Skyrim continues to be a source of surprises for many, and one fan has discovered that the fishing rod, typically used in a more relaxing context, is actually a lot more powerful than they first realized. Despite its fantasy action and violence, the fifth installment in Bethesda's legendary Elder Scrolls series is also an RPG that allows players to settle down, unwind, or just generally live a life of peace. It's all very well being the Dragonborn and saving the world, but there is something to be said for taking it easy every now and then.
While much of the world is still waiting for The Elder Scrolls 6, which was teased by the developer all the way back in 2018, there are plenty of fans who are just trying to get the most out of Skyrim. After more than 11 years, it would be understandable to assume that everyone has seen everything the game can possibly offer, but it seems that players are still finding new things in this snowy slice of Tamriel.
A recent example comes from Reddit user Ebony_Phoenix who, while holding onto an otherwise harmless fishing rod, discovered that the item can be used as a deadly weapon. In a clip from their Skyrim playthrough, they can be seen approaching an enemy from behind. When they strike the unsuspecting NPC, they reduce their health significantly. However, the big shock for Ebony_Phoenix comes when they take another strike, only for the fishing rod to remove the enemy's head in one clean motion, almost as if the game treated it like a sword. In any case, the player was certainly not expecting this thin bit of wood with a string attached to do such damage.
Fishing was added to the Anniversary Edition of Skyrim in 2021 to celebrate the game's tenth year milestone. It afforded players just one more way to put the metaphorical brakes on all that adventuring and dragon slaying so they can just chill for a bit and catch a few fish. No doubt a lot of people are aware that fishing rods can be used as a weapon. They're even listed under "Weapons" in the inventory screen, but Ebony_Phoenix's surprise at how powerful it can be is just one of many examples of players discovering some of the game's hidden secrets even to this day.
It's interesting how players are still discovering what Skyrim has to offer, even those who have been playing for years. While TES5 is by no means infinite, Bethesda clearly put a lot of work into all the fine details, and that's just what the vanilla experience has. Things get even more expansive once mods come into the picture.
The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.