Daedra Hearts drop from Dremora enemies, not from containers or vendors

Daedra Hearts are crafting ingredients in Skyrim that you get by killing Dremora — humanoid Daedric enemies that appear in specific locations and during certain quests. You cannot buy them from merchants, find them lying in chests, or loot them from most other enemy types. The most reliable way to get them is to travel to places where Dremora spawn naturally, kill them, and take the heart from their corpse.

Each Dremora you kill drops one Daedra Heart. You need these hearts for crafting Daedric armor and weapons at a forge, and for making certain potions at an alchemy lab. If you are early in the game and have not yet encountered Dremora, you will need to either progress further into the story or seek out the specific locations where they appear.

Key Takeaways

  • Dremora enemies are the only source of Daedra Hearts, and each one drops exactly one heart when killed.
  • Mehrunes' Dagon shrine, located south of Morthal's house in Morthal, spawns Dremora regularly and is the easiest early-game location to farm hearts.
  • The Oblivion gates that open during the Daedric quests contain multiple Dremora and are reliable sources if you are willing to enter them.
  • Dremora also appear in certain dungeons like Bloodlet Throne and during specific quest encounters, so hearts accumulate naturally as you play.

Mehrunes' Dagon shrine — the most accessible location

The shrine to Mehrunes' Dagon sits in a small outdoor area south of Morthal, a town in the Hjaalmarch region. To reach it, fast-travel to Morthal and head south along the road until you see a small shrine with a red glow. Dremora spawn here regularly, and the area is relatively small, so you can clear it quickly and return later when more have appeared.

The shrine itself contains a few Dremora standing guard. Kill them, take their hearts, and leave. If you come back after a few in-game days, new Dremora will have spawned. This location works well if you need only a few hearts and do not want to commit to a long dungeon crawl. The downside is that only a handful of Dremora appear at once, so if you need many hearts quickly, you will need to visit multiple times or try another location.

Oblivion gates — multiple Dremora in one place

Oblivion gates are portals to the Daedric realm that open during certain quests, particularly the Daedric artifact quests given by Daedric princes. When you enter an Oblivion gate, you will find yourself in a hostile landscape filled with Dremora of various types. Each gate contains dozens of enemies, so you can collect many hearts in a single visit.

The downside is that Oblivion gates are dangerous — the Dremora inside are stronger than those at the shrine, and you will face multiple enemies at once. You will also need to navigate the gate's layout to reach the artifact at the center. If you are a lower-level character, bring healing potions and consider bringing a follower for backup. Once you have cleared a gate and taken the artifact, that particular gate closes and does not reopen, so you can only farm each one once per playthrough.

Bloodlet Throne and other Daedric dungeons

Bloodlet Throne is a small cave in the Reach region that contains Dremora and is associated with a Daedric quest. Other dungeons tied to Daedric quests also spawn Dremora as part of their normal enemy population. These locations are worth visiting if you are already in the area or pursuing the related quest, since you will encounter Dremora naturally and can collect their hearts as loot.

However, these dungeons are not ideal for farming hearts specifically, because Dremora do not respawn as quickly as they do at the shrine, and you have to clear the entire dungeon to reach them. Use these locations as a secondary source — collect hearts when you encounter them during quests, but do not plan a dedicated farming trip unless you are also working toward a quest objective in that area.

Daedric quests and random encounters

As you progress through Skyrim's story and accept quests from Daedric princes, you will encounter Dremora regularly. These quests often take place in Oblivion gates or Daedric dungeons, and you will fight Dremora as part of the objective. Every Dremora you kill during these quests drops a heart, so by the time you have completed several Daedric quests, you will have accumulated a decent supply without specifically farming.

If you are not actively pursuing Daedric quests, you may also encounter Dremora in random encounters or as part of other dungeons' enemy populations. These are less predictable, but they happen often enough that you will eventually collect hearts straightforward by playing the game. This is the most passive approach — you do not need to plan farming trips, but you also cannot control when you get hearts.

What to do with Daedra Hearts once you have them

Daedra Hearts are primarily used for crafting Daedric armor and weapons at a forge. You need the Daedric Smithing perk, which requires 90 Smithing skill, before you can craft these items. Daedric gear is heavy and deals high damage, making it valuable for melee combat builds. Each piece of armor or weapon requires one or more hearts, so if you plan to craft a full set, you will need several hearts.

You can also use Daedra Hearts in alchemy to create potions. The heart is an ingredient in recipes that boost damage output or other combat-related effects. If you are an alchemist, you may want to collect extra hearts for potion-making. Store hearts in a safe container at your home or in a follower's inventory if you are carrying too much weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Daedra Hearts from a merchant?

No merchant in Skyrim sells Daedra Hearts. You must obtain them by killing Dremora. Some alchemists and general goods vendors may have hearts in their inventory after you reach higher levels, but this is not reliable. Killing Dremora is the only consistent way to get them.

Do Daedra Hearts respawn at the Mehrunes' Dagon shrine?

The hearts themselves do not respawn, but new Dremora spawn at the shrine after a few in-game days have passed. When you kill the new Dremora, they drop fresh hearts. This makes the shrine a renewable source, though you have to wait between visits.

What level should I be before I try to farm Daedra Hearts?

You can kill Dremora at the shrine at any level, though they become easier as you level up. At low levels, bring healing potions and a follower. Oblivion gates are more dangerous and are better attempted at level 20 or higher, depending on your gear and playstyle.

How many Daedra Hearts do I need for a full set of Daedric armor?

A full set of Daedric armor (helmet, chest piece, gauntlets, boots, and shield) requires five Daedra Hearts total — one per piece. If you also want a Daedric weapon, add one or two more hearts depending on the weapon type.

Do I lose Daedra Hearts if I die?

No. If you die while carrying hearts, they stay in your inventory when you respawn. Hearts are not lost on death the way some quest items can be. You can safely carry them without risk.