To acquire the Ebony Sword, you must follow these steps:
Step 1: Reach level 80
To start this quest, you must first reach level 80. This can be done by completing missions or fighting enemies and earning experience points. You can also use various skills like Restoration or Lockpicking to gain more points and accelerate your progress.
Step 2: Talk to the Ebony Warrior
Once you reach level 80, you will receive a letter from the Ebony Warrior. He can be found walking around any of the major cities in Skyrim and will challenge you to a fight. Once he challenges you, you have to accept to engage in a duel with him.
Note that defeating the Ebony Warrior is not necessary to get the Ebony Sword, but it is recommended so that you can gain more recognition and respect from the local population.
Step 3: Receive the Blessing of Malacath
After defeating the Ebony Warrior, travel to the location of the Orc stronghold called Largashbur. Located in the southern part of the map, the stronghold can be tough to find. It is located southeast of Markarth and southwest of Riften.
Once you reach Largashbur, you’ll find that the Orcs are under attack from giants. Help them defeat the giant and speak with the stronghold’s leader, Atub. She will tell you that the stronghold is facing a curse and will ask you to seek out the Daedric Prince Malacath.
To find Malacath, travel to Follower’s Retreat. That location is located east of Riften and south of Windhelm. Once you reach the place, speak to an Orc priest named Ghorbash the Iron Hand. He will direct you to the shrine of Malacath where you have to offer a sample of Troll Fat and a Daedra Heart to obtain the blessing.
Step 4: Defeat the Red Eagle
Once you have received the Blessing of Malacath, proceed to Rebel’s Cairn. This location is easy to find since it’s located in the southwestern part of the map, on a small mountain. Here you will find a sword named Red Eagle’s Fury and a pedestal.
When you take the sword, it will trigger a quest where you must defeat the ancient Nord hero Red Eagle. The quest will require you to defeat Red Eagle’s ghost and a group of Forsworn. Once Red Eagle is defeated, you can place his sword on the pedestal to unlock the Ebony Sword.
Step 5: Claim the Ebony Sword
After following all the previous steps, you will finally obtain the Ebony Sword. Its attack damage of 13 and weight of 18 make it suitable for dealing heavy blows to your enemies. The two-handed weapon is also useful when fighting dragons as it deals extra damage to these types of creatures.
Conclusion
Getting the Ebony Sword can be tough, but it’s a challenge that is worth undertaking for any Skyrim player. The process involved from defeating the Ebony Warrior to defeating Red Eagle can take a lot of effort, but the reward of wielding such a powerful weapon is something that any warrior will appreciate. Just remember to always keep your eyes peeled and be prepared for any enemy that comes your way.