Skyrim shrines: blessings of the Divines and the Daedric shrines
Skyrim shrines come in two very different kinds. Shrines of the Nine Divines are small altars found in temples, homes and out in the wilds; activate one and it cures your diseases and grants a blessing that lasts eight hours. Daedric shrines are the great statues and altars of the Daedric Princes, and each one starts a quest that ends with a Daedric artifact.
Our map pins 34 wayside shrines of the Divines, 7 temples and 6 Daedric shrines in Skyrim. The table below gives the blessing each Divine grants, and the sections after it cover where to find them.
Blessings from shrines of the Divines (all cure disease and last 8 hours unless noted)
| Shrine | Blessing | Effect | Wayside shrines on our map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akatosh | Blessing of Akatosh | Magicka regenerates 10% faster | 4 |
| Arkay | Blessing of Arkay | Health increased by 25 points | 4 |
| Dibella | Blessing of Dibella | Speech skill increased by 10 points | 3 |
| Julianos | Blessing of Julianos | Magicka increased by 25 points | 2 |
| Kynareth | Blessing of Kynareth | Stamina increased by 25 points | 1 |
| Mara | Blessing of Mara | Restoration spells 10% stronger | 2 |
| Stendarr | Blessing of Stendarr | Blocking absorbs 10% more damage | 2 |
| Talos | Blessing of Talos | Shout cooldown reduced by 20% | 12 |
| Zenithar | Blessing of Zenithar | Prices 10% better when buying and selling | 4 |
| Auriel (Dawnguard) | Blessing of Auriel | Bows 10% stronger, lasts 12 hours | Forgotten Vale only |
How shrine blessings work
Activating any shrine of the Divines does two things at once: it removes every disease you carry, including the early stage of vampirism before it takes hold, and it applies that shrine's blessing for eight in-game hours. You can only hold one blessing at a time, so touching a second shrine replaces the first. Blessings are free and there is no cooldown, which makes shrines the cheapest cure for Rockjoint or Ataxia in the game.
The most used blessings are Talos, which cuts shout cooldowns by a fifth, Zenithar for a trading trip, and Arkay or Kynareth before a hard dungeon. Auriel's blessing from the wayshrines in the Forgotten Vale is the only one that lasts twelve hours.
Where to find shrines of the Divines
The easiest shrines are indoors. The Temple of the Divines in Solitude has an altar to every Divine except Talos, so it is the one-stop place to swap blessings. The Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun, the Temple of Mara in Riften, the Temple of Dibella in Markarth and the Temple of Talos in Windhelm each hold their own god's shrine, and every Hall of the Dead has a shrine of Arkay.
Out in the wilds there are 34 wayside shrines in our data. Talos is by far the most common with 12, hidden in mountain passes and on cliff tops such as the one above Froki's Shack and beside Dragonsreach in Whiterun. Only one Kynareth shrine stands outdoors, near Brood Cavern in Hjaalmarch. Owned houses can also be furnished with a shrine, and Hearthfire homes can build one of any Divine in the cellar.
Daedric shrines
Daedric shrines do not give blessings. Each is the start or end point of a Daedric quest, and most are guarded or tended by a priest. The six on our map are:
- Shrine of Azura, a huge statue south of Winterhold, where the priestess Aranea starts The Black Star.
- Sacellum of Boethiah in the mountains east of Windhelm, home of the cultists' tournament in Boethiah's Calling.
- Shrine to Malacath inside the Orc stronghold of Largashbur, resolved in The Cursed Tribe.
- Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon north of Dawnstar, where Pieces of the Past ends and Mehrunes' Razor is reforged.
- Statue to Meridia west of Solitude, starting point of The Break of Dawn and the sword Dawnbreaker.
- Shrine to Peryite in the northern Reach, tended by Kesh the Clean for The Only Cure.
The other Daedric quests start from people or places rather than shrines: Namira's shrine is in the Reachcliff Cave, Nocturnal's is in the Twilight Sepulcher, and Sanguine, Hircine, Hermaeus Mora, Mephala, Clavicus Vile, Molag Bal, Sheogorath and Vaermina have no outdoor shrine at all. See Skyrim Daedric quests and Daedric artifacts for every one.
Other sacred sites
Two temples on the map belong to neither group. High Hrothgar is the Greybeards' monastery on the Throat of the World, and Sky Haven Temple is the Blades' hidden Akaviri stronghold behind Karthspire. Standing stones are a separate system with their own permanent powers; see standing stones. On Solstheim, the All-Maker stones serve the same role for the Skaal.
On the map: 51 locations
Eastmarch 7
Falkreath Hold 4
Haafingar 2
The Pale 5
The Reach 7
The Rift 6
Whiterun Hold 8
Winterhold 6
Skyrim shrines: blessings of the Divines and the Daedric shrines: FAQ
What does a shrine do in Skyrim?
A shrine of one of the Divines cures all your diseases and gives that god's blessing for eight hours. Only one blessing can be active at a time.
Which shrine blessing is the best?
Talos for shout users, since it cuts shout cooldowns by 20 percent. Zenithar is best for selling loot and Arkay for extra health before a fight.
Where is the Shrine of Talos in Whiterun?
At the base of the Talos statue in the Wind District, below the stairs to Dragonsreach, where Heimskr preaches.
Where can I find all the shrines in one place?
The Temple of the Divines in Solitude has shrines to eight of the Nine Divines, all except Talos. The Temple of Talos in Windhelm covers the ninth.
Do Daedric shrines give blessings?
No. Activating a Daedric shrine starts or advances a Daedric quest. Only the Divines and Auriel give blessings, plus a few special shrines such as Nocturnal's in the Twilight Sepulcher.
How many shrines are on the Skyrim map?
Our dataset pins 34 wayside shrines of the Divines, 7 temples and 6 Daedric shrines in Skyrim, plus two shrines and two temples on Solstheim.