Black Soul Gem
Weight: 1	Base Value: 300 empty; 750 filled
Type: Soul Gem
FormID: 0002E500

Black Soul Gems are a special type of Soul Gem that, unlike conventional ones, can contain both black and white souls. Black souls are those of sentient, humanoid beings such as Imperials, Argonians, and Dremora, while white souls are those of animals and certain lesser Daedra. All black souls are of the Grand level. Nelacar can transform the star of Daedric Prince Azura, into a black soul gem with unlimited uses. This artifact is known as the "Black Star". When a black soul gem is filled with a soul, that soul goes to the Soul Cairn.

Use

Souls snared in Black Soul Gems can be of any type, although, unlike standard soul gems, they can encapsulate the souls of humanoids. There are many methods by which souls are trapped in Black Soul Gems, the most conventional method being the Soul Trap Conjuration spell. The perk "Soul Stealer" allows Bound weapons to soul trap targets, and an enchantment serving the same function can be added to ordinary weapons. They can also be used to create items at the Atronach Forge.

Ethics

The souls of humanoids trapped in these soul gems remain conscious. They are generally regarded as unethical, and their use is prohibited at The College of Winterhold, despite the institution's lenient stance on the practice of Necromancy. Soul Trapping humanoids is considered a crime in many of Skyrim's Holds.

Locations

Black Soul Gems can be found randomly in chests, and also appear as random loot on Necromancers, Giants, Hagravens, Forsworn Briarhearts, and very rarely, Draugr. Additionally, Magic Anomalies drop Black Soul Gems filled with Grand souls. They are available for purchase from Enthir, a mage of The College of Winterhold, as well as from Falion in Morthal. Each gem prices at about 1300 Septims. Black Soul Gems can also be obtained by mining Geode Veins, found only in Blackreach.

Specific spawn points

Many of the gems listed here may spawn as other Soul Gem types—usually Grand or Greater.

• In Windhelm, Black Soul Gems can be found inside the hidden room in Hjerim after buying the Arcane Enchanter.
• There is a Black Soul Gem in the Cracked Tusk Keep vault, to the right of the entrance, behind some iron bars.
• There is also one in a half-buried pot in front of an altar in Geirmund's Hall, in the room just past Geirmund's corpse.
• One can be found at the bottom of the pond at Steepfall Burrow, near the chest.
• There is one in Broken Fang Cave, in the Master Vampire's chamber, and another at the Shrine of Talos.
• Another one can be found atop Dead Crone Rock, on top of a platform in the tower (requires Unrelenting Force or Whirlwind Sprint).
• After completing Pieces of the Past, a Black Soul Gem respawns every week in the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon. It is on the lower shelf at the very back of the shrine, to the left of the main chest.
• It is also possible to get Black Soul Gems from Gulum-Ei at the end of Scoundrel's Folly, a Thieves Guild quest. The Dragonborn is given three random Soul Gems as a reward, any of which could be a Black Soul Gem.
• There may be a filled Black Soul Gem in a chest in Serpent's Bluff Redoubt.
• There may be a filled one at the end of Shroud Hearth Depths. It is across a broken bridge, in a small alcove that requires Whirlwind Sprint to reach.
• In the Forsworn encampment at the base of Bard's Leap Summit, a chest inside a tent contains a Black Soul Gem.
• One can be found in a chest next to a dead Wood Elf, just north of Karthwasten.
• One can be found in the same chest as Noster's Helmet within Shadowgreen Cavern.
• One can be found on a bloody altar up the steps passed the entrance to Deepwood Redoubt, along with Hagraven Feathers and a few potions.
• One may be found in Nightcaller Temple, during the quest Waking Nightmare.
• You can purchase one from Falion in Morthal.
• Warlord Gathrik, the final boss of Ironbind Barrow, always carries two (empty) black soul gems regardless of level.
• Can be found on the table where Jyrik Gauldurson was sitting before you discover the Eye Of Magnus.
• Can be found in the chest in Brittleshin Pass.
• Can be found in the chest in Mzinchaleft Depths in the chest near fountain.
• Can be found in the chest before the elevator in Avanchnzel .
• Can be found in locked chest in the destroied camp ouside Alftand.
• One can be found on the end table located at Pinewatch in Rigel Strong-Arm's room. (Depending on your level)