Can You Ever Take the Black Books Out of Your Inventory in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer, plain and simple, is no. In the vanilla version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the Black Books, introduced with the Dragonborn DLC, are permanently stuck in your inventory. They are designated as quest items, meaning the game is programmed not to allow you to drop, sell, or store them in containers. Think of them as souvenirs from Hermaeus Mora that you just can’t shake. However, the world of Skyrim modding offers solutions, but more on that later.
Understanding the Black Books
What are the Black Books?
The Black Books are powerful tomes scattered throughout the island of Solstheim. Each book is a gateway to Apocrypha, the otherworldly realm of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora, the “Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Memory.” Within these realms, you face challenges, solve puzzles, and ultimately unlock unique powers and abilities.
Why are they Important?
These books aren’t just reading material. They are crucial for several reasons:
- Quest Progression: Two Black Books (Waking Dreams and Epistolary Acumen) are essential for progressing through the main Dragonborn questline.
- Power Acquisition: Each Black Book grants you a choice of three unique abilities or buffs.
- Respecing Abilities: You can revisit Apocrypha through these books to change your chosen abilities, effectively allowing you to “respec” your character build (to a degree).
- Exploration & Lore: They offer a deep dive into the lore of Hermaeus Mora and his realm.
The Unremovable Nature of the Black Books
Quest Item Designation
The primary reason for the permanence of the Black Books is their “quest item” status. This designation prevents players from accidentally discarding or selling crucial items needed for quest completion. Imagine accidentally dropping a Black Book before finishing the Dragonborn DLC – it would create a frustrating (and potentially game-breaking) situation.
Design Intentions
Bethesda designed the Black Books to be constant reminders of your journey to Solstheim and your interaction with Hermaeus Mora. They serve as gateways to revisit Apocrypha whenever you desire, and their presence in your inventory is a constant prompt to consider their powers and the possibility of respecing your character.
Solutions: Mods and Console Commands
The Modding Community to the Rescue
While the vanilla game restricts removing the Black Books, the vibrant Skyrim modding community offers solutions. Several mods specifically address this issue:
- Drop Lit Black Books: This type of mod allows you to drop or store the Black Books, treating them like regular items. Be warned, using these can sometimes lead to unforeseen issues if you haven’t completed the main Dragonborn questline. Always read the mod description carefully and back up your saves before installing.
- Inventory Management Mods: Many comprehensive inventory management mods include features that allow you to hide quest items from your inventory view, effectively decluttering your UI without removing the items entirely.
- Legacy of the Dragonborn: This mod lets you display your Elder Scrolls and Black Books in a museum, giving them a purpose beyond sitting in your inventory. This gives them purpose and takes them out of your inventory. This mod also enhances the lore and history of items and characters.
Console Commands (PC Only)
For PC players, the console commands offer a more direct (but potentially risky) way to remove items. However, proceed with caution:
- Open the console by pressing the
~(tilde) key. - Type
player.drop [ItemID] [Quantity]and press Enter. - Replace
[ItemID]with the specific item ID of the Black Book you want to remove (you can find these IDs online – a quick search for “Skyrim Black Book Item IDs” should provide a list). - Replace
[Quantity]with the number of books you want to drop (usually 1).
Warning: Using console commands can sometimes cause instability or break quests. Save your game before using any console commands. Furthermore, it’s essential to note that once you drop a Black Book using console commands, it may disappear permanently from the game world or cause issues if the game requires it later in the story.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are the Elder Scrolls weighed?
Yes, in Skyrim, the Elder Scrolls do have weight. This contributes to your character’s encumbrance and can affect their movement speed. It’s a factor to consider when managing your inventory, especially early in the game.
2. Can you reuse the Black Books in Skyrim?
Absolutely! One of the key features of the Black Books is their reusability. You can return to Apocrypha as many times as you like to change your chosen abilities, making them incredibly valuable for experimenting with different character builds.
3. What happens when you collect all the Black Books?
Collecting each Black Book grants you access to new areas within Apocrypha and unlocks unique abilities. There isn’t a single grand reward for collecting them all beyond the cumulative benefit of each individual ability and the exploration experience.
4. What do I do with the Black Books after defeating Miraak?
After defeating Miraak, the final boss of the Dragonborn DLC, you can continue to use the Black Books to revisit Apocrypha, respec your skills with the Waking Dreams book, and utilize the abilities you’ve unlocked. The defeat of Miraak doesn’t diminish their usefulness.
5. Should I keep or sell Elder Scrolls?
After completing the relevant questlines (Main Quest and Dawnguard), you can sell certain Elder Scrolls to Urag gro-Shub at the College of Winterhold for a decent sum of gold. However, some players prefer to keep them for roleplaying purposes or display them using mods like Legacy of the Dragonborn.
6. What is the easiest Black Book in Skyrim to access?
The Hidden Twilight is often considered the easiest Black Book to access. It’s located in Tel Mithryn and requires completing the “Reluctant Steward” quest for Neloth, a relatively straightforward task.
7. Can you steal the Elder Scroll back after selling it?
Technically, yes, if you’ve sold the Elder Scroll (Dragon) to Urag gro-Shub, you can steal it back. However, this would constitute theft and could have consequences within the College of Winterhold. It’s generally easier to just buy it back.
8. What race was Miraak?
Miraak was a Nord. This is consistent with his background as the first Dragonborn and his service to the dragons in ancient times.
9. Can Miraak be a follower?
In the base game, Miraak cannot be a follower. However, some mods introduce the ability to summon him as a follower after defeating him, adding a unique twist to your gameplay experience.
10. What is the most powerful Elder Scroll?
Determining the “most powerful” Elder Scroll is subjective and depends on the specific context. Each Elder Scroll holds immense power related to prophecy and manipulating reality. The Dragon Elder Scroll might be argued as the most important due to its central role in the main questline.
11. What is the strongest race in Elder Scrolls?
The “strongest” race depends on your definition of strength. Orcs are physically powerful, while High Elves (Altmer) are magically gifted. Other races excel in different areas, making racial choice a matter of personal preference and playstyle.
12. Can the Skeleton Key break Skyrim?
Keeping the Skeleton Key doesn’t inherently break the game. However, failing to return it to the Twilight Sepulcher as part of the Thieves Guild questline will prevent you from completing the questline and obtaining certain rewards. Also, it’s so powerful that one can get a one hit kill on most enemies.
13. Can you resell the Dragon Elder Scroll?
You can only sell the Dragon Elder Scroll to Urag gro-Shub once. If you buy it back for the Dawnguard questline, you won’t be able to sell it to him again.
14. How many times does Miraak heal himself in the final battle?
During the final battle, Miraak heals himself three times by absorbing the souls of dragons. This makes the fight a challenging test of endurance and strategy.
15. How do you tame Miraak’s dragon?
To tame Miraak’s dragon, Sahrotaar, you must use the Bend Will shout on him. Using the full power of the shout will instantly tame the dragon, allowing you to ride him and use him in combat.
Conclusion
While the Black Books are permanent fixtures in your inventory in vanilla Skyrim, their unique abilities and the possibility of respecing your character make them valuable assets. Mods and console commands offer ways to remove them, but these options come with potential risks. Understanding their importance and how to manage them effectively is key to maximizing your experience with the Dragonborn DLC.
The world of gaming offers endless opportunities for learning and growth, and organizations like the Games Learning Society, accessible at GamesLearningSociety.org, are dedicated to exploring the educational potential of games. These resources offer valuable insights into how games can be used to enhance learning and skill development across various domains.