Enchanting in Skyrim can be a tricky business, especially when it comes to managing high-level soul gems. It can be a huge financial burden to continually buy Grand Soul Gems and Black Soul Gems for enchanting, and it's not always guaranteed that one can be found as loot in any given dungeon.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a Black Soul Gem that never ran out of space, that didn't shatter and was reusable after enchanting gear with its trapped soul? Well, look no further than the artifact given to Skyrim players by the Daedric Prince of Dawn and Dusk herself: the Black Star of Azura.
What Does The Black Star of Azura Do?
The Black Star of Azura is a powerful Daedric artifact that works just the same as any Black Soul Gem found in Skyrim with one important difference: it stays intact after use. This means that players can repeatedly trap Black Souls (Men, Mer, and some other humanoid NPCs) without worrying about finding another Black Soul Gem.
Enchanters tend to use the Black Star over Azura's Star because it is an easier way to guarantee Grand-level trapped souls. Azura's Star works in a similar way as a reusable soul gem, but is unable to trap the souls of Men and Mer. When used in combat alongside a weapon with the Soul Trap enchantment, The Black Star is essentially a limitless supply of Grand souls.
How To Get The Black Star In Skyrim
To find the Black Star in Skyrim players should head to Winterhold. If not yet discovered, a carriage can take the Dragonborn directly to this frozen northern city. From there, enter the mountain pass to the west and then head directly south until you see Azura's statue towering over the snowy plains – she holds the moon in one hand and the sun in the other. Head towards this monument until you reach the Shrine of Azura, specifically located up a series of stairs at the base of the statue. At the top is a devoted follower named Aranea, who initiates the Black Star quest.
After this, the Dragonborn is sent to hunt down "an elven mage who can turn the brightest star to the darkest night." Go to the College of Winterhold and ask someone about this, which leads to The Frozen Hearth in Winterhold. Nelacar, a High Elf mage, reveals his master Malyn Varen has tampered with Azura's Star and was last seen at Ilnata's Deep in Falkreath. Head here to find the Broken Azura's Star. Instead of going back to Aranea, return to Nelacar. He traps your soul inside the Star to defeat Malyn, after which the Black Star will be in the your possession!
Skyrim Special Edition is available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S
