For most players, spare Barbas. Return the Rueful Axe to Clavicus Vile and take the Masque of Clavicus Vile: it is the more useful general reward, and the Rueful Axe does not count toward the Oblivion Walker achievement. Keep the axe only if you specifically want the weapon or prefer the role-play outcome of obeying Vile.
What happens when you choose?
Near the end of Skyrim’s Daedric quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend,” Clavicus Vile asks you to kill Barbas. If you do, you keep the Rueful Axe. If you refuse and return the axe, Barbas reunites with Vile and you receive the Masque of Clavicus Vile instead. You cannot take both rewards through this final choice.
How to reach the choice
- Begin around Falkreath by speaking with Lod about the missing dog. You will encounter Barbas, who leads you to Clavicus Vile’s shrine in Haemar’s Shame.
- Speak with Vile at the shrine. He sends you to retrieve the Rueful Axe from Sebastian Lort at Rimerock Burrow.
- Return the axe to the shrine. When Vile orders you to kill Barbas, refuse if you want the Masque; kill Barbas if you want to keep the axe.
This is the route described by community-maintained quest references and a game guide; modded setups may differ.
Masque or Rueful Axe: which reward suits you?
| Choice | Reward and listed effects | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Spare Barbas | Masque of Clavicus Vile: +10 Speech, 20% better prices, and 5% Magicka regeneration, as listed by the game guide. | Players seeking a useful wearable reward, the artifact-oriented outcome, or a Barbas-friendly role-play choice. |
| Kill Barbas | Rueful Axe: two-handed battleaxe; damage 22, weight 10, base value 1183, and 20 points of Stamina damage, according to the item reference. The reference says it does not count toward Oblivion Walker. | Players who specifically want the axe, its display value, or the role-play outcome of following Vile’s command. |
The listed attributes do not establish a universal damage-per-second winner or prove that the Masque is best for every character build. If exact mechanics matter to your decision, check them against your game version.
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- Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail.
- The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features.
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
Why the Rueful Axe exists
Barbas describes the axe as one of Clavicus Vile’s “little jests.” In his account, wizard Sebastian Lort asked for a way to end his daughter’s curse after she became a werewolf; Vile gave him an axe. This is Barbas’s in-game explanation, not an external account of the events.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Live Another Life, In Another World: Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls comes to life in one legendary experience from all three official add-ons.
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- Hearthfire: Purchase land and build your own home from the ground up - from a simple one-room cottage to a sprawling compound complete with an armory, alchemy laboratory, and more.
- Dragonborn: Journey off the coast of Morrowind, to the vast island of Solstheim. Traverse the ash wastes and glacial valleys of this new land as you become more powerful with shouts that bend the will of your enemies and even tame dragons.
Rank #4
- Winner of more than 200 game of the year awards, Skyrim special edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail
- The special edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
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- SWITCH 2 ENHANCEMENTS — Explore Skyrim with updated visuals, improved load times, and optimized performance for Nintendo Switch 2.
- SHAPE YOUR ADVENTURE — Choose your character and decide how to play in an open world that responds to your actions.
- BUILD YOUR CHARACTER — Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities to define your play style.
- BATTLE DRAGONS — Face ancient dragons as the Dragonborn, learn their secrets, and harness their power.
Rank #2
- EPIC FANTASY REBORN - Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
- LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLD - Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
- YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAY - Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
- BATTLE DRAGONS - Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
- INCLUDED CONTENT - The Anniversary Edition includes the core game, pre-existing and new Creation Club content, plus all three official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.
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