The 10 Best Two-Handed Weapons in Skyrim

Which are the best two-handed weapons in Skyrim?

Skyrim is a game with incredible depth and detail, and its weapons are no different.

Each time you create a new character, you have the choice of hundreds of different swords, axes, bows, daggers, and many other types of weapons to aid you on your journey.  

 

The Best Two-Handed Weapons in Skyrim

In this list, we will focus specifically on Two-Handed weapons, which include Battleaxes, Warhammers, and Greatswords.

This class of weapons sacrifices speed and agility for maximum damage and destruction and can be a lot of fun to play with.

So here, in no particular order, is our list of the best 10 two-handed weapons in Skyrim:

 

1. Daedric Warhammer

The Daedric Warhammer is a sight to behold, at one point dishing out the highest base damage of any weapon in the game (before the addition of the Dragonbone Warhammer), and looking unbelievable while doing it.

A weapon that has been a part of the Elder Scrolls franchise for many installments, it will be very familiar to veteran players.

This weapon can be found throughout Skyrim starting at levels 44 and 47 for the non-enchanted and enchanted versions, respectively.

However, the enchanted versions are far rarer.

The weapon can also be acquired through smithing, albeit it requires a smithing level of 90 as well as a Daedra Heart (Obtained through certain quests or by killing a Daedra) and three Ebony ingots, as well as three leather strips.

A third way of obtaining this item is at the Atronach Forge, but this requires the Conjuring Ritual Spell, a spell that requires a conjuring of 90.  

 

2. Dragonbone Warhammer

The Dragonbone Warhammer is another weapon that provides extremely high base damage output but is also very difficult to obtain.

After its addition to the game, it became the weapon with the highest base damage out of all obtainable weapons.

As far as obtaining the weapon, it can be found as loot from killing one of the Keepers in the Soul Cairn, but will not drop until higher levels.

It can also be created with 3 Dragon Bones, two Ebony Ingots, and three leather strips.

However, it requires a smithing level of 100, and the player must have the Dragon Armor perk.  

 

3. Stalhrim Warhammer

The Stalhrim Warhammer deals excellent damage, like many of the weapons on this list, but it comes with an interesting twist.

It provides a 25% boost to frost enchantments placed on it, making it the perfect weapon for those who like to use that enchantment.

As it is not as heavy of a damage dealer as a base weapon, it should not be used in place of the other Warhammers on this list unless you plan on enchanting it.

It can be purchased in either Raven Rock or Skaal Village and is also randomly placed around the world as loot.

To create this weapon you need a smithing level of 80 and the Ebony Smithing perk.

It will require 5 Stalhrim and 3 leather strips.  

 

4. Volendrung

This unique Warhammer can only be received for completing the quest “The Cursed Tribe”, and can only be improved by smithing to flawless quality.

It provides decent base damage but swings at the same speed as a Greatsword, dealing extremely high DPS for its class.

It also absorbs stamina when dealing damage, making it more powerful by allowing the player to power attack more often.

These unique abilities make Volendrung one of the best weapons on this list, and it is definitely worth picking up.  

 

5. Dragonbone Battleaxe

The first non-Warhammer weapon on our list, this weapon is good for those who like a slightly faster weapon than the Warhammer, but with a little more punch than the Greatsword.

The Dragonbone Battleaxe is one of the strongest Battleaxes and the one with the highest base damage.

It can be obtained through smithing if you have reached level 100, and it requires the Dragon Armor perk to create.

It will use three Dragon Bones, two Ebony ingots, and three leather strips.

Additionally, it can randomly be found throughout the world or as loot from one of the Keepers in the Soul Cairn.  

 

6. Daedric Battleaxe

The Daedric Battleaxe is a weapon that can be acquired at a relatively low level (can be found randomly starting at level 25), making it extremely strong in the early game.

To create this weapon you will need smithing level 80 and the Daedric Smithing perk.

It will require one Daedra heart, five Ebony Ingots, and two leather strips.

However, this weapon is easily outclassed in the late game so it is not recommended to be built via smithing. Another Daedric weapon should be built instead.  

 

7. Bloodskal Blade

The Bloodskal Blade is a one-off Greatsword acquired through the “Final Descent” quest.

It is found deep inside Bloodskal Barrow.

This sword has a unique ability that sends out a shockwave of energy when power attacking that does damage across either a vertical or horizontal plane.

The ranged attack also staggers most of the enemies that it contacts.

Besides its ability, the blade also has a respectable base damage for its class.

The blade can also not be upgraded past Flawless through smithing.  

 

8. Stalhrim Greatsword

The Stalhrim Greatsword is a strong weapon that can be acquired relatively easily early on in the game.

It is one of the stronger Greatswords in the game and can be purchased at Raven Rock or in the Skaal Village.

It can also be crafted with the Ebony Smithing perk and a smithing level of 80.

This will require five Stalhrim and three leather strips.

Like the Stalhrim Warhammer, it provides a 25% boost to any frost enchantment it is equipped with, making it another excellent option for those who enjoy that enchantment.  

 

9. Wuuthrad

Wuuthrad is a unique Battleaxe that can be obtained by combining all of the fragments of Wuuthrad in the quest “Glory of the Dead”.

It has very powerful base damage, and also deals bonus damage to Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, and Falmer.

While situational, the weapon can be extremely effective.

It is also arguably one of the coolest-looking weapons in the entire game.  

 

10. Ebony Greatsword

The Ebony Greatsword is a solid overall weapon with respectable base damage.

It can be obtained in random loot drops starting at level 37, giving the player access around midgame.

It can also be crafted with smithing level 80, the Ebony Smithing perk, and using five Ebony ingots with three leather strips.

This is probably the weakest weapon on the list and should be quickly replaced with one of the better ones as soon as you acquire it.  

 

Summary

That concludes our list. Skyrim provides so many customizations and gameplay options it can quickly become overwhelming.

This list only scratches the surface of everything the game has to offer, and much of it has to be discovered for yourself.

However, these weapons serve as great benchmarks to discover your own play style and make yourself as strong as you can be.

If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to check out our other Skyrim lists:

• The 10 Best War Axes in Skyrim
• The 10 Best Spells in Skyrim
• The 10 Best Warhammers in Skyrim
• The 10 Best Ranged Weapons in Skyrim
• The 10 Best One-Handed Weapons in Skyrim

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best two-handed weapons in Skyrim:

1. Daedric Warhammer
2. Dragonbone Warhammer
3. Stalhrim Warhammer
4. Volendrung
5. Dragonbone Battleaxe
6. Daedric Battleaxe
7. Bloodskal Blade
8. Stalhrim Greatsword
9. Wuuthrad
10. Ebony Greatsword

What’s your favorite two-handed weapon in Skyrim? Leave a comment below.