Bleak Falls Barrow - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide - IGN (2024)

This page of IGN's Walkthrough for the Main Quests of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim contains information on the third main story quest: Bleak Falls Barrow. It is up-to-date and compatible with each version of the game, including the base versions on PC/Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and more, and the Special Editions and Anniversary Editions.

Farengar in Whiterun gives you Bleak Falls Barrow, but if you have already visited the area prior you will not need to visit it again.

Objectives

• Talk to Farengar
• Retrieve the Dragonstone
• Deliver the Dragonstone to Farengar

Video Walkthrough

Walkthrough

If you partook in The Golden Claw earlier, you will have already visited this area and also procured the item that Farengar requests. Speak with Farengar and, if you already have the Dragonstone in your possession, you will have the dialogue option to show him. If not, you will need to proceed to the Bleak Falls Temple (preferably with The Golden Claw quest ready in your log as well) and wade deep into its cavernous depths to find the Dragonstone.

Video Walkthrough Part Two

Head toward the snowy mountains to soon encounter bandits and enemy archers. Head toward Bleak Falls Barrow and enter the decrepit Bleak Falls Temple. The interior is sparsely populated at the moment, but you'll find plenty of Skeever carcasses to pick at, as well as a locked chest on which to practice your lockpicking. After putting down the first two bandits, you won't encounter another until deeper in. Be sure to loot the burial urns for some Gold pieces and relieve the shelves of some potions as well.

You reach a room with a lever and a gate. When you initially try to pull the lever, you will initially be met by a shower of arrows -- obviously this is an unintended result. This mini-puzzle requires you to flip the three pillars on the left side to match the correct sequence of the pillars displayed above the gate. The pillar in the middle has fallen to the ground next to the lever. The correct sequence is: snake, snake, swordfish. Pull the lever once you've set this pattern to open the gate.

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Reading the Thief book ahead improves your Lockpicking a bit. Descend the spiral stairs to the cobweb-filled area below; be sure to pick up the Scroll of Fireball. Hack through the thick wall of cobwebs and proceed to meet up with Arvel the Swift. You discover that this grandmaster thief has been captured by a Frostbite Spider, but managed to mortally wound and significantly weaken the giant arachnid. Finish it off and speak to Arvel. Before freeing him, inquire about the golden claw.

The double-crossing scum will try to run away, screwing you out of the claw. Take him down and loot his body for the Golden Claw. You begin to head into the crypt, from which draugrs emerge and attack. These are stronger foe than the bandits you have been seeing, so avoid dealing with too many at once.

Video Walkthrough: Part Three

Time the swinging axes and sprint through the corridor as soon as they retract. In these tighter spaces, you will encounter more draugrs, but notice that the slick, iridescent liquid on the ground -- it is flammable. Lure the draugrs over it and light it afire either with fire magic or knock one of the flame lanterns onto the oil. One more Draugr pops out from the coffin; slay it and loot the chest for Gold and a Scroll of Hysteria. Pull the chain nearby to access another part of the temple. This area is prime farming ground for Glowing Mushrooms, which can be harvested from the walls as you come to them.

The linear path leads outside to a small waterfall, the base of which features a chest and corpses to loot. The path eventually takes you to a restless draugr, a slightly sturdier variant that might require more effort to slay. The door ahead leads to Bleak Falls Sanctum. More draugrs, but there's also more oil to help you out.

Through the iron doors at the top of the stairs, you walk down the hall to the stone door ahead. On the stone door are a set of rings with symbols and a keyhole in the shape of the Golden Claw emblazoned on the door. You can rotate each ring individually and match the engravings on the Golden Claw itself. Inspect the Golden Claw in the items menu to clearly see the correct order. The solution, from bottom to top bear, hummingbird, owl. Afterwards, put the Golden Claw in place to open the door.

Move towards the engravings on the Word Wall to learn Unrelenting Force, at which point a Draugr Overlord appears. Use the uneven terrain to your advantage; the Overlord has a hard time of keeping up with you if you alternate between a high point and low point, using a bow or long-range magic to deal damage.

Video Walkthrough: Part Four

Loot the Dragonstone from its dead body. After doing so, be sure to check both waterfalls. Each one has a chest that can be looted. The chest behind the waterfall on the right will require a lockpick to open. You can then continue up the stairs making your way back to Skyrim.