Grand Soul Gems vs. Black Soul Gems (& How to Fill Them)

The two best Soul Gems in Skyrim are the Black and Grand Soul Gems. The notable difference between these gems is the type of souls they can absorb.

Soul Gems in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are characterized by the type of soul they can absorb, with Grand Soul Gems and Black Soul Gems having the highest capacity. However, while these two gems may be equal in utility, they are not identical in how they can be filled. Soul Gems in Skyrim are filled by using a Soul Trap spell or enchanted weapon on an enemy before death. Skyrim players can capture the soul of any creature with a Soul Gem as long as they have the correct size to hold the soul. For example, a Grand Soul Gem can easily store the soul of an Ancient Dragon or Dragon Priest.

Nevertheless, the one weakness that even an item as powerful as the Grand Soul Gem has is that it cannot ensnare humanoid NPCs. Humanoid NPCs include all the playable races in Skyrim. Any character with voiced dialogue, such as a merchant, guard, or even bandit, is regarded as a "sentient person." Such NPCs' souls are all equivalent to Grand Souls, yet, because the Grand Soul Gem in The Elder Scrolls V can only capture creatures, the Black Soul Gem is the primary alternative.

Therefore, to fill a Black Soul Gem in Skyrim, players must slay and trap the soul of a human-like person, such as a Breton, Elf, or Orc. Due to this unique ability, Black Soul Gems are superior for recharging or enchanting jewelry, weapons, or armor, as humanoid enemies like bandits are a much more common foe than high-level creatures. However, Black Soul Gems are significantly harder to obtain since they have a much lower spawn rate than standard Soul Gems. Fortunately, there are multiple spots across the world where Black Soul Gems are guaranteed to spawn. Additionally, while mining is a great way to earn early gold in Skyrim, it is also an excellent method to farm Soul Gems, including Black ones. Players should head to Blackreach and mine the Geode Veins around the area for Soul Gems.

Alternatives to the Grand or Black Soul Gem in Skyrim

Eventually, acquiring Grand and Black Soul Gems in Skyrim will become more challenging. However, there is an alternative means of collecting endless Grand Soul Gems. "The Black Star" is a quest that players can receive by visiting the Shrine of Azura, which can be found south of Winterhold on the peak of a tall mountain. While the quest is optional, it is well worth the time and effort as players will be rewarded with an extremely useful Skyrim Daedric Artifact.

At the end of "The Black Star," players will be presented with a choice between giving the quest item, the Broken Star, to either Aranea or Nelacar. If they give the broken relic to Nelacar, players will be awarded The Black Star, an item that works exactly like a Black Soul Gem but that can be reused infinitely.

Next: Skyrim Farming Guide: How to Start a Farm in Whiterun

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.