Who Should I Give the Black Star To in Skyrim?
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Ultimately, the best choice of who to give the Broken Azura’s Star to in Skyrim, whether Azura or Nelacar, depends on your playstyle and character build. However, most players recommend giving it to Nelacar and transforming it into the Black Star. The Black Star allows you to trap humanoid souls, which are much easier to find and typically provide grand souls, the highest tier of souls needed for powerful enchantments and recharging high-level weapons. While Azura’s Star is useful, the Black Star’s convenience in obtaining grand souls for enchanting often outweighs the benefits of its lesser flexibility. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide:
Azura’s Star vs. The Black Star: A Deep Dive
Understanding the difference between the two versions of the star is crucial to making an informed decision.
Azura’s Star: The Purity of Souls
Azura’s Star, given by Azura after completing the quest by returning the Broken Azura’s Star to her shrine near Winterhold, functions as a reusable soul gem that can trap any soul except humanoid souls. This means you’re limited to trapping animals, creatures, and undead for soul gems. The advantage here is flexibility; you can capture whatever soul happens to be available. This can be helpful early on, before you’ve developed a specific need for grand souls.
The Black Star: The Dark Path to Power
The Black Star, obtained by giving the Broken Azura’s Star to Nelacar in the Frozen Hearth inn in Winterhold, also functions as a reusable soul gem. However, it can only trap humanoid souls. This means bandits, mages, guards, and other NPCs become your source of power. The crucial benefit is that it provides an easily accessible and consistent source of grand souls. Since humanoid enemies are common throughout Skyrim, filling the Black Star with a grand soul is considerably easier than finding a creature that yields one.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing
Several factors should influence your decision. Think about:
- Your Playstyle: Are you a dedicated enchanter who constantly needs grand souls? Do you prefer the convenience of reliably finding humanoid enemies for souls, or do you enjoy hunting rare creatures?
- Your Character Build: If you’re playing a mage or a warrior heavily reliant on enchanted weapons, the constant availability of grand souls from the Black Star is invaluable. For less enchantment-focused characters, Azura’s Star might be sufficient.
- Your Moral Alignment: Trapping the souls of humanoids might feel morally reprehensible to some players. If you’re roleplaying a strictly good character, Azura’s Star might be a better fit thematically.
- Early Game vs. Late Game Needs: Azura’s Star is often more useful early in the game when finding reliable grand souls is difficult. However, as you level up and face stronger humanoid enemies, the Black Star’s advantage becomes much more pronounced.
- Availability of other Soul Gems: If you have access to multiple Grand Soul Gems and the Soul Trap spell, the urgency of having the Black Star diminishes. But, a reusable soul gem will always come in handy.
Detailed Comparison Table
To illustrate the differences, here’s a comparison table:
| Feature | Azura’s Star | The Black Star |
|---|---|---|
| ——————— | ———————————————- | ———————————————- |
| Soul Types | Creatures, Animals, Undead (non-humanoid) | Humanoids |
| Soul Size | Any size available | Always Grand (if available from humanoid) |
| Ease of Filling | Can be challenging to find specific souls | Relatively easy, humanoids are common |
| Moral Implications | Neutral | Dark, potentially evil |
| Best For | Characters with diverse enchanting needs | Dedicated enchanters and power-gamers |
| Early Game | Useful for general soul trapping | Still good, can get Grand Souls easily |
| Late Game | Less crucial, as Grand Souls become easier | Extremely valuable, constant Grand Souls |
Case Studies: Who Benefits Most?
Let’s look at specific character archetypes:
- The Warrior: A warrior heavily reliant on weapon enchantments will greatly benefit from the Black Star’s readily available grand souls to keep their weapons charged and powerful.
- The Mage: Mages constantly need grand souls for enchanting robes, staves, and other equipment. The Black Star is a game-changer for consistent enchanting power.
- The Thief/Assassin: These characters often use enchanted daggers and armor. The Black Star provides a convenient way to keep their gear optimized.
- The Paladin/Good Character: This archetype might struggle with the moral implications of the Black Star and find Azura’s Star more aligned with their values.
- The Casual Player: If you only enchant occasionally, Azura’s Star might be sufficient. But the Black Star’s consistent grand souls still offer an edge.
Making the Final Decision
Ultimately, the choice is yours. However, consider these points before deciding:
- The Black Star is generally considered the more powerful and practical option for most players due to the ease of obtaining grand souls.
- Azura’s Star is a valid choice, especially for roleplaying purposes or if you genuinely prefer not trapping humanoid souls.
- There’s no “wrong” answer. Choose the option that best suits your individual playstyle and character.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the choice between Azura’s Star and the Black Star:
1. What happens if I give the Broken Azura’s Star to Azura?
You receive Azura’s Star, a reusable soul gem that can trap any soul except humanoid souls. You also complete the quest in a “good” ending and receive Azura’s blessing.
2. What happens if I give the Broken Azura’s Star to Nelacar?
You receive the Black Star, a reusable soul gem that can only trap humanoid souls, but always with the highest soul available, up to Grand Souls.
3. Can I get both Azura’s Star and the Black Star in a single playthrough?
No, you can only get one or the other. Once you choose a path, the other becomes inaccessible for that playthrough.
4. Is the Black Star considered an evil item?
The Black Star is often associated with darker paths due to its ability to trap humanoid souls. Whether it’s “evil” is subjective and depends on your character’s moral code.
5. Are Grand Souls the best souls in Skyrim?
Yes, Grand Souls are the highest tier of souls and provide the most potent enchantments and weapon recharging.
6. What are the benefits of using reusable soul gems?
Reusable soul gems, like Azura’s Star and the Black Star, eliminate the need to constantly find and fill new soul gems, saving you time and money.
7. Does the Soul Trap spell affect the Black Star differently?
No, the Soul Trap spell works the same way with both Azura’s Star and the Black Star. The only difference is the type of soul they can trap.
8. How do I fill Azura’s Star or the Black Star?
Use the Soul Trap spell on an enemy and kill them while the spell is active. If you have a filled (or empty) Azura’s Star/Black Star in your inventory, their soul will be trapped.
9. What’s the best way to find humanoid enemies for the Black Star?
Bandit camps, forts, and dungeons are usually teeming with humanoid enemies like bandits, mages, and necromancers.
10. Are there any unique dialogue options depending on which Star I choose?
Yes, there are some dialogue differences with Azura and Nelacar, reflecting the different choices you made.
11. Does the Black Star affect my relationship with any factions?
No, choosing the Black Star doesn’t directly impact your standing with any major factions in Skyrim.
12. Can I use the Black Star to trap named NPC’s souls?
Yes, you can trap the souls of named NPCs with the Black Star, but doing so is generally frowned upon and can have unintended consequences.
13. Is it possible to accidentally trap a weak soul in the Black Star?
No, the Black Star will always trap the largest soul available in the target. If you’re trapping a humanoid, it will always trap its grand soul.
14. Does the difficulty setting affect the usefulness of Azura’s Star or the Black Star?
On higher difficulties, where enemies are tougher and enchanted weapons are more crucial, the Black Star’s readily available grand souls become even more valuable.
15. Is there any way to reverse my decision after choosing Azura’s Star or the Black Star?
No, once you’ve chosen a path and received either Azura’s Star or the Black Star, there’s no way to revert your decision in that playthrough without reloading a previous save. Therefore, choose wisely!