The Forsworn Axe is a primitive but nasty war axe: a sharpened stone blade lashed to a wooden handle with sticks and sinew. Despite its rough build it deals 11 base damage, comparable to a Dwarven war axe.
It is the trademark weapon of the Forsworn, who happily tell you that Nord skulls make the best axes. It goes with Forsworn Armor for a full wild-Reach look.
Stats
| Type | War Axe |
|---|---|
| Skill | One-handed |
| Material | Forsworn |
| Damage | 11 |
| Weight | 15 |
| Value | 90 gold |
| Speed | 0.9 |
| Reach | 1 |
| Stagger | 0.85 |
| Critical damage | 6 |
| Add-on | Base game |
| Item ID | 000CC829 |
Where to find
- Found in Forsworn camps and the wild countryside of the Reach, such as Lost Valley Redoubt.
- Forsworn often dual-wield, so one fighter can drop two axes.
- It cannot be crafted.
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 war axes
Base stats of all regular (unenchanted) war axes in Skyrim, weakest first:
| Weapon | Damage | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron War Axe | 8 | 11 | 30 |
| Ancient Nord War Axe | 9 | 14 | 15 |
| Steel War Axe | 9 | 12 | 55 |
| Orcish War Axe | 10 | 13 | 90 |
| Dawnguard War Axe | 11 | 13 | 55 |
| Dwarven War Axe | 11 | 14 | 165 |
| Falmer War Axe | 11 | 21 | 82 |
| Forsworn Axe | 11 | 15 | 90 |
| Elven War Axe | 12 | 15 | 280 |
| Honed Draugr War Axe | 12 | 16 | 27 |
| Nord Hero War Axe | 12 | 11 | 165 |
| Nordic War Axe | 12 | 14 | 350 |
| Skyforge Steel War Axe | 12 | 12 | 80 |
| Glass War Axe | 13 | 16 | 490 |
| Honed Falmer War Axe | 13 | 21 | 245 |
| Daedric War Axe | 15 | 18 | 1500 |
| Ebony War Axe | 15 | 17 | 865 |
| Stalhrim War Axe | 15 | 16 | 1180 |
| Dragonbone War Axe | 16 | 21 | 1700 |
Tips and notes
- Tempered with a Steel Ingot; Steel Smithing doubles the improvement.
- A unique version, Briarheart Geis, deals 5 extra damage to Nords but is only obtainable via console.
- Look closely and the sticks holding the blade would hit the target before the edge does – best not to think about it mid-swing.
Stats from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (Skyrim.esm, record ForswornAxe). Values are base values before perks, smithing improvements and enchantments.
