The Honed Draugr War Axe looks exactly like the Ancient Nord War Axe, but someone clearly spent time on the grindstone. It has more base damage (12), weighs a bit more (16) and is worth more gold (27).
You will meet it in the hands of tougher undead rather than at a forge, since it cannot be crafted. It is a decent mid-game one-hander for anyone happy to loot their arsenal from the dead, and it suits Ancient Nord Armor.
Stats
| Type | War Axe |
|---|---|
| Skill | One-handed |
| Material | Ancient Nord |
| Damage | 12 |
| Weight | 16 |
| Value | 27 gold |
| Speed | 0.9 |
| Reach | 1 |
| Stagger | 0 |
| Critical damage | 7 |
| Add-on | Base game |
| Item ID | 0005BF15 |
Where to find
- Carried by draugr, skeletons and Companion ghosts.
- Usually found inside ancient Nordic tombs and burial grounds.
- Also wielded by skeletons in the Soul Cairn (Dawnguard).
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
- It is tempered with a Steel Ingot, yet like all honed draugr weapons it benefits from the Dwarven Smithing perk, not Steel Smithing.
- Same damage as the Nord Hero War Axe, which is lighter and craftable at the Skyforge.
Stats from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (Skyrim.esm, record DraugrWarAxeHoned). Values are base values before perks, smithing improvements and enchantments.