Thanks to Bethesda's creative efforts, RPG fans have the entire world of Tamriel to explore and make a name for themselves. In The Elder Scrolls (and The Elder Scrolls Online), players take on the role of characters that decide the fate of Tamriel's many provinces. On the one hand, they can go straight to saving the world in one of The Elder Scrolls' many games, but players remain free to explore and bask in the richness of Bethesda's open-world settings.
As such, players can remain just as heroic or transform into a force of darkness. Thankfully, players who love fighting in melee can find their weapon of choice among Tamriel's many forges. Aside from swords, clubs, bows, and staves - players can also search the world for rare and exotic weapons to aid them in their battles. However, given The Elder Scrolls' roster of five main series titles, just what are Tamriel's best weapons? Moreover, which weapons need more recognition?
10 Powerful: Auriel's Bow
Auriel's Bow remains one of the most legendary artifacts in The Elder Scrolls, thanks in part to its mythical connection. It's said that the Aedra Auri-El himself used this in the Dawn Era, courtesy of Anui-El's craftsmanship. Moreover, the fire-related abilities of the Bow ties up perfectly with its connection to the sun and Aetherius.
Interestingly, Auriel's Bow also serves as one of the more popular recurring weapons throughout the franchise. As such, players can find the Bow with its many abilities in TES: Arena (Fire, Never Miss) and Daggerfall (Lightning, Hand of Sleep, Magicka Leech).
Moreover, players see Ralyn Othravel have the Bow in Morrowind, albeit without any special abilities. The Bow's most recent appearance is in Dawnguard, where the Last Dragonborn discovers it inside the Forgotten Vale, possessing Sun Damage, Sun Shroud, and Sunburst.
9 Underrated: Chrysamere
Chrysamere, also called the Paladin's Blade, serves as a powerful holy artifact passed onto different wielders across the earlier The Elder Scrolls games. Across its appearances, Chrysamere possesses Reflect, Resist Fire, and Restore Health. Interestingly, all these abilities remain consistent with the lore associated with it.
Chrysamere appeared in Arena, Daggerfall, and Morrowind. However, it's in Morrowind where Chrysamere takes on unique characteristics. For instance, the Nerevarine may sell the Chrysamere to Torasa Aram in the Museum of Artifacts for 30,000 credits - the maximum she will spend for any item. Interestingly, this two-handed blade also tops the damage charts for blades without enchantments.
8 Powerful: Staff Of Magnus
The Staff of Magnus remains a coveted artifact amongst spellcasters in Tamriel, and for good reason. It appears the Staff serves as the only means for Magnus, the God of Magic, to contain his power. The Staff of Magnus can absorb both Health and Magicka, making it a formidable weapon. It appears in Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Skyrim, and TES Online.
In all of its appearances, the protagonist always gets to retrieve the Staff of Magnus for their game's Mages Guild. Moreover, almost all its appearances demonstrate the Staff of Magnus' incredible magical potency. Interestingly, in Skyrim, as the Mages Guild was officially disbanded, the Staff of Magnus becomes a contested item between the College of Winterhold, the Synod, and the Psijic Orders.
7 Underrated: The Blade Of Woe
Players who do a bit of sneaky kills across their first hours in Oblivion and Skyrim may have gotten the attention of the Dark Brotherhood. In Oblivion, players get the Blade of Woe weapon after their first quest with the Dark Brotherhood, which usually serves as one of their earliest rare weapons. Meanwhile, in Skyrim, Dark Brotherhood leader Astrid carries the weapon, now with health absorption properties.
Interestingly, the Blade of Woe also appears in TES Online. However, instead of being a physical weapon, an astral dagger manifests when using the Blade of Woe skill. Regardless of being a non-legendary dagger, roguish players will likely have fond memories using the Blade of Woe against enemies of the Dark Brotherhood.
6 Powerful: Goldbrand
Goldbrand serves as one of the most coveted weapons in the franchise, especially for players who want a katana. In the lore, Goldbrand belongs to Boethiah, the Daedric Prince of deceit, conspiracy, and treachery. As someone who enjoys conflict and battle, it makes sense for a katana to become one of his primary artifacts. In fact, characters can only obtain Goldbrand in Oblivion if they become Boethiah's champion in a quest by fighting several people in a plane of Oblivion.
As a Daedric Prince's weapon, Goldbrand is notably powerful. Its Fire Damage enchantment can be charged with an Umbra, enabling Goldbrand to deal massive damage against enemies. Goldbrand also appears in Arena and Morrowind.
5 Underrated: Mehrunes' Razor
Mehrunes' Razor, also called the Kingslayer and Dagger of the Final Wounds, gets associated with Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of destruction and change. In the lore, it's said that Dagon can take the lives of anyone with Mehrunes' Razor with just one blow, making it one of the most coveted artifacts in the series. It makes an appearance in Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. However, it's also infamously not used despite its rather rare instant kill opportunity.
Granted, Mehrunes' Razor only offers a slight chance of inflicting Daedric Banishment to its victims. However, the fact that Bethesda also made an effort to ensure this effect won't affect Essential NPCs and Dagon himself means it's possible to kill as many creatures as possible just to see its effect take place.
4 Powerful: Mace Of Molag Bal
The Mace, also known as Vampire's Mace, is the artifact weapon of Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement. Its name is fitting for its qualities, as it's capable of draining both the Magicka and Stamina of its enemies, perfect against spellcasters. However, its name also reflects Molag Bal's other achievements, such as creating Vampires and the enigmatic Xivkyns.
The Mace makes appearances in Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, and TES Online. In all of its appearances, the player gets the Mace either after doing a deed for Molag Bal or after eliminating a mage of some kind.
3 Underrated: Wabbajack
Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, rules the Shivering Isles. As such, it's correct to assume his artifact, the Wabbajack, to be associated with him and his madness in a similar way. Moreover, the Wabbajack appears in Daggerfall, Oblivion, Skyrim, and TES Online bearing similar properties. Aside from being a staff, Wabbajack can turn its targets into other creatures or even items.
Interestingly, the Wabbajack doesn't necessarily turn its target into a smaller or weaker creature. Sometimes, the Wabbajack can turn its target into a stronger creature.
2 Powerful: Sanguine Rose
Allies are always great, especially in the form of the Daedra, which the Sanguine Rose can summon. Unlike other weapons in the franchise, the Sanguine Rose looks like a rose staff. Moreover, unlike other staves with magic attacks, the Sanguine Rose can summon a Daedra to fight for the protagonist. It makes an appearance in Daggerfall, Oblivion, and Skyrim.
In Daggerfall and Skyrim, the Daedra the Sanguine Rose summons will always fight for the protagonist. Meanwhile, in Oblivion, the Daedra will turn against the caster once it kills the original target.
1 Underrated: The Staff Of Towers
The Staff of Towers, albeit not a weapon, serves as a legendary artifact created by the Ayleid archmage king Anumaril. According to lore, Anumaril split the Staff of Towers into eight pieces. Moreover, the White-Gold Knights then scattered the pieces across Tamriel. In the events of TES Online, Psijic Order's Josajeh and Loremaster Celarus noticed time breaches in Tamriel that seemed to be the Staff of Towers' doing.
As it turns out, the eight pieces of the Staff of Towers serve as a representation of the metaphysical Towers that shape the entire universe. Moreover, regardless of how far the pieces have been scattered, they seem to find a way to come together. Despite lacking any in-game statistics, the fact that the Staff of Towers seems to alter reality makes it extremely dangerous.