Shadowrend

A shape-changing artifact that can be a greatsword or a battleaxe, won by defeating your own Shadow.

Shadowrend is one artifact with two forms. The Shadowrend Creation lets you choose whether it is a greatsword or a battleaxe, and you can swap later. It first appeared in Shivering Isles.

How to get it

Go to the geyser pool northeast of The Atronach Stone in Eastmarch (quest: Through a Glass, Darkly). Try to take the weapon, and your own Shadow appears to fight you. Defeat it and pick the form you want. You can return to the same spot to switch forms.

Enchantment

Makes the target 15% weaker to magic for 30 seconds. It does not stack with itself.

Stats and handling

  • Greatsword: 25 damage, weight 23, value 2500.
  • Battleaxe: 26 damage, weight 27, value 2750 – it looks like the Daedric battleaxe from Oblivion.

Both forms beat a Daedric Greatsword or a Daedric Battleaxe in damage and use the Two-handed skill.

Smithing

Improve it with an Ebony Ingot. It needs Arcane Blacksmith, and Daedric Smithing gives the best improvement.

Known issue

According to UESP, the weakness to magic does not actually raise spell damage without the Unofficial Creation Club patch.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • Strength: top-tier damage in your choice of weapon type.
  • Weakness: the enchantment is bugged in an unpatched game.

Tips

  • Choose the greatsword for faster swings, the battleaxe for bleed perks.
  • Spellswords get the most out of it once the bug is patched.

Added by the Shadowrend Creation, part of the Skyrim Anniversary Edition. Details checked against UESP and summarised in our own words.

Quest reward from

Characters linked to this weapon

Where it appears

The Atronach Stone in Skyrim: where to find it near Darkwater Crossing, its +50 magicka and 50% spell absorption, and how to offset slower regeneration.
Sources checked: UESP (Creation article + Shadowrend item list), via UESP wikitext

Shadowrend

Type
Material
Damage
25
Weight
23
Value
2500 gold
Enchantment
Target is 15% weaker to magic for 30 seconds
Upgrade with
Smithing perk
Arcane Blacksmith (Daedric Smithing)
How to get
Quest reward
Where

At a geyser pool northeast of the Atronach Stone (Eastmarch), try to take the weapon, defeat your Shadow, and choose the greatsword form. You can swap forms there later.

Item ID
FExxxD63
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