Daedra Hearts are a valuable and sought-after item in Skyrim, essential for crafting powerful potions and Daedric armor. Their scarcity makes it crucial to know the best places to find them, as well as alternative methods to obtain them, such as through crafting or using cheat codes. This guide details where you can find, purchase, pickpocket, and even craft Daedra Hearts in Skyrim.
Where to Find Daedra Hearts in Skyrim
There are several key locations and quests in Skyrim where Daedra Hearts can be found:
- Daedric Shrine: Participate in the “Pieces of the Past” quest assigned by Silus Vesuius in Dawnstar. This quest will lead you to the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon. Here, four Dremoras spawn inside and outside the shrine every ten days, each dropping a Daedra Heart upon defeat.
- Soul Cairn: During the “Chasing Echoes” quest given by Serana at the Dimhollow Crypt, you can enter the Soul Cairn plane via a portal in the Volkihar Dungeons. The beings inhabiting Soul Cairn often drop Daedra Hearts, and some can be found inside chests scattered throughout the area.
- Shrine of Azura: Start the “Black Star” quest given by Aranea Ienith at the Shrine of Azura, located south of Winterhold. As you progress, you will encounter and defeat Malyn Varen and three Dremora mages, each dropping Daedra Hearts.
- Midden Dark: Engage in the “Forgotten Names” quest initiated by interacting with a strange gauntlet in the Midden beneath the College of Winterhold. Defeating Valehk Sain, a Dremora pirate, at the quest’s conclusion will yield a Daedra Heart.
- Ivarstead: Assist Narfi in the “Straw That Broke” quest by investigating his sister Reyda’s body in the river southeast of Ivarstead. Reyda’s remains may contain a Daedra Heart, which Narfi might also reward you with.
Purchasable From Merchants
Several merchants across Skyrim stock Daedra Hearts:
- Enthir at the College of Winterhold sells 2 Daedra Hearts.
- Babette, a merchant in the Dark Brotherhood, often has 1-2 Daedra Hearts in stock.
- Most alchemy shops in Skyrim occasionally have Daedra Hearts for sale.
Pickpocketed or Stolen
Daedra Hearts can also be obtained by pickpocketing or looting specific locations and characters:
- Kodlak Whitemane and Farkas at Jorrvaskr in Whiterun might carry Daedra Hearts.
- The Hall of the Vigilant, south of Dawnstar, houses a Daedra Heart that reappears monthly.
- Valerica’s Study in the Volkihar Dungeons contains a Daedra Heart.
- Thalmor Wizards, Hunters, Alchemists, Vigilants of Stendarr, Hagravens, and the Ebony Warrior occasionally carry Daedra Hearts.
- Drelas’ Cottage, northwest of Dustman’s Cairn, contains a Daedra Heart.
- Two Daedra Hearts can be found in the laboratory of Nightcaller Temple, east of Dawnstar.
- Balbus, a wandering Nord warrior, sometimes carries a Daedra Heart.
- Another Daedra Heart can be found on the alchemy table in Sinderion’s Field Laboratory at the far northeast of Blackreach.
- The corpse of Daynas Valen in Folgunthur tomb, southeast of Solitude, also holds a Daedra Heart.
- Dremora Valkynaz in the Labyrinthian may drop Daedra Hearts upon defeat.
How to Craft Daedra Hearts
If hunting for Daedra Hearts proves too tedious, you can craft them at the Atronach Forge. The forge, located beneath the College of Winterhold in the Midden, requires the following ingredients:
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Sigil Stone | Obtained from Phinis Gestor at the College of Winterhold upon reaching Conjuration Level 90 and completing the “Conjuration Ritual Spell” quest. It is reusable in the crafting process. |
| Human Heart | Found in various locations, with the most consistent source being the Volkihar Castle. |
| Black Soul Gem | Found in chests and caves or dropped by Necromancers, Giants, Hagravens, Forsworn Briarhearts, and Draugrs. |
Cheat Code
For players looking for an easier method, Daedra Hearts can be added to your inventory using console commands. Open the console by pressing the ‘~’ key and type:
player.additem 0003AD5B [quantity]
Replace “[quantity]” with the number of Daedra Hearts you wish to add. This method is only available on PC versions of the game.
By utilizing these strategies, players can efficiently gather Daedra Hearts and use them to their advantage in crafting and potion-making throughout Skyrim’s expansive world.
