When you find the thief, Arvel the Swift, he will be trapped in a spider web by a Wounded Frostbite Spider . Kill the spider and talk to Arvel. Arvel claims that he will give you the claw if you free him from the web.
Ah, Skyrim. The land of dragons, epic quests, and countless ways to accidentally lock yourself out of progress. If you’ve ever played this iconic game, you might fondly remember your first few hours of exploration—before you became the Dragonborn and learned to shout like a pro. But let’s talk about a particular rite of passage that many new players experience: the infamous Golden Claw puzzle.
Picture this: it’s your first time booting up Skyrim, and you’re filled with excitement. You’re ready to explore the vast landscapes of Tamriel, wield a sword, and possibly become the hero of legends. But, like many of us, you quickly find yourself standing in front of a door that seems to be more stubborn than a teenage dragon.
Now, the Golden Claw is supposed to be your key to success—literally. However, if you’re like the Reddit user who shared their tale, you might not have realized that you actually needed to look at the Golden Claw itself to unlock the door. Instead, you might have been wandering around the room, scrutinizing the walls like you were playing an old-school Tomb Raider game, convinced that the answer was hidden in some ancient hieroglyphics or a suspiciously placed rock.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this situation. Here you are, a fearless hero armed with magic and steel, and you’re reduced to a glorified wall inspector. If only the NPCs could see you now, right? I can just imagine them chuckling behind your back, whispering, “Look at that guy! Can’t even figure out a door!”
After what feels like an eternity of searching and maybe a few colorful exclamations, you finally realize that the key to your progress was literally in your inventory. You pull up the item menu, gaze upon the Golden Claw, and suddenly the lightbulb flickers on. “Oh, right! I should probably look at this thing to see how it works!”
This experience is a classic example of how games can sometimes lead us astray. We get so caught up in the immersive world and the notion that every puzzle should be a brain-buster that we overlook the simple solutions right in front of us. It’s like trying to solve a math problem by rewriting the entire textbook instead of just looking at the answer key.
But don’t worry, dear reader, you’re not alone in this. There are countless players out there who have faced the same fate, wandering aimlessly in a dungeon, convinced that the answer lies somewhere in the cobwebs. It’s a rite of passage, really—a badge of honor for all those who have ever dared to enter the world of Skyrim unprepared.
Next time you find yourself in a similar predicament, just remember: when in doubt, check your inventory. And if you’re feeling particularly brave, try not to overthink it. After all, the Golden Claw is just one of many puzzles in Skyrim, and with every mistake, you’re one step closer to becoming the seasoned adventurer you aspire to be. So go forth, and may your next gaming session be filled with fewer wall inspections and more dragon-slaying victories!
Inspired by: “When I first played Skyrim, I didn’t know you had to look at the key "golden claw" to open the door…” (r/mildlyinfuriating)