In the vast and enigmatic realm of Skyrim, where ancient secrets and mystical powers intertwine, one of the most intriguing elements that players encounter is the enigmatic Soul Gem. These ethereal vessels possess the ability to capture the very essence of living creatures, empowering mages and enchantments alike with their potent energies. However, the process of filling Soul Gems can be shrouded in confusion, leaving many adventurers perplexed. This comprehensive guide will shed light on the intricate art of Soul Gem filling, empowering you with the knowledge to harness the boundless potential of these enigmatic artifacts.
The first step in filling a Soul Gem is to engage in combat with a living creature. As the creature perishes, its soul is released into the ethereal plane, ready for capture. However, not all creatures possess souls of sufficient strength to fill a Soul Gem. Only those creatures that possess a “soul” or “greater soul” are viable targets. To determine the type of soul a creature possesses, consult the “Detect Souls” power, which can be acquired through the Conjuration skill tree. This power will highlight the souls of nearby creatures, making it easier to identify suitable targets.
Once a suitable creature has been identified, the next step is to deliver the killing blow. It is important to note that the method of killing the creature does not affect the quality of the soul captured. Whether you slay your target with a blade, an arrow, or a powerful spell, the result will be the same. However, it is worth noting that certain enchantments, such as those that deal additional soul damage, can increase the likelihood of capturing a higher-quality soul. With this knowledge in hand, you are now equipped to embark on your journey of Soul Gem filling, unlocking the boundless potential of these enigmatic artifacts.
Locating and Acquiring Filled Soul Gems
Filled soul gems can be found scattered throughout Skyrim, often hidden in chests, dungeons, or on the bodies of defeated enemies. These are the easiest way to obtain filled soul gems, as you don’t need to do anything to fill them yourself.
Purchasing Filled Soul Gems
Filled soul gems can also be purchased from general goods merchants and court wizards in various cities and towns. The price of a filled soul gem varies depending on its size and the type of soul it contains. Larger soul gems are more expensive, and soul gems containing powerful souls are also more expensive.
Filling Soul Gems Yourself
You can also fill soul gems yourself by capturing the souls of creatures you kill. To do this, you need to have a soul gem in your inventory that is large enough to hold the soul of the creature you wish to capture. When you kill a creature, if you have an empty soul gem in your inventory, the soul will be automatically captured in the soul gem.
The size of the soul gem you need to use depends on the size of the creature’s soul. Small creatures, such as rats and rabbits, have small souls that can be captured in petty soul gems. Larger creatures, such as wolves and bears, have common souls that can be captured in common soul gems. Humanoids, such as bandits and mages, have greater souls that can be captured in greater soul gems. Daedra have grand souls that can be captured in grand soul gems, and dragons have black souls that can be captured in black soul gems.
| Creature Type | Soul Size |
|---|---|
| Rats, Rabbits | Petty |
| Wolves, Bears | Common |
| Bandits, Mages | Greater |
| Daedra | Grand |
| Dragons | Black |
Capturing Souls with Soul Trap
Soul Trap is a powerful spell that enables you to capture the souls of your slain foes. This ability is essential for enchanting weapons and armor. To capture a soul, simply cast Soul Trap on your target before it dies. The soul will then be trapped in a Soul Gem, which can be used for enchanting.
There are three main types of Soul Gems: Petty, Lesser, and Grand. Petty Soul Gems can hold the souls of weak creatures, such as wolves and goblins. Lesser Soul Gems can hold the souls of stronger creatures, such as bandits and draugr. Grand Soul Gems can hold the souls of the most powerful creatures, such as dragons and mammoths.
Choosing the Right Soul Gem
When choosing a Soul Gem, it is important to select one that is large enough to hold the soul of your target. If you use a Soul Gem that is too small, the soul will be lost. The following table shows the maximum soul size for each type of Soul Gem:
| Soul Gem Type | Maximum Soul Size |
|---|---|
| Petty Soul Gem | 100 |
| Lesser Soul Gem | 250 |
| Grand Soul Gem | 1000 |
Utilizing Soul Gems in Enchanting
Filling Soul Gems
To fill a Soul Gem, you must first engage in combat with a living creature. Once the creature is defeated, you must quickly approach its remains and cast the Soul Trap spell. This spell will capture the creature’s soul and store it within the Soul Gem.
Filling Soul Gems with Different Sizes
Soul Gems come in various sizes, each capable of holding the souls of creatures of different strengths. The larger the Soul Gem, the more powerful the creature’s soul it can contain. The following table outlines the size of Soul Gems and the creatures they can capture:
| Soul Gem Size | Creatures That Can Be Captured |
|---|---|
| Petty | Imps, Skeevers, Rats |
| Lesser | Wolves, Bears, Spriggans |
| Common | Trolls, Draugr, Undead |
| Greater | Dragons, Giants, Mammoths |
| Grand | Dragon Priests, Wispmothers |
Utilizing Filled Soul Gems
Once a Soul Gem is filled, it can be used to enchant weapons, armor, and other items. Enchanting allows you to add special properties and abilities to your items, such as increased damage, elemental resistances, or healing effects.
How to Fill Soul Gems in Skyrim
Crafting Soul Gems in Dragonborn DLC
The Dragonborn DLC introduces the ability to craft soul gems. This allows you to create your own gems to fill with souls, rather than having to rely on finding them in the wild.
Requirements
To craft soul gems, you will need the following:
- Soul Husk: A soul husk is a type of enchanted gem that is used to create soul gems. You can find soul husks in various locations throughout Solstheim, or you can purchase them from merchants.
- Filled Soul Gem: You will need a filled soul gem in order to create a new soul gem. The soul gem must be of the same size or larger than the soul gem you want to create.
- Arcane Enchanter: You will need to use an arcane enchanter to craft soul gems. Arcane enchanters can be found in various locations throughout Skyrim, or you can purchase them from merchants.
Crafting Process
To craft a soul gem, follow these steps:
- Place the soul husk and filled soul gem in the arcane enchanter. The soul husk will be placed in the left slot and the filled soul gem will be placed in the right slot.
- Select the "Craft Soul Gem" option. This will open a menu where you can select the size of the soul gem you want to create.
- Click on the "Craft" button. The arcane enchanter will create a new soul gem of the selected size.
Types of Soul Gems
There are six different sizes of soul gems in Skyrim:
| Size | Souls |
|---|---|
| Petty | 1 |
| Lesser | 4 |
| Common | 16 |
| Greater | 64 |
| Grand | 256 |
| Black | Grand & Black Souls |
Levelling Enchanting with Soul Gems
Filling soul gems is essential for enchanting and levelling up your enchanting skill. Here’s how to do it:
Using Soul Trap
Cast the Soul Trap spell on an enemy before killing it. This will trap its soul in a soul gem, which you can then use to enchant items.
Purchasing Soul Gems
Soul gems can be purchased from court wizards and general goods merchants. The size of the soul gem determines the strength of the soul it can hold.
Finding Soul Gems in the World
Soul gems can be found scattered around the world, often in dungeons and caves. They can also be found in the possession of enemies.
Black Soul Gems
Black soul gems can only hold human souls. They are more valuable than regular soul gems and can be used to create more powerful enchantments.
Grand Soul Gems
Grand soul gems can hold the souls of powerful creatures like dragons and mammoths. They are the largest and most valuable type of soul gem.
Using Soul Gems to Level Enchanting
Enchantment strength is determined by the soul gem used. The stronger the soul, the more powerful the enchantment. Using larger soul gems with higher-level souls will quickly level up your enchanting skill.
Filling Soul Gems with Different Soul Sizes
| Soul Size | Soul Gem Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Petty | Petty Soul Gem | Skeevers, Mudcrabs |
| Lesser | Lesser Soul Gem | Wolves, Bandits |
| Common | Common Soul Gem | Hagravens, Draugr |
| Greater | Greater Soul Gem | Mammoths, Spriggans |
| Grand | Grand Soul Gem | Dragons, Legendary Dragons |
How To Fill Soul Gems In Skyrim
Soul gems are used in Skyrim to trap the souls of creatures and people. These souls can then be used to enchant weapons and armor, or to power certain magical effects. There are several ways to fill soul gems in Skyrim.
The most common way to fill a soul gem is to kill a creature or person with a weapon that has the Soul Trap enchantment. When a creature or person is killed with a Soul Trap weapon, their soul will be trapped in the gem. The size of the soul gem will determine the size of the soul that can be trapped in it. Small soul gems can only trap the souls of weak creatures, while large soul gems can trap the souls of powerful creatures.
Another way to fill a soul gem is to use a soul gem trap spell. These spells will create a trap that will capture the soul of any creature or person that dies within the trap. Soul gem trap spells can be purchased from court wizards or found as loot in dungeons.
Finally, soul gems can also be filled by using a soul gem filler. These devices can be purchased from general goods merchants or found as loot in dungeons. Soul gem fillers will automatically fill empty soul gems with the souls of nearby creatures or people.
People Also Ask About Skyrim How To Fill Soul Gems
Can I fill soul gems with human souls?
Yes, you can fill soul gems with human souls. However, filling a soul gem with a human soul is considered to be a dark and evil act. It is also illegal in most of the holds of Skyrim.
What is the best way to fill soul gems?
The best way to fill soul gems is to use a Soul Trap weapon. This is the most efficient way to fill soul gems, and it also allows you to control the size of the soul that you trap.
Can I fill soul gems with my own soul?
No, you cannot fill soul gems with your own soul. If you try to do this, you will die.
