Windshear

Unique scimitar on the Emperor’s ship Katariah – staggers enemies with every hit.

Windshear is a unique scimitar hidden on the Emperor’s ship – and one of the most fun weapons in Skyrim, because it staggers just about everything it touches.

How to get it

It’s on board the Katariah, which you can only reach during or after the Dark Brotherhood quest Hail Sithis!. Go up on the main deck, head to the bow and carefully walk out along the bowsprit – the long beam sticking out of the front. Windshear is wedged into the wood at the end.

Effect

  • Bash attacks (with an empty off-hand) have about a 39% chance to knock the target down into ragdoll.
  • More importantly, every normal hit staggers the enemy, unless they have perks like Tower of Strength or Reflect Blows.

Repeated strikes can keep an enemy reeling so they can neither attack nor run. The effect can’t be disenchanted.

Smithing

Steel Ingot; Steel Smithing doubles the improvement.

Bugs

Sometimes the sword spawns hovering under the forward mast or falls into the water. Shoot it down with an arrow or spell and fish it out.

Quest reward from

Dark Brotherhood Quest
The Dark Brotherhood finale: board the Katariah and assassinate the Emperor.

Characters linked to this weapon

Astrid is the Nord leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim – the woman who kidnaps you into her “family” from the Falkreath Sanctuary.

Where it appears

Sources checked: Fandom Elder Scrolls wiki export (Weapons: weapon article + Unique Weapons (Skyrim) list)

Windshear

Type
Material
Damage
11
Weight
10
Value
40 gold
Enchantment
Bash attacks have a chance to knock enemies down; normal hits stagger
Upgrade with
Smithing perk
Steel Smithing
How to get
Unique / fixed location
Where

Wedged into the bowsprit of the Katariah, reachable during or after Hail Sithis!

Game
Item ID
0006EA8B