Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide Quests Quests
Main Quest
Overview
The Main Quest begins the moment you start your adventure. Over the course of three acts, these quests involve some of the most important and wide-ranging events in Skyrim. Once you escape the town of Helgen, you are free to continue or ignore the Main Quest whenever you wish. However, it is recommended that you complete most of the first act sooner rather than later, as you’re rewarded with several important powers (including Shouts) that can make your other adventures less fraught and more entertaining. Remember that you can completely finish the Main Quest and then return to tackle any other quests (or just explore) without penalty.
Available Quests
There are a total of 20 different Main Quests in three acts. Each quest leads directly into the next, as shown in the following table:
Act I
| Quest Name | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| Main Quest: Unbound | None |
| Main Quest: Before the Storm | Complete Main Quest: Unbound |
| Main Quest: Bleak Falls Barrow | Complete Main Quest: Before the Storm |
| Main Quest: Dragon Rising | Complete Main Quest: Bleak Falls Barrow |
| Main Quest: The Way of the Voice | Complete Main Quest: Dragon Rising |
| Main Quest: The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller | Complete Main Quest: The Way of the Voice |
| Main Quest: A Blade in the Dark | Complete Main Quest: The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller |
Act II
| Quest Name | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| Main Quest: Diplomatic Immunity | Complete Main Quest: A Blade in the Dark |
| Main Quest: A Cornered Rat | Complete Main Quest: Diplomatic Immunity |
| Main Quest: Alduin’s Wall | Complete Main Quest: A Cornered Rat |
| Main Quest: The Throat of the World | Complete Main Quest: Alduin’s Wall |
| Main Quest: Elder Knowledge | Complete Main Quest: The Throat of the World |
| Main Quest: Alduin’s Bane | Complete Main Quest: Elder Knowledge |
Act III
| Quest Name | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| Main Quest: The Fallen | Complete Main Quest: Alduin’s Bane |
| Main Quest: Paarthurnax† | Complete Main Quest: Alduin’s Bane |
| Main Quest: Season Unending‡ | Complete Main Quest: Alduin’s Bane |
| Main Quest: The World-Eater’s Eyrie | Complete Main Quest: The Fallen |
| Main Quest: Sovngarde | Complete Main Quest: The World-Eater’s Eyrie |
| Main Quest: Dragonslayer | Complete Main Quest: Sovngarde |
| Main Quest: Epilogue | Complete Main Quest: Dragonslayer |