As the fifth chapter in The Elder Scrolls franchise, Skyrim made leaps and bounds in simplifying old-school RPG elements into a more easily accessible final product. This was clearly the right move, given how popular the series has remained (and how often it's been ported). One of the more drastic changes Skyrim made was in character creation.

In previous Elder Scrolls games, the player selected a Birth Sign for their character; however, in Skyrim, they instead have the option of choosing a Standing Stone blessing by finding each in the world. The Skyrim Standing Stones are spread throughout the province, though some are more worth looking for than others.

Updated March 15, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: In Skyrim Standing Stones' buffs are as varied as they are hard to choose between. Just about every archetype in the game can benefit from the bonuses granted by each stone, but new players may still find it hard to select one. Luckily, Standing Stones in Skyrim aren't permanent, and the process to swap Standing Stone buff has been described in a new section below. Also in this new section is a guide to enabling more than Skyrim Standing Stone bonus at once with a unique item introduced in DLC – the Aetherial Crown. After considering the tips in this new introductory section that answers these two most popular questions, continue on to read more about what makes each of the Standing Stones Skyrim players can select unique and worth selecting (even the "bad" ones).

Can You Change Standing Stones, or Equip More Than One?

At the beginning of Skyrim Standing Stones are quickly presented to the player, but don't worry too much about choosing the best Standing Stone Skyrim offers here – your choice of Standing Stone blessing is not permanent in Skyrim. If you find a Standing Stone out in the world with a buff that you like more than your currently selected one, just walk up to it, interact, and accept the swap. Without doing anything else, you will swap to the new Standing Stone and gain its benefits instantly.

But you don't necessarily have to only equip one Standing Stone Skyrim buff. Normally, the Dragonborn can only have one Standing Stone active at a time. But with the Aetherial Crown, a helmet that can be unlocked by following the Aetherium Forge questline "Lost To The Ages" in the Dawnguard DLC, you are given one more "slot".

With the Aetherial Crown equipped, your current Standing Stone buff will remain in your Active Effects, while the new one is essentially applied to the Crown itself. You will always retain your original Standing Stone (unless replaced), but the Standing Stone Skyrim buff tied to the Crown will only be active while it is equipped. For instance, you could activate The Tower for the Crown to have access to its Unlock spell when needed, but equip other Helms during combat.

To start "Lost To The Ages", head to the Dwemer ruin Arkngthamz, entered through a cave in the mountains to the southwest of Markarth, in Skyrim's deep southwest.

13 The Atronach Stone

Turns Incoming Damage To Magicka

Choosing the Atronach Stone is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it lets the player convert half the damage of enemy spells into Magicka, preventing damage. However, the blessing also makes the player's Magicka regenerate 50% slower – this makes absorbing enemy spells a necessary means to the player's spellcasting ends.

The blessing is balanced, somewhat, by a slight bonus to the player's maximum Magicka, but ultimately this ability will lead to you taking more hits, when it's usually best to take less. This blessing is situationally ideal for a spellcaster who expects to face other spellcasters, but it's not great for 24/7 use on any character.

Atronach Stone Location

The Atronach Stone is found in Eastmarch, and can be reached easiest by heading to Darkwater Crossing or Mistwatch and heading north. The Atronach Stone is located in the middle of the Hot Springs that cover the area.

12 The Apprentice Stone

Essentially, a Magickal Glass Cannon

Another double-edged sword, the Apprentice Stone is in many ways the polar opposite of the Atronach Stone. This Standing Stone lets the player regenerate Magicka twice as fast but also makes them twice as vulnerable to magic-based attacks. Instead of taking spells to the dome to regenerate Magicka, the player must dodge incoming spells to maximize this Stone's potential.

This blessing is ideal for a spellcaster who is particularly sure of their ability to evade incoming attacks, but it is also very useful against non-Magicka-based enemies like bandits, raiders, and guards.

Apprentice Stone Location

The Apprentice Standing Stone can be found in a marsh in Hjaalmarch. The easiest way to find this Standing Stone is to head to Solitude and look at your compass. At the docks, the icon for the Standing Stone should appear. Alternatively, head to Morthal and head northwest into the swamp to find the Apprentice Stone.

11 The Tower Stone

Unlock Expert Locks For Free

Accepting the blessing of the Tower Stone grants the player the unique ability to unlock any Expert-level lock or below without having to go through the lockpicking minigame. This Standing Stone ability can only be used once each day though, and the player must either play long enough or wait long enough before being able to use it again.

This blessing is best-suited for players who don't use the Lockpicking skill often, as it provides a definite way to unlock all but the toughest of locks. It's a good choice for thief types, too, for its reliability.

Tower Stone Location

The Tower Stone can be found on a cliff roughly halfway between the cities of Dawnstar and Winterhold in the Reach – it can be seen from far away, so look up to the hills if you're lost.

10 The Ritual Stone

Mass Reanimate The Dead Temporarily

A player who chooses the blessing of the Ritual Stone will be given the daily power to mass resurrect the dead on a limited basis. Once per day, the player can reanimate all dead bodies around them in a 75-foot radius to fight for them for 200 seconds. The resurrected thralls will fight for the player and follow them until they collapse to the ground.

This Standing Stone is best used right at the end of a long, arduous dungeon, after fighting several high-power enemies before the final encounter. Use the power on your recently slain foes, and watch them turn against their former allies.

Ritual Stone Location

The Ritual Standing Stone can be found in Whiterun Hold. From the city of Whiterun, or rather from the stables outside the city, head east and around the base of the Throat Of The World as if you were going to Eastmarch. The Ritual Standing Stone can be found atop a cliff on this path, just west of Valtheim Towers.

9 The Lord Stone

A Huge Boost To Defenses

The Lord Stone is a popular choice for front-line fighters as its blessing increases a player's defense in two major ways. Not only is the player's physical defense increased, but they are also given a 25% Resist Magic effect. However, with its ability to protect a player from both physical and magical attacks, the Lord Stone is an excellent choice for almost any playstyle.

This is especially true for players who don't want to waste valuable game time tracking down unique magical armor found throughout Skyrim. It's simple, but it's effectively the best way to increase your defense without picking up new gear.

Lord Stone Location

The Lord Stone can be found far to the north of the province of Skyrim. From Whiterun, get a horse and begin trekking directly northward on the road. After a long way you will start to head northeast until a fork in the road appears. Take the road west, then head into the western mountains just south of Fort Dunstad. The Lord Stone is found just north of the Shrine to Mehrunes Dagon.

8 The Steed Stone

Increases Carry Capacity & Speed

The Steed Stone grants players a few useful effects related to moving around the world efficiently. While under this Standing Stone's blessing, the player won't be encumbered by worn armor and will receive a 100 point boost to their total carrying capacity.

This blessing is ideal for virtually every playstyle but is especially suited for Skyrim players who partake in the economic side of the game. It lets you carry more trade goods, more crafting materials, and makes it far easier to bring huge dungeon hauls back to their homebase.

Steed Stone Location

The Steed Stone is located in Haafingar hold, just northwest of Solitude. Head north from the Statue to Meridia, located on the road leading southwest from Solitude. Avoid Wolfskull Cave and skirt around to the left to find The Steed Stone on a raised platform in the mountains just beyond.

7 The Lady Stone

A Simple Boost to HP & Stamina

The Lady Stone is a Standing Stone that improves the player's ability to heal and regenerate stamina. Under this Standing Stone's blessing, the player will get a 25% boost to their health and stamina regeneration – it's a simple one, but quite effective for close-combat characters.

Warriors, thieves, and close-combat mages will all find this stone useful in maintaining constant heavy attacks and mitigating some of the repercussions of close combat.

Lady Stone Location

The Lady Standing Stone can be found in Falkreath Hold, relatively close to the start of the game. Starting from the city of Falkreath itself, head directly north and swim across Lake Illnata to find a small island with the Lady Stone standing upon it. If you reach Half-Moon Mill on the road leading north from Falkreath, you can also head directly east to find the same island.

6 The Guardian Stones: The Warrior

Combat Skills Improve Faster

Once the tutorial mission is complete, players are tasked with heading to Riverwood (and, eventually, Whiterun). But if a slight detour is made, or if the player follows Ralof, the player will find themselves in the presence of the Guardian Stones. These represent the Warrior, the Mage, and the Thief, and they provide new players with a Standing Stone blessing right away.

The Warrior Stone lets the player improve all combat skills 20% faster. These include One-Handed, Two-Handed, Unarmed, Smithing, and Block. This Standing Stone blessing is ideal for those who intend to focus on physical combat or who wish to spec into a new close combat skill.

5 The Guardian Stones: The Thief

Stealth & Thief Skills Improve Faster

The Thief Stone is another Guardian Stone, this time with an emphasis on stealth-related skills – it increases the rate the player can learn Thief-related skills by 20%. These skills include Pickpocket, Sneak, Lockpicking, Light Armor, Speech, Alchemy, and Archery. The Thief Stone blessing is ideal for thieves, assassins, and rangers who wish to take things a little more stealthily.

The Thief Stone is also useful for characters looking to pick up alchemy, speech, or lockpicking, as these skills are all useful no matter what class the player plays. Alchemy especially is useful in harder difficulties, while speech and lockpicking can help you access previously inaccessible options in the world.

4 The Guardian Stones: The Mage

Magicka-Related Skills Improve Faster

The Mage Stone lets the player learn all magic skills 20% faster. These include Enchanting, Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, and Restoration. The Mage Stone blessing is ideal for spellcasters and magic-users, but it's also useful for quickly leveling a new magic skill even for characters who haven't touched the Mage-related skills in their playthrough.

While a player can only have one of the Guardian Stone blessings active at once, players who wish to increase all of their skills at once should consider heading to the Bards College in Solitude. There, you will encounter a series of miscellaneous tasks, and completing each one will grant a slight boost to every single skill.

3 The Shadow Stone

Daily Invisibility Spell

Accepting the blessing of the Shadow Stone grants the player the ability to turn invisible for 60 seconds once per day. This Standing Stone blessing is especially useful if a player doesn't have access to an invisibility spell, or can't afford/craft a potion with the invisibility effect.

This blessing is best-suited for thieves and assassins who wish to remain unnoticed until the exact opportune moment. The Shadow Stone can come in quite handy during both the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood questlines multiple times, trivializing certain missions entirely.

Shadow Stone Location

The Shadow Stone is found in The Rift appropriately near Nightingale Hall, a location that can be visited during the Thieves Guild questline. From Riften, head directly south and leave the road to head into the wooded hills. The Shadow Stone is found on these hills overlooking the area - its icon should appear before going too far, as it's practically next to Riften.

2 The Serpent Stone

Immense Poison Damage & Paralysis

In Elder Scrolls lore, the Serpent is the most unique constellation in existence. Unlike all the others, the Serpent moves about the night's sky as it hunts the other signs. Only the three Guardians are capable of protecting the others from the wrath of the Serpent. It is also said that those individuals born under the sign of the Serpent will live the most unique and legendary lives of all. Some may become the greatest of heroes, while others will become the most feared of villains.

Taking the blessing of The Serpent Stone grants the player a once-a-day ranged spell that can be used to damage and paralyze an enemy from far away. Most paralyzation abilities require close range, making this ability particularly special.

Serpent Stone Location

The Standing Stone of the Serpent can be found on an icy island in the Sea of Ghosts. From the College of Winterhold, head directly east and slightly north to find this frozen island. It's a little bit easier to go from Skytemple Ruins slightly to the north of the College of Winterhold, as it's more of a direct eastward route.

1 The Lover Stone

Generally, The Best Standing Stone Skyrim Offers

One of the best benefits of marriage in Skyrim is the Lover's Comfort effect. Sleeping in the same bed as a spouse grants the player this effect, which allows them to improve all skills 15% faster. What if the player wants that sweet bonus, but doesn't want to engage with one of Skyrim's eligible bachelors or bachelorettes, though? That's where the Lover Stone comes in.

Widely considered the best Standing Stone in the game, the Lover Stone grants the Lover's Comfort effect all the time. While the Guardian Stones allow a player to increase roughly a third of their skills 20% faster, increasing all skills is the better choice, even if it technically five percent slower for some skills. Unfortunately, the Lover Stone and Lover's Comfort effects do not stack.

Lover Stone Location

The Lover Standing Stone can be found in The Reach, a stone's throw from Markarth. Leave Markarth and head easy until the road branches north. Follow this road to Kolskeggr Mine,then take the road west for just a second. Look for a sloping way up the mountain to the west of Kolskeggr, and climb up to find The Lover Stone overlooking the valley.

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Note: Survival Mode Changes How Standing Stones Work

Normally, players don't need to do anything except find a Standing Stone to receive its blessing. That changes with Survival Mode enabled.

Included with Skyrim Anniversary Edition are a huge variety of fanmade mods that were originally part of the Creation Club in Skyrim Special Edition. One of these mods is the highly-praised Survival Mode, which turns Skyrim from a carefree RPG romp into a much more immersive – and much more dangerous – adventure.

Alongside a variety of changes to the game comes a change to Standing Stones: players must make an offering of Gold to be blessed and cleanse themselves of disease. In Survival Mode disease is more rampant, and Gold is harder to come by, so players should double-check their wallet before heading out into the wilds, lest they get rejected with no way to fast travel back.