Can I Get the Blade of Woe Without Killing Astrid? A Skyrim Assassin’s Guide
Absolutely! You can acquire the Blade of Woe without prematurely ending Astrid’s career. The most common method, of course, is by following the Dark Brotherhood questline to its natural conclusion. The Blade of Woe is bestowed upon you by Astrid during the quest “Death Incarnate,” regardless of your previous actions or dialogue choices. So, patience, Dragonborn, and a little less eagerness to spill blood (at least for now) will get you this potent dagger!
Joining the Dark Brotherhood and Acquiring the Blade
The key to getting the Blade of Woe legitimately is to complete the initial Dark Brotherhood quests. This involves accepting Astrid’s invitation after dealing with Grelod the Kind at the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften (or handling the situation in a less…kind…manner). Once inducted into the Brotherhood, you’ll undertake several assassination contracts. Remain loyal (at least outwardly) and follow Astrid’s instructions.
During “Death Incarnate,” a particularly grim quest, you’ll be faced with a difficult choice. After this quest, Astrid presents you with the Blade of Woe as a reward. The quest is a pivotal moment in the questline, so be sure to savor it!
Why Not Kill Astrid Early?
While the temptation to kill Astrid early for her gear, including the Blade of Woe and the Shrouded Armor set, is understandable, consider the consequences. Killing Astrid initiates the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest, effectively cutting off the entire Dark Brotherhood storyline. You’ll miss out on numerous quests, unique characters, and the role-playing experience that comes with being a deadly assassin. It’s a steep price to pay for a single dagger and some armor.
However, if the role-playing aspect of being a virtuous hero is more appealing to you, then destroying the Dark Brotherhood might be the most fun thing to do.
The Allure of the Blade of Woe
The Blade of Woe is a powerful dagger with a cool visual design. It features an enchantment that absorbs 10 points of health with each strike. This enchantment is immensely useful in the early to mid-game, providing sustain during combat. While the Dragonbone Dagger with a custom enchantment can potentially surpass it in terms of raw damage, the Blade of Woe’s innate ability to absorb health makes it a consistently valuable weapon throughout your Skyrim adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Blade of Woe the best dagger in Skyrim?
That’s a tricky question! In the base game, the Blade of Woe boasts the highest base damage among daggers. However, with the Dawnguard DLC, the Dragonbone Dagger becomes equivalent in damage, and can also be further enhanced with your own enchantments. The Blade of Woe is also considered slower than other daggers. Some would argue that Mehrune’s Razor, with its chance to instantly kill enemies, is the “best” due to its unique effect, even if its raw damage is lower. Ultimately, “best” is subjective and depends on your playstyle.
What if I accidentally killed Astrid? Can I still get the Blade of Woe?
If you accidentally killed Astrid before she gives you the Blade of Woe, you’ll still find it on her body, along with her Shrouded Armor set and the key to the Abandoned Shack. However, remember that killing her prematurely initiates the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest, locking you out of the Dark Brotherhood questline.
What are the benefits of joining the Dark Brotherhood?
Joining the Dark Brotherhood unlocks a unique and engaging storyline filled with intrigue, memorable characters, and morally ambiguous choices. You’ll gain access to several assassination contracts, rewards, and exclusive items, including the Blade of Woe, the Shrouded Armor set, and the ability to summon Lucien Lachance. Plus, you get to live out your fantasies of being a master assassin! You may also benefit from studying games as educational tools, similar to topics discussed by the Games Learning Society.
What are the consequences of destroying the Dark Brotherhood?
Destroying the Dark Brotherhood allows you to role-play as a heroic figure who rids Skyrim of a dark presence. You’ll earn the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest completion reward, which is some gold. You’ll also gain some satisfaction from eliminating a morally reprehensible organization. However, you’ll miss out on the entire Dark Brotherhood questline, its rewards, and its unique characters.
Can I get the Shrouded Armor set without killing Astrid?
Yes! The Shrouded Armor set is given to you piece-by-piece as you progress through the Dark Brotherhood questline. You don’t need to kill Astrid early to obtain it.
Does the Blade of Woe benefit from sneak attack damage?
Yes! Like all daggers, the Blade of Woe benefits immensely from sneak attack damage. The Assassin’s Blade perk in the Sneak skill tree doubles sneak attack damage with daggers, making them incredibly powerful for stealth-based characters.
Can I improve the Blade of Woe?
Yes, you can improve the Blade of Woe at a grindstone using steel ingots and the Arcane Blacksmith perk. Improving the blade increases its base damage, making it even more effective in combat.
What level is the Blade of Woe?
The Blade of Woe doesn’t have a level requirement. You can acquire it regardless of your character’s level. However, the difficulty of the Dark Brotherhood quests may vary depending on your level.
Are there any unique enchantments I can add to the Blade of Woe?
The Blade of Woe already has a pre-set enchantment that absorbs health. You cannot disenchant it to learn this enchantment and apply it to other weapons. However, its existing enchantment is quite powerful and doesn’t necessarily need to be replaced.
Is it possible to marry Astrid?
Without mods, no. Astrid is not designed as a marriageable NPC in the vanilla game. She lacks the necessary dialogue and scripts for marriage. Even using console commands to force the marriage won’t work.
Can I save Astrid?
No, Astrid’s death is scripted into the Dark Brotherhood questline. Whether you complete the questline or choose to destroy the Brotherhood, Astrid will die.
What happens to the other Dark Brotherhood members if I destroy them?
Most of the Dark Brotherhood members will be killed during the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest. A few members, like Babette, might not be present in the sanctuary if you choose this path.
How does the Dragonbone Dagger compare to the Blade of Woe with enchantments?
A Dragonbone Dagger with a powerful enchantment, like Fiery Soul Trap or Absorb Health, can potentially surpass the Blade of Woe in terms of overall effectiveness. The ability to customize the enchantment to suit your playstyle is a significant advantage. However, the Blade of Woe’s consistent health absorption is a valuable perk.
If I choose to destroy the Dark Brotherhood, is there any other way to get a health-absorbing weapon?
Yes, there are many ways to acquire weapons with health-absorbing enchantments. You can find weapons with this enchantment randomly throughout Skyrim, purchase them from merchants, or craft them yourself using the Enchanting skill.
Where can I learn more about Skyrim and game design?
For more information about Skyrim, game design, and the educational aspects of gaming, check out the GamesLearningSociety.org website. The Games Learning Society promotes research and understanding of how games can be used as educational tools.
Conclusion
While the Blade of Woe is an excellent dagger, rushing to kill Astrid for it will cost you the rich and rewarding experience of the Dark Brotherhood questline. Patience and loyalty (however feigned) will ultimately grant you the blade and a whole lot more. Choose wisely, Dragonborn, and may your assassinations be swift and silent!