The Skyforge Steel Greatsword looks exactly like an ordinary Steel Greatsword, but it has been worked at the ancient Skyforge above Whiterun. The result is a blade with 20 base damage, the same as an Elven Greatsword, available very early in the game.
It is the signature weapon of the Companions‘ smith, Eorlund Gray-Mane, and a favourite starter weapon for two-handed builds. Ask him for one and he will wonder aloud whether you can handle it, before deciding that of course you can.
Stats
| Type | Greatsword |
|---|---|
| Skill | Two-handed |
| Material | Skyforge Steel |
| Damage | 20 |
| Weight | 17 |
| Value | 140 gold |
| Speed | 0.7 |
| Reach | 1.3 |
| Stagger | 1.1 |
| Critical damage | 9 |
| Add-on | Base game |
| Item ID | 0009F25E |
Where to find
- Buy it from Eorlund Gray-Mane at the Skyforge in Whiterun, the only merchant who sells it.
- During Proving Honor, Farkas drops his when he turns into a werewolf and switches to an iron greatsword, leaving his free to grab.
- It can also be chosen as a reward for completing Proving Honor.
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 greatswords
Base stats of all regular (unenchanted) greatswords in Skyrim, weakest first:
| Weapon | Damage | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Greatsword | 15 | 16 | 50 |
| Ancient Nord Greatsword | 17 | 18 | 35 |
| Silver Greatsword | 17 | 12 | 160 |
| Steel Greatsword | 17 | 17 | 90 |
| Orcish Greatsword | 18 | 18 | 75 |
| Dwarven Greatsword | 19 | 19 | 270 |
| Elven Greatsword | 20 | 20 | 470 |
| Honed Ancient Nord Greatsword | 20 | 21 | 63 |
| Nord Hero Greatsword | 20 | 16 | 250 |
| Nordic Greatsword | 20 | 19 | 585 |
| Skyforge Steel Greatsword | 20 | 17 | 140 |
| Glass Greatsword | 21 | 22 | 820 |
| Ebony Greatsword | 22 | 22 | 1440 |
| Stalhrim Greatsword | 23 | 21 | 1970 |
| Daedric Greatsword | 24 | 23 | 2500 |
| Dragonbone Greatsword | 25 | 27 | 2725 |
Tips and notes
- Cannot be forged. Improve it at a grindstone with a steel ingot; Steel Smithing doubles the improvement.
- It also weighs less than many greatswords at 17, which makes it a comfortable early pick.
- Bug: it can sometimes stay equipped in Beast Form, acting like a one-handed weapon with no noticeable damage boost.
Stats from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (Skyrim.esm, record SkyforgeSteelGreatsword). Values are base values before perks, smithing improvements and enchantments.
