The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Walkthrough

The Golden Claw

Head up the mountain to the north to gain access to Bleak Falls Barrow. The encounters along the way are random, but you can expect to fight a bandit or two, especially ones that could be hiding in the towers up towards the Barrow. At this point it's a good idea to have your healing spell in your left hand or at least ready to switch to by favoriting it. And of course Faendal sniping your enemies will help loads early on. It takes a lot of a follower to outright die, so feel free to let your sidekick take all the punishment. We were lucky enough to gain a suit of Iron Heavy Armor and a new greatsword (Which we handed to Faendal); even with some randomness it's likely that you'll gain the same equipment to outfit yourself and your comrade.

Eventually you'll reach Bleak Falls Barrow proper. Here will be three more bandits, likely with two-handed axes or ranged bows. If you haven't used on yet it's a good idea to whip out your shield. Shields are great for absorbing damage and staggering enemies. A successful block will stagger an normal attack. However if the enemy uses a power attack it will break your guards. This also holds true for when you fight a defending enemy. You can also block with a two-handed weapon or while dual-wielding, but isn't nearly effective as a shield.

You'll likely still be level 1, so most of the enemies will still be weak. A few swings of your weapon and shots from your follower will be enough to clear most encounters inside and around the Barrow. With that said, after clearing out the three enemies, enter the door on the right to enter inside the Barrow. There will be two bandits within the first room. You have enough time to sneak and get in a free hit or two. However, unless you made a Khajiit or already trained before entering your sneaking may be too low to get by these guards.

The loot on the bandits isn't anything great, but the nearby chest has some goodies inside. It has a novice lock on it, but you should hopefully still have plenty of lockpicks from Helgan to easily bust it open. Inside the chest is some gold, souls gems, and a Scroll of Hysteria. We personally never use scrolls as they are one time use. But what's great is you can sell scrolls to other casters for a nice sum of gold.

Continue down the path and you may notice various urns and pots sitting around. Most of these are empty, so however your crosshairs over them before needlessly interacting with them. There are a few poitions sitting around the bookshelves, so be sure to grab them. Once you've looted anythign you need, head down the hall and Kill the Bandit Outlaw. There will be a puzzle ahead and the answer is on the pillars overhead. Or rather was up there, the middle symbol has collapsed on the ground. However, since it's the only one dislodged it's still easy to figure out. Mover over to the pillars on the left and rotate them so that from left to right they show a snake, a snake, and last a fish.

This will open a gate leading to the basement. As you enter through there will be more petty soul gems and chest to loot. However, expect to be interrupted as Skeevers will emerge from below. These are large rats and are easily killed. For the real battle head down the spiral stair case and slash through the webbing on the left. This will reveal the Wounded Frostbite Spider. It's a large version of spiders you might have already fought. Its poison is even more deadly, making it very important to have a healing spell on the ready.

The easiest way to heal up is to simply run back out the entrance as the spider is too big to follow you. Faendal or whatever companion you have will also make this battle rather simple. After the spider is dead, move left to find Arvel stuck in some webs. Free from the webbing and continue to slice him to bits. He's the one with the Golden Claw and would simply flee or attack you than hand over the treasure. It simply saves time to bash his skull in and loot the warm corpse. Continue down the path and you'll face undead Draugrs. These enemies are susceptible to fire if you feel like switching to Destruction magic, but aren't that hard anyway.

You should be careful about traps in the area, there is a spike gate just ahead that will spring is you step on the pressure point. Traps like these will do serious damage if they hit you in the heat of combat. If you've already killed the enemy, you can likely heal the damage quickly before moving on. You'll face three more Draugrs. They have basic armors and weapons so there still isn't much to worry about. Their Ancient Nord weapons aren't that great so there isn't much reason to loot them unless you simply want some different gear. Up ahead will be a swinging set of blades. Remember back to Helgan where you sprinted out? If you haven't been using sprinting, now is a good time to start again. The sprint is fast enough to get by traps like that.

Head down the next few halls and slice through three more Draugr. At the end of this hall will be a chest that will possibly contain more stamina potions and arrows. Pull the chain near the chest and it will open the gate headed towards outside. There will be two more chests: one to the right as you exit that might have another sellable scroll and possibly leather armor. Kill another Draugr and head down the icy path on the east to reach the second chest. This chest has a novice lock and may contain a Scroll of Dread Zombie and a Weak Paralysis Poison. Once done looting, head back up the ice spiral and into the next cave to the north.

Here will be a Restless Draugr, a stronger version of the undead you've faced so far. It's a good idea to have both a shield and healing spell on the ready. The Restless has way more health and his two-handed sword can do some heavy damage. Block his blows as best as you can and heal up when you take too much damage. Your follower may be the main source of damage from this fight as you keep yourself healthy. Through the next door will be two more Draugr: one melee one at the bottom floor and an archer above. This are the normal Draugr, so they are fairly weak. Climb up the stairs on the right and loop around left until you come to the bridge. Soon you'll come to a door with a clawshaped keyhole and several rings. Look at the claw in your inventory and it will show you the code: Bear, Butterfly, Owl. Set up this combo and place the claw in to unlock the door.

Move down the path and you'll arrive at a tomb. On the wall will be a flashing dragon word that will teach the first shout: Unrelenting Force. You most likely can't use this yet. Though if you took the time to kill a dragon you can learn and equip the shout. Learning the word of power for the shout will also revive a Draugr. This enemy is even stronger than the Restless you fought earlier. His attacks are strong enough that you might want to switch to a ranged spell or a bow. If your follower has a brutal two handed weapon and some armor they might be able to take the boss a little better than yourself. As long as you have some distance and make use of your shield you can resist the brunt of the damage and easily counter.

Loot the Overlord to gain the Dragonstone (Which was the real prize here) and you can also take his Cold Ancient Nord Battle Axe which can deal extra frost damage to health and stamina. Loot the area for a petty soul gem, Weak Frenzy Poison, a Tome of Conjure Familiar and up to eighty gold. Head up the stairs on the left to unlock the exit. Stop along the way to loot another chest with a Garnet, extra gold and lockpicks. Now you're free to return to Skyrim's overworld and can fast travel to River wood.

Deliver the Golden Claw to Lucan and receive your reward. With the Dragonstone in hand, you'll be more then ready for Whiterun.