If there's one enemy type that stands out amongst the natural, ethereal, and mechanical enemies of Skyrim it's the Daedra. The Daedric Princes are iconic figures of Oblivion, but Daedra take many more forms than these god-like beings. From Dremora to Atronachs to Scamps, Daedra marr Skyrim's landscape in Mage covens, dark dungeons, and otherworldly planes.
While players can summon a Dremora with a Conjuration spell, the only Daedra that drop items are those encountered naturally in the world. These often demonic-looking denizens of Oblivion each unknowingly carry a powerful multi-faceted ingredient that can only be looted from whatever remains they leave behind: Daedra Hearts.
Daedra Heart Uses And Effects
- Value: 250
- Effect One: Restore Health (5 pts)
- Effect Two: Damage Magicka (3 Pts)
- Effect Three: Damage Stamina Recovery (reduced to 0 for 5 seconds)
- Effect Four: Fear (Creatures up to Lvl 1 for 30 seconds)
Daedra Hearts are one of the more powerful Alchemical ingredients available in Skyrim that are also used in certain Smithing recipes. They can be used to make some of the game's most powerful Restore Health and Damage Stamina Recovery potions, which in turn can be sold for absolutely decadent amounts of gold.
They are also used in Smithing to create Daedric arms and armor alongside Ebony Ingots. Daedra Hearts are considerably more rare than Ebony Ingots, mostly because Dremora and Daedra appear more rarely and aren't guaranteed to drop one when slain.
How To Get A Daedra Heart In Skyrim
There are three main places a player can find Daedra Hearts in Skyrim: during multiple Daedric Prince quests, at the Atronach Forge, or looted from dead Dremora and other Daedric foes throughout the game. The first of these methods is the most straightforward – take on some Daedric Prince quests and loot every body and container you come across for Daedra Hearts.
To create a Daedra Heart at the Atronach Forge, combine a Sigil Stone, a Human Heart, and a Black Soul Gem (unfilled) at the Forge underneath the College of Winterhold. If all else fails, search for Dremora throughout the forts, dark mage covens, and dungeons of Skyrim. Interestingly enough, Thalmor agents roaming the province can rarely carry them, but some claim it is "illegal" and "immoral" to kill Thalmor agents wherever they can be hunted down.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S