The Cursed Tribe in Skyrim: Complete Walkthrough and Strategies for 2026

The Cursed Tribe is one of Skyrim’s most memorable Daedric quests, rewarding players with Volendrung, a devastating two-handed warhammer that absorbs stamina like a sponge. Unlike the more straightforward Daedric artifact hunts, this quest weaves Orc politics, giant slaying, and a dose of betrayal into a surprisingly compact adventure. If you’ve stumbled across Largashbur, the Orc stronghold under siege by giants, or you’re hunting down every Daedric artifact for your collection, you’re in the right place.

This walkthrough covers everything from triggering the quest and gathering ritual ingredients to navigating the critical decision points that can change how the quest unfolds. Whether you’re a first-time Dragonborn or replaying on the Anniversary Edition, this guide will help you claim Volendrung efficiently and avoid the bugs that still plague this quest in 2026.

Quest Overview and How to Start The Cursed Tribe

Location and Triggering the Quest

Largashbur is an Orc stronghold located in the southeastern corner of The Rift, southwest of Riften and northeast of Shor’s Stone. You’ll find it tucked near the mountains, close to the border with Morrowind. The quest starts the moment you approach the stronghold gates, you’ll witness a giant attacking the walls while the Orcs scramble to defend themselves.

You don’t need to complete any prerequisite quests or gain access to Orc strongholds through traditional means. The Cursed Tribe initiates automatically when you arrive, making it one of the easiest Daedric quests to stumble into organically. Once the giant is dead or retreats, speak to Atub, the stronghold’s shaman, who stands near the entrance. She’ll explain that Chief Yamarz has angered Malacath, and the curse upon the tribe has drawn giants to their doorstep.

Required Level and Prerequisites

There’s no minimum level requirement to start The Cursed Tribe. You can trigger it at level 1 if you wander to Largashbur early enough. That said, you’ll face enemies scaling from giants (which hit like freight trains at low levels) to multiple bears and trolls inside Fallowstone Cave.

For a seamless process, aim to tackle this quest around level 10-15 with decent armor and a solid weapon. Melee builds should bring strong armor rating and healing potions: ranged characters can kite enemies but need to manage stamina carefully. There are no faction prerequisites, so even non-Orc characters are welcome to help.

Meeting Chief Yamarz and Understanding the Giants’ Curse

After speaking with Atub, she directs you to talk to Chief Yamarz inside Largashbur’s longhouse. Yamarz is hostile, arrogant, and deeply insecure, traits that become painfully obvious as the quest progresses. He’ll reluctantly admit that Malacath has cursed the tribe due to his weakness as a chief, though he blames everyone but himself.

The curse manifests as relentless giant attacks. Normally, giants avoid Orc strongholds, but Malacath’s displeasure has broken that peace. Yamarz needs to appease the Daedric Prince by making an offering at the Shrine of Malacath inside Fallowstone Cave, but he’s too proud (and frankly, too cowardly) to go alone. Before you can escort him anywhere, though, Atub needs to perform a ritual to lift the blood seal keeping Yamarz trapped in the stronghold.

Yamarz’s dialogue drips with bravado masking fear, which sets up the quest’s central tension. He’s a chief in name only, and Malacath knows it. This isn’t just a fetch quest, it’s an indictment of failed leadership, Orc-style.

Gathering Ingredients for Atub’s Ritual

Atub needs two ingredients to perform the ritual that will allow Yamarz to leave Largashbur: one Troll Fat and one Daedra Heart. If you’ve been hoarding alchemy ingredients, you might already have these in your inventory. If not, here’s where to find them.

Finding Troll Fat

Troll Fat drops from trolls, which are common enough in Skyrim’s wilderness and caves. If you don’t have any stashed, here are reliable sources:

• Kill a troll: Trolls spawn in various locations, including along the path between Ivarstead and High Hrothgar, around Labyrinthian, and in many random caves. They regenerate health quickly, so use fire damage to shut that down.
• Buy from alchemists: Alchemy vendors like Arcadia in Whiterun or Angeline’s Aromatics in Solitude sometimes stock Troll Fat. Inventory is random, so check back after a few in-game days if they’re out of stock.
• Loot containers: Troll Fat can occasionally be found in apothecary satchels or alchemy labs in dungeons.

Troll Fat is the easier of the two ingredients. You’ll probably find one within 10 minutes of active searching.

Locating a Daedra Heart

Daedra Hearts are rarer and more expensive. They drop from Dremora, but those enemies don’t appear until you’re deep into specific quests or summoning them yourself. Here are your best bets:

• Enthir at the College of Winterhold: Enthir, the fence in the Hall of Attainment, reliably sells Daedra Hearts. You don’t need to be a College member to buy from him. His inventory resets every 48 hours.
• The Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon: If you’ve completed Pieces of the Past, Dremora spawn at Mehrunes Dagon’s shrine. Kill them for guaranteed Daedra Heart drops.
• Jorrvaskr living quarters: There’s a guaranteed Daedra Heart on Kodlak’s nightstand in the Companions’ headquarters in Whiterun. Stealing it is a crime, but if you’re sneaky enough, it’s free.
• Hall of the Vigilant: Before it’s destroyed (which happens automatically when you reach level 10 if Dawnguard is installed), a Daedra Heart sits on the altar.

If you’re low-level and broke, the Jorrvaskr option is your fastest route. Otherwise, buy one from Enthir and move on.

Completing the Ritual and Speaking with Malacath

Once you deliver both ingredients to Atub, she performs the ritual at the shrine near the longhouse entrance. The sky darkens, and Malacath himself speaks, addressing Yamarz directly. The Daedric Prince calls Yamarz weak and cowardly, demanding that he travel to the Giant’s Grove inside Fallowstone Cave and place the Shagrol’s Warhammer on the shrine as an offering.

Malacath’s voice is contemptuous, making it clear that Yamarz has failed as a chief. The curse won’t lift until the hammer is placed and the giant guarding the grove is slain. Yamarz, predictably, tries to deflect responsibility but has no choice. He agrees to go, and you’re tasked with escorting him.

This is where the quest shifts from fetch-and-retrieve to dungeon crawl. Stock up on healing potions, check your gear, and prepare for a multi-stage trek through Fallowstone Cave. Yamarz will follow you, but don’t expect him to be much help in combat, he’s surprisingly fragile for an Orc chief.

Escorting Yamarz to Fallowstone Cave

Fallowstone Cave is located east of Largashbur, not far from the stronghold. The entrance is marked by a small camp with a couple of hostile NPCs or animals nearby. Yamarz will follow you automatically once you leave Largashbur, but he moves at a walking pace and can get stuck on terrain. Be patient, or fast-travel to a nearby location and hoof it from there, just make sure he spawns with you.

Navigating Fallowstone Cave and Clearing Enemies

Fallowstone Cave is a linear dungeon with a few branching paths for minor loot. The main threats are:

• Bears: One or two bears patrol the first chamber. They’re tanky and deal solid melee damage but go down quickly to ranged attacks or magic.
• Trolls: Deeper in, you’ll encounter trolls, often two at a time. Use fire damage to prevent their regeneration. Yamarz will engage but often gets staggered or downed, so don’t rely on him.
• Hostile NPCs: Depending on your playthrough, you might encounter bandits or forsworn near the entrance or in side passages. Clear them to avoid getting flanked.

The cave itself is dimly lit with some minor loot chests and alchemy ingredients scattered around. There’s a stream running through the center that leads to the Giant’s Grove. Follow the water, clear enemies as you go, and keep an eye on Yamarz’s health. If he dies before reaching the grove, the quest fails. Some players use healing hands or rally spells to keep him alive, but honestly, kiting enemies away from him works just as well.

Once you reach the back of the cave, you’ll exit into the Giant’s Grove, an outdoor clearing with the shrine of Malacath, and a very angry giant.

The Giant’s Grove Confrontation: Key Decision Point

The Giant’s Grove is where The Cursed Tribe gets interesting. A level-scaled giant guards the shrine, and Yamarz is supposed to kill it to prove his worth to Malacath. But Yamarz, true to form, chickens out and offers you a bribe: kill the giant for him, and he’ll share the glory with Malacath. This is your first major decision point, and it has consequences.

Letting Yamarz Fight the Giant

If you refuse the bribe and insist Yamarz fight the giant himself, he’ll reluctantly engage. Spoiler: he gets obliterated almost instantly. Giants deal massive damage per swing, and Yamarz’s AI isn’t smart enough to dodge or block effectively. He’ll die within seconds, and Malacath will speak again, praising you for letting the coward fall and commanding you to finish the job.

This is the “honorable” path and the one Malacath clearly prefers. You still have to kill the giant, but you avoid the betrayal sequence entirely.

Defeating the Giant Yourself

If you agree to kill the giant for Yamarz, he stands back and lets you do the work. Giants are slow but hit like trucks, each swing can one-shot lighter armor builds. Tactics:

• Ranged builds: Keep your distance, circle-strafe, and pepper the giant with arrows or spells. The grove has plenty of space to kite.
• Melee builds: Use power attacks to stagger, dodge sideways after each swing, and chug potions as needed. Two-handed weapons and heavy armor make this significantly easier.
• Magic builds: Destruction spells work fine, but watch your magicka. Paralysis or ice spells can slow the giant down.

Once the giant is dead, things take a dark turn.

What Happens If Yamarz Betrays You

If you killed the giant for Yamarz, he’ll thank you, and then immediately attack you. He planned to kill you and claim the glory for himself. Yamarz is hostile now, and you have to put him down. He’s easier than the giant but still swings a decent warhammer.

Once Yamarz is dead, Malacath speaks again, mocking Yamarz’s cowardice and treachery. The Daedric Prince commands you to place Shagrol’s Warhammer on the shrine. When you do, it transforms into Volendrung, Malacath’s Daedric artifact, and the quest is complete.

Either path leads to the same reward, but letting Yamarz fight (and die) feels more in line with Malacath’s values. Many players experienced with Daedric artifact quests report the betrayal route as the most common on first playthroughs.

Claiming Volendrung: Malacath’s Daedric Artifact

Volendrung is the reward for completing The Cursed Tribe, and it’s one of the best two-handed weapons in Skyrim for stamina-focused melee builds. When you place Shagrol’s Warhammer on the shrine, it transforms into Volendrung, which you can immediately equip.

Volendrung’s Stats and Enchantments

Volendrung is a two-handed warhammer with the following stats:

• Base Damage: 25 (same as a Daedric Warhammer)
• Weight: 26
• Enchantment: Absorb 50 points of Stamina per hit

That stamina absorption is the real draw. With every hit, you drain 50 stamina from your target and add it to your own pool. This makes power attacks essentially free in prolonged fights, you swing, absorb stamina, and swing again without ever running dry. It’s absurdly strong for any build that relies on heavy weapon power attacks or shield bashes.

The enchantment doesn’t require recharging with soul gems, so Volendrung remains effective indefinitely. For melee players, this is a top-tier weapon from the mid-game onward.

Best Character Builds for Using Volendrung

Volendrung shines in specific build archetypes:

• Two-Handed Warriors: Obviously the primary user. Pair Volendrung with perks like Champion’s Stance, Devastating Blow, and Sweep for maximum damage and stamina sustain.
• Heavy Armor Tanks: The stamina absorption lets you spam power attacks and bash without worrying about stamina management. Combine with perks like Conditioning and Tower of Strength.
• Orc Berserkers: Orcs’ racial ability, Berserker Rage, doubles damage dealt and halves damage taken for 60 seconds. Pop it, then go ham with Volendrung for absurd DPS and infinite stamina.
• Werewolf builds: While you can’t use weapons in beast form, Volendrung is excellent for your human form, and the stamina pool boost helps with transformation sustain.

Volendrung isn’t ideal for dual-wield, stealth, or magic builds, but for two-handed warriors, it’s a must-have. If you’re running a modded game, the modding community at Nexus Mods has created retextures and balance tweaks for Volendrung that can further enhance its look and feel.

Returning to Largashbur and Quest Completion

Once you claim Volendrung, the quest log updates, and you’re free to return to Largashbur. When you arrive, the Orcs react to Yamarz’s death. If you let him die honorably (by fighting the giant himself), they mourn but respect Malacath’s judgment. If Yamarz betrayed you and you killed him, the Orcs treat you as the one who ended the curse.

Either way, Gularzob becomes the new chief of Largashbur. He thanks you for lifting the curse and restoring Malacath’s favor. The stronghold is no longer under siege, and the giants stop attacking. You can now access Largashbur’s services like any other Orc stronghold, including trading with the blacksmith and using crafting stations.

The quest completes, and you’re free to move on. Volendrung goes into your inventory, and the Cursed Tribe is resolved. No follow-up quests or complications, just a clean finish and a legendary warhammer to show for it.

Common Bugs, Glitches, and Fixes

The Cursed Tribe has been notorious for bugs since Skyrim’s original release, and even the Anniversary Edition in 2021 didn’t squash them all. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them:

• Yamarz won’t leave Largashbur: Sometimes after the ritual, Yamarz refuses to move. Try fast-traveling away and back, waiting 24 hours in-game, or hitting him once (don’t kill him) to reset his AI. On PC, the console command resetai can force him to follow.
• Yamarz dies before reaching the Giant’s Grove: If Yamarz gets killed en route, the quest fails. Reload an earlier save, or on PC, use resurrect on his corpse and escort him again. Some players report lowering difficulty to keep him alive.
• The giant doesn’t spawn: Occasionally, the giant at the Giant’s Grove fails to appear. Exit and re-enter the grove, or reload a save from before entering Fallowstone Cave. This bug is rarer but still pops up.
• Volendrung doesn’t appear after placing the hammer: If the transformation doesn’t trigger, reload and try again. Make sure you’re placing Shagrol’s Warhammer on the shrine, not just near it.
• Atub won’t accept ingredients: If you have the ingredients but can’t hand them over, try dropping them and picking them back up, or store them in a container and retrieve them. This can reset the quest flag.

For persistent issues, the Unofficial Skyrim Patch (USKP) fixes many Cursed Tribe bugs. It’s available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation through the respective mod platforms. If you’re playing vanilla and stuck, console commands (PC only) or reloading earlier saves are your best bet.

One Reddit user on Game8’s forums reported that punching Yamarz once before escorting him fixed the pathfinding bug, though results vary.

Tips and Strategies for an Optimal Quest Experience

Here’s how to make The Cursed Tribe as smooth as possible:

• Stock up before starting: Grab Troll Fat and a Daedra Heart ahead of time if you know you’ll be doing this quest. Saves backtracking.
• Bring fire damage: Trolls regenerate health quickly. Fire spells, enchanted weapons, or fire salts can shut that down and speed up fights.
• Don’t rush Yamarz: He’s slow and prone to getting stuck. If you sprint ahead and clear the cave, he might despawn or get lost. Keep him in sight.
• Save before the Giant’s Grove: The betrayal sequence can go sideways if you’re underprepared. Having a save right before the giant fight lets you try different approaches.
• Use the terrain: The Giant’s Grove has rocks and trees you can use for cover. Giants can’t navigate obstacles well, so kiting around them makes the fight easier.
• Consider letting Yamarz die to the giant: It’s the “canon” path and skips the betrayal fight. Plus, Malacath respects you more for it.
• Loot everything: Fallowstone Cave has decent alchemy ingredients and minor gold. The giant drops gold and a leveled weapon or armor piece, so don’t skip looting.

If you’re achievement hunting or collecting all Daedric artifacts, The Cursed Tribe is one of the easiest to complete early. Volendrung counts toward the Oblivion Walker achievement, so knock it out alongside quests like the Skull of Corruption for efficient progress.

Conclusion

The Cursed Tribe is a compact, memorable Daedric quest that delivers a top-tier artifact without demanding hours of grinding. Volendrung’s stamina absorption makes it a staple for two-handed builds, and the quest’s themes of leadership, cowardice, and redemption give it more weight than your average fetch quest. Whether you’re playing on the Anniversary Edition or a modded setup, The Cursed Tribe remains one of Skyrim’s standout moments.

Just watch out for the bugs, save often, keep Yamarz alive, and don’t be surprised if he tries to stab you in the back. That’s Orc politics for you.