they only said powerful they did not say whether it would be helpful to those about you or even to your self...

1: Umbra. Just see what that bugger did to Clavicus Vile. A sword that can steal the power of Daedric Princes themselves and create a giant floating city that kills anything under it's shadow is pretty powerful.
2: Elder Scroll
3: Staff of Chaos
4: Tools of Kagrenac
5: Skeleton Key, used to it's full potential
6: Oghma Infinium
7: Mysterium Xarxes
8: Muatra
9: Trueflame/Hopesfire
10: Mehrunes' Razor

Digitals, full-stop.

The HoonDing in its sword/crown form? Hey, if we're letting sentient items like Umbra on the list...

When the HoonDing was described as "either a sword or a crown," both suggestions are right. And its not really a sentient item. Cyrus was the last HoonDing, as he was a Crown (by birth, as opposed to a Forebear), and he wielded a sword which would implement his will.

HoonDing is two things tied together?

I wouldn't say that it is two things tied together as I'd say its one thing described in two different ways. I imagine, when people were asked, what was the last HoonDing? Some people saw Cyrus as a Crown, while others only saw a sell-sword.

The HoonDing itself can take whatever form it finds necessary. I suppose it could even be many things. But its form(s) isn't really important.

Sword/Crown represents HoonDing's status as the leader of a united Raga people. He is a Crown who bears the sword of the Ra'Gada.

Umbra can't be wielded, Umbra wields You.

Kragnac's tools were only powerful so long as they could be used on Lorkhan's Heart, now they are mostly useless in comparison to other artifacts.

Hircines Ring is nothing more then a bit of control to someone already cursed by lycanthrope, limited usage.

Artifacts of Lore, and not particularly their in-game representations would be more like, in no particular order of best to worse.

Spear of Bitter Mercy, Horn of Summoning, Staff of Chaos, Staff of Magnus, Eye of Magnus, Mask of Clavicus Vile (the ring), The Skeleton Key, The Oghma Infinim,
The Wabbajack.

Of all these items the Eye of Magnus would cause the most destruction to the world that anyone with some training in magic (which is most the population of Tamriel) could probably poke at it long enough to cause some serious destruction.

But the Oghma Infinium would pose the most danger to the world overall, because it is the collection of all forbbiden knowledge, and not just a stat boost like it is in most games, its the key to knowing everything about how everything works, the manual of ultimate power. Knowing where the power is, how to get it would lead someone with enough ambition to become nearly god like with information like the true origins of the Eye of Magnus and how to use it, or the intriciate workings of the Oblivion Planes and Beyond.. Knowing that stuff and using the knowledge you would be virtually untouchable.

Guessing you didn't play through the College questline.

On a random note, I think "sell-sword" is a stupid word, and whoever decided to make it such a prominent term in Skyrim should be excommunicated and stoned with ferrets.

Is it enough to allow somebody to easily achieve CHIM?

I like the way you think.

In respect to the other artifacts most their power was in the idea that they could manipulate Lorkan's Heart, much like the Eye of Magnus is a ball of pure magic but is controllable with the Staff of Magnus, once the eye was removed and contained,the staff just became a powerful staff, not a game changer in the outcome of the world. I am not saying its not powerful, just that its epic power is limited to the effects of other artifacts. Compared to the Oghma Infinim which can cause massive power shifts all by itself or the Skeleton Key thats used by someone who knows how.

The term Sell Sword is no different then Mercenary, Gun for Hire, Ronin Samurai.. Just another term describing someone who sells the use of their skill with a sword for money.


I'm sure it would be a big step in the right direction to understanding how it works, but actually getting there, I don't know, it is more of a manual of information that mortal beings shouldn't really see, like getting a copy of the base code of a game you are trying to hack.

Actually, it makes a certain amount of sense that the Oghma Infinium allows the reader to achieve CHIM. It could serve as an in-game justification for the theory that all player characters are CHIMsters, since it appears in every game except Morrowind, where CHIM can be rationalized by your proximity to Vehk.