The Imperial Sword is the short, straight blade carried by nearly every soldier of the Imperial Legion and by guards in Imperial-held holds. With 8 base damage and 10 weight it is statistically identical to the Steel Sword; only its look and lower value set it apart.
Its design nods to the Roman gladius, fitting the Empire’s long-running Roman flavour, and the Imperial symbol is carved into its guard. It completes the look of anyone wearing Imperial Armor.
Stats
| Type | Sword |
|---|---|
| Skill | One-handed |
| Material | Imperial |
| Damage | 8 |
| Weight | 10 |
| Value | 23 gold |
| Speed | 1 |
| Reach | 1 |
| Stagger | 0.75 |
| Critical damage | 4 |
| Add-on | Base game |
| Item ID | 000135B8 |
Where to find
- Carried by most Imperial soldiers and hold guards in Imperial-controlled holds; every Legion camp has 5 to 8.
- Unbound: take one from each of the first two Imperials if you follow Ralof.
- Six in the Castle Dour armory in Solitude (stolen); two each in Whitewatch Tower, Fort Greymoor and Treva’s Watch; three in the Abandoned Prison.
- Nine from Corrupted Shades during The Break of Dawn.
- Imperial-held Fort Neugrad, Fort Dunstad and Fort Greenwall stock more.
- Also in Forelhost, near Froki’s Shack, and in Alftand (enchanted, Sulla Trebatius).
Crafting and upgrading
This weapon cannot be crafted at a forge – you have to find, loot or buy it.
Improving at a grindstone: 1 × 
Steel Ingot. The Arcane Blacksmith perk doubles the improvement.
Compared with other swords
Base stats of all regular (unenchanted) swords in Skyrim, weakest first:
| Weapon | Damage | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Sword | 7 | 9 | 25 |
| Ancient Nord Sword | 8 | 12 | 13 |
| Imperial Sword | 8 | 10 | 23 |
| Silver Sword | 8 | 7 | 100 |
| Steel Sword | 8 | 10 | 23 |
| Orcish Sword | 9 | 11 | 75 |
| Dwarven Sword | 10 | 12 | 135 |
| Falmer Sword | 10 | 18 | 67 |
| Forsworn Sword | 10 | 13 | 70 |
| Blades Sword | 11 | 10 | 300 |
| Elven Sword | 11 | 13 | 235 |
| Honed Ancient Nord Sword | 11 | 15 | 23 |
| Nord Hero Sword | 11 | 9 | 135 |
| Nordic Sword | 11 | 12 | 290 |
| Scimitar | 11 | 10 | 5 |
| Skyforge Steel Sword | 11 | 10 | 70 |
| Glass Sword | 12 | 14 | 410 |
| Honed Falmer Sword | 12 | 18 | 205 |
| Ebony Sword | 13 | 15 | 720 |
| Stalhrim Sword | 13 | 14 | 985 |
| Daedric Sword | 14 | 16 | 1250 |
| Dragonbone Sword | 15 | 19 | 1500 |
Tips and notes
- Cannot be forged. Improve it at a grindstone with a steel ingot; Steel Smithing doubles the improvement.
- The Art of Skyrim shows concept art for two different Imperial swords, but only one made it into the game.
- An enchanted Imperial Sword of Cowardice turns up in Fort Greenwall after the Empire takes it.
Stats from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (Skyrim.esm, record Imperialsword). Values are base values before perks, smithing improvements and enchantments.
