The Blades Sword is the curved, katana-like blade of the Blades, the old order of dragon hunters sworn to protect the Dragonborn. It deals 11 base damage at 10 weight, putting it level with the Scimitar, Elven Sword, Nord Hero Sword and Skyforge Steel Sword.
You can’t forge it, but it is easy to collect once the main quest takes you to the Blades. Its design differs from the version seen in Oblivion, and paired with Blades Armor it gives a very distinct samurai-flavoured look.
Stats
| Type | Sword |
|---|---|
| Skill | One-handed |
| Material | Akaviri |
| Damage | 11 |
| Weight | 10 |
| Value | 300 gold |
| Speed | 1 |
| Reach | 1 |
| Stagger | 0.75 |
| Critical damage | 5 |
| Add-on | Base game |
| Item ID | 0003AEB9 |
Where to find
- One on the weapon rack near the enchanter in Delphine’s secret room at the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood.
- Six on the rack next to the Blades armor chest in Sky Haven Temple, available during Alduin’s Wall.
- Delphine carries two and Esbern one, but only pickpocketing gets them.
- Fultheim at the Nightgate Inn has one, and followers you induct into the Blades carry one too.
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
- Temper it with a Steel Ingot; Steel Smithing doubles the gain.
- Unique variants: Bolar’s Oathblade at the Shrine of Talos in Bloated Man’s Grotto, Dragonbane in the Sky Haven Temple armory, and the Akaviri Sword carried by Dexion Evicus in Dawnguard.
- Bug: an upgraded Blades Sword may not sit properly in a display case, or may drop to the floor when you re-enter the house.
Stats from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (Skyrim.esm, record AkaviriKatana). Values are base values before perks, smithing improvements and enchantments.
