So, you’re trekking through the frozen reaches of Solstheim and you stumble upon Falas Selvayn. He’s up there at the Ramshackle Trading Post, usually between midnight and 6 AM. He’s got something special. It’s the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince. If you're a collector or a dedicated archer, this thing is probably on your radar. But honestly? Most players buy it, look at the base stats, and chuck it into a chest in Breezehome. That is a massive mistake.
This isn't just another shiny green bow. It’s a unique weapon added by the Dragonborn DLC that functions unlike almost anything else in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. While most unique weapons have a set enchantment that drains charge, the Stag Prince grows with you. It’s a momentum weapon.
The Weird Way the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince Actually Works
Here is the thing that trips everyone up: the enchantment doesn't care about your Enchanting level. It cares about your body count. Specifically, it tracks how many animals you have killed with the bow equipped. Note that I said animals. Killing a Draugr or a Bandit doesn't do squat for this bow’s progression.
For every 20 animals you slay, the bow gains a blessing. It starts with a measly +5 to Health and Stamina while the bow is out. Sounds underwhelming, right? Stick with it. This stacks. It caps out after 80 animal kills, granting you a permanent (while equipped) +20 to both Health and Stamina.
It's basically a hunting mini-game baked into a weapon.
You’ve got to be careful, though. The game’s definition of "animal" is pretty specific. We’re talking deer, elk, goats, horkers, and wolves. If you’re trying to power-level this thing, head to the plains outside Whiterun. It’s basically a target range for deer. Spend twenty minutes out there, and you’ll max out the bow’s potential faster than you’d think.
Why the "Glass" Label is a Bit of a Lie
Standard Glass Bows are great mid-to-late game gear. They’re light. They’re fast. But the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince is actually a bit of a weirdo in terms of its technical stats. It shares the appearance of a Glass Bow, but its base damage is 16. That puts it right on par with the standard version.
The real kicker? It weighs less.
👉 See also: Why 4 in a row online 2 player Games Still Hook Us After 50 Years
Coming in at 14 units of weight, it’s slightly more manageable for players who obsess over inventory space. Since it scales with the Glass Smithing perk, you can refine it using a Refined Malachite ingot. If you've pushed your Smithing to 100 and popped a potion, you can get this thing’s raw damage high enough to one-shot almost any trash mob in the game, even on Master difficulty.
How to Actually Get It Without Killing Falas
Falas Selvayn isn't just some random merchant. He’s a member of the Morag Tong. He’s tough. Most people think they have to kill him to get the bow because it’s not always in his merchant inventory.
That’s a myth. Mostly.
You can actually pickpocket it, but there’s a catch. He usually has it equipped. In the world of Skyrim, you can't just grab a bow out of someone's hands unless you have the "Misdirection" perk in the Pickpocket tree. That requires a Pickpocket skill of 70.
If you don't have the perk, you can try the "Reverse Pickpocket" trick. Give him a better bow and some arrows. Sometimes, when the NPC cell resets or he goes to sleep, he’ll equip the superior weapon, moving the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince into his inventory where it's fair game for a standard thievery attempt.
Or, you know, you could just buy it. He sells it. But only if you catch him at the Ramshackle Trading Post during his very specific business hours.
The Blessing Mechanics You Might Not Notice
People often ask if the "Blessing of the Stag Prince" takes up an enchantment slot. Technically, yes. You can't run this through an Arcane Enchanter to add soul-trapping or fire damage. That’s the trade-off.
✨ Don't miss: Lust Academy Season 1: Why This Visual Novel Actually Works
But here is the nuance: the blessing is a "passive" enchantment. It doesn't use charge. You never have to feed this bow a Soul Gem. For a long-term dungeon crawl where you don't want to carry twenty Petty Soul Gems, that is a godsend.
Also, the health and stamina buffs are active only when the bow is drawn. The second you sheath it, those extra points vanish. If you're at 5 HP and you put your bow away, you might actually drop dead. I’ve seen it happen. It’s hilarious, but frustrating. Keep the bow out until you’ve healed up.
Is It Better Than Auriel’s Bow or the Nightingale Bow?
Let’s be real. It’s not the "best" bow in the game if we’re talking pure DPS. Auriel’s Bow has that insane draw speed. The Nightingale Bow has that massive frost and shock damage hit.
The Glass Bow of the Stag Prince is for the survivalist.
In a modded playthrough—especially if you’re running Frostfall or Last Seed—that extra Stamina is the difference between sprinting away from a blizzard or freezing to death. It’s a utility tool. It’s the bow for the player who roleplays a hunter or a ranger who lives off the land.
- Base Damage: 16
- Speed: 0.625 (Standard Glass speed)
- Value: 450 (though Falas will charge you way more)
- Perk: Glass Smithing
The aesthetic is also a factor. The green malachite look fits the "Stag Prince" theme perfectly, especially if you’re wearing the Savior’s Hide or some Scaled Armor. It looks like it belongs in the woods, not in a display case.
Common Glitches to Watch Out For
Skyrim is Skyrim. Things break.
🔗 Read more: OG John Wick Skin: Why Everyone Still Calls The Reaper by the Wrong Name
Sometimes, the kill tracker for the animals just... stops. This usually happens if you’re using certain combat overhaul mods that change how "kills" are registered. If you’ve murdered fifty elk and the bow still says "0 animals killed," you might need to drop the bow and pick it back up to reset the script.
Another weird one? If you give the bow to a follower, they get the buffs, but their kills don't count toward the 80-kill cap. You have to be the one doing the dirty work.
Also, don't lose Falas. If he dies before you buy the bow, and his body despawns, the Glass Bow of the Stag Prince is gone for that playthrough unless you’re on PC and feel like using console commands (player.additem 04018fb8 1).
Maximizing Your Hunter Build
If you’re going to use this bow, commit to the bit. Pair it with the Kyne’s Peace shout. It fits the lore, and it makes hunting those 80 animals significantly less tedious because they won't run away.
Think about your standing stone, too. The Steed Stone is great if you’re carrying a lot of pelts, but the Lady Stone’s health and stamina regen stacks beautifully with the flat buffs provided by the bow. You become a kite-machine. You can stay in the fight forever because your stamina pool is essentially bottomless.
Final Verdict on the Stag Prince
It’s a niche weapon. It’s not going to win a "most powerful" contest against a Crafted Dragonbone Bow with Chaos Damage. But that’s not the point.
The Glass Bow of the Stag Prince represents a specific kind of Skyrim gameplay. It’s about the journey of the hunt. It’s about a weapon that gets stronger as you use it for its intended purpose. If you want a reliable, no-charge-needed bow that rewards you for actually playing the game like a hunter, there is nothing better.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session:
- Travel to Solstheim and wait at the Ramshackle Trading Post until midnight.
- Check Falas Selvayn’s inventory for the bow; if it’s not there, use the Misdirection perk or the "better weapon" swap trick.
- Once acquired, head to the plains of Whiterun or the forests of Falkreath.
- Focus purely on elk and goats until the "Blessing" reaches its maximum +20 tier.
- Refine the bow at a grindstone using Refined Malachite and the Glass Smithing perk to ensure its damage remains viable for high-level encounters.