The Companions questline in Skyrim culminates in one of the most emotionally charged finales in the game: Glory of the Dead. After hours of running contracts, brawling in taverns, and learning what it means to be a member of this ancient warrior guild, players face a final mission that honors their fallen Harbinger and determines their own fate as a werewolf.

This quest isn’t just about combat, it’s about legacy, choice, and whether you want to keep the Beast Blood coursing through your veins or cure yourself of lycanthropy forever. Whether you’re tackling this on your first playthrough or revisiting it after years away from Whiterun, this guide breaks down every step, reward, and secret tied to Glory of the Dead in Skyrim.

What Is Glory of the Dead in Skyrim?

Glory of the Dead is the final quest in the Companions storyline, one of Skyrim’s core faction questlines. It begins immediately after the death of Kodlak Whitemane during the quest Blood’s Honor, where the Silver Hand attacks Jorrvaskr and kills the Harbinger.

The quest tasks the player with honoring Kodlak’s memory by curing his spirit of lycanthropy, a curse he despised, and avenging his death. It’s one of the few quests in Skyrim that blends funeral rites with dungeon crawling, and it permanently changes the player’s relationship with the Companions.

Upon completion, the player becomes the new Harbinger of the Companions, the guild’s highest rank. More importantly, it unlocks the option to cure yourself of werewolf form, a decision that carries real gameplay consequences depending on your build and playstyle.

This quest is available on all platforms, PC, Xbox (including Series X

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S), PlayStation (including PS5), and Nintendo Switch, and remains mechanically identical across versions, though load times and mod support vary by platform.

Prerequisites: Completing the Companions Questline

You can’t jump straight into Glory of the Dead. It’s locked behind the entire Companions questline, which means you’ll need to finish a series of quests that introduce you to the Circle, the inner group of werewolf warriors within the guild.

Required Quests Before Glory of the Dead

Here’s the full quest chain you must complete before Glory of the Dead becomes available:

1. Take Up Arms – Join the Companions by proving yourself to Vilkas.
2. Proving Honor – Retrieve the fragment of Wuuthrad from Dustman’s Cairn (where you first become a werewolf).
3. The Silver Hand – Rescue Farkas from the Silver Hand.
4. Blood’s Honor – Kodlak is killed: this quest immediately leads into Glory of the Dead.

Between these main quests, you’ll also need to complete several radiant quests for Companions members (Farkas, Vilkas, Aela, and Skjor). These are repeatable fetch/kill missions that pad out the questline. Expect to do at least 5-6 of these before the story progresses.

Once Blood’s Honor concludes with Kodlak’s death, Eorlund Gray-Mane will approach you with instructions to attend the funeral. That’s your cue, Glory of the Dead is next.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Glory of the Dead Quest

Glory of the Dead is a multi-stage quest that takes you from Whiterun to one of Skyrim’s most iconic dungeons. Here’s the full breakdown.

Attending Kodlak’s Funeral in Jorrvaskr

The quest begins with a somber scene: Kodlak’s funeral at the Skyforge, located just behind Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. Eorlund Gray-Mane will be waiting for you. Speak to him to start the ceremony.

During the funeral, Eorlund places Wuuthrad, the legendary axe of Ysgramor, on the fragments you recovered earlier, fully reforging it. He then tasks you with taking the axe to Ysgramor’s Tomb to honor Kodlak’s final wishes.

After the ceremony, head back inside Jorrvaskr and speak to Vilkas. He’ll explain that Kodlak wanted to be cured of his lycanthropy before he died but never got the chance. The Circle, Vilkas, Farkas, and Aela, will agree to help you cleanse his spirit.

Retrieving the Witch Heads from the Tomb

Before you can cure Kodlak, you need Glenmoril Witch Heads. If you completed Blood’s Honor, you should already have at least one in your inventory from when you raided the Glenmoril Coven.

If you don’t have any witch heads, you’ll need to return to the Glenmoril Coven (southwest of Falkreath) and kill the witches there. Each witch drops a head. You only need one to cure Kodlak, but grab extras if you want the option to cure yourself or other Circle members later.

Pro tip: You can carry multiple witch heads. If you plan to cure your lycanthropy eventually, grab at least two, one for Kodlak, one for yourself.

Journey to Ysgramor’s Tomb

With witch heads in hand and Wuuthrad equipped (or in your inventory), fast-travel to Winterhold or the nearest coastal location. Ysgramor’s Tomb is located on a small island far to the north, directly north of Winterhold along the icy coast.

The tomb entrance is marked by a massive statue of Ysgramor. Approach the door with Wuuthrad in your possession, it acts as a key. The door won’t open without it.

Once inside, you’ll meet Vilkas, Farkas, and Aela (assuming they survived and are still alive). They’ll follow you as companions through the dungeon.

Navigating Ysgramor’s Tomb and Fighting the Spirits

Ysgramor’s Tomb is a linear dungeon filled with ghosts of the Companions’ ancestors. These spectral warriors are tougher than your average draugr, with high health pools and the ability to shout.

Key enemies include:

• Companion Spirits – Armed with spectral weapons, they hit hard but are vulnerable to magic and silver weapons.
• Ysgramor’s Ghost – A mini-boss encounter near the end. He wields a spectral greatsword and can stagger you with power attacks.

The tomb itself is straightforward, follow the path, clear the spirits, and watch for basic traps like pressure plates and swinging axes. Your Circle companions will tank most enemies, so focus fire and use AoE attacks if you’re a mage.

Eventually, you’ll reach the Flame of the Harbinger, a ceremonial pyre deep in the tomb.

Cleansing Kodlak’s Spirit: The Flame of the Harbinger

At the Flame of the Harbinger, toss one of your Glenmoril Witch Heads into the fire. This summons the Wolf Spirit that represents Kodlak’s lycanthropy.

The Wolf Spirit is a spectral werewolf with moderate health and fast attacks. Kill it to cleanse Kodlak’s soul. Once defeated, Kodlak’s spirit appears, thanks you, and ascends to Sovngarde, the Nord afterlife.

After Kodlak’s spirit departs, the quest completes, and you’re automatically named the new Harbinger of the Companions.

Quest Rewards and Benefits

Completing Glory of the Dead grants several permanent rewards and unlocks new gameplay options.

Becoming Harbinger of the Companions

You’re officially the leader of the Companions. This is mostly a title, there are no new dialogue options or management mechanics like in other RPGs, but it does come with perks:

• Access to the Harbinger’s quarters in Jorrvaskr (a small bedroom upstairs).
• Free crafting stations at the Skyforge and inside Jorrvaskr.
• Radiant quests from Aela, Farkas, and Vilkas continue indefinitely, offering a steady source of gold and minor loot.
• Respect from NPCs – Some dialogue changes slightly, and guards may reference your new rank.

You also keep Wuuthrad, the two-handed battleaxe. It has a base damage of 25 (same as a Daedric Battleaxe) and deals 1.2x damage to elves (Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, and Falmer). It’s a solid weapon for early-to-mid game, though it gets outclassed by enchanted endgame gear.

Unlocking the Ability to Cure Lycanthropy

This is the big one. After completing the quest, you can return to Ysgramor’s Tomb at any time with a Glenmoril Witch Head and throw it into the Flame of the Harbinger to cure your own lycanthropy.

You can also cure Vilkas and Farkas if they ask (they’ll mention it post-quest). Aela refuses to be cured and will remain a werewolf permanently.

Important: Once you cure yourself, you cannot become a werewolf again unless you have the Dawnguard DLC. In Dawnguard, Aela offers a one-time chance to reclaim Beast Form if you change your mind.

How to Cure Your Own Werewolf Curse

If you want to ditch Beast Form and reclaim your ability to get the Well Rested bonus (or become a vampire), here’s how:

1. Obtain a Glenmoril Witch Head (if you don’t have one, return to Glenmoril Coven and kill a witch).
2. Travel to Ysgramor’s Tomb on the northern coast.
3. Enter the tomb and navigate back to the Flame of the Harbinger (the same room where you cured Kodlak).
4. Throw the witch head into the flames.
5. Kill the Wolf Spirit that spawns.

Once the spirit is dead, you’re cured. Your lycanthropy is gone, and you’ll receive a notification that you can now gain resting bonuses again.

Before you cure yourself, consider:

• Beast Form is powerful early game – 100% disease immunity, massive health/stamina boost, and high damage output.
• You lose disease immunity – This matters if you’re exploring areas with vampires or want to avoid contracting diseases.
• Vampire builds conflict with werewolves – You can’t be both, so curing lycanthropy is required if you want to join the Volkihar vampires in Dawnguard.
• Perk investment – If you’ve unlocked perks in the werewolf skill tree, you lose access to them (but keep the perk points if you cure yourself before spending them).

Many players recommend staying a werewolf until at least level 30-40, when the combat bonuses start to fall off relative to enchanted gear and high-level perks. Resources like game walkthroughs on Twinfinite often suggest timing your cure around build transitions.

Common Bugs, Glitches, and Fixes

Skyrim is Skyrim, so expect some jank. Here are the most common bugs tied to Glory of the Dead and how to fix them:

Bug: Companions won’t follow you into Ysgramor’s Tomb

• Cause: Followers or other active quests conflict with the scripted event.
• Fix: Dismiss any non-Companions followers before entering the tomb. Fast-travel away and back if they still won’t enter.

Bug: Witch head won’t activate the Flame of the Harbinger

• Cause: The witch head is flagged as a quest item and stuck in your inventory from a previous quest stage.
• Fix: Drop the witch head, leave the tomb, re-enter, and pick it back up. Alternatively, use console commands on PC: player.drop 0002996B 1 then pick it up again.

Bug: Kodlak’s spirit doesn’t appear after killing the Wolf Spirit

• Cause: Script delay or save corruption.
• Fix: Wait in-game for 24-48 hours, then return. If that doesn’t work, reload a save from before entering the tomb.

Bug: Quest won’t complete after Kodlak ascends

• Cause: Rare trigger failure.
• Fix (PC only): Open console with ~, click on yourself, and type setstage C05 200 to force-complete the quest.

Bug: Wuuthrad disappears after the quest

• Cause: Display case glitch if you store it in Jorrvaskr.
• Fix: Don’t use weapon racks or display cases for unique items in Skyrim, they have a history of eating gear. Store Wuuthrad in a safe container like a chest.

If you’re playing with mods, especially quest or follower overhauls, disable them temporarily if you encounter issues. The Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch (USSEP) on Nexus Mods fixes many of these bugs and is considered essential for stable playthroughs.

Best Character Builds and Strategies for This Quest

Glory of the Dead isn’t a difficult quest by Skyrim standards, but your approach depends on your build and level.

Recommended Level: 15-25. The spectral enemies scale, but if you’re under-leveled, their shouts and power attacks can wreck you.

Best Builds:

• Two-Handed Warrior: Wuuthrad is made for you. Spec into heavy armor, block, and two-handed perks like Sweep and Warmaster. Use vegetable soup for infinite power attacks.
• Werewolf Build: Transform during the dungeon. Your Circle companions won’t care, and Beast Form trivializes the spirit fights with high DPS and health regen from feeding.
• Sneak Archer: The tomb has some long sightlines. Pick off spirits from range, let your companions tank, and clean up stragglers.
• Battlemage: Spectral enemies are vulnerable to fire and shock magic. Use Fireball or Chain Lightning to AoE groups while your followers distract them.

Gear Recommendations:

• Silver weapons (if you’re not a werewolf) deal bonus damage to undead, which includes the spirits in Ysgramor’s Tomb.
• Resist Magic enchantments help against enemy shouts (Unrelenting Force, Disarm).
• Healing potions – Stock at least 10-15. Your companions can die if you’re on higher difficulties.

Strategy Tips:

• Let Vilkas and Farkas engage first, they’re essential NPCs during this quest and can’t die.
• Use choke points in narrow hallways to funnel enemies.
• Save before throwing the witch head into the flame, the Wolf Spirit fight can bug out if you’re not careful.

For additional optimization ideas, build guides on Game8 break down advanced perk trees and gear synergies for endgame Companions builds.

Tips and Tricks for Glory of the Dead

Here are some veteran tricks to make the most of this quest:

• Grab extra witch heads early. Don’t wait until after the quest. You’ll need them if you want to cure yourself, Vilkas, or Farkas later.
• Don’t cure yourself immediately. Lycanthropy is a huge advantage for stealth and exploration builds, 100% disease immunity means you’ll never accidentally become a vampire.
• Store Wuuthrad safely. If you don’t use two-handed weapons, display it on a weapon plaque in your home or store it in a safe container. Don’t leave it lying around Jorrvaskr.
• Use Beast Form for radiant quests. After becoming Harbinger, Aela and the others give infinite radiant quests. Transform into a werewolf to grind out the Animal Extermination perk tree if you’re committed to the lycanthrope lifestyle.
• Cure Vilkas and Farkas for roleplay. If you’re doing an honor-bound Nord character, curing them completes their arcs and feels thematically appropriate.
• PC players: quicksave constantly. Ysgramor’s Tomb has a history of script breaks. Save before entering, after every major fight, and before the Flame of the Harbinger.

If you’re looking for more ways to optimize your playthrough, exploring top Skyrim mods can enhance the Companions questline with better AI, improved textures, and even expanded dialogue for this pivotal moment.

Conclusion

Glory of the Dead is more than just a quest, it’s the emotional and mechanical turning point of the Companions storyline. You honor a fallen leader, decide the fate of your lycanthropy, and take your place as Harbinger of one of Skyrim’s most storied factions.

Whether you choose to remain a werewolf or cure yourself, the choices you make here ripple through the rest of your playthrough. And if you ever change your mind, Aela’s got your back, at least once.

Now grab Wuuthrad, rally the Circle, and give Kodlak the send-off he deserves. Sovngarde awaits.