The True Reward: What Happens When You Spare Barbas in Skyrim

Letting Barbas live in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ultimately rewards you with the Masque of Clavicus Vile, a unique Daedric artifact. This choice not only unlocks the artifact but also allows you to progress towards the coveted Oblivion Walker achievement. Opting to spare the canine companion of Clavicus Vile has far-reaching implications beyond just acquiring a powerful item, as it can be argued that it contributes to a slightly less chaotic Tamriel.

The Masque of Clavicus Vile: More Than Just a Pretty Face

The Masque of Clavicus Vile is a heavy armor helmet that offers several valuable benefits to the Dragonborn. It enhances your Speech skill by 10 points, making persuasion and intimidation attempts more successful. Furthermore, it improves bartering, resulting in 20% better prices when buying and selling items. For characters focused on social skills, trading, or simply roleplaying as a charismatic Dragonborn, the Masque provides a significant advantage. Beyond the immediate stat boosts, possessing the Masque also grants access to unique dialogue options and interactions, furthering your immersion within the game world.

This Daedric artifact is useful for any class, which is unlike some other artifacts that tend to specialize in a niche area. While the armor rating isn’t the highest, the speech and price benefits are very useful in every playthrough. It can even be argued that the price benefit is far more useful during the early game when gold is typically more valuable.

Why Sparing Barbas is the “Better” Choice

While the choice ultimately rests with the player, several compelling arguments favor sparing Barbas.

• The Oblivion Walker Achievement: As mentioned earlier, acquiring the Masque of Clavicus Vile is necessary for unlocking the Oblivion Walker achievement. If you’re a completionist, this alone makes sparing Barbas the preferable option. The Rueful Axe does not count towards the achievement.

• Moral Implications: Killing Barbas simply to keep the Rueful Axe can be seen as a cruel act. While morality is subjective in Skyrim, many players prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, especially when dealing with a seemingly loyal and harmless creature (even if he is a Daedra).

• A Balanced Clavicus Vile: The game narrative hints that with Barbas’s return, Clavicus Vile becomes less destructive and erratic in his machinations. While the impact is largely unseen in-game, the suggestion that your choice has a broader consequence on the world adds weight to the decision.

• The Rueful Axe is…Disappointing: Statistically, the Rueful Axe simply isn’t that great. It’s slow, doesn’t deal exceptional damage, and isn’t particularly unique compared to other weapons you can find or craft throughout Skyrim.

• Roleplaying Opportunities: Choosing to let Barbas live opens up interesting roleplaying possibilities. Perhaps your Dragonborn values companionship, or they see the bigger picture and understand that the Masque is the more strategic choice.

The Rueful Axe: A Cautionary Tale

The Rueful Axe might seem appealing at first glance, but its stats and lack of unique enchantments make it a subpar weapon. It is a two-handed war axe that deals a decent amount of physical damage, but it lacks any magical properties or special effects that would make it stand out from other weapons. It is also relatively slow, which can be a disadvantage in combat. You can find or craft better weapons easily. If you’re truly set on obtaining the axe, you can get it, do what you need to do, then reload the save and choose the mask.

Reaching Level 10 And “A Daedra’s Best Friend”

The quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend” will only become available once your Dragonborn reaches Level 10. To initiate it, head to Falkreath and look for Lod, the blacksmith. He’ll likely approach you or be easily found within his smithy. Lod will express concern about a dog he saw and task you with finding it. This conversation triggers the quest, leading you to Barbas and the beginning of your interaction with Clavicus Vile.

FAQs: All About Barbas and the Masque

Here are some frequently asked questions to clarify any lingering doubts about Barbas, the quest, and the rewards:

1. Can you keep both the Rueful Axe and the Masque of Clavicus Vile?

No, you cannot obtain both items in a single playthrough without using exploits like saving and reloading your game. The choice is mutually exclusive. Choosing to kill Barbas results in you keeping the axe, but it doesn’t count toward the Daedric Artifact achievement. Returning the axe to Clavicus Vile rewards you with the Masque.

2. Does Barbas count as a pet or follower?

During the quest, Barbas acts as a temporary follower. However, he is classified as a quest follower, meaning he will only accompany you for the duration of “A Daedra’s Best Friend.” He cannot be permanently recruited as a pet without the use of mods. He is also unkillable during the quest.

3. What happens if I lose Barbas during the quest?

If Barbas gets lost or you dismiss him, he will automatically travel to Haemar’s Shame, a cave located southeast of Falkreath. You can find him waiting there and resume the quest. He will not wander around aimlessly.

4. Is Clavicus Vile an evil Daedric Prince?

Clavicus Vile is considered a manipulative and often malevolent Daedric Prince. He is the Daedric Prince of Wishes, Deals, and Pacts. He is known for granting wishes with unforeseen and often detrimental consequences, embodying the trope of “be careful what you wish for.”

5. Can you get the Rueful Axe without killing Barbas?

No, the only way to obtain the Rueful Axe is to agree to Clavicus Vile’s request and use the axe to kill Barbas. If you refuse to kill Barbas, you will be given the option to return the axe to Clavicus Vile in exchange for the Masque.

6. Is reuniting Barbas with Clavicus Vile the “right” thing to do?

This is a matter of personal preference and roleplaying choice. Some players believe that reuniting Barbas with Vile is the “right” thing to do because it restores balance to Vile’s power and potentially reduces his chaotic influence on Tamriel. Others might argue that killing Barbas is justified if it benefits the Dragonborn or prevents Vile from causing further harm.

7. How good is Barbas as a companion in combat?

Barbas isn’t the strongest combatant, but he’s useful. He has high health and cannot die during the quest, making him a decent distraction for enemies. However, he doesn’t deal a significant amount of damage. His main strength lies in his invincibility and ability to draw aggro. He is also a source of commentary and light entertainment during your travels.

8. Is Barbas a Daedra himself?

Yes, Barbas is a shapeshifting Daedra. He is a significant portion of Clavicus Vile’s power, and he is capable of taking on various forms, but he most commonly appears as a dog. He is Vile’s loyal servant and companion.

9. How do I start the “A Daedra’s Best Friend” quest?

The quest starts in Falkreath. You must be at least Level 10. Talk to Lod the blacksmith, who will ask you to find a dog he’s concerned about. This will lead you to Barbas outside of town.

10. What breed of dog is Barbas supposed to be?

Barbas doesn’t have an explicitly defined breed, but his appearance most closely resembles an Irish Wolfhound or a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. He is depicted as a large, shaggy dog.

11. Why does Barbas bark so much?

Barbas’s constant barking is often cited as one of his more annoying traits. There is no in-game explanation for why he barks so frequently. Some players speculate that it’s a design choice to emphasize his canine nature or to simply irritate the player. Unfortunately, there is no legitimate in-game way to stop him from barking without mods.

12. Can you tell Barbas to wait or stay somewhere?

You cannot command Barbas to wait or stay like you can with other companions. The only option available is to tell him to leave, which sends him to Haemar’s Shame. This can be inconvenient as he often blocks doorways and constantly pushes against you.

13. Is the Masque of Clavicus Vile heavy or light armor?

The Masque of Clavicus Vile is a heavy armor helmet.

14. What are the enchantments on the Masque of Clavicus Vile?

The Masque of Clavicus Vile has two enchantments: it increases your Speech skill by 10 points and improves prices by 20%. These enchantments make it useful for both dialogue and trading.

15. Does getting the Masque of Clavicus Vile impact my reputation with anyone?

Choosing to spare Barbas and receive the Masque has no negative impact on your reputation with any factions or characters in the game. It is a morally neutral choice that doesn’t affect your standing with any groups.

Ultimately, letting Barbas live is the more rewarding and strategic choice in Skyrim. While the Rueful Axe might seem tempting, the Masque of Clavicus Vile is more valuable due to its enchantments and the fact that it contributes towards the Oblivion Walker achievement. Plus, you get to keep a canine companion – even if it is a Daedric one – from meeting a gruesome end. As you journey through the vast world of Skyrim, remember that the choices you make, no matter how small, can have a lasting impact. For more engaging discussions on the intersection of gaming and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.