Blade of Woe
Base Damage: 12	Weight: 7	Base Value: 880
Additional Effects: Absorb 10 points of health
Class: One Handed, Dagger
Perk: Steel Smithing
FormID: 0009CCDC

For other uses, see Blade of Woe.

The Blade of Woe is a unique dagger carried by Astrid, leader of The Dark Brotherhood.

It has the highest base damage for a dagger in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but in Dawnguard, it ties with the Dragonbone Dagger.

AcquisitionEdit

• It can be obtained as a reward upon completion of the quest Death Incarnate.
• Alternatively, it can be obtained by defeating Astrid in the Abandoned Shack and looting it off her body during With Friends Like These....
• Pickpocketing Astrid with the Misdirection perk also works.

SmithingEdit

The Blade of Woe can be upgraded with the Arcane Blacksmith perk at a grindstone. However the process requires no ingots. Nonetheless, it benefits from the Steel Smithing perk, which doubles the improvement.

UsefulnessEdit

Higher attribute-wise than the Daedric Dagger, the Blade of Woe is exceptionally strong. With a Smithing skill of 100, without fortification enchantments or potions, it is possible for the dagger to reach a base damage upwards of 60. Combined with the Assassin's Blade perk and Shrouded Hand Wraps, Shrouded Gloves, Ancient Shrouded Gloves, or Jester's Gloves, sneak attacks can reach 1,800+ damage. With fortification enchantments and potions with the Fortify Smithing effect, it is possible to obtain a base damage upwards of 115. Combined with the other bonuses mentioned above, sneak attacks can reach 2,700+ damage.

The dagger's enchantment has only six base charges. The amount of charge consumed by striking with the dagger lowers as Destruction level increases, assisting magic-based classes. It is actually possible to make the weapon use no charges by equipping four items with a 25% Fortify Destruction effect for a total of 100% reduction (this also works with many other enchantments).

The enchantment is very weak compared to the potential of a player-crafted one. With an Enchanting skill of 100, without using potions that have the Fortify Enchanting effect, an Absorb Health enchantment can do up to 20 damage and have many more charges available.

DuplicationEdit

Successfully Pickpocketing Astrid with the Misdirection perk will yield one blade, another can be received upon completion of the quest Death Incarnate.

TriviaEdit

• Skyrim's Blade of Woe's appearance is much different from the one in Oblivion. It more closely resembles Sufferthorn, a weapon obtained from the Dark Brotherhood in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Not only does it have a similar shape, but it also damages Health as well.
• Small specks of dried blood can be seen along the upper part and tip of the blade.

BugsEdit

•  PC   360   PS3  This weapon is not affected by the "Dual Flurry" perk, retaining standard dagger attack speed, though the other weapon still receives the speed buff.
•  PC   360   PS3  If the Dark Brotherhood is completed after the Main Questline is completed, the Blade of Woe may be irretrievable.
•  PC   360   PS3  It may reappear at the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary beside Astrid's body making it possible to get two without pickpocketing.
•  PC   360   PS3  The dagger has the slower attack speed of a sword, though it maintains the weight and damage expected of a dagger.
•  PC   360   PS3  Sometimes the Blade of Woe will appear in the wall to the left of Astrid. It cannot be taken without using the command "Noclip".

AppearancesEdit

• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (First appearance)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim