Over ten years have passed since the release of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and yet to this day, players are still uncovering small secrets all over the map. From the harsh, snowy peaks of Winterhold, to the lush green forests of Falkreath, Bethesda stuffed this world full of hidden items and locations that only a few, dedicated Dragonborn would ever stumble across. Some of these locations are well off the beaten path, but they're worth the detour, as they each offer something truly magical in Skyrim.
The Anniversary Edition DLC gave players a breath of fresh air with new quests, powerful armor sets, and even fishing - adding in total about 500 mods from Skyrim's Creation Club into the game. After beating Skyrim Anniversary Edition though, some loyal fans may feel like they have done everything there is to do in the homeland of the Nords. Even so, all players should visit (or revisit) these locations on the map, which offer unbeatable views and secret encounters.
Bard's Leap Summit Is Home To A Friendly Ghost In Skyrim
Bard's Leap Summit is home to towering architecture, a cascading waterfall, and a Word Wall protected by fierce Hagravens - but between all of these things, many players may unknowingly walk past the most interesting part of this location. As the name implies, Bard's Leap Summit is the site of a particularly brave endeavor, in which a bard tried to dive from the top of the waterfall into the pool below. If the player - the second of three living Dragonborn in Skyrim - makes that same jump and survives, the ghost of the bard, named Azzadal, will appear out of thin air and congratulate the player, recounting his own unsuccessful attempt.
Not only is this a chance to learn a bit more about the lore of Skyrim and its NPCs, but players will even be rewarded with an increase to their Speech level from Azzadal, making it a worthwhile journey. The Become Etheral shout (which can conveniently be found on the nearby Word Wall) makes this jump a breeze, but players can simply glide down the cliff face with their trusty horse, too. Bard's Leap Summit can be found in The Reach, southeast of Markarth.
The Reaper's Lair Has A Secret Skyrim Boss
Those who own Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC will be well acquainted with the Soul Cairn: a haunting, barren land which sets the stage for the "Chasing Echoes" quest line, as well as being where captured souls go in Skyrim. This area can be notoriously difficult to navigate, as the bleak, gray-and-purple landscape starts to blend together after a while, and it's easy to lose sense of direction among the repetitive structures that litter the map. Players might be hesitant to return to the Soul Cairn for this reason, but The Reaper's Lair is worth the headache, offering a secret boss fight that most players missed during their playthroughs of the DLC.
The Reaper's Lair can be found by turning right just past the large, stone wall, and following it until reaching this intimidating black structure. Upon entering, players will need to place three Reaper Gem Fragments, which can be found underneath the large life-draining crystals, into the receptacle. Inserting all three Fragments will trigger a boss fight with the Reaper: a creepy, hooded ghost who spits acid at the player (much like the Afflicted, some of Skyrim's scariest and most horrific enemies). He will drop black soul gems and a Daedra heart upon defeat.
Nilheim Offers A Stunning View Of Skyrim
Skyrim offers one of the most beautiful maps in open-world games, but it's also among one of the most expansive, which can sometimes make it difficult for players to take it all in. Though areas like the Throat of the World - being the highest vantage point on the map - might seem like the best place to bask in Skyrim's glory, there's one view that beats the rest by a long shot. Nilheim is a small tower, located east of Ivarstead, which overlooks much of the Rift in the incredible shot above, uploaded to Reddit by user dragonmonday.
Upon approaching Nilheim, the player will encounter a man named Nevlar sitting on the ground. He claims to have been ambushed by bandits, and asks the player to escort him up to the tower - however, much like Skyrim Nords' origin, this is a big lie. After taking care of the situation, the player will be free to climb to the top of the tower, upon which they will be met with an unbeatable vista. Most of the Rift is visible from up here, from Wildhelm to the Dead Sea, alongside gorgeous cliffs and mountains.
Skyrim's Throat Of The World Has A Minecraft Easter Egg
While the Throat of the World doesn't size up to Nilheim in terms of panoramic beauty (with clouds and heavy snow that obstruct view of what's down below), every player should revisit this mountain peak regardless. It's one of the most significant locations in Skyrim - being where the Dragonborn convenes with Paarthurnax, who could be in Elder Scrolls 6, before battling Alduin - but most players don't think to explore the area, much less come back to it after the main quest has concluded. Although it looks unassuming, there's actually a hidden Easter egg in this area, hiding at the very top of the mountain.
It can be difficult to reach this item, and it will require a lot of jumping (and patience), but the climb is well worth the trouble upon discovering the Notched Pickaxe. This pickaxe is a reference to Markus "Notch" Perssen, the creator of Minecraft himself. Although Notch has become a controversial figure in recent years, this Easter egg is one that Minecraft fans won't want to miss. It even has a unique enchantment, which inflicts shock damage, on top of increasing the player's Smithing level in Skyrim. Players can disenchant the Notched Pickaxe to learn its unique enchantment and apply it to other weapons, too.
Finding every secret in Skyrim would take hundreds of hours, and so every player is bound to miss a few here or there. But these locations in particular deserve a special journey - or a revisit - to enjoy them in their entirety. Such small details may not mean much in the scope of game itself, but they go to show how lush with content Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim truly is, even a decade later.
Source: Ray Dhimitri/YouTube, dragonmonday/Reddit