Azura’s Star: Should You Choose Aranea or Nelacar in Skyrim?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Choosing between Aranea Ienith and Nelacar for Azura’s Star is a pivotal decision in Skyrim. Ultimately, giving the star to Nelacar and obtaining the Black Star is generally considered the more powerful choice due to its ability to capture Grand Souls from any source, including humans, offering a consistent and readily available source of high-level soul gems. However, choosing Aranea gives you the reforged Azura’s Star that holds White Souls, and Aranea as a valuable follower. Therefore the choice depends on what you value most in your Skyrim journey.
The Core Decision: Azura’s Star vs. The Black Star
The quest “The Black Star” presents a fundamental choice: embrace the path of tradition with Azura or delve into the forbidden arts with Nelacar. Your decision dictates the nature of the artifact you receive, shaping your enchanting and soul-trapping capabilities for the rest of your playthrough.
Giving the Star to Aranea: The Path of Azura
If you cleanse the star by returning it to Aranea Ienith at the Shrine of Azura, you will be rewarded with the reforged Azura’s Star. This star functions as a reusable Grand Soul Gem, capable of holding any “white” soul, such as those from animals and creatures.
-
Pros:
- Reusable Soul Gem: Never breaks or is destroyed upon use, providing a continuous supply of soul energy.
- Moral Alignment: Aligns with a more “good” or traditional playthrough, appealing to players seeking a heroic role.
- Aranea Ienith as a Follower: Azura releases Aranea from her service, allowing her to become a powerful mage follower. Aranea is often considered one of the strongest mage followers in the game.
-
Cons:
- Limited Soul Types: Cannot capture human souls, restricting you to creatures for grand soul capture.
- Finding Grand Souls: Requires actively seeking out powerful creatures like mammoths, giants, or deathlords to obtain Grand Souls, which can be time-consuming.
Giving the Star to Nelacar: The Path of the Black Star
Alternatively, taking the broken star to Nelacar in Winterhold will lead you down a different path. He offers to corrupt the star, transforming it into the Black Star. This version can trap human souls, which are always of Grand level.
-
Pros:
- Guaranteed Grand Souls: Capturing human souls guarantees a Grand Soul, making recharging and enchanting more efficient.
- Abundant Soul Source: Humans are prevalent throughout Skyrim, providing an easily accessible source of Grand Souls.
- Efficiency: Easier to fill quickly compared to searching out powerful creatures for the Azura’s Star.
-
Cons:
- Moral Implications: Involves tampering with forbidden magic and potentially harvesting the souls of sentient beings, aligning with a less virtuous playthrough.
- Nelacar’s Personality: Nelacar isn’t the easiest character to like, unlike Aranea’s loyalty and enthusiasm.
Why the Black Star is Often Preferred
While the choice depends on personal preference and roleplaying considerations, the Black Star is generally considered more beneficial from a gameplay perspective. The sheer abundance of human enemies in Skyrim ensures a constant and easily obtainable source of Grand Souls. This is particularly useful for players who frequently enchant items or recharge enchanted weapons. The Black Star offers a significant advantage in efficiency and convenience.
Enchanting is a core part of the Skyrim experience. Knowing where to allocate your resources is important in order to min-max your build. Consider the following when making your final decision:
- Do you plan on enchanting weapons and armor often?
- Do you have moral qualms about trapping human souls?
- Do you prefer human companions or are you content to go solo?
- Are you looking for the most effective route?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Azura good or bad?
Azura is considered one of the “good” Daedra, but she is more complex than a simple label can convey. Her actions are often benevolent, but she is still a Daedric Prince, and her motivations are not always aligned with mortal interests. She can be good or bad when it suits her. The Daedric Princes are not inherently evil; they simply operate outside human morality.
2. Is Azura’s Star worth it?
Yes, Azura’s Star (or the Black Star) is highly valuable. It is a reusable soul gem, which means it can be used to recharge enchanted weapons or enchant new items without being destroyed. This makes it significantly more efficient than using standard soul gems.
3. What souls can fill Azura’s Star?
Azura’s Star can be filled with “white” souls, meaning the souls of creatures and animals. Wolves, deer, mammoths, and even draugr can all be trapped within Azura’s Star.
4. Can the Black Star be used multiple times?
Yes, the Black Star, like Azura’s Star, can be used infinitely. Once you use the soul stored within it, it becomes empty and can be refilled with another soul.
5. Is Black Soul Gem better than Grand?
A Black Soul Gem can hold any soul, specifically the souls of humanoids (NPC races), which are always Grand Souls. A Grand Soul Gem can hold any soul up to the Grand level, but not human souls unless it’s a Black Soul Gem.
6. Is Aranea a strong follower?
Yes, Aranea Ienith is considered one of the strongest mage followers in Skyrim. She is skilled in destruction magic and has a wide range of spells, making her a valuable asset in combat.
7. Can you marry Aranea Ienith?
Yes, you can marry Aranea Ienith, making her one of the few Bosmer (wood elves) available for marriage in the base game.
8. Can you marry Nelacar in Skyrim?
With mods, yes. In the vanilla game, Nelacar is not a marriage option.
9. Does the Black Star count towards Oblivion Walker?
Yes, choosing either Azura’s Star or the Black Star counts towards the Oblivion Walker achievement, which requires obtaining 15 Daedric artifacts.
10. Can I change Azura’s Star to the Black Star after completing the quest?
No, once you have completed the quest and obtained either Azura’s Star or the Black Star, there is no in-game method to convert it to the other form. Your decision is permanent.
11. Who is the best Daedra?
“Best” is subjective when discussing Daedric Princes. Azura is often considered one of the more benevolent and philanthropic of her kind, making her one of the more favorable Daedric Princes. However, Daedric Princes are complex and cannot be simply labeled as “good” or “evil.”
12. How do you fill Azura’s Star in Skyrim?
To fill Azura’s Star, you must cast the Soul Trap spell on a creature or enemy before killing it. If the creature’s soul is large enough to fill the star, it will automatically be captured, and the star will be filled.
13. Which is better, Azura or Black Star?
From a gameplay perspective, the Black Star is generally considered better due to its ability to capture human souls, providing a consistent source of Grand Souls. However, the “better” choice depends on your playstyle and moral considerations.
14. What’s the best thing to do with Azura’s Star?
The best use of Azura’s Star is for enchanting powerful weapons and armor with high-level enchantments and recharging your most frequently used enchanted weapons. This ensures you always have a ready supply of soul energy.
15. Is Azura a good Daedric Prince?
While Azura is one of the more benevolent Daedric Princes, she is not without her flaws. Her actions and motivations are not always understandable or aligned with human morality. She is considered one of the most benevolent Daedra.
Conclusion
The choice between Azura’s Star and the Black Star boils down to your playstyle, moral compass, and long-term enchanting goals. If you prioritize efficiency and readily available Grand Souls, the Black Star is the superior option. If you prefer a more traditional path and don’t mind hunting for creatures with Grand Souls, then Azura’s Star is the better choice. Both options offer a powerful reusable soul gem that enhances your enchanting capabilities. No matter which you choose, you’re on the path to becoming a master enchanter in Skyrim.
For further exploration of game mechanics and design, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to learn more about the academic study of video games.