Fans of the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that prefer wielding massive weapons have plenty of powerful choices, ranging from fast swinging greatswords, to slow but intimidating giant maces. Many of the best two-handed weapons in the game will have unique enchantments and looks, allowing for different playstyles with distinct aesthetics. Whether players wish to build a giant barbarian that crushes its enemies with a war hammer or a righteous paladin that imposes justice with a greatsword, Skyrim will manage to deliver.
Most of the best weapons in Skyrim are in some way magical and often possess powerful enchantments that deplete every time they trigger. To replenish these charges, players will need to acquire and use Soul Stones, which can be obtained through spells, found in the world, or bought in vendors. Additionally, upgrading these weapons will require characters to have the Arcane Blacksmith perk as well as special materials.
Players will manage to find three different types of two-handed weapons in Skyrim: war hammers, greatswords, and battle-axes. Warhammers sport the most damage per hit, but are also the slowest of the three. Greatswords on the other hand are much faster but do less damage per swing. Battle-axes in Skyrim, are the compromise between the other weapon types, as their swing speed and damage lie somewhere in the middle.
The Best Two-Handed Weapons in Skyrim and How to Find Them
Bloodskal Blade
This greatsword possesses a unique enchantment that does not consume charges and allows players to throw out arcs of energy when using power attacks. The energy arc inflicts 30 points of damage and travels about 15 feet, damaging everything in its path including the enemy hit with the sword’s power attack. These ranged attacks penetrate walls and creatures, allowing players to hit multiple targets with one swing. The Bloodskal has a base damage of 21 and can be upgraded with Silver Ingots.
To acquire it, players will need Skyrim‘s Dragonborn DLC and the “The Final Descent” quest, located in Raven Rock. Near the entrance to the mines, players can talk to an NPC by the name of Crescius Caerellius to obtain the quest, which consists of finding out what happened to his great grandfather who got lost in the mines years ago. Venturing into the mines will eventually lead to Bloodskall Barrow and the remains of Caerellius’s great grandfather, Gratian, which contain the Bloodskall.
Dawnguard Rune Hammer
This war hammer, much like the Bloodskall, possess a unique enchantment that will not lose charges when triggered and consists of using the bashing action to create runes that deal 50 points of fire damage. These runes must be placed on a surface within a certain range, will trigger on enemy proximity, and will disappear when another is placed, as only one can be active at a time. The Dawnguard Rune Hammer has a base damage of 22 and can be upgraded with Steel Ingots.
To acquire this weapon, players will need Skyrim‘s Dawnguard DLC and will need to side with the Dawnguard faction when given the choice to do so. After progressing a bit in their questline, players will eventually retrieve an NPC named Florentius Baenius. Florentius will give the players three quests consisting of retrieving lost relics but does so randomly between other faction quests. The relics that are retrieved are also random, but one of the three requested by Florentius will eventually be the Dawnguard Rune Hammer.
Champion’s Cudgel
Another DLC war hammer, the Champion’s Cudgel possesses the chaos enchantment which consists of a 50% chance per swing to trigger a burst of fire, frost, and shock damage. Each element has an independent chance to proc for 25 points of damage, meaning that in a best-case scenario, all three can activate simultaneously, dealing a total of 75 extra points of damage. This deadly Skyrim weapon has a base damage of 24 and cannot be upgraded. However, players can disenchant it to obtain the chaos enchantment but destroy the weapon.
The Champion’s Cudgel will require players to have the Dragonborn DLC in Skyrim and can be found during the “March of the Dead” quest. To the south of Raven Rock, players will encounter Captain Veleth fighting ash spawn. Speak with the captain about finding out where these enemies came from and, after gathering and delivering clues, players will be sent to dispatch General Falx Carius in Fort Frostmoth to the southeast of Raven Rock. Defeat the general and loot his body to obtain the Champion’s Cudgel.
Wuuthrad
This battle-ax is distinct from other weapons on this list as it does not possess an enchantment but rather an effect. In-game, this effect is described only as “Especially deadly to Elves” and will deal 20% more damage when used against Skyrim‘s elven races: the Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, and Falmer. Because it is an effect and not an enchantment, it will not use or consume charges and can be enchanted at an Arcane Enchanter or with shouts such as Elemental Fury. The Wuuthrad has a base damage of 25 and cannot be upgraded at grindstones.
To acquire this battle-ax, players will need to join the Companions in Whiterun. As players progress through the Companions questline, they will search for and gather fragments of Wuuthrad until Eorlung Gray-Mane eventually reforges it during the “Glory of the Dead” quest and gives it to the player. If players wish to finish the quest, Wuuthrad will be needed to open a passage in Ysgramor’s Tomb, but players will still be able to keep it.
Volendrung
This daedric artifact possesses a powerful enchantment for two-handed users in Skyrim, which is the ability to absorb 50 points of stamina per hit. This simple yet powerful magical effect lets players swing relentlessly by mitigating the high stamina costs associated with heavy weapons. Volendrung is also much faster than most war hammers, which allows the enchantment to trigger more often. Volendgrung expends charges quickly, however, and players should aim to stock up on Soul Gems if they wish to use this weapon to its full potential. The Volendrung has a base damage of 25 and can be upgraded with Ebony Ingots.
Players can find Volendrung during the “The Cursed Tribe” quest, which can be obtained in the orc stronghold of Largashbur, southwest of Riften. As players arrive and deal with the giant attacking the settlement, they must find the shaman Atub to get the quest. She will ask players to bring her troll fat and a daedra heart, one of Skyrim‘s rarest ingredients. After delivering the items, players will need to team up with the tribe’s chief to kill a giant named Shagrol and loot his war hammer. Take the weapon back to Largashbur, and it will be transformed into Volengrung and kept on a pedestal in the middle of the camp.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
