soljund’s Sinkhole of Draugr
Left-Hand Mine
Clear Kolskeggr Mine
Markarth
The Lost Expedition – side quest.
The Heart of Dibella – side quest.
Bring The Last Scabbard of Akrash to Ghorza
Bring Hjalti’s Sword to the Ghost of Old Hroldan
Bring the Stallion’s Potion to Roerek
Bring a Daedra Heart to Moth Gro-Bagol, the Jarl’s personal blacksmith
Kill Nimhe inside Nchuand-Zel Excavation Site
Investigate the Hall of the Dead
Bring a Dwarven Helmet to Calcelmo
Talk to Mulush about Omluag, at the smelter
Speak to Kerah Deliver ring to Calcelmo
Speak to Ondolemar about Ogmund’s Talos worshipping
Retrieve Lisbet’s shipment from Deepwood Redoubt
Recover Hrolfdir’s Shield
Forsworn
The Forsworn Conspiracy – side quest.
No One Escapes Cidhna Mine – side quest.
Salvius Farm
Speak to Rogatus Salvius Deliver a letter to Leontius Salvius
The Rift
Froki’s Shack
Kyne’s Sacred Trials – side quest.
Heartwood Mill
Fight or Flight
Ivarstead
Gather 10 bear pelts for Temba Wide-Arm
The Straw that Broke
Deliver Klimmek’s Supplies to High Hrothgar
Riften
A Chance Arrangement – side quest.
Taking Care of Business – side quest.
Promises to Keep – side quest.
Retrieve Grimsever
The Lover’s Requital
Retrieve an ore sample from Shor’s Stone
Ingun’s Task
The Raid – a Skooma Trade quest.
Supply And Demand – side quest.
Unfathomable Depths – side quest.
The Book of Love -side quest.
Bring three flawless Amethysts to Talen-Jei
Bring 10 Fire Salts to Balimund
Speak to Marise Collect 5 Ice Wraith Teeth.
Help Wylandriah
Retrieve Wylandriah’s Soul Gem
Retrieve Wylandriah’s Ingot
Retrieve Wylandriah’s Spoon
Embarrass Haelga
Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Indaryn
Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Hofgrir Horse-Crusher
Obtain a Mark of Dibella from Bolli
Help Madesi with his business
Find 2 flawless sapphires for Madesi
Find a mammoth tusk for Madesi
Find Gold Ore for Madesi
Deliver the purchase agreement to Kleppr in Markarth
Whiterun Hold
Whiterun
Missing in Action – side quest.
In My Time of Need – side quest.
The Blessings of Nature – side quest.
Bring one Mammoth Tusk to Ysolda
Talk to Mikael about Carlotta
Argonian Ale
A Night to Remember
The Whispering Door
Riverwood
The Golden Claw – side quest.
Love Triangle
Winterhold Hold
Winterhold
Find the Helm of Winterhold
Assist the people of Winterhold
Drowned Sorrows
The College of Winterhold
Enchanting Pick-Up
Restocking Soul Gems
Septimus Signus’ Outpost
Discerning the Transmundane
Blackreach
A Return To Your Roots
Bounty Quests
These can be given by innkeepers when asked about work or rumors. Any of the Jarls or stewards can give these when asked for work. The Bounty Note identifies the type and location of the bounty.
Forsworn
Kill the leader of Bilegulch Mine
Kill the leader of Bruca’s Leap Redoubt
Kill the leader of Dragon Bridge Overlook
Kill the leader of Druadach Redoubt
Kill the leader of Lost Knife Hideout
Kill the leader of Pinemoon Cave
Kill the leader of Red Eagle Redoubt
Kill the leader of Stony Creek Cave
Kill the leader of Deepwood Redoubt
Bandits
Kill the bandit leader at Broken Oar Grotto
Kill the bandit leader at Four Skull Lookout
Kill the bandit leader at Halted Stream Camp
Kill the bandit leader at Nilheim
Kill the bandit leader at Redoran’s Retreat
Kill the bandit leader at Rift Watchtower
Kill the bandit leader at Silent Moons Camp
Kill the bandit leader at Winter War
Kill the bandit leader at Valtheim Towers – journal entry may say “Valtheim Keep”.
Giant
Kill the giant at Bleakwind Basin
Kill the giant at Broken Limb Camp
Kill the giant at Cradlecrush Rock
Kill the giant at Secunda’s Kiss – journal entry says “Secunda’s Shelf”.
Kill the giant at Sleeping Tree Camp
Kill the giant at Guldun Rock
Kill the giant at Steamcrag Camp
Kill the giant at Blizzard Rest
Dragons
Kill the dragon at Ancient’s Ascent
Kill the dragon at Autumnwatch Tower
Kill the dragon at Bonestrewn Crest
Kill the dragon at Dragontooth Crater
Kill the dragon at Eldersblood Peak
Kill the dragon at Lost Tongue Overlook
Kill the dragon at Mount Anthor
Kill the dragon at Northwind Summit
Kill the dragon at Shearpoint
Kill the dragon at Skyborn Altar
Global
Quest all Drunks Have
Rare Gifts
Some Light Theft
A Few Words with You
Delivery
Investigate the Bards College
Dungeon Delving
Rebel’s Cairn
Visit The College of Winterhold
Go to Endon in Markarth and pick up the item.
Amulet of the Moon
See also
Daedric Quests
Side Quests
Radiant Quests
Quest Items
Quest Rewards
Quests in Dawnguard
Quests in Dragonborn