You're hiking through the frozen, jagged peaks south of Winterhold, probably shivering because you forgot to pack a decent cloak, and then you see it. A massive, towering statue of a woman holding a star and a moon, silhouetted against the aurora borealis. That is the Skyrim Shrine of Azura. It’s arguably the most iconic landmark in the entire province, and honestly, if you haven't made the trek up those stairs yet, you're missing out on the most useful artifact in the game.
Most players stumble upon it because it’s literally visible from half the map. Aranea Ienith, the Dunmer priestess waiting at the base, tells you she’s been expecting you. It’s a bit creepy, sure, but she’s the gateway to "The Black Star" quest. This isn't just another "fetch this, kill that" mission. It’s a moral crossroads that defines how you’re going to play the rest of your save file.
Finding the Shrine of Azura without getting lost
Getting there is a pain. There's no sugarcoating it. If you’re coming from Winterhold, you have to head south-southeast. Look up. Seriously, just look at the sky. The statue is huge. It’s perched on a mountain called Mount Anthor, though technically the shrine occupies its own specific peak nearby.
Don't try to climb the sheer cliffs unless you have one of those physics-defying Skyrim horses. Stick to the paths. Once you get to the base of the stairs, Aranea will start her dialogue. She claims Azura, the Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn, sent her a vision of your arrival. It's the classic "Chosen One" trope, but it works because the reward is so grounded in gameplay utility. She’ll send you to Ilinalta's Deep, an Imperial fort that’s mostly underwater, to find a broken Daedric artifact.
Why the Skyrim Shrine of Azura matters for your build
Let’s talk about the "The Black Star" vs. "Azura’s Star" debate. This is where most people get tripped up.
When you find the broken star, you have two choices. You can bring it back to Aranea at the Skyrim Shrine of Azura, or you can take it to Nelacar, a cynical mage staying at the inn in Winterhold. This choice is permanent. You can't undo it without console commands or reloading a save from three hours ago.
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If you go back to the shrine and finish the quest for Azura, you get "Azura’s Star." It’s a reusable Grand Soul Gem. You trap a soul, use it to recharge a weapon or enchant an item, and the gem stays in your inventory. But—and this is a big but—it only holds "white" souls. That means animals, monsters, and non-sentient creatures.
The Nelacar Route (The "Better" Way?)
Most veteran players actually skip the shrine for the final turn-in. They go to Nelacar. Why? Because he turns it into The Black Star. In the lore of Elder Scrolls, "black" souls come from NPCs—humans, elves, Khajiit, Argonians. In the game's mechanics, these are always Grand souls.
Think about it.
It is way easier to find a bandit than it is to find a Mammoth or a Dragon Priest. If you have the Black Star, every single bandit camp becomes a gas station for your enchanted weapons. It’s broken. It’s arguably the most powerful item in Skyrim because it completely removes the "soul gem grind."
The Fight Inside the Star
Regardless of who you choose, you have to go inside the star to kick out the soul of Malyn Varen. This guy was a Dunmer mage who tried to become immortal by trapping himself inside the artifact.
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It’s a trippy, beautiful encounter. You’re standing on these crystalline platforms inside a pocket dimension. Malyn isn't the problem; it’s his Dremora buddies. They fire off high-level Destruction spells that can one-shot a low-level Dragonborn.
- Resist Fire gear is your best friend here.
- Don't let the Dremora back you into a corner.
- Use the terrain. The "floor" is weirdly shaped, and you can LOS (line of sight) the fireballs if you're quick.
Once Malyn is dead, you're yanked back to reality. If you stayed loyal to the Skyrim Shrine of Azura, Aranea can become a follower. She’s actually one of the strongest mage followers in the base game, capable of summoning Frost Atronachs and slinging powerful lightning bolts. If you went the Black Star route, Azura is pissed, and Aranea will basically tell you to never come back.
Lore bits you probably missed
Azura isn't like Molag Bal or Mehrunes Dagon. She isn't inherently "evil" in the traditional sense, but she is incredibly vain. She demands absolute devotion. The shrine itself was built by the Dunmer (Dark Elves) who fled Morrowind after the eruption of Red Mountain. They brought their religion with them.
The statue’s design is heavy with symbolism. The star is Azura’s Star (the sun/star of the dawn and dusk), and the moon represents the transition. In the Elder Scrolls universe, she's the one who transformed the Chimer into the Dunmer. So, when you're standing at that shrine, you're standing at a monument to a goddess who literally reshaped a race because her feelings were hurt.
Common Misconceptions
People think you need to be a certain level to start this. You don't. You can walk up there at level 1. However, the enemies in Ilinalta’s Deep and the Dremora inside the Star scale with you. If you go in too early, you might find it nearly impossible to survive the magical onslaught. Level 15-20 is usually the sweet spot where you have enough health to not die instantly but the enemies haven't become massive sponges yet.
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Another thing? The "Black Star" bug. In the original version of the game, the Black Star could actually hold both black and white souls, making it strictly better than the regular version. In some patched versions or with specific mods (like USSEP), this is sometimes "fixed," but in the raw, unmodded Skyrim, the Black Star is a universal soul gem. It's king.
Practical Steps for your Playthrough
If you're looking to optimize your character, here is the move.
First, get yourself a weapon with the "Soul Trap" enchantment. Even a crappy iron dagger will do. Better yet, head to Ironbind Barrow and get the "Fiery Soul Trap" enchantment—it deals fire damage and traps the soul. It's the best utility enchant in the game.
Second, make the trek to the Skyrim Shrine of Azura as soon as you have a decent amount of magic resistance. You can get the Lord Stone (near the shrine, actually!) to buff your physical and magical defense if you're struggling.
Third, make the hard choice. If you care about the "good" path and want a powerful mage follower, give the star to Aranea. If you want to never worry about recharging your "Chaos Damage" warhammer ever again, take it to Nelacar in Winterhold.
Finally, use the Star to level your Enchanting. Since the Star doesn't break, you can trap a soul, enchant a ring, and repeat. You’ll hit Enchanting level 100 in a fraction of the time it takes using standard gems.
The view from the shrine is also a top-tier spot for taking screenshots, especially when the weather clears up. Just watch your step on the way down. The stairs are slippery, and the fall is a long way to the bottom of the mountain.