Skyrim Ansilvund Pillar Puzzle: Complete Guide and Solutions

In Skyrim, employing a “stealth archer” build can significantly ease the challenges faced in Ansilvund, a well-fortified crypt teeming with necromancers, rogue mages, and numerous draugr. The excavation site is designed with plenty of nooks and shadows, ideal for sniping unaware foes. Additionally, players will discover various ore veins hidden within Ansilvund’s labyrinthine tunnels, contributing to the adventure’s rewards.

Skyrim: Ansilvund Puzzle Solution

Reading For Answers

As players delve deeper into the Ansilvund Excavation, they will encounter a challenging puzzle involving spinning pillars that control a locked door. This particular puzzle is tricky because, unlike other puzzles in Skyrim, there are no obvious clues scattered throughout the vicinity. However, the key to this conundrum might be closer than it appears.

Amidst the hostile entities, adventurers should also be cautious of environmental traps, including pressure plates and tripwires strategically placed throughout the cave’s pathways.

Solving the Puzzle

There are two methods to resolve the pillar puzzle in Ansilvund:

Players can examine a book on a table adjacent to the puzzle lever. This volume is titled Of Fjori and Holgeir, a tale of love that also provides essential clues about the order of animals engraved on the pillars.
Alternatively, careful observers can discover the solution hidden below the spinning mechanisms, obscured by foliage and cobwebs. Inspecting this area reveals the same pillar order as found in the book: Eagle – Snake – Whale – Snake.

Escaping Ansilvund

This puzzle is integral to the quest “A Love Beyond Death”, which activates upon entering the Ansilvund Excavation. After successfully solving the puzzle, players will progress to a chamber where they face the boss, Lu’ah Al-Skaven. Upon her defeat, the coveted Ghostblade weapon becomes available. Keep going, as a master-level chest filled with treasures awaits.

To exit the Excavation Site, unlock the gate behind the boss chamber. A ramp leads to a ledge that allows players to confront a Frostbite Spider and another draugr. From that ledge, head left to discover the exit and continue your adventures in the realm of Skyrim.

Ansilvund’s Stone of Barenziah Location

Finding The Ansilvund Stone Of Barenziah

Players may find themselves solving the Ansilvund pillar puzzle while searching for the elusive Stone of Barenziah, located within the burial chambers near Fjori’s ghost.

Finding The Other Stones Of Barenziah

This task is part of the quest “No Stone Unturned,” where adventurers must locate 24 Stones of Barenziah scattered across Skyrim. The Ansilvund Stone is merely one piece of this larger puzzle. To aid your search, here is a comprehensive list of the locations of every Stone of Barenziah:

Location	Details
Stony Creek Cave	Inside the wizard’s cave, on a table
House of Clan Shatter-Shield, Windhelm	On the bookshelf in the bedroom upstairs
Palace of the Kings, Windhelm	On a table in Wuunferth the Unliving’s room
Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary	In Astrid’s room
Pinewatch Bandit’s Sanctuary	On a shelf
Sunderstone Gorge	In front of the Word Wall
Dainty Sload	On a table in the back room (accessible via the basement)
Reeking Cave, Thalmor Embassy	In a small niche near the entrance; may be inside during “Diplomatic Immunity.”
Blue Palace, Solitude	In Jarl Elisif’s room
Proudspire Manor, Solitude	On a dresser in the bedroom; included with purchase
Rannveig’s Fast	On a table near the exit
Dead Crone Rock	In front of the Word Wall
Treasury House, Markarth	In the master bedroom
Dwemer Museum, Understone Keep	Past the gate
Black-Briar Lodge	In the master bedroom
Mistveil Keep	In the Jarl’s bedroom
Jarl’s Quarters, Dragonsreach	In the bedroom
Fellglow Keep	On a table next to the alchemy tools
Jorrvaskr Living Quarters	In Kodlak Whitemane’s room
Whiterun Hall of the Dead	Inside a crypt
Arch-Mage’s Quarters, College of Winterhold	On a shelf left of the bed
Hob’s Fall Cave	On a shelf next to an alchemy bench
Young wild	In the throne room

Completing the “No Stone Unturned” quest culminates in recovering a crown to return to Vex, which unlocks a special perk for players who collect all 24 Stones of Barenziah. Ansilvund also has various radiant locations, potentially requiring players to revisit during companion quests. Fortunately, the pillar puzzle only needs to be solved once throughout your journey in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

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