The Elder Scrolls. They’re powerful, ancient, and incredibly annoying to lug around in your inventory. These heavy tomes, central to many of the Elder Scrolls games’ narratives, can become a real burden. If you’re tired of them weighing you down or cluttering your inventory, this guide will walk you through the definitive methods for removing them from your possession across various Elder Scrolls titles. Getting rid of Elder Scrolls often involves completing quests or finding specific characters who can take them off your hands. Understanding these processes is key to lightening your load and improving your gameplay experience.
Understanding the Elder Scrolls Problem
The Elder Scrolls themselves are not like ordinary books. They possess immense power and knowledge, making them invaluable plot devices and quest items. However, this also translates to significant weight and a permanent presence in your inventory if you’re not careful. The weight alone can severely impact your carrying capacity, hindering your ability to loot enemies or gather resources effectively. Beyond the weight, the sheer annoyance of scrolling past these items repeatedly can be frustrating. Therefore, knowing how to handle them is a crucial part of mastering any Elder Scrolls game.
Why Can’t I Just Drop Them?
This is a common question and a source of frustration for many players. The Elder Scrolls are designated as quest items, and most quest items are intentionally made undroppable. This is to prevent players from accidentally discarding essential items needed to progress in the main storyline or important side quests. Dropping a crucial item could potentially break the game, requiring players to reload an earlier save or even restart their entire playthrough. Consequently, the game mechanics prevent you from simply dropping the Elder Scrolls as you would with a regular sword or potion.
The Implications of Carrying Multiple Scrolls
In some games, you might acquire more than one Elder Scroll. This compounds the problem exponentially. Imagine carrying two or even three of these heavy tomes! Your carrying capacity would be severely restricted, impacting your ability to explore, fight, and complete quests. Resource management becomes significantly harder, forcing you to constantly make difficult choices about what to keep and what to discard. This is why understanding how to dispose of them is so important.
Getting Rid of Elder Scrolls in Specific Games
Each Elder Scrolls game handles the disposal of Elder Scrolls differently. Here’s a breakdown of how to get rid of them in some of the most popular titles:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim features several Elder Scrolls related to the main questline and the Dawnguard DLC.
The Main Quest Scrolls
During the main quest, you’ll acquire the Dragon Scroll (Elder Scroll (Dragon)). After reading it during the quest “Alduin’s Bane” at the Throat of the World, it remains in your inventory. To get rid of it, you need to complete the main questline by defeating Alduin. Once Alduin is defeated, speak to Arngeir at High Hrothgar. He will take the Elder Scroll (Dragon) off your hands, finally freeing up some precious inventory space.
The Dawnguard DLC Scroll
The Dawnguard DLC introduces the Elder Scroll (Sun) and the Elder Scroll (Blood). These are used to weaken Alduin. To dispose of these, after using them to defeat Alduin you need to bring both of them to Urag gro-Shub at the College of Winterhold. He will take them, providing you with a sense of relief and a lighter load. Failing to hand them over to Urag means they will remain in your inventory indefinitely.
Tips for Managing Scrolls in Skyrim
- Prioritize completing the main quest and the Dawnguard DLC to unlock the option to dispose of the scrolls.
- Avoid picking up the scrolls prematurely if possible, especially if you are not ready to advance the related quests.
- Use a follower to carry extra weight if you absolutely must have the scrolls in your inventory for an extended period.
The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO)
The Elder Scrolls Online has a very different approach to Elder Scrolls than the single-player games. While Elder Scrolls play a crucial role in the game’s lore and conflicts, players don’t directly carry them in their inventory as quest items. Instead, they influence the game world and are objectives in the Alliance War.
Elder Scrolls in Cyrodiil
The Elder Scrolls in ESO are located in Cyrodiil and are a key component of the Alliance War. Alliances vie for control of these powerful artifacts to gain bonuses and advantages in the war.
Moving the Scrolls
Alliances can capture Elder Scrolls from enemy keeps and transport them back to their own territories. This act of capturing and moving the scrolls grants significant buffs to the controlling alliance, but also makes the scroll carriers prime targets for enemy players. These aren’t items you pick up and store. They exist within the game world itself.
Impact on Gameplay
The presence of Elder Scrolls in Cyrodiil dramatically affects the gameplay, influencing alliance strategies and creating dynamic conflicts. However, because players don’t carry them individually, the issue of inventory management doesn’t arise. You are involved in the conflict surrounding the scrolls, not burdened by their physical presence in your backpack.
Other Elder Scrolls Games
While Skyrim and ESO are the most popular examples, the issue of handling Elder Scrolls can also be relevant in other games in the series, although the methods might vary. For older games, consulting specific game guides or online forums might be necessary to determine the proper disposal methods.
General Tips for Managing Inventory Weight
Regardless of the specific game, managing your inventory weight is essential for a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here are some general tips to help you stay on top of your carrying capacity:
- Prioritize essential items: Focus on carrying only the items you need for your current quest or activity. Leave unnecessary items in a safe storage location.
- Utilize storage options: Most Elder Scrolls games offer storage options such as chests, barrels, or containers in your house or guild hall. Use these to store valuable but non-essential items.
- Sell unwanted items: Regularly sell unwanted weapons, armor, potions, and other items to vendors to earn gold and free up inventory space.
- Invest in carry weight upgrades: Many games allow you to increase your carrying capacity by leveling up, learning specific skills, or acquiring items that grant bonus carry weight.
- Use followers or pack animals: Followers and pack animals can carry a significant amount of extra weight, allowing you to haul more loot and resources.
- Alchemy and Crafting: Consuming or using alchemy and crafting components will eliminate them from your inventory.
- Fast Travel Strategically: Consider fast traveling back to a vendor or storage location more frequently to avoid becoming overburdened.
The Psychological Impact of Inventory Management
While seemingly a minor aspect of gameplay, inventory management can have a surprising psychological impact. A cluttered and overburdened inventory can lead to:
- Increased stress and frustration: Constantly having to manage your inventory can be mentally taxing and detract from the enjoyment of the game.
- Decision fatigue: Making constant decisions about what to keep and what to discard can lead to decision fatigue, making it harder to focus on the more important aspects of the game.
- Missed opportunities: Being overburdened can prevent you from looting valuable items or completing quests efficiently.
Therefore, mastering inventory management, including knowing how to get rid of Elder Scrolls, is crucial not only for practical reasons but also for maintaining a positive and enjoyable gaming experience. A clean inventory promotes a clear mind, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the world of the Elder Scrolls.
Ultimately, understanding the specific mechanics of each game and implementing effective inventory management strategies will allow you to conquer the challenge of those pesky Elder Scrolls and enjoy the vast and immersive world of the Elder Scrolls series to its fullest.
Why can’t I just drop the Elder Scrolls from my inventory?
Dropping the Elder Scrolls is usually not possible in most versions of The Elder Scrolls games. These artifacts are considered quest items and are flagged as essential, preventing you from simply discarding them. The game mechanics are designed this way to ensure players cannot inadvertently break questlines by getting rid of crucial items needed to progress the story. This can sometimes be frustrating, as they are heavy and take up valuable inventory space.
Because the Elder Scrolls are often critical to the main quest or specific questlines, the game prevents you from permanently losing them. Dropping, selling, or otherwise disposing of them would halt your progress. The game developers recognized this potential issue and implemented this mechanic to safeguard the player experience.
When is it safe to get rid of an Elder Scroll?
It is generally safe to get rid of an Elder Scroll once the questline associated with it is completely finished and the game allows you to do so. This usually involves returning the Elder Scroll to a specific location or NPC, who will then remove it from your inventory. Check your quest log to confirm you have completed all objectives related to the Elder Scroll before attempting to remove it.
Sometimes, even after completing a major quest, the Elder Scroll may remain in your inventory. In such cases, it’s worth double-checking online guides or walkthroughs to see if there are any specific steps or locations required to finalize the removal. Make sure the relevant quest stages show as fully completed in your quest log.
What happens if I try to store an Elder Scroll in a container?
Attempting to store an Elder Scroll in a container, like a chest or barrel, typically won’t work either. The game’s mechanics usually prevent you from transferring essential quest items into storage. Even if you find a loophole or exploit that allows you to seemingly place it in a container, it might not be a permanent solution.
Sometimes, exploiting glitches to store essential items can lead to unforeseen problems. The item may disappear entirely or reappear unexpectedly, potentially disrupting your game. It is best to avoid attempting to circumvent the game’s intended mechanics for handling essential items like Elder Scrolls.
Are there any mods that allow me to get rid of Elder Scrolls easily?
Yes, numerous mods are available for The Elder Scrolls games that allow players to remove Elder Scrolls from their inventory, even if the game doesn’t naturally permit it. These mods often offer console commands or alternative quest endings that facilitate the disposal of the artifacts. Before installing any mod, always check its compatibility with your game version and other installed mods.
However, proceed with caution when using such mods. While they can offer a convenient solution, they might also introduce unexpected bugs or conflicts. Backing up your save files before installing and activating mods is always a good practice to prevent any potential issues that could compromise your game progress.
How much weight do Elder Scrolls usually have?
Elder Scrolls are notoriously heavy in most Elder Scrolls games. Their weight can range from 20 to 30 units, or even more, depending on the specific game and the particular Elder Scroll in question. This significant weight burden can significantly impact your character’s encumbrance, slowing you down and limiting your carrying capacity.
Given their weight, holding onto Elder Scrolls for an extended period can be a major inconvenience, especially for characters who rely on mobility or carry a lot of equipment. Managing your inventory and prioritizing other essential items becomes crucial when burdened with the weight of an Elder Scroll.
Is there a specific questline where I can permanently remove the Elder Scrolls in Skyrim?
In Skyrim, the main questline and the Dawnguard DLC questline are intricately linked to the use of Elder Scrolls. You’ll need to acquire and utilize these scrolls to progress in both storylines. Specifically, once you complete the Dawnguard questline and read the Dragon Elder Scroll at the Throat of the World to learn the Dragonrend shout during the main quest, you can sell the Dragon Elder Scroll.
Uragon gro-Morag at the College of Winterhold will purchase the Dragon Elder Scroll from you after these quest requirements are fulfilled. The other two scrolls involved in the main questline, the Blood Elder Scroll and the Sun Elder Scroll, are also tied to the Dawnguard quest and are disposed of in a similar fashion upon completion of their related quest stages.
What happens if I use console commands to remove the Elder Scrolls?
Using console commands to remove Elder Scrolls is possible in most Elder Scrolls games. The specific command usually involves identifying the item’s ID code and using the “removeitem” command. However, this method should be used with extreme caution, as it can potentially disrupt your game.
Removing essential quest items like Elder Scrolls using console commands can break questlines, prevent you from completing objectives, or even corrupt your save file. It’s highly recommended to save your game before using any console commands and to only resort to this method if you’re absolutely sure about the consequences and have exhausted all other options.