Is the Mace of Molag Bal Good? A Definitive Skyrim Guide

Unequivocally, yes, the Mace of Molag Bal is an exceptionally good weapon in Skyrim. It’s not just good; it’s fantastic for a variety of playstyles, particularly those focusing on disruption and control. While it may not be the absolute highest damage-dealing weapon in the game with specific, heavily optimized builds, its inherent qualities, ease of acquisition, and the devastating effects it inflicts make it a reliable and powerful choice throughout your Dragonborn’s adventures.

The Mace of Molag Bal: A Closer Look

The Mace of Molag Bal is a Daedric artifact, obtained by completing the Daedric quest “The House of Horrors” in Markarth. This immediately sets it apart – you can acquire it relatively early in the game. Unlike some end-game weapons requiring high levels or difficult dungeons, the Mace of Molag Bal is accessible to characters of any level (though the dungeon itself may pose a challenge to low-level characters).

Key Features and Benefits

• Base Damage: The mace boasts a solid base damage of 16. While not the highest possible, it’s respectable and competitive, especially considering the weapon’s additional effects.

• Magicka and Stamina Drain: This is where the Mace of Molag Bal truly shines. It inflicts 25 points of damage to both Magicka and Stamina on each hit. This is significant for several reasons:

  • Cripple Spellcasters: Spellcasters rely on Magicka. Draining their Magicka makes them far less effective, preventing them from casting powerful spells and forcing them to resort to weaker options or even melee attacks, giving you a significant advantage.
  • Stagger and Disable Melee Opponents: Draining Stamina affects an enemy’s ability to power attack, block, and even move effectively. Repeated hits with the mace can stagger opponents, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. Power attacks themselves use more Stamina and if they don’t have enough they will also be staggered!
  • Versatile Utility: This drain effect is useful against all enemy types, making the Mace of Molag Bal a versatile weapon capable of handling a wide range of threats.

• Soul Trap: The mace has a built-in Soul Trap enchantment. This allows you to fill soul gems with the souls of defeated enemies, which are essential for enchanting and recharging enchanted weapons. This feature is incredibly useful, as it saves you the trouble of casting Soul Trap spells or using weapons with separate Soul Trap enchantments.

• Daedric Artifact: Being a Daedric artifact, the Mace of Molag Bal cannot be disenchanted. However, this is a positive in this case, because the mace’s unique enchantment is more valuable than anything you could potentially learn from disenchanting it.

Why It’s Good

• Early Accessibility: Get a powerful weapon early on.
• Versatility: Effective against all enemy types.
• Control: Disrupts enemy spellcasters and melee fighters.
• Convenience: Built-in Soul Trap saves time and resources.
• Unique Utility: Draining both Magicka and Stamina is uncommon and incredibly useful.

Compared to Other Maces

While other maces may offer slightly higher base damage with tempering and specific perk investments, the Mace of Molag Bal’s combined damage and disruptive effects often outweigh the raw damage differences. For example, a Daedric Mace might have a higher base damage, but it lacks the Magicka and Stamina drain, which provide far more tactical advantages.

Drawbacks

• Quest Morality: Acquiring the mace involves a Daedric quest that some players may find morally objectionable. Molag Bal is the Daedric Prince of Domination, and his quest reflects this nature.
• Weight: Maces are generally heavier than swords or daggers, which can impact your carry weight.
• No Leveled Enchantment: The enchantment is fixed, meaning it doesn’t scale with your level, although Destruction perks can increase its effectiveness.

FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Mace of Molag Bal

1. What level should I be to get the Mace of Molag Bal?

There is no level requirement. However, the dungeon, “The House of Horrors,” can be challenging for low-level characters due to the number of enemies. Level 10 or higher is generally recommended, but skilled players can tackle it at lower levels.

2. Can the Mace of Molag Bal be improved?

Yes, it can be improved at a workbench using ebony ingots and the Arcane Blacksmith perk. Further improvement is based on your Smithing skill level.

3. How does the Soul Trap enchantment work?

When you kill an enemy with the Mace of Molag Bal, their soul is trapped in a soul gem in your inventory, provided the soul gem is of sufficient size to hold the creature’s soul. Petty soul gems can trap smaller creatures like rats, while grand soul gems are needed for larger creatures like mammoths.

4. Does the Magicka and Stamina drain stack?

No, each hit applies the flat 25 damage to Magicka and Stamina. Subsequent hits refresh the duration of the effect but do not increase the amount of damage drained per hit.

5. Can the enchantment be resisted?

Some enemies have resistances to magic, but these are relatively rare. The majority of enemies will be affected by the Magicka and Stamina drain.

6. Is the Mace of Molag Bal good for stealth characters?

Not particularly. Maces are slow and loud, making them unsuitable for stealth. Stealth characters are better off using daggers or bows.

7. How does the Mace of Molag Bal compare to Volendrung?

Volendrung also drains Stamina, but it doesn’t drain Magicka, and its enchantment has a limited number of charges. The Mace of Molag Bal offers a more consistent and versatile effect.

8. Does the Mace of Molag Bal work on undead?

Yes, it works on undead, even those who don’t inherently rely on Magicka or Stamina. The Stamina drain still affects their ability to power attack and stagger.

9. Can I use the Mace of Molag Bal with a shield?

Absolutely! One-handed weapons, including maces, work well with shields for a balanced approach to combat. This provides both offensive power and defensive capability.

10. Are there any glitches associated with the Mace of Molag Bal?

Occasionally, players have reported issues with the quest, “The House of Horrors,” bugging out. Save frequently before and during the quest to avoid potential problems.

11. Does fortifying Destruction skill increase the Mace of Molag Bal’s damage?

Yes, certain perks in the Destruction skill tree will increase the magnitude of the Mace of Molag Bal’s enchantment effects.

12. Where is the House of Horrors located?

The House of Horrors is located in Markarth. It’s a dilapidated building near the center of the city. Vigilant Tyranus will approach you, initiating the quest.

13. What happens if I refuse Molag Bal’s quest?

You will not obtain the Mace of Molag Bal. You can still complete the quest by killing Vigilant Tyranus, but without assisting Molag Bal.

14. Is the Mace of Molag Bal better than a dragonbone mace?

A fully upgraded Dragonbone Mace might have slightly higher base damage, but it lacks the Magicka and Stamina drain, making the Mace of Molag Bal generally more useful in a wider range of situations. It depends on your preferences, some players still choose Dragonbone Mace because of their higher base damage.

15. Is the Mace of Molag Bal worth doing an evil playthrough?

The moral implications of completing the quest are a matter of personal preference. However, the mace itself is a fantastic weapon and a good incentive to role-play an evil character. The effects and benefits it offers make it worthwhile for players who don’t mind the morally questionable nature of the quest. The study of game choices and their impact on player experience is an interesting field, and organizations such as the Games Learning Society are at the forefront of this research. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

In conclusion, the Mace of Molag Bal is not just a good weapon; it’s a strategically advantageous one that can significantly enhance your Skyrim experience. Its early availability, unique enchantment, and versatile utility make it a valuable asset for any Dragonborn willing to embrace the Daedric Prince’s dark quest.