Filling a soul gem is a crucial aspect of the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, as it allows you to trap souls and use them to power enchantments and create powerful effects. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or just starting your journey in Skyrim, understanding how to fill a soul gem is essential for maximizing your abilities and enhancing your gaming experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with detailed instructions on how to fill a soul gem, from gathering the necessary materials to executing the enchanting process.
To begin the process of filling a soul gem, you’ll need to acquire an empty soul gem. These can be found in various locations throughout Skyrim, including loot from enemies, chests, and merchants. Once you have an empty soul gem, you’ll need to find a creature to trap its soul. Creatures’ souls vary in strength, ranging from petty to grand, so choose your target wisely based on the size of the soul gem you have. Once you’ve identified your target, cast the Soul Trap spell on it. This spell will create a magical link between the soul gem and the creature. When the creature is killed, its soul will be captured within the soul gem, filling it with power.
The process of filling a soul gem is not limited to combat. You can also capture the souls of dead creatures by using the Soul Trap spell on their corpses. This is a convenient way to fill soul gems without engaging in combat. Additionally, certain quests and events may reward you with filled soul gems, so keep an eye out for these opportunities. Once you’ve filled a soul gem, you can use it to power enchantments at an enchanting table. By combining filled soul gems with enchanted items, you can create powerful weapons, armor, and jewelry with unique abilities that can enhance your character’s capabilities. Remember, the larger the soul gem, the more powerful the enchantment you can create. So, seek out grand soul gems to maximize the potential of your enchantments.
Soul Gem Overview
Soul gems are essential in Skyrim for trapping the souls of creatures and using them to power various enchantments and abilities. They come in different sizes, each capable of holding a soul of a specific strength. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the different soul gem types:
- Petty Soul Gem: These are the smallest and most common type of soul gem. They can hold the souls of animals and weak creatures, typically providing a lesser soul.
- Lesser Soul Gem: Slightly larger than petty soul gems, these can hold the souls of stronger creatures, such as bandits and wolves. They provide a petty soul when filled.
- Common Soul Gem: These are moderately sized soul gems that can store the souls of medium-strength creatures like spriggans and draugr. They provide a common soul when filled.
- Greater Soul Gem: Larger and more valuable, these soul gems can hold the souls of powerful creatures like trolls and sabrecats. They provide a greater soul when filled.
- Grand Soul Gem: The largest and rarest type of soul gem, grand soul gems can trap the souls of extremely powerful creatures like giants and mammoths. They provide a grand soul when filled.
| Soul Gem Type | Size | Soul Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Petty Soul Gem | Small | Lesser Soul |
| Lesser Soul Gem | Medium | Petty Soul |
| Common Soul Gem | Large | Common Soul |
| Greater Soul Gem | Extra Large | Greater Soul |
| Grand Soul Gem | Rare | Grand Soul |
It’s important to remember that not every creature can fill a soul gem of every size. For example, petty soul gems can only capture the souls of weak creatures, while grand soul gems require powerful enemies. Therefore, it’s crucial to match the size of the soul gem to the strength of the creature you’re hunting.
Soul Trapping Basics
Soul trapping is a powerful skill in Skyrim that lets you capture the souls of slain creatures and store them in soul gems. This can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as enchanting weapons and armor, creating potions, and filling soul gems for use in other rituals.
Filling Soul Gems
Filling a soul gem is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. First, you need to find a creature with a soul that you want to capture. Once you have found your target, you need to cast a soul trap spell on the creature. This will attach a soul gem to the creature, and when the creature is killed, its soul will be trapped in the gem.
There are several different types of soul trap spells available, each of which can trap different types of souls. The type of soul trap spell you need to use will depend on the type of soul you want to capture. Here is a table that lists the different types of soul trap spells and the types of souls they can trap:
| Soul Trap Spell | Type of Soul |
|---|---|
| Soul Trap | Lesser Souls |
| Greater Soul Trap | Greater Souls |
| Grand Soul Trap | Grand Souls |
Once you have selected the appropriate soul trap spell, you need to cast it on the creature you want to capture. To do this, simply select the spell from your spellbook and then click on the creature. The spell will then be cast, and the soul gem will be attached to the creature.
When the creature is killed, its soul will be trapped in the soul gem. The soul gem can then be used to enchant weapons and armor, create potions, or fill soul gems for use in other rituals.
Choosing the Right Weapon
When choosing a weapon to fill a soul gem, there are a few things to consider. First, the type of weapon you use will determine the size of the soul gem you can fill. For example, a dagger can only fill a petty soul gem, while a warhammer can fill a grand soul gem. Weapons with higher attack ratings result in higher tiers of filled soul gems.
Second, you should consider the enchantment on your weapon. Soul Trap is a common enchantment that can be found on many different types of weapons. This enchantment increases the chance of capturing a soul when you kill an enemy. If you are using a weapon without the Soul Trap enchantment, you can use a spell scroll or staff to cast the spell before attacking your enemy.
Weapon Type And Soul Gem Tier
The following table provides an overview of the different types of weapons and the maximum size of Soul Gems that they can fill:
| Weapon Type | Maximum Soul Gem Size |
|---|---|
| Dagger | Petty |
| One-handed sword | Lesser |
| Two-handed sword | Common |
| War axe | Greater |
| Battleaxe | Grand |
Enchanting Considerations
Black Souls for Black Gems
It’s important to note that only black soul gems can trap the souls of humans and mer. These gems are larger than petty and lesser gems, and they have a distinctive black color. When filling a black soul gem, you must ensure that the target is a humanoid creature, such as a bandit, mage, or necromancer. Attempting to trap the soul of an animal or creature will result in a wasted soul gem.
Trapping Higher Souls
The size of the soul gem you use determines the strength of the soul that can be trapped. Petty soul gems can hold the souls of weak creatures, while grand soul gems can hold the souls of powerful beings. If you try to trap a soul that is too strong for the gem, the gem will shatter and the soul will be lost.
Multiple Enchantments
Soul gems can be used to power multiple enchantments on a single item. This allows you to create powerful weapons and armor with a variety of effects. However, it’s important to note that each enchantment requires a certain amount of soul charge. If the soul gem does not have enough charge, the enchantment will not be activated.
Recharging Soul Gems
Soul gems can be recharged by absorbing the souls of additional creatures. This can be done by using the soul trap spell or by disenchanting an enchanted item. Recharging a soul gem restores its charge to full, allowing it to be used for additional enchantments.
| Soul Gem Type | Soul Size |
|---|---|
| Petty | Weak |
| Lesser | Moderate |
| Common | Strong |
| Greater | Very Strong |
| Grand | Legendary |
Utilizing Soul Gems in Alchemy
Soul Gems play a crucial role in Alchemy, enabling you to enchant potions with various magical effects. Filling them with the souls of vanquished creatures allows you to create potent elixirs that can enhance your abilities, heal wounds, or even protect against harmful spells.
Filling Soul Gems with Trapped Souls
To fill a Soul Gem, you must first trap a soul within it. This is done by casting the Soul Trap spell on an enemy before they die. The size of the Soul Gem determines the strength of the soul it can hold. Larger Soul Gems can capture the souls of more powerful creatures.
Once a soul is trapped, you can fill the Soul Gem by interacting with an Alchemy Table and selecting the “Fill Soul Gem” option. The filled Soul Gem can then be used in alchemy recipes to create enchanted potions.
Enhanced Potion Effects
Using filled Soul Gems in alchemy enhances the effects of potions. The strength of the soul determines the potency of the enchantment. Larger Soul Gems with more powerful souls produce stronger potions. The following table summarizes the effects of different soul strengths on potion enhancements:
| Soul Strength | Potion Enhancement |
|---|---|
| Petty Soul | Minor effect increase (10-20%) |
| Lesser Soul | Moderate effect increase (20-40%) |
| Common Soul | Significant effect increase (40-60%) |
| Greater Soul | Major effect increase (60-80%) |
| Grand Soul | Maximum effect increase (80-100%) |
Creating Potent Potions
By utilizing filled Soul Gems, you can create potent potions that grant various beneficial effects. Some notable examples include:
- Health Potions: Restore a significant amount of health, with Grand Soul-filled potions providing maximum healing.
- Magicka Potions: Replenish Magicka reserves, with Greater Soul-filled potions supporting extended spellcasting.
- Fortify Attribute Potions: Enhance specific attributes, such as Health, Magicka, or Stamina, with Common Soul-filled potions providing noticeable improvements.
- Resist Magic Potions: Protect against magical attacks, with Lesser Soul-filled potions offering moderate resistance.
- Paralysis Potions: Temporarily paralyze enemies, with Petty Soul-filled potions causing brief incapacitation.
Filling Grand Soul Gems Effectively
Filling Grand Soul Gems requires specific strategies to maximize efficiency. Here are some tips:
1. Use Soul Trap
Equip the Soul Trap spell to capture souls as you kill enemies. The spell must be cast before the enemy dies to fill the Soul Gem.
2. Target Enemies with Grand Souls
Grand Souls are found in powerful creatures such as Mammoths, Dragons, and Daedra. Focus on these enemies to fill Grand Soul Gems quickly.
3. Enchant Weapons with Soul Stealer
Enchanting weapons with the Soul Stealer enchantment adds a chance to fill a Soul Gem with a soul larger than the weapon’s level.
4. Use Black Star
The Black Star is a reusable Soul Gem that holds any size soul. It is ideal for filling Grand Soul Gems with ease.
5. Capture Souls in Combat
When in combat, be quick to cast Soul Trap and target enemies before they die. Time is crucial to ensure the capture of the soul.
6. Consider Soul Gem Size
Larger Soul Gems hold more potent souls. Using Common Soul Gems to capture Grand Souls is inefficient. Instead, use soul gems of at least Greater size.
| Soul Gem Size | Soul Capacity |
|---|---|
| Petty Soul Gem | Petty Souls |
| Lesser Soul Gem | Lesser Souls |
| Common Soul Gem | Common Souls |
| Greater Soul Gem | Greater Souls |
| Grand Soul Gem | Grand Souls |
| Black Star | Any Soul |
Soul Gem Mining and Harvesting
Soul gems are an essential component in the world of Skyrim, as they allow players to capture the souls of creatures and use them to enchant weapons and armor. There are two primary methods for obtaining soul gems: mining and harvesting.
Soul Gem Mining
Soul gems can be found in various mines throughout Skyrim. They are usually located in veins, and players can use a pickaxe to extract them. The type of soul gem found in a vein depends on the location of the mine. For example, mines in the northern part of Skyrim are more likely to contain grand soul gems, while mines in the southern part are more likely to contain lesser soul gems.
Soul Gem Harvesting
Another way to obtain soul gems is by harvesting them from the bodies of creatures that have been killed. The type of soul gem that is harvested depends on the soul size of the creature. The soul size of a creature can be determined by its level, with larger creatures having larger souls. For example, a mudcrab will have a petty soul, while a dragon will have a grand soul.
Soul Size and Soul Gem Type
| Soul Size | Soul Gem |
|---|---|
| Petty | Petty Soul Gem |
| Lesser | Lesser Soul Gem |
| Common | Common Soul Gem |
| Greater | Greater Soul Gem |
| Grand | Grand Soul Gem |
The Soul Cairn’s Endless Source
The Soul Cairn is a realm of Oblivion that is filled with the souls of the dead. It is a dark and dangerous place, but it is also home to an endless source of soul gems. Soul gems can be used to trap the souls of creatures, which can then be used to power enchantments. To fill a soul gem in the Soul Cairn, you will need to find a soul gem and then use it to trap the soul of a creature. You can find soul gems in various locations in the Soul Cairn, or you can purchase them from merchants. To trap the soul of a creature, you will need to use a soul trap spell or scroll. Once you have trapped the soul of a creature, the soul gem will be filled. You can then use the filled soul gem to power enchantments.
There are several different types of soul gems, each of which can hold a different amount of soul energy. The type of soul gem that you need will depend on the strength of the enchantment that you want to power. The following table shows the different types of soul gems and the amount of soul energy that they can hold:
| Soul Gem Type | Soul Energy |
|---|---|
| Petty Soul Gem | 25 |
| Lesser Soul Gem | 50 |
| Common Soul Gem | 100 |
| Greater Soul Gem | 250 |
| Grand Soul Gem | 500 |
| Black Soul Gem | 1000 |
Alternatives to Soul Trapping
There are a few alternative methods to filling soul gems without using the Soul Trap spell. These include:
- Purchasing filled soul gems from vendors.
- Looting filled soul gems from enemies.
- Using the Soul Cairn to fill soul gems with black souls.
- Using the Ritual Stone to fill soul gems with lesser souls.
- Using the Aetherial Crown to fill soul gems with grand souls.
- Using the Black Star to fill soul gems with any type of soul.
- Using the Staff of Magnus to fill soul gems with celestial souls.
- Using the Staff of Sheogorath to fill soul gems with mad souls.
Black Star
The Black Star is a unique soul gem that can be used to fill any type of soul gem. It is obtained by completing the quest “The Black Star.” To use the Black Star, simply cast a soul trap spell on an enemy and the soul will be trapped in the Black Star instead of a regular soul gem. The Black Star can hold up to 50 souls and can be used repeatedly.
Maximizing Soul Gem Usage
Soul gems are essential in Skyrim for enchanting weapons and armor. Here’s how to fill them effectively:
Enchanting Weapons and Armor
To fill a soul gem, you need to enchant a weapon or armor piece with the soul trap enchantment. This enchantment traps the soul of a slain creature inside the gem.
Trapping Souls
To trap a soul, the creature must be killed by a weapon or spell that is enchanted with the soul trap enchantment.
Soul Gem Capacity
Soul gems have different capacities, ranging from petty to grand. The larger the gem, the larger the soul it can hold.
Choosing the Right Soul Gem
Match the soul capacity of the gem to the size of the soul you want to trap. Using a petty gem for a grand soul will waste the excess soul energy.
Black Soul Gems
Black soul gems can trap human or humanoid souls, which are more powerful than animal souls.
Recharging Soul Gems
Soul gems can be recharged by absorbing souls from various sources, such as soul cairn, soul stones, or enchanted weapons with soul absorption.
Bleak Falls Barrow Tutorial
The first soul gem you encounter is during the Bleak Falls Barrow quest. Use the soul trap spell to fill a petty soul gem with the soul of a draugr.
Enchanting Table
Enchanting tables can be found in many locations throughout Skyrim. Use them to enchant weapons and armor with soul trap and other enchantments.
Vendors
Soul gems can be purchased from various vendors, including court wizards and general goods merchants.
Loot
Soul gems can be found as loot in chests, dungeons, and other locations. Check every nook and cranny for them.
How to Fill a Soul Gem in Skyrim
Soul gems are essential items in Skyrim for enchanting weapons and armor. You can fill a soul gem by killing an enemy with a soul trap spell or weapon enchantment. The size of the soul gem determines the size of the soul it can hold. Smaller soul gems can hold smaller souls, while larger soul gems can hold larger souls.
To fill a soul gem, you must first cast a soul trap spell or equip a weapon with a soul trap enchantment. When you kill an enemy with a soul trap effect, their soul will be trapped in the soul gem. You can check the size of the soul by looking at the soul gem in your inventory. The larger the soul, the more powerful the enchantment you can create.
People Also Ask
How do you get soul gems in Skyrim?
You can find soul gems in various locations in Skyrim, including dungeons, caves, and shops. You can also purchase them from merchants or loot them from enemies.
What are the different sizes of soul gems?
There are four different sizes of soul gems: petty, lesser, common, and greater. Petty soul gems can hold the souls of creatures with 100 health or less, while greater soul gems can hold the souls of creatures with 4000 health or more.
How do you use a soul gem to enchant an item?
To use a soul gem to enchant an item, you must first have an enchanting table. You can find enchanting tables in various locations in Skyrim, including the College of Winterhold and the Arcanaeum in the Dragonsreach palace.
