In the ethereal realm of Skyrim, where ancient legends and forgotten mysteries intertwine, there lies a formidable artifact known as the Soul Gem. Imbued with the power to capture the very essence of living beings, these enigmatic gems hold the key to unlocking unfathomable abilities and unlocking the secrets of the soul. If you seek to harness the potency of a Soul Gem, heed these words carefully, for I shall guide you through the intricate process of filling it, transforming it into a vessel of boundless energy that will forever alter your destiny.
Firstly, know that not all souls are equal. The strength and purity of the soul captured determine the power imbued within the gem. Seek out creatures of great vitality and significance, such as powerful beasts, legendary dragons, or even the souls of slain heroes. Once your target is chosen, engage in combat with unwavering resolve. As you strike down your foe, unleash a soul trap spell, uttering the ancient incantations that bind the essence of the defeated to the ethereal realm. The soul will then be drawn into the gem, filling it with its ethereal energy.
Should you find yourself without a soul trap spell, fear not. The ritual of soul absorption can still be performed through the use of enchanting. Acquire a soul gem, devoid of any prior essence, and combine it with a soul gem filled with the desired soul. Through the arcane art of enchanting, the essence of the filled gem will be transferred to the empty one, creating a new vessel imbued with the same potent energy. This method, however, requires a keen understanding of enchanting and a steady hand, for any misstep could result in the loss of both gems and the dissipation of the captured soul. Tread cautiously, apprentice, and seek guidance from a master enchanter if you lack the necessary proficiency.
Acquiring Soul Gems in Skyrim
Soul gems are essential items in Skyrim, used to capture the souls of defeated creatures and store their energy for various enchantments and spellcasting. Acquiring soul gems in Skyrim offers players multiple methods to gather these valuable resources.
Soul Gem Merchants:
Various merchants throughout Skyrim sell soul gems of different sizes and qualities. Soul gem vendors commonly found in major cities and towns include:
- Farengar Secret-Fire (Dragonsreach, Whiterun)
- Belethor (The Bannered Mare, Whiterun)
- Arcadia (Arcadia’s Cauldron, Solitude)
- Niruin (The Blacksmith, Riften)
The availability and types of soul gems these merchants offer vary depending on the player’s level and the region they are exploring. Smaller soul gems are more common and affordable, while larger soul gems are rarer and more expensive.
Dungeon and Cave Exploration:
Soul gems can be discovered hidden in various loot containers, such as chests, barrels, and urns, found within Skyrim’s vast dungeons and caves. Exploring these locations offers players opportunities to find soul gems of varying sizes and qualities, including some of the rarer and more valuable gems. Additionally, defeating certain enemies, such as mages and necromancers, may drop soul gems upon their death.
Crafting and Blacksmithing:
Players with the Conjuration skill can create soul gems by casting the Soul Trap spell on any living creature. This spell traps the soul of the creature in an empty soul gem, provided the gem is large enough to hold the soul. Alternatively, players with the Blacksmithing skill can forge soul gems using a forge, iron ingots, and soul husks, which can be obtained from soul gems that have been used to capture souls.
Filling A Soul Gem In Skyrim
Soul Gems are essential components in Skyrim’s enchanting system. They are used to trap the souls of creatures and store their energy. Filling a Soul Gem involves using a weapon enchanted with the Soul Trap spell.
Enchanting Weapons and Armor with Soul Gems
Once you have filled a Soul Gem, you can use it to enchant weapons and armor. The process is as follows:
- Go to an enchanting table and select the item you want to enchant.
- Select the enchantment you want to apply.
- Select the Soul Gem you want to use.
- Click the “Enchant” button.
The following table shows the different types of Soul Gems and the types of souls they can trap:
| Soul Gem | Souls it can trap |
|---|---|
| Petty Soul Gem | Petty Souls |
| Lesser Soul Gem | Petty Souls, Lesser Souls |
| Common Soul Gem | Petty Souls, Lesser Souls, Common Souls |
| Greater Soul Gem | Petty Souls, Lesser Souls, Common Souls, Greater Souls |
| Grand Soul Gem | Petty Souls, Lesser Souls, Common Souls, Greater Souls, Grand Souls |
Grand and Common Soul Gems Explained
In Skyrim, there are two main types of soul gems: grand soul gems and common soul gems. Grand soul gems can hold the souls of powerful creatures, such as mammoths, giants, and dragons, while common soul gems can hold the souls of weaker creatures, such as wolves, bears, and bandits.
The type of soul gem you need will depend on the creature you are trying to trap. If you are trying to trap the soul of a powerful creature, you will need a grand soul gem. If you are trying to trap the soul of a weaker creature, you can use a common soul gem.
You can find soul gems in a variety of locations throughout Skyrim, including dungeons, caves, and bandit camps. You can also purchase soul gems from merchants.
Trapping Souls
To trap a soul, you need to have a soul gem in your inventory. When you kill a creature, its soul will be released. If you have a soul gem in your inventory, the soul will be automatically trapped in the gem.
The size of the soul gem will determine how powerful the creature’s soul is. A grand soul gem will hold the soul of a powerful creature, while a common soul gem will hold the soul of a weaker creature.
Once you have trapped a soul in a soul gem, you can use it to power magical weapons and armor. You can also use soul gems to recharge enchanted items.
Using Soul Gems
Soul gems can be used to power magical weapons and armor. To use a soul gem, simply equip the item you want to power and then select the soul gem from your inventory. The soul gem will be consumed and the item will be powered.
You can also use soul gems to recharge enchanted items. To do this, simply select the enchanted item from your inventory and then select the soul gem from your inventory. The soul gem will be consumed and the enchanted item will be recharged.
Soul Gem Table
| Soul Gem Type | Creature Type |
|---|---|
| Grand Soul Gem | Mammoths, Giants, Dragons |
| Common Soul Gem | Wolves, Bears, Bandits |
Soul Trap Spell Mechanics and Usage
Duration: The duration of the Soul Trap spell is 60 seconds.
Range: The range of the spell is 60 feet.
Cost: The cost of the spell is 120 magicka.
Usage:
To use the Soul Trap spell, you must first cast it on the target creature. If the creature is successfully soul trapped, its soul will be trapped in a soul gem when it dies. The size of the soul gem determines the size of the soul that can be trapped.
Small soul gems can trap petty souls, medium soul gems can trap lesser souls, large soul gems can trap common souls, and grand soul gems can trap greater souls.
Once a soul is trapped in a soul gem, it can be used to power enchanted weapons and armor. To use a soul gem to power an enchanted item, you must first equip the item and then activate the soul gem.
The soul gem will then begin to power the item, and the item’s enchantment will become more powerful as the soul gem’s power increases.
Once the soul gem’s power is depleted, the item’s enchantment will no longer function.
You can check the size and number of souls currently stored in your soul gems by inspecting the Soul Gems tab in your inventory.
The table below shows the size of soul gems and the size of souls that can be trapped in them.
| Soul Gem Size | Soul Size |
|---|---|
| Petty | Petty |
| Lesser | Lesser |
| Common | Common |
| Grand | Greater |
Finding Soul Gems in Loot and from Merchants
Soul gems are essential for enchanting weapons and armor in Skyrim. They can be found in various places, including loot from enemies, chests, and urns. You can also purchase soul gems from merchants in cities and towns.
Loot
Soul gems can be found as loot from various sources, including:
- Enemies: Soul gems can be dropped by enemies when they are defeated.
- Chests: Soul gems can be found inside chests scattered throughout Skyrim.
- Urns: Soul gems can be found inside urns, which are often found in dungeons and other dark places.
Merchants
Soul gems can also be purchased from merchants in cities and towns. The following merchants are known to sell soul gems:
| Merchant | Location |
|---|---|
| Farengar Secret-Fire | Dragonsreach, Whiterun |
| Enthir | The College of Winterhold |
| Belethor | The Bannered Mare, Whiterun |
Recharging Enchanted Items Using Soul Gems
Soul gems are essential for recharging enchanted items in Skyrim. When an enchanted item is used, it will gradually lose its charge. Once the charge is depleted, the item will no longer be able to cast spells or provide its other magical effects.
Using a Soul Gem to Recharge an Item
To recharge an enchanted item using a soul gem, simply select the item in your inventory and press the “Q” key (for PC) or “X” button (for Xbox) to open the item’s menu. Then, select the “Recharge” option and select the desired soul gem from your inventory. The item will be recharged with the amount of charge stored in the soul gem.
Choosing the Right Soul Gem for Recharging
The type of soul gem used to recharge an item will determine the amount of charge it receives. The following table lists the different types of soul gems and the corresponding amount of charge they provide:
| Soul Gem Type | Charge Amount |
|---|---|
| Petty | 25 |
| Lesser | 50 |
| Common | 100 |
| Greater | 200 |
| Grand | 400 |
The Black Soul Gem: A Unique Variation
Black Soul Gems are a unique form of Soul Gem imbued with the ability to capture souls regardless of their alignment or type. Unlike common Soul Gems that accept only lesser souls, Black Soul Gems can hold the souls of any creature or entity, including humanoids. This makes them particularly valuable for certain soul-trapping spells and enchanting applications.
Unlike common Soul Gems, Black Soul Gems have a darker appearance and emanate a faint aura of necromantic energy. They cannot be found naturally but must be created through a ritual involving the sacrifice of a living creature. This ritual permanently taints the Soul Gem, rendering it unable to accept the souls of lesser creatures.
The ritual to create a Black Soul Gem requires the following ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Ectoplasm | 1 |
| Void Salts | 1 |
| Black Soul Gem | 1 |
The ritual must be performed in a place of great darkness and evil, such as a dungeon or a necromantic shrine. The sacrifice must be a living creature with a soul, and it must be killed with a weapon that has been enchanted with the Soul Trap enchantment. As the creature’s soul is absorbed into the Soul Gem, it becomes permanently bound to the gem and cannot escape.
Black Soul Gems are highly coveted by necromancers and other practitioners of dark magic. Their ability to trap the souls of powerful beings makes them ideal for creating powerful enchanted items and summoning powerful undead creatures. However, due to their tainted nature, Black Soul Gems are also said to bring misfortune and corruption to those who use them.
Special Soul Gems for Special Souls
Elven Souls
Elven souls can only be captured in Elven Soul Gems. These soul gems can be found randomly throughout the game, and they are more likely to be carried by Elven characters.
Elven Souls are relatively easy to capture especially in the dungeons where most of the enemies are elves themselves. Casting Soul Trap on the enemies will fill the Elven Soul Gem.
Greater Soul Gems
Greater Soul Gems are used to capture the souls of more powerful creatures, such as trolls, mammoths, and dragons. These soul gems are more powerful than lesser soul gems which can be used to Capture greater souls.
Black Soul Gems
Black Soul Gems are used to capture the souls of humanoid NPC characters. These soul gems are more powerful than lesser soul gems or even greater soul gems. However, they are also more difficult to find.
Various Creature Soul
The Soul Gems can be filled up depending on the size of the soul of the enemies. There are soul gem types in the game that can only be filled based on the size of the soul.
| Soul Gem Type | Creature Soul Size |
|---|---|
| Petty Soul Gem | Mice, Rats |
| Lesser Soul Gem | Wolves, Skeevers |
| Common Soul Gem | Trolls, Draugr |
| Greater Soul Gem | Mammoths, Wispmothers |
| Grand Soul Gem | Giants, Spriggans |
| Black Soul Gem | Humanoids |
Leveling Up Enchanting: The Role of Soul Gems
Filling Soul Gems
When you kill an enemy, you can trap their soul in a soul gem by using the Soul Trap spell or by using a weapon that is enchanted with Soul Trap. The size of the soul gem determines the strength of the soul it can hold. A petty soul gem can hold a petty soul, a lesser soul gem can hold a lesser soul, a greater soul gem can hold a greater soul, and a grand soul gem can hold a grand soul.
Once you have trapped a soul in a soul gem, you can use it to enchant an item. The strength of the enchantment will depend on the size of the soul gem used. A petty soul gem will only produce a weak enchantment, while a grand soul gem will produce a very powerful enchantment.
Leveling Up Enchanting
Enchanting is a skill that you can level up by enchanting items. The higher your enchanting skill, the more powerful the enchantments you can create. You can also increase your enchanting skill by reading books about enchanting and by taking lessons from an enchanting trainer.
The Role of Soul Gems in Leveling Up Enchanting
Soul gems play a vital role in leveling up enchanting. The more powerful the soul gem you use, the more experience you will gain for enchanting. This means that it is more efficient to use grand soul gems to enchant items, even if you are only creating weak enchantments.
| Soul Gem Size | Experience Gained |
|---|---|
| Petty | 1 |
| Lesser | 5 |
| Greater | 10 |
| Grand | 25 |
In addition to providing experience, soul gems can also be used to create powerful enchantments. This can be especially helpful for creating unique and powerful items. For example, you can use a grand soul gem to create an enchantment that gives you a 100% chance to paralyze your enemies.
Advanced Soul Gem Techniques and Strategies
1. Soul Gem Duplication
With the Soul Trap spell, you can create a duplicate soul gem with the same soul as an existing one. Cast the spell twice on the same creature, using different soul gems as targets. Both gems will now contain the creature’s soul.
2. Soul Gem Absorbing
Soul gems can be used to absorb the souls of other soul gems. Place a soul gem with a captured soul in a soul gem absorber (found in some enchanted weapons) and the absorber will extract the soul, leaving the soul gem empty.
3. Soul Gem Merging
By combining soul gems of different sizes (e.g., Petty to Common), you can create a larger soul gem with the combined soul capacities. Use a soul gem merger (found in certain enchanting stations) to perform the merge.
4. Soul Gem Recharging
Soul gems can be recharged by capturing the souls of smaller creatures. The size of the creature’s soul determines how much the soul gem will recharge.
5. Soul Gem Enchanting
Soul gems can be used to power enchantments. The size of the soul gem determines the strength of the enchantment. Larger soul gems provide more powerful enhancements.
6. Soul Gem Leveling
Capturing souls of larger creatures grants more experience to the Soul Trap spell, increasing its effectiveness and allowing you to trap souls in larger soul gems.
7. Soul Gem Storage
Soul gems can be stored in soul gem holders found in various locations throughout Skyrim. They provide a convenient way to organize and access your captured souls.
8. Soul Gem Selling and Trading
Soul gems can be sold to merchants or traded with other NPCs who need them for enchanting. Larger soul gems fetch a higher price.
9. Soul Gem Crafting
Soul gems can be crafted at enchanting stations using soul shards, which can be extracted from creature corpses using enchanted weapons.
10. Soul Gem Progression
Soul gems come in various sizes, each with its own capacity and soul capture threshold. Here’s a table summarizing their progression:
| Soul Gem Size | Soul Capture Threshold |
|---|---|
| Petty | Level 4 |
| Lesser | Level 12 |
| Common | Level 20 |
| Greater | Level 28 |
| Grand | Level 36 |
| Black | Level 44 |
By understanding these techniques and strategies, you’ll be able to maximize the effectiveness of soul gems in your Skyrim adventure.
How to Fill a Soul Gem in Skyrim
Soul gems are an essential part of enchanting in Skyrim. They are used to capture the souls of creatures and store them for use in enchantments. There are many different sizes of soul gems, and each one can hold a soul of a certain size. To fill a soul gem, you need to kill a creature and trap its soul in the gem. This can be done by using a soul trap spell or by using a weapon that has the Soul Trap enchantment.
Once you have trapped a soul in a soul gem, it will be available for use in enchanting. You can use the soul gem to create enchantments on weapons, armor, clothing, and jewelry. The size of the soul gem will determine the strength of the enchantment. Larger soul gems can hold more powerful souls, and they can be used to create more powerful enchantments.
People Also Ask
How do I get a soul trap spell?
You can purchase the soul trap spell from court wizards in the major cities. You can also find the spell in loot, or you can learn it from a spell book.
Where can I find soul gems?
Soul gems can be found in loot, or you can purchase them from merchants. You can also find soul gems in dungeons and other hidden locations.
