Here is a list of the best two-handed weapons in Skyrim and where to find them.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a single-player RPG developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim is the fifth installment in the long-running, massively popular The Elder Scrolls series. The story of Skyrim follows the events of the fourth installment, Oblivion, by approximately 200 years.
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The plot of the game is fragmented into two concurring events. On one hand, there is surging political instability because of the fall of the High King of Skyrim, which resulted in one side wishing to take over the remains of the Third Empire and another side wishing to remain a part of it. On the other hand, an ancient prophecy foretold by the Elder Scrolls indicates the arrival of the dragons under Alduin, the Nordic God of destruction.
And it is up to you to defeat Alduin and the dragons as you come to know that you are the Dovahkiin or Dragonborn. With all of that said, you need to be equipped with the best weapons you can find across your travels.
Therefore, if you want to know the best two-handed weapons you can find in Skyrim SE then don’t worry, we got you covered. Keep reading to know about Skyrim’s top 20 two-handed weapons and how to get them.
Top 20 Two-Handed Weapons in Skyrim SE
Here are my picks for the top 20 Two-Handed Weapons in Skyrim Special Edition.
20. Balgruuf’s Greatsword
- Base Damage: 17
- Weight: 17
- Base Value: 200
- How to Get: You can obtain the weapon during the ‘Greatsword for a Great Man’ quest, where you must deliver a sword forged for Jarl Baalgruuf, the Greater of Whiterun.
Balgruuf’s Greatsword is not particularly a spectacular weapon, but it is still on this list because you can obtain it pretty early on in the game. Doing so will leave you with a decent two-handed weapon in the early parts of the game.
With a base attack power of 17 and a decent attack speed, considering it’s a two-handed weapon, the Balgruuf’s Greatsword is worth looking at. However, in your journeys across the land, you will get your hands on better weapons in no time.
Pros:
- Can be obtained early in the game.
- Has decent stats
Cons:
- Gets outclassed by other better weapons a little further into the game.
19. Stalhrim Battleaxe
- Base Damage: 24
- Weight: 25
- Base Value: 2150
- How to Get: Stalhrim Battleaxes can be found in the following locations:
- Sold by Baldor Iron-Shaper in Skaal Village.
- Sold by Glover Mallory in Raven Rock.
- Can be obtained through random loots or chests.
Coming in at number 19 is the powerful Stalhrim Battleaxe. A very decent two-handed weapon in the world of Skyrim because of the damage they pack. However, the attribute that sets it back the most is its weight. Because of it, your attack speed is a lot slower.
Nevertheless, in terms of sheer strength, only the Daedric and Dragonbone weapons surpass the Stalhrim. Also, another factor is that the battleaxe is not all that hard to obtain. Additionally, frost enchantments are 25% strong when placed on items crafted from Stalhrim.
Pros:
- One of the strongest weapons in the game in terms of raw damage.
- Frost enchantments are 25% stronger on Stalhrim Weaponry
Cons:
- Can only be mined with an Ancient Nordic Pickaxe
- Can only be found in Solstheim.
18. Stalhrim Greatsword
- Base Damage: 23
- Weight: 21
- Base Value: 1970
- How to Get: You can obtain the Stalhrim Greatsword in the following ways:
- Sold by Baldor Iron Shaper in the Skaal Village
- Sold by Glover Mallory in Raven Rock.
- Can be obtained as a random loot from chests or as a world item.
Coming in right after the Stalhrim Battleaxe is the Stalhrim Greatsword. Stalhrim-made weapons are a cut above your average weaponry, as the stats are pretty decent even throughout the late game in Skyrim. However, one concern is that Stalhrim is an extremely rare material and can only be mined with an Ancient Nordic pickaxe.
The Stalhrim Greatsword has a little less damage but a lot more swing speed than the Stalhrim Battleaxe. Again, it too enjoys the enchantment bonuses that any weapon made of Stalhrim does, which is the 25% increased frost damage.
Pros:
- Good mix of weight and damage.
- Boosted frost enchantments.
Cons:
- Somewhat hard to obtain.
- Requires Ancient Nordic pickaxe to mine.
17. Trollsbane
- Base Damage: 20
- Weight: 25
- Base Value: 60
- How to Get: To find this odd weapon, you need to explore Cradle Stron Crag, which is a troll den directly west of Cradle Stone Tower and east of Valthume. The weapon lies inside the den on the corpse of Frofnir Trollsbane.
As the name suggests, Trollsbane is a fantastic weapon to use when dealing with trolls. Using this situational two-handed weapon on trolls maximizes its efficiency. However, that is not to say it’s not effective against other enemies.
But the reason why it is so effective against trolls is because its unique fire damage enchantment only affects trolls. This includes frost trolls and armored trolls as well. So do not forget it carry it with you if you are out hunting for trolls or going to a place where trolls are plenty.
Pros:
- Especially effective against trolls because of its extra fire damage.
Cons:
- Does not particularly standout in terms of damage when up against enemies other than trolls.
16. Silver Greatsword
- Base Damage: 17
- Weight: 12
- Base Value: 160
- How to Get: You can obtain the Silver Greatsword exclusively from the members of the Silver Hand, who are frequently encountered on quests for the Companions. Furthermore, you can find Silver Hand strongholds in Faldar’s Tooth, Lost Knife Hideout, Gallows Rock, and Driftshade Refuge.
Okay, I know placing this weapon higher up than the Stalhrim Battleaxe and Greatsword might seem illogical, but hear me out. Although the Silver Greatsword cannot be upgraded at a grindstone, the 20 points increase in damage when dealing with the undead like the skeletons, draugr, Dragon Priests, vampires, re-animated corpses, and even werewolves and werebears is a massive plus and works in favor of the weapon.
Additionally, this effect is not considered an enchantment, meaning the weapon can be enchanted at an arcane enchanter to stack with its inherent ability. So, I think it more than deserves this rank in this list.
Pros:
- Efficient when dealing with undead enemies
- Can be further enchanted
Cons:
- Subpar against enemies other than the undead
15. Stalhrim Warhammer
- Base Damage: 26
- Weight: 29
- Base Value: 2850
- How to Get: You can get the Stalhrim Warhammer from the following locations:
- Sold by Baldor Iron-Shaper in the Skaal Village.
- Sold by Glover Mallory in Raven Rock.
- Can be obtained from chests or random loots.
- Can be crafted with Stalhrim.
While Greatswords are the fastest out of the two-handed weapons, Warhammers are most definitely the strongest of the bunch. The downside is, of course, the attack speed. Sometimes that slow swinging can really cost you your life. Also, as mentioned earlier, Stalhrims are quite hard to mine and therefore can be difficult to obtain as an crafting element.
But since it’s on this list, then know that the tremendous amounts of damage you can dish out per hit outweighs the slow attack speed of the weapon. After all, it is a Stalhrim weapon. So make sure to time your attacks perfectly to dish out tons of damage.
Pros:
- Capable of doing massive amounts of damage per swing.
- Boosted frost enchantment effect.
Cons:
- The slower swing speed due to its weight makes it harder to effectively use.
- Stalhrim is somewhat difficult to obtain.
14. Stromfang
- Base Damage: 17
- Weight: 17
- Base Value: 1175
- How to Get: In order to obtain the Stormfang, you need to explore the Brodin Grove and takedown the Reaver Lord.
If you are someone who prefers using elemental weapons then you’re going to love Stromfang. Added in the Dragonborn DLC, the Stromfang only does 17 base damage. However, what is amazing about this sword is that it has an added effect of 30 shock damage and 15 magicka drain.
The massive shock damage along with the magicka drain makes it a superb weapon and is undoubtedly one of the best longswords in the game. Another thing that has going on for this weapons is that it is one of the only unique weapons that actually respawns in Skyrim.
However, one simple downside is that when you further progress in the game, you will acquire much better weapons in terms of damage and utility for your journeys.
Pros:
- 30 bonus shock damage.
- 15 magicka drain per hit
- Very powerful in the earlier parts of the game.
Cons:
- Base damage is not that high.
- Falls off after early game.
13. Headsman’s Axe
- Base Damage: 17
- Weight: 11
- Base Value: 15
- How to Get: The only way to obtain this weapon is by taking it from Ahtar, after the execution in Solitude. That being said, you can take the axe from him in a number of ways.
- You can gain Ahtar as a follower and simply take the axe from his inventory.
- You can pickpocket from Ahtar (With the help of the Misdirection Perk from the Pickpocket tree)
- You can kill Ahtar and loot it from him.
- You can use the Disarm shout to make the weapon fall out of his hands. Pick it up, place it in any nearby container, surrender to the guards, and then find it again after release.
The Headsman’s Axe is one of the more unique weapons in Skyrim. The long wooden handle and a single-edged sharp blade make the axe stand out from the rest.
Although the base damage of 17 does not seem anything noteworthy, the reason for which this particular weapon makes it this high up the ranking is because of its long range. The Headsman’s Axe is quite literally the longest weapon in the entire game.
Additionally, while you cannot upgrade this weapon at a grindstone, you can enchant it. Meaning that with the right enchantments, it can enable you to keep other close-ranged opponents at bay while doing a decent amount of damage in return.
Pros:
- Very good melee attack range.
- Can significantly boost the damage through enchantments.
Cons:
- Poses a risk of hitting nearby followers or any innocents in your vicinity.
12. Daedric Warhammer
- Base Damage: 27
- Weight: 31
- Base Value: 4000
- How to Get: Some of the possible spawn locations are
- Blacksmiths and general goods merchants
- Random loot in chests
- Dropped as loot by Revered or Legendary Dragons
- The Dremora Merchant with the Black Market power
The Daedric Warhammer is a two-handed Warhammer that appears in the Daedric Weapon set and is one of the highest base damage weapons in the game.
Furthermore, the Warhammer can be improved at grindstones by using Ebony ingots. However, one of the big downsides is that you need to be at least level 44 in order to make this weapon spawn throughout Skyrim.
At or above levels 46 and 47, enchanted variations of the Daedric Warhammer can be found scattered across the surface as loot. And once you do get your hands on an enchanted Daedric Warhammer, you’ll be set for a good while.
Pros:
- Can deal massive damage per swing.
- Can be further upgraded.
Cons:
- Only spawns when you’re above lv 44.
11. Aegisbane
- Base Damage: 18
- Weight: 24
- Base Value: 140
- How to Get: You can get your hands on the Aegisbane by exploring the ruins of Raldbthar and defeating Alain Dufont.
Again, the base damage of 18 isn’t all that impressive when we are talking about the best two-handed weapons in the entire game, but what makes this Warhammer standout is that it can deal an extra 5 points of frost damage to your opponents. On top of that, it also deals 5 points of damage to their health and stamina as well.
Also, you can upgrade the Aegisbane with iron ingots and further increase its power. And because you can upgrade it only with iron ingots, you don’t have to worry about prioritizing your smithing skills.
Another reason why it is ranked this high is because of how early you can obtain this decent Warhammer.
Pros:
- Deals an additional 5 points of frost damage per hit.
- Also deals stamina damage.
Cons:
- Relatively low swing speed can make it harder to hit.
10. Daedric Greatsword
- Base Damage: 24
- Weight: 23
- Base Value: 2500
- How to Get: Here are a few locations where you can pick the Daedric Greatsword from:
- Blacksmiths and general goods merchants
- Random loot from chests
- Loot drops from Revered or Legendary Dragons.
Like the other Daedric weapons, the Daedric Greatsword is also characterized by the red glow of its blade. This sword is one of the strongest greatswords in the base game.
The consistent damage you can dish out with this weapon is nothing to scoff at. And another reason it is this high up the list is because it starts to spawn throughout Skyrim as early as level 27. So if you can get your hands on one that early then you’re set for a good while.
Pros:
- Decent damage.
- Obtainable around only level 27.
Cons:
- Crafting it is a bit difficult.
- You need to invest a lot of perks into it to make it really good.
9. Drainblood Battleaxe
- Base Damage: 21
- Weight: 5
- Base Value: 266
- How to Get: head to the Labyrinthian during the Staff of Magnus quest.
The Drainblood Battleaxe is one of the four unique ghost weapons wielded by the spectral variants of Draugr. The blue-toned axe is quite impressive on its own, but what makes it stand out even more is that the weapon also deals an extra 15 points of base health damage counted as enchantment damage. Additionally, damaging and slaying enemies will also heal you, which can come in clutch in drawn-out battles.
All of these perks make the Drainblood Battleaxe a fantastic two-handed weapon. Also, you can disenchant the weapon to gain the Absorb Health enchantment.
Pros:
- The Absorb Health enchantment is superb.
Cons:
- Difficult to obtain since it is weilded only by the spectral variants of Draugr.
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8. Daedric Battleaxe
- Base Damage: 25
- Weight: 27
- Base Value: 2750
- How to Get: you can acquire this weapon the same way you can acquire the Daedric Greatsword which is through:
- Blacksmiths and general goods merchants
- Random loot from chests
- Loot drops from Revered or Legendary Dragons.
As like the Daedric Greatswords, the Daedric Battleaxes are also monstrous weapons in their own right. Again the reason this weapon is ranked so high is because you can get your hands on this weapon fairly early, making them great early-mid game weapons.
The destructive power of the Daedric Battleaxe is no joke as a single swing from an enchanted Daedrick Battleaxe can dispose of early-game bosses in a single hit. And to think that this weapon spawns around level 30 makes it fully deserving of this spot.
Pros:
- Really strong against early game bosses.
Cons:
- Crafting and upgrading it requires a lot of resources.
7. Wuuthrand
- Base Damage: 25
- Weight: 25
- Base Value: 2000
- How to Get: You can obtain the Wuuthrad Battlex during ‘Glory of the Dead‘ where the weapon is re-forged by Eorlund Gray-Mane with the fragments of Wuuthrad gathered.
Wuuthrad, which translates to Strom’s Tears in the language of Atmora is a mighty two-handed battleaxe with blades on both sides. It is characterized by a screaming Elf mounted on the head of the axe.
Wuuthrad is our pick for the seventh-best two-handed weapon in Skyrim. The decent base damage of 25 and a good swinging speed combined with the fact that you can get it rather easily makes it earn its spot on the list.
Additionally, this battleaxe bears the ability to deal 1.2x the normal damage to Falmer, Altmer, Bosmer, and Dunmer. And this effect is not considered as an added enchantment. Therefore, you can enchant it at an arcane enchanter to stack with its current ability.
Pros:
- Chaos Damage enchantment makes this a top tier weapon.
- The damage multiplier against certain enemy types is a nice addition.
- You can get it fairly early in the game.
Cons:
- Out-damaged by weapons obtained later on in the game.
6. Dragonbone Battleaxe
- Base Damage: 26
- Weight: 30
- Base Value: 3000
- How to Get: Here are all the ways you can get the Dragonbone Battleaxe:
- By defeating the Keepers in the Soul Cairn and then looting the remains. However, this location only becomes available during the final parts of the Dawnguard questline.
- By crafting it yourself. It requires a Smithing level of 100, the Dragon Armor perk, 3x Dragon Bones, 2x Ebony ingots, and 2x leather strips.
Coming in at number 6 is the Dragonbone Battleaxe. When it comes to unenchanted damage, the Dragonbone Battleaxe packs the highest base damage of all the battleaxes in the game. Honesty, the Dragonbone weapons introduced in the Dawnguard DLC are a few of the best weapons in Skyrim.
Although you should definitely keep in mind that your Smithing level needs to 100 if you wish to craft and upgrade this weapon. This somewhat holds it back from being any higher on the list.
Additionally, the Dragonbone Battleaxe can be upgraded with a Dragon Bone at a grindstone and has the added benefits from the Dragon Armor perk, which doubles the upgrade values.
Pros:
- Highest base damage of all the battleaxes in the game.
- The Dragon Armor perk enhances each upgrade.
Cons:
- Only accessible very late into the game.
- High smithing level required to craft it.
5. Champion’s Cudgel
- Base Damage: 24
- Weight: 27
- Base Value: 1767
- How to Get: You can get this weapon after defeating General Falx Carious during the quest “March of the Dead” as he wields the Champion’s Cudgel.
Finally, we’re in the top 5! And taking up the place of the fifth-best two-handed weapon is the Champion’s Cudgel. The hammer carries a number of Imperial Symbols on the sides of its head.
This weapon carries a respectable 24 points of base damage, but what’s notable about this weapon is that it has the Chaos Enchantment, which consists of a 50% individual chance for each element of fire, shock, and frost to do 25 points of damage.
This means that in the best-case scenario, all three of the elemental elements can proc simultaneously, dealing a total of 75 points of extra damage! This makes the weapon extremely deadly.
However, what prevents this weapon from being any higher up the list is that you can get far better weapons with the same enchantments later on in the game, especially when you level up your smithing skill.
Pros:
- The Chaos Enchantment can do significant amounts of elemental damage.
Cons:
- You can put the same enchantment on a better weapon.
4. Dawnguard Rune Hammer
- Base Damage: 22
- Weight: 26
- Base Value: 500
- How to Get: You can find the weapon during the Dawngard side quest ‘Lost Relic’ where it can appear in one of seventeen unique locations.
If you are judging this weapon by the stated base damage, then you’ll be fooling yourself. This magic-imbued Warhammer can obliterate foes when you use it. This is because bashing this weapon causes a rune on the surface that explodes for a massive 50 points of fire damage when any enemies come into contact.
50 extra points of fire damage along with the decent base stats makes this one of the most powerful weapons in Skyrim. Not to mention that enchanting it will deal extra damage to vampires. Also, you only need Steel Ingots to upgrade the Dawnguard Rune Hammer.
However, do keep in mind that using it does not expend your Magicka. Instead, it uses up your stamina. Also, you cannot place more than one rune at a time as doing so will remove the previous one.
Pros:
- Useful for dealing with multiple enemies due to the fire damage rune effect.
Cons:
- Uses up stamina quite fast.
- You cannot place multiple runes at once
3. Bloodskal Blade
- Base Damage: 21
- Weight: 16
- Base Value: 500
- How to Get: You can get this weapon during the quest ‘The Final Descent’ when you travel into the depths of Bloodskal Barrow. The blade can be found on the remains of Gratian Caerellius.
We’re finally in the top 3. Taking up the place of the third-best two-handed weapon is the Bloodskal Blade. Introduced into the game with the Dragonborn DLC, the Bloodskal Blade is a weapon that releases a massive energy blast whenever you use it for a heavy attack.
The energy blast released the from blade deals 30 damage and travels up to 10 feet or so. This means that when certain fights get too dangerous, you can create distance and widdle the enemy down with long-range attacks from the Bloodskal Blade.
Furthermore, the ranged attack will also hit any opponent who gets hit but the swing of the blade as well. And while only getting hit by the energy blast doesn’t deal a ton of damage, it is capable of staggering many enemies.
Pros:
- Has AoE long range energy blast.
- Can stagger multiple enemies
Cons:
- The long range blast doesn’t do a lot of single target damage.
2. Ebony Blade
- Base Damage:11
- Weight: 10
- Base Value: 2000
Coming in at number 2 on this list is the Ebony Blade, a Daedric artifact belonging to Mephala. This mighty blade is in some ways, a better version of the Blade of Woe. I particularly placed this weapon in this spot because of the insane attack speed it carries, which is far faster than any other two-handed weapon and almost as fast as a one-handed sword.
But that is not all, the Ebony blade starts with a 10-point Absorb Health enchantment that absorbs the life essence of foes. Furthermore, you can actually increase this effect by 4 every time you slay two friendly characters in the game, up to a maximum of 30 extra points. By friendly characters, I mean people who you have done a favor for in your journeys.
Also, this enchantment charge can be used without any limits or charge time which makes it an absolute beast of a weapon. The only downside that is keeping it from the number one spot in this list is the fact that the base damage is pretty low for a two-handed weapon.
You can obtain the Ebony Blade in obtained in the Daedric quest, “The Whispering Door”. You can initiate this quest after reaching level 20.
Pros:
- Decent attack speed.
- Has scaling health absorb enchantment.
Cons:
- The attack speed cannot compensate for the low base damage.
- Requires you to kill friends who you done a favor for.
1. The Longhammer
- Base Damage: 21
- Weight: 18
- Base Value: 90
- How to Obtain: You can obtain The Longhammer at the end of the ‘Liar’s Retreat’ near the body of its owner, Rahd.
Though it packs a reasonable base damage of 21, it does not justify its place as the best two-handed weapon in Skyrim. However, the main reason I’m claiming this weapon as the best is because of the additional effect it carries. The Longhammer’s inherent effect allows it to be swung about 25-30% faster than your average warhammer.
Therefore, even though the damage itself does not surpass that of a Dragonbone or Daedric Warhammer, the Longhammer can actually out-damage those weapons in a longer fight. And as mentioned above, the Dragonbone and Daedric weapons are some of the highest damage-dealing weapons in the game, so topping those weapons is as good of a reason as any to rank this weapon as the best.
In addition, this effect is not even considered as an enchantment. This means that you can enchant it at an arcane enchanter to increase its swinging speed even more with the Elemental Fury shout.
And if you enchant The Longhammer using the Extra Effect perk, you will be able to wield this weapon with three additional effects. Factoring all of these in, I think it’s more than fair it say that it is the best two-handed weapon in Skyrim.
Pros:
- Viable due to the massive attack speed boost it has.
- Can be further enhanced with enchantments.
Cons:
- In shorter skirmishes, daedric or dragonbone weapons can dish out more damage.
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