The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis known for its incredible open-world and fun quests. The game’s hundreds of locations and unprecedented freedommake for an RPG unlike any other. Multiple playthroughs ofSkyrimreveal new locations and secrets that players missed previously, both hidden locations and unmarked ones.
RELATED:The Best 10 Games To Play If You Like Skyrim
A great area with hidden locations is the Rift, the southeastern portion of Skyrim. The Rift is known for its lush forests filled with animals to kill and unmarked locations with their own stories to tell. Many know of Redwater Den fromDawnguardor Forelhost, but what of the necromancer practicing on dead chickens? From confiscated loot to a unique bow, here are 10 hidden locations most players missed in the Rift inSkyrim.
10The Burning Farmhouse
One small farmhouse due south of Broken Helm Hollow is perpetually emitting smoke. This destroyed building has few goods inside except for a Flame Atronach Scroll, highly implying that an unskilled conjurer accidentally set their house on fire.
9Aetherium Forge
Dawnguardintroduced a whole host of new locations and quests for players to uncover, one of which relates to the Aetherium Forge. This location is southeast of Ivarstead, and can only be opened after the player finds all four Aetherium Shards.
Combining these Aetherium Shards will act as a key to open this Dwemer forge. It acts as a typical Dwemer dungeon until players reach the end. Players get to use the forge itself to craft one of threepowerful and rare Aetherial items: the Aetherial Staff, Aetherial Shield, or Aetherial Crown.
8Riften Warehouse
Riften has a hidden warehouse that players can’t enter until they start"The Raid" side quest.
RELATED:Skyrim: 5 Creation Club Mods That Are Worth It (& 5 That Aren’t)
Once this quest begins, players can enter this hidden warehouse to find a rather large Skooma and Moon Sugar operation happening inside.
7Failed Wolf Trap
East of Fort Greenwall, to the right of a side path, reveals a rusted cage with two pieces of venison inside. A wolf can be found circling this cage trying to take the venison without walking inside. Players can choose to close the cage to convince two nearby hunters that they caught the wolf, causing them to run out from nearby rocks towards the cage. They’re hostile on sight. It goes to show thatnot every animal inSkyrimlacks intelligence.
6The Poultry Reanimator
South of Lake Geir is a strange shrine that belongs to a novice necromancer. Players will immediately notice the dead chicken nearby alongside a soul gem, meaning that this shrine is meant to resurrect poultry. Necromancers have to start from somewhere.
5Flagged Frost Troll Den
Just east of Stendarr’s Beacon lies a unique Frost Troll den that is unlike any other Troll den inSkyrim. This zone is denoted by a raised flag near the cliffside, suggesting that travelers have had issues with these Frost Trolls before.
RELATED:Skyrim: 5 Of The Best Daedric Princes (& 5 Of The Worst)
A dead wolf has leveled loot under its corpse as well. As to why this den hasn’t been cleared out by the Dawnguard or Riften is unknown.
4Froki’s Shack
At the southmost edge of the Rift lies Froki’s Shack, a remote home that houses both Froki and his grandson Haming. Froki has a short quest for players to embark on if they so choose, granting Kyne’s Token upon completion. As for why they live so far from Skyrim’s main settlements is likely that they’re Talos worshippers, a practice thatgoes against the White-Gold Concordat. A path to the right of the shack leads to a shrine of Talos.
3Arcwind Point
Arcwind Point is a remote Nordic tomb at the southwest most corner of the Rift. It more closely resembles a temple than a tomb, however, as most engagements in Arcwind Point are outside. If players have theDawnguardDLC installed, one of the Word Walls will grant the Drain Vitality Shout. Be careful exploring this zone at a higher level as Arcwind Point alwaysspawns a legendary dragonat level 78 and beyond.
2The Three Sentinels
Watchtowers overlook the path to Riften to make sure no dangerous animals or bandits make their way inside. What players might not know, however, is that the three watchtowers north of Riften have loot in them.
Walking inside any of these three towers will reveal a chest that is labeled as ‘Confiscated Goods,’ likely the loot that hostile travelers and bandits had on them when they tried to sneak into Riften. Players can take these highly-valuable items from the chests but be warned that they will be counted as stolen.
1Bow Of The Hunt Cave
Clearspring Tarn is no stranger to hunters patrolling the area. Reaching this area appears to only have an apprentice-difficulty chest nearby, but there is an unmarked cave just south of Clearspring that houses a powerful early-game unique bow.
Upon reaching this cave, defeat the leveled Troll inside the dungeon and reach the back of the cave. On an altar should house the Bow of the Hunt, a unique hunting bow that deals awhopping 20 extra points of damage to animals. Combine this bow with Kyne’s Token amulet from Froki’s quest line and players should have a great early-game archer build that will destroy hostile animals in a single arrow.
