One of the earliest and most iconic quests inThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis The Golden Claw. This side quest not only introduces players to dungeon exploration but also ties into the game’s main story. It begins innocently enough with a theft but quickly evolves into a mystery involving ancient crypts, puzzles, and hidden treasures. Finding the owner of the Golden Claw is not just a task it’s a gateway into the broader world of Skyrim, filled with lore and secrets that reward curious players. This topic explores how to begin, complete, and fully understand the significance of this classic quest.
Beginning the Quest: The Golden Claw
Talk to Lucan Valerius in Riverwood
The journey to find the owner of the Golden Claw starts in the small village of Riverwood, located south of Whiterun. Shortly after starting the game and completing the tutorial section at Helgen, many players are naturally led to Riverwood. Here, you’ll find the Riverwood Trader, a general goods store run by Lucan Valerius and his sister Camilla.
When you enter the store, you’ll overhear the siblings arguing about a recent robbery. Talk to Lucan, and he’ll explain that a valuable item the Golden Claw has been stolen by bandits who fled north toward Bleak Falls Barrow. Lucan asks you to retrieve it for him, thus starting the quest The Golden Claw.
Exploring Bleak Falls Barrow
Dungeon Crawling and First Challenges
Bleak Falls Barrow is an ancient Nordic ruin perched atop a snowy mountain west of Riverwood. As you climb the path to the entrance, you’ll encounter your first real taste of Skyrim’s open-world exploration and combat challenges. Bandits guard the exterior, so be ready for a few fights before you even step inside.
Once inside the barrow, players will face draugr, undead warriors who roam the ancient crypts. These enemies are slow but dangerous, so it’s wise to be cautious and make use of stealth or magic if your combat skills are still developing.
The Puzzle Door and Golden Claw Mechanism
As you proceed through Bleak Falls Barrow, you’ll encounter your first significant puzzle: a large rotating door that requires a specific combination to open. This door is locked and can only be activated with the Golden Claw, which you will recover from Arvel the Swift.
You’ll find Arvel trapped in a spider’s web deeper in the dungeon. Freeing him results in betrayal, as he attempts to flee with the claw. After defeating or chasing him down, you can loot the Golden Claw from his body. At this point, examine the claw in your inventory to see the combination carved into it usually Bear, Moth, and Owl.
Rotate the stone rings on the puzzle door to match the symbols, then place the claw in the keyhole. This mechanic is used in many other dungeons throughout the game, making this a foundational moment for new players.
Returning the Golden Claw
Give It Back to Lucan
Once you’ve explored the barrow, fought your way through traps and draugr, and uncovered the first Word Wall of the game (teaching the Dragon Shout Unrelenting Force), you can return to Riverwood. Bring the Golden Claw back to Lucan Valerius in the Riverwood Trader to complete the quest.
Lucan will thank you and reward you with a modest sum of gold. Though it may seem like a small payoff, the real reward lies in the skills you’ve developed through the dungeon’s challenges and the knowledge you’ve gained about Skyrim’s ancient ruins.
The Significance of the Golden Claw
More Than a Simple Item
The Golden Claw is more than a quest item. It serves as an introduction to several key gameplay elements in Skyrim:
- Dungeon Mechanics: It teaches the player how to navigate ancient Nordic ruins and solve claw puzzles.
- Word Walls and Dragon Shouts: The quest leads directly to the first Word Wall, giving you access to your first shout and starting the journey of the Dragonborn.
- Quest Structure: It introduces the format of fetch quests, exploration, and moral choices common throughout the game.
Additionally, many players choose to keep the Golden Claw as a trophy, displaying it in their homes later in the game using the Hearthfire DLC. Others may return it for the small gold reward and to check off the quest as complete. Either choice adds depth to your character’s narrative.
Tips for New Players
Make the Most of the Golden Claw Quest
If you’re just starting out inSkyrim, the Golden Claw quest is a perfect way to learn the ropes. Here are a few helpful tips to ensure a smooth experience:
- Stock up on healing itemsbefore heading to Bleak Falls Barrow. The dungeon has traps and strong enemies.
- Use stealth or ranged attacksagainst draugr when possible. They’re vulnerable to sneak attacks.
- Look carefully at the Golden Clawin your inventory to find the puzzle code. It’s easy to overlook.
- Be cautious with trapslike pressure plates and swinging blades. These are common in Nordic ruins.
- Don’t forget to learn the Word of Powerat the end of the dungeon. Walk up to the Word Wall to absorb it.
How the Golden Claw Connects to Skyrim’s Lore
Dragons, Nords, and Ancient Mysteries
The presence of the Word Wall in Bleak Falls Barrow is no coincidence. It hints at the return of dragons and the reawakening of ancient powers. Though the quest itself appears small, it subtly connects to the main storyline, especially as you learn about the Dragonborn and the power of shouts.
These Nordic ruins are the resting places of powerful draugr, some of whom were dragon priests or ancient warriors with ties to Skyrim’s forgotten history. The puzzles, the design of the claw, and even the traps all speak to a time when magic and myth were inseparable.
Finding the owner of the Golden Claw inSkyrimis more than a simple errand. It introduces players to the game’s deeper mechanics and its richly layered world. From the snowy trails of Riverwood to the eerie halls of Bleak Falls Barrow, this quest sets the tone for the epic adventures to come. By recovering the claw and returning it to Lucan Valerius, players complete a rite of passage that prepares them for the path ahead a path filled with dragons, ancient prophecies, and endless discovery.