You're deep in the Rift, specifically south of Riften, trekking up a mountain that seems way steeper than it looked on the map. You find Forelhost. It’s an imposing Nordic ruin, dripping with that specific brand of "stay away" energy Skyrim does so well. If you’re here, you’re likely hunting down a Dragon Priest mask or you’re just a completionist who can’t stand an empty map marker. Either way, you’re eventually going to hit a wall. Or rather, a puzzle door. That’s where the Skyrim glass dragon claw comes in, and honestly, it’s one of the more tedious items to track down if you don't know the layout of this massive dungeon.
Forelhost isn't your average "in and out" barrow. It’s a multi-layered slog through the history of the Dragon Cult. The claw itself is the literal key to the final chamber, but getting your hands on it requires more than just looting a random chest. You’ve got to deal with Captain Valmir—a guy who is definitely lying to you—and a gauntlet of leveled Draugr that make Bleak Falls Barrow look like a tutorial.
Where Exactly Is the Skyrim Glass Dragon Claw?
Don’t expect to find it early. You have to work for this one. After you fight your way through the Forelhost Stronghold and the Forelhost Crypt, you’ll finally reach the Forelhost Refectory. This is the third major zone of the ruin. The Skyrim glass dragon claw is sitting on a pedestal in the Refectory, usually behind a gate that requires you to circle around the entire room.
It’s easy to get turned around. The Refectory is a bit of a maze of narrow hallways and dining areas (hence the name). Look for a room that looks significantly more important than the others—lots of stone and maybe some alchemy equipment. The claw is right there on a central pedestal. Picking it up usually triggers a trap or spawns some enemies, so don't just grab it and check your inventory for the code immediately. Clear the room first.
Actually, the "puzzle" of finding the claw is often harder than the door it opens. Because Forelhost is so long, players often run out of potions or carry weight before they even reach the Refectory. If you're playing on Legendary difficulty, those Draugr Deathlords in the halls leading up to the claw are no joke. They will Unrelenting Force you into a corner before you can even see the green glow of the glass.
Solving the Forelhost Door Puzzle
Once you have the Skyrim glass dragon claw, you’re headed for the final showdown. But first, you have to look at the palm of the claw. This is a classic Skyrim mechanic that somehow still trips people up because the UI doesn't always make it obvious you can rotate items. Open your inventory, go to the "Misc" section, find the claw, and zoom in.
The combination for the Forelhost puzzle door, from top to bottom, is:
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- Wolf
- Owl
- Snake
Rotate the rings on the door to match these symbols. Insert the claw. The heavy stone doors will grind open, leading you to Rahgot.
Rahgot is one of the eight high-ranking Dragon Priests. He’s tough. He uses fire-based magic and summons atronachs to make your life miserable. But the real prize isn't just his death; it's the mask he drops, which provides a massive +70 boost to Stamina. For a power-attacking warrior or a rogue who likes to sprint, this is arguably the best headgear in the game. You need that Skyrim glass dragon claw to get it. Without it, you’re just a tourist in a very cold, very dead tomb.
Why Everyone Hates (and Loves) Forelhost
Forelhost is unique because of the lore. Most people find the Skyrim glass dragon claw as part of the quest "Siege on the Dragon Cult." You meet Valmir outside, who claims to be an Imperial or Stormcloak officer (depending on your progress in the Civil War). He’s a fraud. He’s actually a Thalmor agent trying to recover the mask for his own ends.
The dungeon tells a grim story. If you read the notes scattered around—like Skorm Snow-Strider's Journal—you realize the Dragon Cultists committed mass suicide here when they were besieged by King Harald's forces. They poisoned the well. They killed their own children to "save" them from the invaders. It’s dark stuff. Finding the Skyrim glass dragon claw feels like picking up a cursed relic of a tragedy rather than just a shiny quest item.
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Common Glitches and How to Fix Them
Skyrim being Skyrim, things go wrong. Sometimes the Skyrim glass dragon claw doesn't appear on the pedestal. This is rare, but it happens. Usually, it’s because an area-of-effect spell (like a Fireball or a Shout) knocked it off into a corner or under a table. If it’s not on the pedestal, start looking on the floor. Use a "Detect Object" mod if you have one, or just start kicking things around.
If the door rings won't turn, that’s a different problem. This is a notorious bug across all "claw" doors in Skyrim. Usually, the fix is simple:
- Save your game right in front of the door.
- Exit the game entirely to the desktop or console dashboard.
- Reload.
This resets the script for the door rings 99% of the time. If you’re on PC and the claw is genuinely gone, you can use the console command player.additem 000AB375 1 to force it into your inventory. But try to find it naturally first—it’s more satisfying.
Getting the Most Out of Your Run
Don't just rush for the claw. Forelhost has an insane amount of loot. Because the enemies are high-level, the chests usually contain high-tier armor and weapons. There’s also a Word Wall behind Rahgot after you use the Skyrim glass dragon claw to pass the door. It teaches you a word for the "Storm Call" shout.
Storm Call is literally the most powerful shout for clearing out large groups of enemies in the open world, though you shouldn't use it in cities unless you want a bounty of ten thousand gold and every guard in the hold trying to kill you.
What to bring with you
Forelhost is long. Bring these:
- Resist Fire Potions: Rahgot will burn you alive if you aren't prepared.
- Plenty of empty Soul Gems: The Draugr here are high-level and great for filling Greater and Grand gems.
- Follower with high carry weight: You will find more Ebony and Glass gear here than almost anywhere else.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re currently standing in front of the door and can't find the combination, remember: Wolf, Owl, Snake.
If you haven't started the quest yet, head to the mountains south-southeast of Riften. Look for the high peaks. Once you see the tent and the guy in armor (Valmir), you're in the right place. Just remember that the Skyrim glass dragon claw isn't at the beginning. You have to commit to at least thirty to forty-five minutes of dungeon crawling to get it.
After you finish Forelhost and get Rahgot's mask, don't forget to deal with Valmir outside. He’ll be waiting for you, and he’s not planning on letting you keep that mask. Loot his body for a letter that explains his true intentions—it adds a nice bit of closure to the whole ordeal.
Make sure you're at least level 20 before attempting this. Forelhost scales with you, but the floor for the enemies is relatively high. If you go in too early, you'll find yourself burning through every healing potion you own before you even reach the Refectory where the claw is waiting.