Skyrim: Every Dragon Claw (& How To Find Them)

There are plenty of secrets waiting to be found within the Nordic tombs of Skyrim. Some of the best treasures are locked behind heavy stone doors that are impossible to penetrate through brute force. Rather, a puzzle needs to be solved first in the form of a matching sequence of animals. That’s in addition to a physical key which also needs to be inserted into the door.

What is the Dragonborn to do? The solutions to these puzzles are contained within a series of jeweled artifacts known as Dragon Claws. These items may not always be the most valuable on their own, but they often lead to greater rewards. Finding the requisite Dragon Claw is always necessary to progress in its associated dungeon, so locating them is of vital importance.

Updated on October 08, 2024, by Gerardo Molina: Exploring Nordic tombs in Skyrim is never easy, as they’re usually full of many dangers, including sharp death traps and vicious Draugr waiting for the right moment to pop out of their coffin and attack the Dragonborn. Luckily, at the end of almost every one of these tombs, there are precious rewards that players can find, including weapons, armor, and lots of gold—all of which can be used to become stronger and buy useful materials for crafting and trading. As for Dragon Claws, as shiny and attractive as they may seem, players should never sell them until after they’ve opened the door they were designed for. Once that’s done, then they’re free game.

11 The Golden Claw

The First Dragon Claw The Dragonborn Can Get

• Location: Bleak Falls Barrow, west of Riverwood, on the corpse of Arvel The Swift
• Associated Quest: “Bleak Falls Barrow” & “The Golden Claw”
• Solution: Bear, Moth, Owl

This particular claw is most likely the first one players will encounter in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Visiting the Riverwood Trader for the first time will prompt Lucan Valerius, the proprietor, to recount his most recent woe. Thieves evidently broke into his shop and stole his precious Golden Claw.

Returning the claw to Lucan involves braving the dangers of Bleak Falls Barrow. The item in question can be found on Arvel the Swift after freeing him from a spider’s web. The treacherous rogue will try to flee but is typically cut down by hostile draugr shortly thereafter. The Golden Claw can be looted from his corpse and returned to Lucan for a reward. The Golden Dragon Claw has a value of 100 Gold Coins, which might not seem like much for advanced players who are already in the late stages of the game, but since it can be obtained pretty early on, that’s a considerable amount of cash. Once they’ve opened the door the Dragon Claw is made for, players can sell it and buy some armor, arrows, or better weapons with the gold they get.

10 The Sapphire Claw

A Just Reward For Solving A Mystery

• Location: Ivarstead, Vilemyr Inn, given as a reward by Wilhelm
• Associated Quest: “Lifting the Shroud”
• Solution: Moth, Owl, Wolf

Talking to Wilhelm, the local barkeep in Ivarstead, will bring to light some strange happenings that have been occurring in town. Wilhelm believes that a ghost from nearby Shroud Hearth Barrow is haunting the village at night. The Dragonborn, of course, can choose to investigate the matter.

At first, it seems that Wilhelm is correct and that a ghost really is haunting the premises. However, confronting the spirit and defeating him reveals the “ghost” to be an imposter. The specter is actually Wyndelius Gatharian, a treasure hunter masquerading as a ghost who slowly lost his mind searching for riches within the barrow. Returning to Wilhelm with the truth will yield the Sapphire Dragon Claw as a reward. With a considerable value of 500 Gold, the Sapphire Dragon Claw is among the most valuable in the entire game.

9 The Emerald Claw

One Of The Few Dragon Claws That Are Easy To Obtain

• Location: Reachwater Rock, southeast of Markarth, sitting atop a podium
• Associated Quest: “Forbidden Legend”
• Solution: Bear, Whale, Snake

Whereas some claws are rather difficult to acquire, the Emerald Dragon Claw is actually quite easy to get. The item itself is necessary for completing the “Forbidden Legend” quest. The claw comes into play at the very end of the quest when a series of doors need to be unlocked.

The Emerald Dragon Claw can be found shortly after entering Reachwater Rock. In the center of the first room is a podium along with a recently deceased adventurer. The claw can be retrieved from the podium, where it will be used to unlock the first door.

8 The Ebony Claw

A Sneaky Claw, Hiding In Plain Sight

• Location: Korvanjund, northeast of Whiterun, laying in front of the puzzle door in Korvanjund Halls
• Associated Quest: “The Jagged Crown”
• Solution: Fox, Moth, Dragon

The conflict between the Imperials and Stormcloaks looms large in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. No matter which side the Dragonborn chooses, it becomes clear that both factions seek to claim the Jagged Crown, an ancient Nordic headpiece. Finding the crown as well as the Ebony Claw involves traveling to Korvanjund.

Eventually, the player’s progress in the tomb will be stopped by the all-too-familiar Nordic puzzle door. Luckily, the requisite claw can be found at the foot of the door hiding in plain sight. As always, reading the inscription on the claw will yield the solution to the puzzle. While the Ebony Dragon Claw might not be as shiny as others in the game made from apparently more precious materials, it has a value of no less than 800 Gold, which is a small fortune and can be used to purchase a wide variety of items once the door it’s linked to has been opened.

7 The Glass Claw

Needed To Open The Tomb Of One Of The Most Infamous Dragon Priests To Have Ever Existed

• Location: Forelhost, southeast of Riften, sitting atop a pedestal in Forelhost Refectory
• Associated Quest: “Siege on the Dragon Cult”
• Solution: Fox, Owl, Snake

Dragons once ruled the land of Skyrim with an iron fist. They were also worshiped by a collection of fanatical priests, many of whom still endure in an undead state. Forelhost is the burial site of Rahgot, a particularly violent Dragon Priest who once ordered all of his loyal followers to commit mass, ritualistic suicide.

Defeating the ancient villain and claiming his mask requires the Glass Claw. Getting to it isn’t easy considering the legions of bony denizens that must be overcome first. The Glass Claw can be found in the Refectory sitting atop a pedestal. It’s essential for unlocking the puzzle door that ultimately leads to Rahgot’s final resting place. As players should expect, the fight will not be easy, as an evil so great isn’t defeated quickly or without a considerable amount of effort and sacrifice. Players will have to dodge Rahgot’s attacks and try to hit him for some damage, while also dealing with a handful of Draugr Deathlords in the process. In a scenario like this, patience, high Health stats, and hard-hitting weapons will be ideal.

6 The Ruby Claw

Part Of A Harsh Requirement To Join The Bards College

• Location: Dead Men’s Respite, southwest of Morthal, sitting on a table shortly after entering the ruin
• Associated Quest: “Tending the Flames”
• Solution: Wolf, Hawk, Wolf

Being a bard in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim can be a potentially dangerous occupation. For example, the entrance examination for the Bards College involves tomb raiding an ancient ruin in order to locate a legendary poem that was thought to be lost for centuries. The admittance test for the Companions isn’t even that brutal!

The poem, known as the Poetic Edda, can be found in Dead Man’s Respite. One of the first items that greets the player inside the tomb is the Ruby Dragon Claw, which is needed once the Dragonborn reaches the end of the dungeon. A word of warning, though. Picking up the claw will trigger a draugr ambush.

5 The Coral Claw

Can Be Obtained In More Than One Way

• Location: Winterhold, purchased from Birna OR Yngol Barrow, sitting on a table
• Associated Quest: “Yngol’s Barrow”
• Solution: Snake, Wolf, Moth

Birna is a local pawnbroker in Winterhold who seems to be experiencing some rough times. She will state that her shop is in some financial trouble and will let slip an interesting piece of information. Birna possesses a Coral Dragon Claw, which she regards as quite useless. She will happily sell it to the player for 50 gold.

The claw can actually be obtained another way as well. Traveling to Yngol’s Barrow without talking to Birna will make the Coral Dragon Claw appear inside the dungeon resting on a pedestal. It doesn’t matter which method is used to obtain the claw. Both are identical and will unlock the valuable treasure contained within Yngol’s Barrow. If players want to explore or simply don’t feel like spending 50 Gold (although it’s worth 150) on the Coral Claw, the Yngol’s Barrow method is certainly preferable; however, is it really worth traveling that far just to avoid a small fare?

4 The Iron Claw

Found Amid A Heroic Effort To Keep An Ancient Evil Contained

• Location: Valthume, southeast of Markarth, resting atop a booby-trapped pedestal in the Catacombs
• Associated Quest: “Evil in Waiting”
• Solution: Dragon, Hawk, Wolf

Valthume is yet another Nordic tomb that houses an ancient evil. It serves as the resting place of Hevnoraak, a charismatic Dragon Priest who managed to enthrall legions of loyal followers. A spirit by the name of Valdar will plead with the Dragonborn to assist him in keeping the villain contained.

Helping Valdar is a long process and takes place throughout the entirety of the dungeon. One of the places the Dragonborn needs to visit is the Catacombs, where plenty of Draugr and spiders await. The Iron Claw sits atop a booby-trapped pedestal. Removing it will trigger flames to erupt from the nearby statues.

3 The Ivory Claw

Easy To Obtain, As Unfortunate As The Situation Around Its Finding Is

• Location: Folgunthur, southeast of Solitude, on the corpse of Daynas Valen
• Associated Quest: “Forbidden Legend”
• Solution: Hawk, Hawk, Dragon

This particular claw is also associated with the quest “Forbidden Legend.” Completing the quest requires a fair bit of traveling, but the player’s first stop should be Folgunthur, just south of Solitude. Once there, it’s clear the player isn’t the first individual who tried to explore the tomb.

The Ivory Dragon Claw is already in the possession of another adventurer, Daynas Valen. Fortunately for the Dragonborn, Valen has already met an untimely end. The player can find his corpse after ascending the central staircase. The claw is still on Valen’s body and will unsurprisingly be needed to explore Folgunthur to its fullest extent.

2 The Diamond Claw

Found In An Area That Can Only Be Visited Once In The Game

• Location: Skuldafn, specifically Skuldafn Temple, on the corpse of a leveled draugr
• Associated Quest: “The World-Eater’s Eyrie”
• Solution: Fox, Moth, Dragon

The Diamond Claw is contained within a very special location. It’s located in Skuldafn, a place that can only be visited once as part of the main questline. Skuldafn is filled to the brim with Alduin’s minions, including draugr and dragons.

The first place the player should enter is Skuldafn Temple. Maneuvering through the dungeon is a pretty straightforward affair. Eventually, the Dragonborn will come across a puzzle door that’s guarded by a leveled enemy. Looting his corpse will yield the Diamond Claw, which will unlock the door and allow the player to exit the temple. The Diamond Claw has a whopping value of 1000 Gold, which makes sense due to the materials used to make it.

1 The Amethyst Claw

The Only Dragon Claw That Comes In More Than One Piece

• Location: Vahlok’s Tomb, northern and southern gates, each half on the corpse of a leveled enemy
• Associated Quest: “Lost Legacy”
• Solution: Eagle, Wolf, Dragon

The Amethyst Claw is the only one of its kind that comes in two parts. It’s associated with the quest “Lost Legacy,” part of The Elder Scrolls 5: Dragonborn DLC. Both pieces of the claw can be found inside Vahlok’s Tomb. One half of the claw is located down the southern passage, while the other can be found at the end of the northern passage.

Follow the southern passage to its conclusion, which will culminate in a battle with a leveled draugr. His corpse holds the left half of the Amethyst Claw. A similar exercise will characterize the northern passage. Defeating that leveled boss will yield the right half of the claw. Return to the central chamber and insert each half of the Amethyst Claw into both keyholes in order to progress.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is currently available on PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.