Easily one of the most beloved and iconic RPG franchises of all time, the Elder Scrolls series allows players to create a unique character, develop a diverse range of skills and abilities, and ultimately become one of the most powerful beings in all of the realm of Tamriel, where the titles of the franchise are set.
A massive part of the world-building in Elder Scrolls games is the range of unique, powerful items that players can craft, purchase, and steal. While conveying their own helpful perks and stat boosts, some of these pieces of gear are so expensive, it's completely outrageous.
10 Mundane Ring (Oblivion)
The aptly-named Mundane Ring in Oblivion isn't much to look at, appearing at first glance to be a simple gold band. Ironically enough, the Mundane Ring also happens to be one of the most expensive items in the game, with a base value of 21,600 Septims.
This is likely due in large part to the potent buffs the ring grants its wearer, giving a +35% boost to Reflect Spell and a +50% boost to Resist Magic (these make it a great choice for traversing the game's different Realms of Oblivion). However, the ring can be found and looted in various locations across Cyrodiil, so it's difficult to justify buying it from merchants at the price it's sold at.
9 Elixir Of Strength (Skyrim)
Available for purchase from Angeline's Aromatics in Solitude and Grave Concoctions in Falkreath, the Elixir of Strength increases its users carrying capacity by 60 for 300 seconds, which is very helpful in either temporarily resolving or preventing over-encumberment (an embarrassing thing in a game that normally makes players feel like a warrior).
However, given that its effect is temporary, it seems pretty outrageous that the potion is sold for 1,706 Septims. Players can even make their own Strength potions if necessary, and other items in Skyrim also grant longer-lasting or passive boosts to the player's carrying capacity. So, it's probably worth giving the Elixir of Strength a miss.
8 Staff Of Magnus (Morrowind)
One of the most powerful artifacts in the long-standing fan favourite title Morrowind, the Staff of Magnus is a unique item that can be obtained as part of a Mages Guild questline once the player has reached the rank of Warlock.
The Staff carries some seriously powerful buffs; when players use it to cast a spell, it grants a +25-50% Spell Absorption boost to the player for 60 seconds, in addition to one point of Restore Health every second for 60 seconds. Sounds great, but is it worth its whopping base price of 210,000 Septims? That's hard to say.
7 Daedric Warhammer Of Annihilation (Skyrim)
Perhaps one of the most powerful melee weapons in Skyrim, the Daedric Warhammer of Annihilation, is sold for a ridiculous 24,320 Septims by the Dremora Merchant.
While the Warhammer does have a great damage output, it's difficult to justify purchasing the weapon for the price it's sold at, especially when players with a high enough Smithing skill level and the right items can simply create their own Daedric gear. The enchantment on the Warhammer causes it to banish summoned Daedra up to level 36 back to Oblivion, which is definitely helpful in certain encounters, but, given that Daedra encounters in the game aren't all that common (apart from in the game's creepiest areas), makes it a fairly niche perk.
6 Rasheda's Special (Oblivion)
Available for purchase at the vendor Fire and Steel in Chorrol, Rasheda's Special is a unique set of heavy gauntlets that players can use in Oblivion. Thanks to their enchantments, the gauntlets grant players a +5 boost to their Strength attribute, as well as a +5 boost to Fortify Skill: Armorer, making them a great choice to wear when smithing.
However, these handy buffs come at a pretty substantial cost; the Rasheda's Special set costs 3,600 Septims! Whether or not they're worth it is ultimately up to the player, but a price like that isn't anything to joke about.
5 The Lord's Mail (Morrowind)
A nearly mythical unique cuirass befitting the Hard Fantasy setting of Morrowind, the Lord's Mail can be acquired by hunting down and killing the Imperial Legion deserter, Furius Acilius, who the armor can then be looted from.
Said to be an ancient piece of armor of unmatched quality, the Lord's Mail grants users some helpful stat boosts and carries a base health of 3,000. However, it also carries a cost of 190,000 Septims, which is practically unheard of in Morrowind. And, what's more, while players can sell the Lord's Mail to the Artifact Museum, the maximum price they can sell it for is 30,000 Septims.
4 Amulet Of Articulation (Skyrim)
The Amulet of Articulation is obtained by players as part of the Thieves Guild questline in Skyrim and can be acquired in seven different variations, which all have slightly different base values and confer different stat buffs to the player.
Depending on which version the player has of the Amulet, it will grant the player somewhere between a +5-35 Fortify Speech bonus, as well as ensuring that most Persuasion attempts by the player in dialogue with an NPC are successful. However, the Amulet is also worth between 1-2,000 Septims, depending on which version players have, making it one of the most expensive items of armor in the game. Given that Skyrim has plenty of great armor enchantments that confer similar buffs, it's a bit hard to defend a price like that.
3 Cowl Of The Druid (Oblivion)
Available for purchase from Borba's Goods and Stores in Cheydinhal, the Cowl of the Druid is a powerful and elegant silken hood that confers users a Fortify Marksman bonus of +5, as well as +5 Fortify Alchemy, Detect Life up to 40 feet, and +10 Drain Blade.
However, the Cowl of the Druid also costs a mind-boggling 3,800 Septims to purchase. At this price, it's easily one of the most expensive items that players can purchase in Oblivion. And, for the buffs that it actually grants, it's hard to say whether or not it's really worth it.
2 Raiment Of The Crimson Scar (Oblivion)
One of the most obscure and difficult to obtain sets of armor in Oblivion, the Raiment of the Crimson Scar is also one of the best sets of armor in terms of its base stats and attribute boosts that it grants the user.
The set can be retrieved from Deepscorn Hollow once all of the relevant upgrades have been purchased. Depending on the level the player is when they obtain the set, it will grant stat boosts of varying degrees to Agility, Speed, Sneak, Marksman, Blade, and Reflect Damage (which is super helpful in a game like Oblivion that punishes min-maxing). However, it also carries a base price of up to 24,512 Septims!
1 Eleidon's Ward (Morrowind)
Found in a hidden cave with a stash of other rare weapons and armor, Eleidon's Ward is easily one of the most powerful and eye-catching shields in all of Morrowind. It also has the highest possible armor rating in the game, so it's clearly a deeply formidable piece of gear.
After all the effort players need to go to to get their hands on Eleidon's Ward, it probably goes without saying that it's a valuable item. But, it's more than just valuable; Eleidon's Ward has an absurd base value of 200,000 Septims.