You're wandering through the northern reaches of the West Weald, just north of Anvil, probably getting tired of the constant hilly terrain and the occasional mountain lion jumping out of a bush. Then you see it. The Shrine of Malacath. It’s not the most imposing Daedric monument in Cyrodiil—Azura’s has that massive statue and Sheogorath’s is just plain weird—but Malacath’s spot has a certain rugged, outcast energy that fits the Prince of the Spurned perfectly. If you've been playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for any length of time, you know that Daedric quests are where the best loot is hidden, and Malacath is no exception.
But honestly? Finding the place is only half the battle.
Most players end up here because they want Volendrung. It’s a legendary warhammer, and in the 2006 engine, its paralysis effect is basically a "win button" for any strength-based build. However, the path to getting that hammer involves a weirdly ethical dilemma involving an Ogre named Bleak Mine. It’s one of those quests that makes you realize Bethesda’s writing back then had a lot more gray area than we give it credit for.
Locating the Shrine of Malacath Without Getting Lost
First things first: you aren't going to stumble upon this place by accident unless you’re actively hugging the Gold Coast mountains. To get the map marker, you usually have to talk to some specific NPCs. Thaurron in the Anvil Mages Guild is a solid bet, or you can find a book called Modern Heretics which marks several shrines for you. If you’re a "manual search" kind of person, head north from the "n" in "Anvil" on your paper map. Look for a group of Orcs hanging out in the wilderness.
The Orcs here aren't hostile. That’s your first clue. They worship the Lord of Ash and Dust, and they’re incredibly protective of their "brothers."
The Barrier to Entry
Don't expect to just walk up and start chatting. Shardra gra-Bagrol is the one you need to talk to, but she won't give you the time of day unless you bring an offering. Malacath is a picky god, but his tastes are... well, they’re gross. You need Troll Fat.
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You've probably got some sitting in a chest in your house in Skingrad, but if not, you'll need to go hunting. Trolls are common in the forests of the West Weald or in caves like Forsaken Mine. Once you have the fat, approach the statue. You also need to be at least Level 10. If you try this at level 9, Malacath just ignores you. He’s the Prince of the Spurned, sure, but he still has standards for who gets to represent him.
The Lord Drad Problem
When Malacath finally speaks, he sounds exactly like you’d expect—gravelly, angry, and deeply offended. He’s ticked off because a local Noble named Lord Drad has enslaved a group of Ogres. Now, in most RPGs, Ogres are just big, ugly things you hit with a sword until they drop loot. In Malacath’s eyes, though, these Ogres are his "little brothers."
This is where the Shrine of Malacath quest gets interesting. You have to travel to Lord Drad’s estate, which is just a short hike away.
Drad is a piece of work. He’s the quintessential Cyrodiilic aristocrat—arrogant, dismissive, and convinced that because he’s a "civilized" Imperial, he has the right to chain up anyone he deems lesser. If you talk to him, he’ll openly brag about using the Ogres as slave labor in his mine.
How to Handle the Estate
You have a couple of options here, though the game strongly pushes you toward a specific outcome if you want the reward.
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- The Social Route: Talk to Lady Drad. She’s significantly less of a jerk than her husband. If you play your cards right (and your Speechcraft is high enough), she’ll spill the beans about where the Ogres are being kept.
- The Direct Route: Just go to Bleak Mine. It’s on the property. You don't actually need Drad's permission to trespass.
Once you’re inside Bleak Mine, you’ll find the Ogres locked in cages. This isn't a dungeon crawl where you kill everything that moves. If you kill the Ogres, you fail the quest. Malacath will be furious, you’ll get zero rewards, and you’ll basically have wasted your time. Your job is to pick the locks on the cages (or steal the keys from the guards) and let the "little brothers" do what they do best: smash.
Why the Reward is Worth the Headache
If you successfully free the Ogres, they don't just run away. They turn on their captors. Watching a group of Ogres absolutely wreck a bunch of well-armed guards is one of those emergent gameplay moments that makes Oblivion special even twenty years later.
Once the dust settles, head back to the Shrine of Malacath. The Prince is pleased. He’s not a "good" god by any stretch of the imagination, but he looks after his own. He hands over Volendrung.
Volendrung Stats and Strategy
This isn't just a heavy stick. In Oblivion, Volendrung has two primary enchantments:
- Paralyze for 3 seconds.
- Drain Health for 5 points.
The 3-second paralysis is the real winner. In a game where combat can sometimes feel like "swinging at a sponge," being able to knock an enemy flat on their back every few hits is huge. It gives you time to heal, reposition, or just keep wailing on them while they can't move. The only downside is that it runs out of charge relatively quickly. You’re going to want a lot of filled Soul Gems or a very high Mysticism skill to keep this thing humming.
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The Lingering Impact of Malacath’s Ethics
What’s wild about this quest is the aftermath. If you go back to Lord Drad’s estate after completing the mission, you’ll find that the roles have been reversed. The Ogres have taken over the farm. Lord Drad and his wife are now the ones working the fields under the watchful eye of their former slaves.
It’s a brutal, poetic kind of justice that fits the Daedric themes perfectly. Malacath isn't about mercy; he’s about the strength of the marginalized. Most players just want the hammer, but the narrative weight of seeing a High-Elf or Imperial noble forced into manual labor by Ogres stays with you. It’s one of the few times in Oblivion where your actions significantly alter the "world state" of a specific location outside of the main questline.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't kill the guards too early. If you kill the guards before opening the cages, the Ogres might not trigger their "escape" AI properly. Let them do the work.
- Watch your level. As mentioned, you must be level 10. If you’re level 9 and 99% of the way to level 10, the statue will still tell you to buzz off.
- The "Ogre" Confusion. Sometimes people get confused and think any Ogre in the game is protected by Malacath. They aren't. You can still kill random wild Ogres for their teeth without pissing off the Daedric Prince. He only cares about these specific ones in Bleak Mine.
Finalizing the Journey
The Shrine of Malacath is a microcosm of why people still play Oblivion in 2026. It’s got a bit of exploration, a bit of janky stealth, a choice between being a "hero" or a Daedric agent, and a top-tier reward that changes how you play the game.
Whether you're doing a completionist run or you just really want to hit things with a giant green hammer, Malacath's quest is mandatory. Just remember to bring the Troll Fat. And maybe don't feel too bad for Lord Drad—he really did bring it on himself.
Actionable Next Steps for Players:
- Stockpile Soul Gems: Before heading to the shrine, visit the Mages Guild in Chorrol or Leyawiin to buy as many filled Soul Gems as possible. Volendrung is hungry for charge, and you’ll want to use it immediately.
- Check Your Inventory: Ensure you have at least 1 portion of Troll Fat. If you’re struggling to find it, the "Main Ingredient" shop in the Imperial City Market District usually has it in stock.
- Boost Security: If your Lockpicking (Security) skill is low, bring a few Scrolls of Opening. The cages in Bleak Mine are "Hard" level locks, and failing the mini-game repeatedly is a quick way to get caught by guards.
- Mark Your Map: If you haven't found the shrine yet, fast travel to Anvil and head directly North-Northwest. Stay on the high ridges to avoid getting bogged down in the lower valley forests.