Ebony ore is a rare and valuable resource in Skyrim, essential for crafting high-quality armor and weapons. Finding ebony ore can be challenging due to its scarcity. However, several specific locations are rich in ebony ore, where players can harvest this precious mineral. Below is a detailed guide on where to find ebony ore in Skyrim, including mines, veins, and other notable locations.
Primary Ebony Ore Mines
Two primary mines contain the most substantial ebony ore deposits in Skyrim:
- Gloombound Mine: Located in the Orc Stronghold of Narzulbur, southeast of Windhelm, Gloombound Mine is considered the best place to farm ebony ore, containing a total of 16 ebony ore veins. Players can enter the stronghold by ignoring the Orc guards and proceeding to the mine entrance, where numerous veins await.
- Raven Rock Mine: Found in the city of Raven Rock on the island of Solstheim, this mine holds 9 ebony ore veins. Access to this mine requires starting the quest “The Final Descent.” It’s a significant location for players exploring the Dragonborn DLC.
Other Notable Ebony Ore Locations
In addition to the above mines, several other locations in Skyrim contain ebony ore veins:
- Throat of the World: At the very top of Skyrim’s highest mountain, players can find 2 ebony ore veins.
- Blackreach: A hidden area beneath Skyrim, located near the waterfalls to the south, has 6 ebony ore veins.
- Redbelly Mine: Located in Shor’s Stone, this mine originally contains 3 ebony ore veins, although a patch may change these to iron.
- Horker Island: Situated on Solstheim, this island holds 1 ebony ore vein.
- Northwind Mine: Found in The Rift, this mine contains 3 ebony ore veins.
- Arkngthamz: A Dwarven ruin in The Reach, which has 1 ebony ore vein.
- Labyrinthian: Located in Hjaalmarch, this ancient Nordic ruin is home to 1 ebony ore vein within Labyrinthian Chasm, along with 3 ingots in the Labyrinthian Tribune.
- Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon: Located in The Pale, containing 3 ebony ore veins. This location becomes accessible after completing the “Pieces of the Past” quest.
- Pinewatch: Situated in Falkreath Hold within Pinewatch Bandit’s Sanctuary, containing 1 ebony ore vein.
- Wreck of The Brinehammer: Found in The Pale, this sunken ship features 1 ebony ore vein below deck.
- Raldbthar: This Dwemer ruin in The Pale contains 1 ebony ore vein in the Deep Market.
- Dead Drop Falls: Located in The Rift, this area has 2 ebony ore veins near the end of a puzzle on a hay pile with pickaxes.
Mineral Sources from Enemies and Loot
Aside from mining, there are other ways to acquire ebony ore and ingots:
- Blacksmiths may sell ebony ingots from level 27 onwards and general goods merchants from level 14.
- Ebony ore can sometimes be found within Falmer loot starting at level 13.
- Occasionally, ash spawn remains (introduced in the Dragonborn DLC) or gargoyle corpses (from the Dawnguard DLC) may contain ebony ore.
- Chests may rarely contain ebony ingots.
Tips for Efficient Farming
Given the numerous locations where ebony ore can be found, it’s practical to plan your mining expeditions based on proximity and ease of access. Gloombound Mine remains the most efficient location for gathering large quantities of ebony ore. Ensure to visit other spots on this list as you traverse Skyrim for additional resources.
Employ these strategies to build a vast supply of ebony ore, ensuring you have ample materials for forging some of the finest equipment in Skyrim. Happy mining!
