Ysgramor’s Tomb is the resting place of Ysgramor, the legendary Atmoran warrior whose Five Hundred Companions live on in the name of The Companions. It lies on a frozen island northwest of Winterhold, and most of it stays sealed until the Companions finale, Glory of the Dead. To get in, Ysgramor’s axe Wuuthrad must be reforged at the Skyforge by Eorlund Gray-Mane and placed back on the statue at the entrance.
What you’ll find
- Ghosts of past Companions guarding the halls.
- Rooms of frostbite spiders, including a giant one, plus skeevers.
- Large chambers linked by tunnels, ending at Ysgramor’s sarcophagus and a ritual fire.
- A Word Wall for Animal Allegiance on top of the hill above the tomb.
- White Cap growing in abundance, plus iron, corundum and gold ore veins on and around the island.
Quests
In Glory of the Dead you travel here with the Circle to cleanse the soul of Kodlak Whitemane. After fighting through the tomb you speak with Kodlak’s ghost, throw a Glenmoril Witch Head into the fire and defeat his wolf spirit, after which he names you Harbinger. Afterwards Purity lets you cure Farkas or Vilkas of lycanthropy the same way, while Aela refuses. A spare head lets you cure yourself, too: throw it in with no Companion around and beat your own wolf spirit.
Notable items
- Shield of Ysgramor – in the chest right of the sarcophagus.
- The Legendary Sancre Tor (Two-Handed) – by the large mammoth skull.
- Apothecary’s Satchel beside the Embalming Tool, after the giant spider.
- Dragon Priest Dagger, Broken Iron Sword Handle and Blade.
Tips
To reach the Word Wall from inside, take the door by the final chest, pull the chain at the end of that tunnel, then head through the newly opened passage opposite the entrance statue and up the stairs. Riders can instead climb the hill’s northwestern slope on horseback. Once the tomb is open, you can pick Wuuthrad back up from the statue and keep it.
Good to know
Ysgramor reportedly had a grand tomb prepared under Windhelm but chose to be buried facing the Sea of Ghosts and his Atmoran homeland instead.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Pilgrim’s Trench, Winterhold, College of Winterhold, Skytemple Ruins, The Tower Stone.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.