The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition has arrived, celebrating the 10th birthday of Bethesda's legendary RPG. The latest edition of Skyrim has given old fans and new players alike a chance to dive into the world of Tamriel with a fresh campaign. There are many adventures to be found across the sprawling map, from lofty peaks to haunted ruins.
Bleak Falls Barrow is often the first Nordic ruin that players will encounter in their Skyrim adventure. This is due to its position above the village of Helgen, and two early quests that direct players toward it, one of which is critical to the main story. As an introduction to Skyrim's Nordic ruins, Bleak Falls Barrow contains a couple of puzzles that may cause a problem for newcomers.
The Bleak Falls Barrow Pillars Puzzle in Skyrim
The first kind of Skyrim puzzle that players will encounter in Bleak Falls Barrow involves rotating pillars, which will remain a staple of Nordic ruins throughout the rest of the game. Fortunately, this first example is meant as an introduction, and simply requires players to rotate the pillars on the left to match the three symbols above the gate. Pulling the lever with an incorrect answer will cause the gate to fire poison darts, dealing minor damage.
Players will immediately notice that one of the ancient Nordic symbols above the gate has fallen down, but has helpfully landed so that it can still be recognized. For those who'd rather skip straight to the solution, the order from left to right should be Snake, Snake, and Whale. Once players have entered the correct solution, all they need to do is pull the lever to open the gate.
The Bleak Falls Barrow Golden Claw Puzzle in Skyrim
The second Bleak Falls Barrow requires players to have recovered the Golden Dragon Claw from the thief Arvel the Swift. It's impossible to miss Arvel while progressing through the long Skyrim dungeon, as he's trapped in a spider web blocking the main path. Once players have recovered the Golden Claw from Arvel's body, they should continue through the Barrow until they reach the large door marked with the claw symbol.
The door has three sliding discs, which must be aligned correctly before the Golden Claw can be used to open it. The solution to the puzzle is actually engraved on the Claw itself, so players will need to inspect and rotate it in their inventory to find the answer.
There are many Dragon Claws in Skyrim, but the solution on the Golden Claw is, from top to bottom, Bear, Moth, and Owl. After entering the correct solution, all players need to do is interact with the door to use the Golden Claw to open it.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.