Honestly, if you've ever spent three real-world hours wandering around the Nibenay Basin just to find one tiny purple rock, you know the pain. Grand soul gems in Oblivion are notoriously annoying to track down, especially when Melisande starts demanding five of them for the Vampire Cure quest. It’s the ultimate "where is it?" item. You’d think in a world full of magic and interdimensional portals, these things would be everywhere.
They aren't.
Most people assume they can just walk into a shop and buy a handful. You can't. Well, you can, but the inventory mechanics in Cyrodiil are finicky at best. If you aren't at the right level or looking in the right display case, you're going to be staring at empty shelves for a long time.
The Vampire Cure Bottleneck
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Most players only care about these gems because they accidentally stayed out too late in a cave and now they’re turning into a crispy husk every time the sun comes up. To get the cure, you need five empty grand soul gems.
This is where the game gets mean.
If you find a grand soul gem that’s already filled with a "Lesser" soul because some stray imp got in the way, it’s useless for the quest. You need them pristine. If you're doing this quest, the game actually places a few guaranteed gems in the world to keep you from quitting in frustration.
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There is one in the basement of Drakelowe, right there in Melisande’s house. Check the fireplace; there’s a trapdoor. You’ll also find them in Squandered Mine (northeast of Drakelowe) and Crayfish Cave (to the south). These aren't just sitting on a pedestal with a spotlight on them. In Squandered Mine, you have to find a secret door in the "Wind Holes" section. It's guarded by the undead, so bring a silver sword.
Where to Buy and Steal Them
If you aren't doing the vampire quest and just want to enchant a Daedric claymore with 20 points of fire damage, you have to be more proactive. Calindil at the Mystic Emporium in the Imperial City Market District is usually your best bet.
He's the guy.
But here’s the thing: his stock is leveled. If you’re level 2, don't expect to see the good stuff. Generally, you want to be at least level 11 before these start showing up in random loot with any regularity (about a 5% chance). By level 20, they’re much more common in "boss" chests at the end of dungeons.
The Mages Guild "Discount"
If you don't mind a little larceny, the Mages Guild halls are basically gold mines.
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- Chorrol: There are two in a display case on the main floor. They have "Very Hard" locks, so hopefully your Security skill is up to snuff or you have the Skeleton Key.
- Arcane University: Check the Arch-Mage’s Lobby. There are three in a case there, though some might be pre-filled.
- Skingrad & Bravil: Both alchemy vendors usually carry one or two for sale.
How to Fill a Grand Soul Gem Without Losing Your Mind
So you've got an empty gem. Great. Now you need a soul. Not just any soul—it has to be a Grand Soul.
If you trap a rat, you just wasted a 500-gold gem on a "Petty" soul. You can't "empty" a gem once it's filled in the base game. You’re stuck with it. To get a Grand soul, you need to target the heavy hitters.
Xivilai are the gold standard. You’ll find them in Oblivion gates once you’re around level 22. They’re tall, blue, and hate you. If you’re a Master of Conjuration, you can actually summon one yourself, cast Soul Trap on it, and then murder your own summon. It’s a bit cold-blooded, but it's the fastest way to farm souls.
Other candidates include:
- Minotaur Lords: Found in the Arena or randomly in the woods at high levels.
- Lich: Usually found in elven ruins or conjurer dens.
- Gloom Wraiths: The ones that look like they’re wearing tattered black robes.
Honestly, if you're struggling to find "white" souls (creatures), just make Black Soul Gems. You take an empty grand soul gem to a Necromancer altar—like the Dark Fissure—during a "Shade of the Revenant" (when a purple light shines on the altar). Toss the gem in, cast Soul Trap on the altar, and boom. Now you can soul-trap any NPC. Bandits, guards, that annoying guy in Skingrad... they all have Grand souls.
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What Most People Get Wrong
A common mistake is thinking Azura's Star is just another grand soul gem. It’s better. It’s an infinite, reusable grand soul gem. If you’re level 2 or higher, go to Azura’s Shrine north of Cheydinhal. Do the quest. Get the Star.
It solves 90% of your enchanting problems because it never breaks.
Another weird quirk: luck doesn't really affect the quality of the soul gem you find in a chest as much as your actual player level does. Don't go chugging luck potions hoping for a grand soul gem to appear in a crate at level 5. It just isn't how the loot tables are coded.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your level: If you're under level 11, focus on the guaranteed quest locations (Drakelowe, Squandered Mine) rather than shop-hopping.
- Get the Skeleton Key: Travel to Nocturnal’s Shrine (level 10+) to make those "Very Hard" display cases in the Mages Guilds trivial.
- Visit the Mystic Emporium: If Calindil doesn't have what you need, wait 72 hours outside the cell for his inventory to reset.
- Prioritize Azura's Star: It is the single most important item for anyone serious about enchanting in Cyrodiil.