How to Obtain Both the Ring of Hircine and Savior’s Hide in Skyrim: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to snag both the Ring of Hircine and the Savior’s Hide in Skyrim? It’s a common desire, as both artifacts offer unique benefits. While the game usually forces you to choose, there’s a well-known glitch that allows you to acquire both. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Start the Quest: Ill Met By Moonlight: Initiate the quest by speaking to Mathies in Falkreath, or by encountering Sinding in the Falkreath Jail.
2. Agree to Spare Sinding: During the quest, agree to help Sinding hunt the hunters sent after him. This is crucial for setting up the glitch.
3. Defeat the Hunters: Team up with Sinding and eliminate the hunters within the Bloated Man’s Grotto.
4. Talk to Sinding: After defeating the hunters, speak with Sinding to complete this stage of the quest. He will remain in his werewolf form.
5. Exit the Grotto and Speak to Hircine’s Aspect: Upon exiting the grotto, Hircine’s spirit will appear. He’ll commend you on turning the hunt around. He will remove the curse from the Cursed Ring of Hircine, giving you the Ring of Hircine.
6. Re-enter the Grotto and Kill Sinding: This is the critical step. Go back into Bloated Man’s Grotto and kill Sinding.
7. Skin Sinding: After killing him, loot his body and take his hide.
8. Hircine’s Second Appearance: Hircine’s spirit will appear again, impressed by your commitment to the hunt. This time, he’ll transform Sinding’s hide into the Savior’s Hide.
9. Collect Your Prize: You should now have both the Ring of Hircine and the Savior’s Hide.

This method exploits a quirk in the quest’s scripting, allowing you to fulfill both the “spare Sinding” and “kill Sinding” conditions. Note that this technique is considered an exploit and may be patched in future game updates. So act fast! Now let’s dive into the specifics and explore some common questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Ring of Hircine

1. Can you use the Ring of Hircine without being a werewolf? No, the Ring of Hircine is specifically designed for werewolves. It provides additional transformations per day, bypassing the usual one-transformation limit. It has no effect on non-werewolf characters.

2. What is the benefit of the Ring of Hircine? The Ring of Hircine allows werewolves to transform an unlimited number of times per day. This is particularly useful for those who enjoy playing as a werewolf and want more control over their transformations.

3. Is the Ring of Hircine a Daedric artifact? Yes, the Ring of Hircine counts as one of the Daedric artifacts required for the Oblivion Walker achievement/trophy. So too does the Savior’s Hide.

4. Is sparing Sinding worth it? If you are a werewolf, sparing Sinding initially is worth it to get the uncursed Ring of Hircine. The ring’s ability to control transformations can greatly enhance your werewolf gameplay experience. If you aren’t a werewolf, killing Sinding and obtaining the Savior’s Hide is likely more beneficial.

The Savior’s Hide

5. Is Savior’s Hide worth it? The Savior’s Hide is a unique light armor piece that provides resistance to both magic (15%) and poison (50%). While enchanting can eventually provide superior resistances, the Savior’s Hide is valuable early to mid-game, especially for characters vulnerable to magic.

6. What armor goes well with Savior’s Hide? Due to its unique appearance, the Savior’s Hide can be paired with various armor pieces for aesthetic appeal. Popular choices include Stormcloak Officer armor (without the chest piece) or Forsworn armor (without the chest piece), allowing you to retain the Savior’s Hide visual while adding additional armor pieces for protection and style.

7. Does Savior’s Hide count as a Daedric artifact? Yes, as mentioned before, both the Ring of Hircine and the Savior’s Hide count as Daedric artifacts for the Oblivion Walker achievement/trophy.

Hircine and the Quest

8. Is Hircine good or bad? Hircine is a Daedric Prince associated with the hunt, sportsmanship, and the cycle of predator and prey. He isn’t necessarily “good” or “evil” in the traditional sense, but rather embodies primal, natural forces. His actions are driven by his domain and the thrill of the hunt.

9. What happens if you defy Hircine? During the “Ill Met By Moonlight” quest, even if you initially defy Hircine’s expectations (by helping Sinding instead of hunting him), Hircine will still reward you for the unexpected turn of events. He appreciates the cunning and adaptability demonstrated in the hunt.

10. Why is Sinding not talking to me? Sometimes, Sinding may not approach the bars when you enter the Falkreath Jail, preventing you from starting the quest. Try re-entering the jail, or attacking him through the bars with spells or arrows. These actions can sometimes trigger the dialogue.

Werewolves in Skyrim

11. Can you become a werewolf without joining the Companions? Yes, although it’s more challenging. One method involves contracting Lycanthropy from specific members of the Companions (Skjor, Aela, Vilkas, or Farkas) while they are in werewolf form or through mods.

12. Should I be a werewolf in Skyrim? Becoming a werewolf offers several benefits, including disease resistance and powerful transformations. It’s a fun and engaging playstyle for players who enjoy combat and want to embrace a more primal, bestial side of their character. Whether it’s worth it depends on your play style and preferences. Consider that the playstyle limits your ability to get the “Well Rested” bonus from sleeping.

13. What is the best werewolf ring in Skyrim? While the Ring of Hircine is essential for controlling transformations, the Ring of the Moon (obtained through certain mods) is considered one of the best rings for werewolves. It increases your howl duration by 25%, providing a significant advantage during combat.

Daedric Princes

14. Is Hircine stronger than Molag Bal? Strength among the Daedric Princes is difficult to quantify, as their powers manifest differently. Molag Bal is the Prince of Domination and is arguably one of the most powerful princes, focused on control and enslavement. Hircine, on the other hand, specializes in the hunt and bestial nature. Their strengths are related to their specific domains.

15. Who is the most evil Daedric lord in Skyrim? Molag Bal is widely considered the most “evil” Daedric Prince due to his dominion over enslavement and domination. His actions and motivations are often cruel and malicious, making him a primary antagonist in the Elder Scrolls lore.

Hopefully, this guide has clarified the process of obtaining both the Ring of Hircine and Savior’s Hide in Skyrim, along with answering some of the most common questions about these items, werewolves, and the Daedric Prince Hircine himself. Good luck on your hunt! To learn more about the intersection of gaming and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.