Best Daggers In Skyrim

Key Takeaways

• Even over a decade later, Skyrim remains immersive with its vast content and countless mods for players to enjoy.
• The best daggers in Skyrim vary in usefulness and rarity, from common steel blades to powerful ebony and Daedric weapons.
• Exploration is key to finding unique daggers like Alessandra’s Dagger or the Dragon Priest Dagger, each with their own special attributes.

Skyrim is more than ten years old now. Sometimes it’s hard to believe this open-world classic has been around so long as it still has so much to offer. With countless mods and a mind-blowing amount of quests, it’s hard not to find something fun to do in the game, even after all this time. Even now, after all these years, players can jump into a playthrough of Skyrim and get completely immersed in Bethesda’s magnum opus, with unique discoveries awaiting them at every corner.

An assassin wielding a deadly dagger is such a common trope that it has almost become cliché. Still, for players who like to sneak around in Skyrim, it’s imperative to find the best daggers in Skyrim. Not all blades are made alike, and while players can smith some of their own, there are a few that are a step above the rest. Regardless, players who understand how useful this small blade is can have a great time sneaking out and taking out enemies with one well-placed sneak attack from the shadows.

Updated on November 26, 2024, by Gerardo Molina: Skyrim is meant to be played in many different ways, and one of the most fun and effective ones is by creating a Rogue build, which not only allows for sneak attacks and moving under the cloak of darkness, but also prevents open conflict, which can often result in being overwhelmed by various enemies. Especially in the higher difficulties.

As it happens with other weapon types in the game, players can craft their own daggers, but if they want the most effective and deadly short blades out there, they’ll have to set out on a journey to find them in the most remote reaches of Skyrim.

24 Shiv

Found In Various Locations

It’s a stretch to call the shiv one of the best daggers in Skyrim. It can be easy to write off this weapon as nothing more than a blade that players use only when they’re desperate, but there’s more to the shiv than what meets the eye. For starters, it’s a weapon that players must rely on if they wish to escape Cidhna Mine since there aren’t a lot of options that the Dragonborn can rely on otherwise.

If players are in the early game and have spent some points in Enchanting, then it’s possible to add a magical enchantment to a shiv and make it more valuable in a combat scenario. Still, there’s no denying that most players would prefer to use a better dagger once they gain a few levels and loot diligently.

23 Steel Dagger

A Common Weapon Found Early On

During the early game, it’s not a stretch to say that this steel blade can position itself as one of the best daggers in Skyrim. Players will find this blade early on and can rely on it for a few hours as they sneak from the shadows and backstab their opponents. It may not boast the highest damage of all the daggers players can find in the game, but that shouldn’t be an issue as long as players make the most of this weapon’s swift swings.

The Steel Dagger is a common find, and players are bound to find better variants of this weapon as they gain levels. However, this particular blade will occupy a soft spot in the hearts of players who grow attached to this weapon during the short time that it’s viable. Enchanting this weapon further increases its effectiveness in battle and lets players down foes with a single swing if their backstab damage bonus is through the roof.

22 Alessandra’s Dagger

Obtained During The Quest Pilgrimage

The best part about weapons attached to a quest is that they can never be taken away from the player, even if players are arrested and have their items confiscated. This means that the Dragonborn can stage a jailbreak with such weapons, with Alessandra’s Dagger being a great example of the same. It may not be the best dagger in Skyrim per se, but that should take nothing away from the allure of this weapon.

Players who explore the city of Riften will find a person who owns this dagger and tasks the Dragonborn with delivering this ceremonial dagger to the Hall of the Dead in Whiterun. Until players accomplish this task, they can equip this dagger and use it to stab and slice their opponents until they’re down for the count. As players progress through the game, this dagger will become less useful in non-prison situations, especially when glass or dwarven daggers become more readily available and the Dragonborn unlocks new weapon upgrading capabilities.

21 Nordic Dagger

Added In The Dragonborn DLC

It’s only a given that the Dragonborn DLC would add stronger variants of certain weapons to the game, given how players would tackle this content after gaining a few levels of their own. The Nordic Dagger is one such regular weapon added to the game that spawns in the game world after players reach upwards of Level 25.

This dagger’s regular variant is already quite damaging as is, and players can use certain enchantments to enhance the damage dealt by this underrated weapon. It’s one of the better daggers that players can use to slice and dice through their enemies in the game. One surefire way to get this weapon is by looking next to the body of Bjornolfr right behind the secret passage in Hrodulf’s House. Alternatively, players can create this dagger at a blacksmith’s forge when they have the Advanced Armors perk. To do so, they’ll need: 1x Steel Ingot, 1x Leather Strip, and 1x Quicksilver Ingot.

20 Orcish Dagger

A Decent Dagger Found As Random Loot In The Game World

Orcish equipment in the game looks awesome, and it’s a shame that this armor is outmatched by other higher-level pieces of equipment as the game progresses. Still, any form of Orcish weapons or armor can suit players quite a bit in the early to mid-game, with the Orcish Dagger being a standout weapon that both looks good and is quite effective in battle.

This weapon has decent damage and can be buffed with enchantments to make it even more viable in combat. While it may be outpaced by equipment that players can find at later levels, there’s no denying that the Orcish Dagger is still a lot of fun to use and deserves more credit than it’s given. The Orcish Dagger can often be looted from the bodies of Bandit mages, standard mages, Forsworn archers, Forsworn and mages. There are also some fixed locations where players can find this neat-looking weapon. Marcurio in Riften will have one in the Bee and Bard if players are level 10 or below, and there’s also another one stabbed into a headless skeleton in the Bromjunaar Sanctuary in the Labyrinthian area.

19 Rundi’s Dagger

Found At Rundi’s Altar Near The College Of Winterhold

Rundi’s Dagger is an item that could’ve held a lot of significance in the game had it been used properly. As things stand, there’s nothing differentiating it from a regular Steel Dagger aside from its unique weapon and the fact that it’s a part of a scrapped quest. Still, this doesn’t mean that Rundi’s Dagger doesn’t have its uses as long as players enchant it to make it more viable in combat.

It’s a weapon that most players are bound to discard as more powerful pieces of equipment become available, but that shouldn’t take away anything from the inherent usefulness of this weapon if obtained at an early level. If players explore the College of Winterhold and its surroundings early on in their playthrough, they’ll find Rundi’s Dagger to be a decent addition to their arsenal.

18 Glass Dagger

A Beautiful Dagger That’s Pretty Effective In Battle Too

The idea of wielding a weapon made from glass may sound stupid, but players should remember that Skyrim is a fantasy world where a lot of impossibilities don’t exist. If players can accept the idea that magic is prevalent in this game, then the idea of special glass being used to make weapons and armor shouldn’t be a huge stretch in the slightest.

It helps that glass equipment looks pretty cool too, with the Glass Dagger having a personality of its own despite being a relatively common weapon. This weapon is found as random loot when players level up and can serve them quite well until more valuable loot comes their way instead. Unenchanted Glass Daggers are known to start appearing when players reach level 20, whereas their enchanted counterparts will start popping up around level 28. The downside of this type of weapon is that it requires a high Smithing level (70) and the Glass Smithing perk to be able to craft it at a blacksmith’s forge, which means that players will have to wait a considerable amount of time before they can make their own. The necessary elements to make it are: 1x Refined Malachite, 1x Refined Moonstone, and 1x Leather Strip.

17 Elven Dagger

A Simple And Effective Dagger

The Elven Dagger is a pretty useful and great-looking weapon that feels great to use when players get their hands on it. A few levels are all it takes for Elven Daggers to start reliably spawning around the world, augmenting the Dragonborn’s arsenal quite a bit.

It may not be the most powerful dagger in the game but is quite valuable at lower levels when the Dragonborn doesn’t have too many options to choose from anyway. It’s a serviceable blade that will help players out quite a bit until they move on to bigger and better weaponry. Unenchanted Elven Daggers will start to appear in the world at level 19, and their enchanted counterparts can be found from level 20 and on, which makes them a great option for mid-game combat in situations where players wish to wield a smaller blade.

16 Dwarven Dagger

A Decent And Effective Dagger At Lower Levels

A weapon that can be obtained early on, the Dwarven Dagger may not seem like anything to write home about. The damage doesn’t seem all that high, but players who get their hands on this weapon will find a dagger that will carry them for a few hours with ease.

Rogues will love to get their hands on this dagger early on. Sure, it may not be anything remarkable per se, but the Dwarven Dagger is a decent weapon that players can use until they gain more levels and need better armament to tackle the game’s stronger enemies.

15 Ebony Dagger

A Dagger Made From A Powerful Material

The Ebony Dagger is, as the name suggests, a dagger made from ebony, a rare and valuable material that is coveted by players for its supreme quality. The dagger is sleek and elegant with a narrow, pointed blade and a distinctive design that makes it look like a high-level weapon.

It has a high base damage and can be further improved with the Ebony Smithing perk, making it a formidable weapon in the hands of a skilled player. Ebony Daggers are often favored by characters who prefer a more refined and sophisticated look for their weapons, while still maintaining high damage output. Just like most regular weapons, this weapon can be found as loot, crafted with the appropriate skills, or purchased from merchants as long as the player has a high level.

14 Daedric Dagger

A Dagger Made From A Rare, Iconic Material

The Daedric Dagger is a powerful weapon made from one of the most valuable and coveted materials in the entire game. This dagger has a distinctive appearance with its sharp, curved blade and wicked-looking hilt. It is pretty impractical if players think about it, but this fantasy game doesn’t care much for practicality.

It is one of the most powerful daggers in Skyrim, boasting high base damage and the potential for powerful enchantments. It is often sought after by players who want a deadly and menacing weapon for their character, and can either be found as random loot, purchased from merchants after reaching a certain level, or crafted if players have that valuable skill.

13 Stalhrim Dagger

Added In The Dragonborn DLC

The Stalhrim Dagger is unique in that it is crafted from stalhrim, a rare and powerful material found in the icy regions of Skyrim. The dagger is known for its icy appearance, with it being one of the many weapons added to the game in the Dragonborn DLC.

The Stalhrim Dagger has a distinct crystalline design with an icy blue hue. It has high base damage and can be further improved with the Ebony Smithing perk, as odd as this may seem. Additionally, when enchanting this weapon, frost enchantments will be more powerful than usual. Two merchants sell this weapon — namely, Baldor Iron-Shaper in the Skaal Village and Glover Mallory in Raven Rock. Alternatively, players at a decent level can find this dagger through the normal course of exploration as well.

12 Blade Of Sacrifice

A Unique Ebony Dagger Carried By The Worshipers Of Boethiah

Players will have to kill all of the followers of the Daedra Boethiah to be able to get a Blade of Sacrifice. This takes place during the quest Boethiah’s Calling which is by far one of the darkest quests in the game. This ebony dagger doesn’t have any unique effects and cannot be enchanted. However, it looks incredibly deadly and brutal which can be perfect for those who like to roleplay in the game.

11 Keening

An Ancient Dwemer Dagger Obtained In ‘Arniel’s Endeavor’ That Can Absorb Health, Magicka, Or Stamina

This Dwemer dagger not only looks incredibly unique, but it also has a fantastic set of perks. It can absorb ten health, Magika, and stamina whenever players land a hit. The dagger can be found at one of eighteen radiant locations during the quest Arniel’s Endeavor.

The only issue is that the charges for this ability can’t be refilled, making it useless after a point. If players want to keep the Keening as more than just a cool-looking dagger will need to make sure they have the Fortify Destruction enchantment on some of their armor when using it so the charge doesn’t go away.

10 Kahvozein’s Fang

A Dagger Usually Found In Areas Where Dragon Priests Reside

Kahvozein’s Fang is useful, but only for a specific reason. It’s the only way to be able to complete the Alteration Ritual Spell quest as it’s used to collect dragon heart scales, so any true mage will need this dagger. Note: This only works if equipped in the Dragonborn’s right hand, it’s a weird bug.

Players will have to kill a Dragon Priest to be able to acquire this dagger. Once they use it for the quest, it’s just like any other Dragon Priest dagger. It does look cool on a display at least.

9 Borvir’s Dagger

Found On Borvir’s Corpse in Journeyman’s Nook

Borvir’s Dagger is part of a canceled questline in the game, but minus its unique name, it may not seem all that special. So, it’s easy why some people would wonder why it would be talked about in a discussion about the best daggers in Skyrim.

Thankfully, one thing that sets this blade apart from the rest is that it’s one of the most powerful daggers to get at the beginning of the game and takes barely any effort to do so. Players can track down this Elven Dagger in Journeyman’s Nook.

8 Bloodthorn

Found On An Altar On The Balcony Of Hag’s End

Soul Gems are useful in Skyrim for a multitude of reasons so being able to fill up empty ones easily is incredibly useful. Anyone killed with the Bloodthorn will automatically have their soul trapped in one of those gems, making it a highly sought-after dagger.

Players will have to go to the north of Markarth where they will find Hag’s End. After battling against the Hagravens there, players can find this dagger on an altar on a balcony.

7 Mehrunes’ Razor

The Dagger Of The Final Wounds, Bane Of The Righteous, And Kingslayer Is Found During ‘Pieces Of The Past’

Mehrunes’ Razor doesn’t just look deadly, it has a 1.98% chance of instantly killing anyone it strikes. This includes the final boss of the game, who can be beaten in a single lucky blow with Mehrunes’ Razor. Now, the dagger doesn’t do much damage on its own, but this insta-kill chance makes it a viable option.

This dagger requires players to collect the four pieces of it during the quest “Pieces of the Past”. If players kill Silus Vesuius at the end of the quest, they’ll receive this dagger. Watching enemies fall lifelessly after a single lucky strike never ceases to be entertaining.

6 Valdr’s Lucky Dagger

Assist Valdr During The ‘Hunter And Hunter’ Side Quest To Receive This Weapon

The extra damage of critical hits can make enemies go down far easier as the damage they deal bypasses armor. So with Valdr’s Lucky Dagger giving players a whopping 25% chance of landing a critical hit with each strike, it’s hard to deny how powerful it is. Especially if dual-wielded with another dagger such as Mehrune’s Razor.

This dagger is also not too difficult to get, it just involves helping Valdr kill a bunch of Spriggans in Moss Mother Cavern where they killed his friends. Once players complete the Hunter and Hunter quest, Valdr will give them the dagger.

5 Blade Of Woe

Used By Astrid, The Leader Of The Dark Brotherhood

It only makes sense that the leader of the Dark Brotherhood would have one of the best daggers in the game. The Blade of Woe deals more base damage than a Daedric Dagger and is almost on par with a Dragonbone Dagger. It also absorbs 10 health per strike which is a solid enchantment.

The easiest way to get this dagger is to kill Astrid when the Dragonborn meets her in the Abandoned Shack, but that’s not worth missing out on the entire Dark Brotherhood questline. Instead, players should go through that questline and complete Death Incarnate to receive this sharp reward.