As usual, there are always a large number of requests for hints and spoilers on lots of topics. This page contains some of those various hints in an organized fashion.
Please note: Many of these hints are based on the personal playing preferences of a wide variety of people and are included only as helpful suggestions.
Divine InterventionEdit
It's a good idea to learn Divine Intervention before travelling to Solstheim, as it will transport you to Fort Frostmoth, the starting location for many quests both in the main questline and the East Empire Company questline. There is no Almsivi Intervention location on the island, but casting the spell is an easy method of returning to Vvardenfell instantly and for free, as it takes you to Gnisis.
Generic LootEdit
Unlike on Vvardenfell or in Mournhold, containers such as cloth sacks, barrels and crates found in caves often contain large quantities of gold, armor, enchanted items and potions, especially at higher levels, so make sure not to ignore them during your travels.
Great Item locationsEdit
Great artifacts, magic weapons, armor, and clothes are listed in the Artifacts and Unique Items pages. Other helpful loot:
- Almost complete Glass Armor set, Throwing knives, note granting a Security skill increase - Found on Thuraver in Sjobal which is slightly northeast of Thirsk. Unfortunately, Thuraver won't give up the items peacefully.
- Ten Scrolls of Bodily Restoration - These scrolls restore almost every attribute; they can be found in a submerged Leather-sealed Chest. The chest is located in a hole in the ice of a y-shaped inlet on the west coast between Mortrag Glacier and Hrothmund's Bane (map).
- A complete set of Nordic Mail (10% better armor rating than Ebony Armor at half the weight) on the dead Honor Guard after The Siege of the Skaal Village.
Stalhrim LocationsEdit
A full list of locations in which Stalhrim can be found is on the Raw Stalhrim page.
Free Raw EbonyEdit
After escorting the new workers to Raven Rock and reporting back to Carnius Magius with the four pieces of Raw Ebony, you will receive the assignment to help Falco with some kind of disturbance at Raven Rock. This disturbance happens to be Hroldar the Strange. Knock him about a bit and talk to Falco.
As the mine is empty of people, you can use this to your advantage to steal all the Raw Ebony inside. There is a fair deal to be found inside, and the ebony can be sold for a good deal of gold. The ebony in the mine is owned by the Raven Rock Trader, who will be added later. Do not try to sell any of the ebony to him.
Repairing your equipmentEdit
Repair tools are very rare on Solstheim; there are only two of them for sale in the entire island. You might find hammers (or prongs) in random loot but this meager supply may not keep up with your equipment's repair needs. If you use the Armorer skill a lot, stock up on repair tools before traveling to the island. Otherwise, be prepared to pay a smith for expensive repair services.
How to be a Stealthy NordEdit
Nords are not a race typically known for their subtlety, but there is an item added by Bloodmoon that makes them more suited for this than any other race - the Whitewalker robe. Who can say no to Constant Effect 50% Chameleon? As long as you wear the robe, you are half-invisible. Admittedly, the robe has its downsides: It constantly does Weakness to Frost, Frost Damage and Drain Health while you're wearing it, which makes it of limited use – unless you've got a way to get 100% Resist Magicka, even for just a second or two (if you're a user of the Boots of Blinding Speed, you already know about this strategy). Just cast the spell or use the enchanted item, whatever, and immediately open your inventory and equip the robe. The Weakness and Drain effects will be canceled out, and since you're a Nord, you're immune to the Frost Damage. Non-Nords will also need a spell or enchantment to deal with that down-side of the robe when first putting it on. You'll need to do the same compensation trick(s) every time you put it on again. Robes, like other non-armor clothing do not have to be repaired.
Note: If you kill King Helseth in the Tribunal expansion and acquire his magic ring, it will give you 100% Resist Magicka, and Restore Health 10 points per second, both as a Constant Effect. Thus, it cancels out most of the negative effects of the Whitewalker robe. Also, if you enchant an Exquisite-level amulet or ring with Constant Effect Chameleon 24 points and wear that as well as the robe, you will be basically invisible while equipped with them, including when attacking or stealing.[verification needed — That seems to add up to 74% Chameleon, often not enough to steal in front of people or get away with assaults; sometimes not even 100% will do it.]
Easy Werewolf KillsEdit
Werewolves are weak against silver weapons, which do extra damage to them. The formula for damage calculation is: (silver weapon damage × 2) + (sneak bonus × 4 (ranged × 1.5)). Using silver arrows against them while sneaking is a one-shot kill most of the time.
- The smugglers encountered during The Frostmoth Smugglers carry enchanted silver weapons that are far more powerful than normal silver weapons.