You’re trekking through the frozen wastes of Solstheim, fighting off Ash Spawn and trying not to get toasted by a random dragon, when you finally stumble upon a vein of Stalhrim. It’s blue. It’s glowing. It’s basically the holy grail of endgame crafting. You pull out your trusty iron pickaxe, ready to bank some serious gold, and... nothing. The game gives you that annoying "requires ancient nordic pickaxe" notification.
It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s one of those "Elder Scrolls" moments where the game puts a hard wall in front of you just because you didn't talk to the right NPC in Raven Rock. But the ancient nordic pickaxe in Skyrim isn't just a gatekeeper for high-level armor; it’s a weirdly specific piece of lore-heavy equipment that separates the casual Dragonborn from the completionists.
Finding the Ancient Nordic Pickaxe Without Losing Your Mind
Most players first encounter the need for this tool during the Dragonborn DLC. You can't just buy it from Beirand in Solitude or find it in a random chest in Bleak Falls Barrow. No, this thing is tied to specific characters on the island of Solstheim.
The easiest way to get your hands on one is through Glover Mallory. He’s the blacksmith in Raven Rock—the guy with the suspicious connections to the Thieves Guild. If you talk to him, he’ll complain about a man named Edfur who "stole" his pickaxe. This kicks off a quest that is basically a glorified errand, but the reward is worth it. Once you finish his task, or if you have a high enough Speech skill to convince him, he’ll often just let you keep it.
There's another one, though. It’s carried by Ralis Sedarys during the "Unearthed" questline at Kolbjorn Barrow. Now, Ralis is a whole different story. That guy will drain your bank account faster than a skooma addict in Riften. You have to fund his excavation in stages—1,000 gold, then 2,000, then more. Eventually, you can get the pickaxe from the site, but it’s a long, expensive road. Some players just pickpocket him because, honestly, who has 11,000 gold to spend on a dig site when there are houses to buy?
The Stalhrim Connection: Why You Actually Need It
Why do you even care about a rusty old tool? Stalhrim.
Stalhrim is "enchanted ice," and it's some of the best material in the game. It’s light, it looks cool, and most importantly, it has a hidden buff: Frost enchantments placed on Stalhrim gear are 25% more powerful. If you’re building a Frost Knight or just want a sword that hits like a blizzard, you need this stuff. But Stalhrim is harder than Ebony. A standard pickaxe won't even scratch the surface.
This is where the ancient nordic pickaxe in Skyrim becomes mandatory. The game treats Stalhrim veins like a high-level lock. Without the specific "key"—which is this pickaxe—the interaction menu simply won't trigger.
Interestingly, the pickaxe itself functions as a war axe in combat. It’s not great. You aren't going to go out and slay Alduin with it unless you’re doing some weird challenge run for YouTube. It swings slower than a dagger but lacks the punch of a dedicated mace. It’s a tool first, a weapon second, and a status symbol third.
Variations and Enhancements
Did you know there’s a unique version? It’s called Hoarfrost. You get it from Ralis Sedarys if you decide to take him out (or if you hire him as a follower and trade items). Hoarfrost is basically the "Enchanted" version of the ancient nordic pickaxe. It deals 15 points of frost damage and has a chance to freeze the target.
Using Hoarfrost still works for mining Stalhrim. It’s a bit of a flex, really.
The Logistics of Mining in Solstheim
The island isn't exactly friendly. If you’re going on a Stalhrim run, you need to know where to look. The Stalhrim Source is the big one—it’s an outdoor burial site north of the Abandoned Lodge. There are about ten veins there.
But here is a tip most people overlook: weight management.
Ancient nordic pickaxes weigh 10 units. That’s a lot when you’re already lugging around Dragon Bones and a dozen potions you’ll never use. Since you only need it for Stalhrim, many players leave it in a chest at Severin Manor. Don't do that. You’ll inevitably find a vein in a random dungeon like Benkongerike and realize you left your "key" back at home. Keep it on you. Or better yet, give it to your follower. Lydia won't complain about carrying your "burden" if that burden is the only way to get the best armor in the game.
Common Misconceptions and Glitches
People think you can craft these. You can’t. Even with a Smithing level of 100 and every perk unlocked, the ancient nordic pickaxe remains an "un-craftable" item. You can improve it at a grindstone using a Steel Ingot, but you can't build one from scratch.
There’s also a weird bug where the pickaxe might disappear from Glover Mallory’s inventory if you wait too long to do his quest. If that happens, you’re basically stuck waiting for the Kolbjorn Barrow excavation to progress, which takes days of in-game time and thousands of gold.
Another thing? Don't confuse it with the "Notched Pickaxe" found at the throat of the world. That’s a Minecraft Easter egg. It’s cool, and it boosts your Smithing, but it won't do a damn thing against a block of Stalhrim.
How to Maximize Your Efficiency
If you're serious about your gear, don't just mine the Stalhrim and leave. Use the "Dual Wield" trick. If you equip the ancient nordic pickaxe in one hand and another pickaxe (or even a dagger) in the other, and you manually "attack" the ore vein instead of clicking the "Mine" prompt, you gather the ore way faster. It skips the long, unskippable animation. In a place like Solstheim where a Werebear could jump you at any second, speed is life.
Real Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re starting a new run or just landed in Raven Rock for the first time, here is exactly how you should handle this:
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- Head straight to Glover Mallory. He’s right near the docks. Don’t get distracted by the Redoran Guard or the weird stones.
- Grab the quest "An Axe to Find." It’s quick. You just go talk to Crescius Caerellius (the old man in the mine).
- Get the pickaxe early. Even if your Smithing is low, you want this in your inventory immediately.
- Save your gold for Kolbjorn. Don't rely on Ralis for your pickaxe; use him for the "Ahzidal" armor set instead, which is arguably more important for enchanters.
- Look for the Stalhrim Source. It’s unmarked at first, located in the northwest part of the map. It’s a goldmine—well, a Stalhrim-mine.
The ancient nordic pickaxe is a small detail in a massive game, but it’s the bridge between mid-game gear and the absolute ceiling of Nordic craftsmanship. It represents the specific, gritty flavor of the Dragonborn DLC. Without it, you're just another traveler in the snow. With it, you're the guy wearing armor forged from the very ice of the gods.
Go find Glover. Do the quest. Start mining.