When venturing into the icy wilderness of Skyrim, the early game can often feel like a tough uphill battle. Facing off against bandits, wolves, and even dragons, it’s essential to arm yourself with powerful weapons to not just survive but dominate. The good news is that Skyrim offers several incredible weapons that are accessible even at low levels, allowing you to become a formidable force from the start.
This guide will help you find the best early game weapons in Skyrim, so you can make quick work of your enemies and boost your confidence as the Last Dragonborn.
1. The Longhammer – A Swift Powerhouse
The Longhammer is a weapon that truly stands out among Skyrim early game weapons due to its incredible balance of speed and damage. It is technically classified as an Orcish Warhammer but boasts one key difference, it swings 30% faster than other two-handed weapons.
How to Get It:
To find this gem of a weapon, you’ll need to head to Liar’s Retreat, a cave located in the Reach, northwest of Broken Tower Redoubt. While the enemies inside are a bit challenging for low-level players, you can sneak through most of the dungeon and grab The Longhammer without fighting all of them.
Why It’s the Best:
For those who love using two-handed weapons but hate their sluggish attack speed, The Longhammer is a game-changer. It deals significant damage but its faster swing speed makes it easier to overwhelm opponents quickly, making it one of the best two-handed weapons in Skyrim early game.
2. Bolar’s Oathblade – The Best Early One-Handed Weapon
When considering the best one handed early game weapon in Skyrim, Bolar’s Oathblade should be at the top of the list. It’s a unique Blades sword with a decent base damage and a powerful enchantment that drains enemy stamina and forces weaker foes to flee for 30 seconds.
How to Get It:
You can find Bolar’s Oathblade in Bloated Man’s Grotto, a cave near Whiterun. Inside, you’ll discover the sword beneath a Shrine of Talos, lying in the open and ready for the taking. No quests or level requirements—just walk in and grab it.
Why It’s the Best:
The stamina-draining enchantment is invaluable in the early game, allowing you to reduce enemies’ ability to power attack and making it easier to stay on the offensive. Plus, the fear effect gives you breathing room against groups of weaker enemies.
3. The Poacher’s Axe – A Unique Multipurpose Weapon
The Poacher’s Axe is often overlooked, but it’s a fantastic early game weapon option for players at low levels. While it has lower base damage compared to other one-handed weapons, it does extra damage to animals, making it a great tool for those playing the game’s Survival Mode or for anyone dealing with Skyrim’s wildlife. Plus, it doubles as a woodcutter’s axe, making it a handy tool in the field.
How to Get It:
You’ll find the Poacher’s Axe at the Halted Stream Camp, a bandit camp north of Whiterun. Kill the bandit chief, and you’ll be able to loot this weapon from his body.
Why It’s the Best:
The Poacher’s Axe offers extra utility in the form of both animal damage and woodcutting, which can make early-game gathering and hunting more efficient. It’s particularly useful for players looking to balance combat with resource gathering.
4. Bound Sword and Bound Battleaxe – Summon Your Weapons
For players who want to dabble in magic while still dealing solid physical damage, the Bound Sword and Bound Battleaxe spells are perfect early game weapon choices. These weapons are not actual physical items but are instead conjured using magic.
How to Get Them:
You can purchase these spells from any mage vendor. The Bound Sword is one of the easiest to get early on, and it allows you to conserve inventory space since you don’t need to carry a physical weapon.
Why They’re the Best:
What makes these weapons so effective in the early game is that they don’t require any material investment or repair. They scale with your Conjuration skill, and later in the game, you can enhance them with the Mystic Binding perk to deal even more damage.
5. Mace of Molag Bal – A Daedric Artifact Right from the Start
The Mace of Molag Bal is a Daedric artifact you can acquire early, and it’s one of the most powerful weapons available to low-level players. This one handed mace deals significant damage to an enemy’s stamina and magicka, plus it has the added bonus of filling soul gems if the enemy dies within three seconds.
How to Get It:
To obtain the Mace of Molag Bal, you’ll need to head to Markarth and start the “House of Horrors” quest. Complete this relatively short quest to earn the weapon.
Why It’s the Best:
The Mace of Molag Bal offers high base damage and two powerful effects: magicka and stamina drain. This makes it a great weapon for both warriors and mages. It also allows you to collect soul gems, which are invaluable for enchanting gear early on.
6. The Elven Bow – Precision at a Distance
If you prefer fighting from a distance, the Elven Bow is one of the best early-game bows you can acquire. While it isn’t the strongest bow in the game, it offers significantly higher damage than the longbows and hunting bows that low-level players typically use.
How to Get It:
To obtain this bow early, head to Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. Inside the Companions’ hall, there is an Elven Bow displayed in a locked case. The lock is set at the expert level, but with some effort (or a high Lockpicking skill), you can grab it right from under their noses.
Why It’s the Best:
For archers, the Elven Bow is a clear upgrade to the weaker bows you start with. It provides enough punch to handle tougher enemies from afar, allowing you to thin the ranks of your foes before they reach you.
7. The Wabbajack – Chaotic and Fun
The Wabbajack isn’t your typical weapon. This Daedric artifact staff causes random effects when used, ranging from turning enemies into chickens to instantly killing them or healing them. It’s a wild and unpredictable weapon but can be incredibly fun and occasionally useful in combat.
How to Get It:
To acquire the Wabbajack, travel to Solitude and begin the quest “The Mind of Madness” by speaking to Dervenin. Once you complete this relatively easy quest, you’ll be rewarded with the Wabbajack.
Why It’s the Best:
The Wabbajack’s random effects can be both a blessing and a curse, but in certain situations, it’s incredibly entertaining. For players who like to experiment with Skyrim’s more bizarre elements, this staff can be a lot of fun.
8. The Ancient Shrouded Armor – Stealth Personified
While not a weapon, the Ancient Shrouded Armor is one of the best armor sets you can acquire early in the game, especially if you’re playing a stealth character. The armor provides significant bonuses to stealth, poison resistance, and sneak attacks with one-handed weapons.
How to Get It:
To get this armor set, you’ll need to find Deepwood Redoubt, west of Solitude, and make your way to Hag’s End. With a bit of trickery involving the Ritual Stone power, you can revive the Assassin of Old and loot this armor without completing the Dark Brotherhood questline.
Why It’s the Best:
If you want to play a sneaky assassin, this armor will greatly enhance your effectiveness early on. The bonuses to sneak attack damage and stealth make you a formidable force when attacking from the shadows.
9. Orcish Armor and Weapons – A Heavy Hitter’s Dream
For those who favor heavy armor, finding a full set of Orcish gear in the early game can be a game-changer. Orcish weapons and armor offer significantly better protection and damage compared to Iron or Steel weapons, making it ideal for low-level warriors.
How to Get Them:
You can acquire a nearly complete set of Orcish gear by heading to Largashbur, an Orc stronghold southwest of Riften. While the stronghold normally only opens to players level 9 or above, you can sneak in early by scaling the wall and grabbing the armor.
Why It’s the Best:
Heavy armor wearers need protection early on, and the Orcish set provides some of the best early-game defense in Skyrim. Combined with Orcish weapons, it’s a fantastic choice for players who want to take hits and dish out damage in equal measure.
Where to Find Best Early Game Weapons In Skyrim?
Beyond the weapons listed above, good armor is essential to survive the dangerous wilderness. Apart from Orcish armor, you can also acquire Iron Armor and Steel Armor from early bandit encounters or smithing. If you prefer light armor, Hide Armor and Fur Armor are often found on hunters and low-level enemies. For magic users, Robes of Minor Destruction and Novice Robes offer spellcasting bonuses and can be found in early dungeons or purchased from magic vendors.
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FAQs.
What is the best early one handed weapon in Skyrim?
The best early one-handed weapon in Skyrim is Bolar’s Oathblade. This unique Blades sword deals decent damage and has a stamina-draining enchantment, making it an excellent choice for low-level players. You can find it at Bloated Man’s Grotto near Whiterun.
What is the best early two handed weapon in Skyrim?
The best early two-handed weapon is The Longhammer. While classified as an Orcish Warhammer, it swings 30% faster than other two-handed weapons, making it incredibly powerful for early-game combat. It can be found in Liar’s Retreat in the Reach.
What are the secret early game weapons in Skyrim?
Some of the secret early-game weapons in Skyrim include The Longhammer for two-handed builds, Bolar’s Oathblade for one-handed warriors, and The Mace of Molag Bal, a Daedric artifact that can be acquired through the “House of Horrors” quest in Markarth.
Where can I find good armor in the early game of Skyrim?
You can find good early-game armor like Orcish Armor at Largashbur, an Orc stronghold near Riften. Other decent armor sets like Iron Armor and Steel Armor can be looted from bandits or crafted through smithing. Light armor wearers can find Hide Armor and Fur Armor from hunters and bandits.
What is the best early axe in Skyrim?
The best early axe in Skyrim is the Poacher’s Axe, found at Halted Stream Camp near Whiterun. This one-handed weapon deals bonus damage to animals and can also double as a woodcutter’s axe, offering additional utility in the early game.
What is the best early sword in Skyrim?
The best early sword is Bolar’s Oathblade, found in Bloated Man’s Grotto. Its stamina-draining enchantment and the ability to cause fear in weaker enemies make it an excellent choice for low-level players looking for a reliable one-handed weapon.
How can I get a powerful bow early in Skyrim?
The Elven Bow is one of the best early-game bows. You can find it in a locked display case in Jorrvaskr, the Companions’ hall in Whiterun. With its higher damage output, it’s a great choice for players who prefer ranged combat.
How can I get the Mace of Molag Bal early in Skyrim?
You can obtain the Mace of Molag Bal by completing the “House of Horrors” quest in Markarth. This powerful Daedric artifact drains both magicka and stamina from enemies, making it one of the best early-game maces.
Conclusion: Dominating Skyrim’s Early Game
The journey in Skyrim can be tough when you’re just starting out, but by acquiring some of these best early game weapons in Skyrim, you’ll be better equipped to handle anything the game throws your way. Whether you prefer swinging a mighty hammer, summoning weapons from thin air, or firing arrows from a distance, there’s an early-game weapon for every playstyle. So gear up and take on the dragons, draugr, and dungeons with confidence!
Referencees:
https://www.thegamer.com/skyrim-level-1-best-pieces-gear
https://gamerant.com/skyrim-elder-scrolls-best-strongest-overpowered-weapons
