Buzz
Ancano stands as one of the most formidable mages at Winterhold College. In the Winterhold storyline, you will confront Ancano, the final boss of the concluding quest, 'Eye of Magnus.' In this segment, Ancano has taken control of the entire college and plots to harness the power of the Eye of Magnus, an ancient relic, to fulfill his dark scheme against the world of Skyrim. The challenge in this quest lies in Ancano's apparent invincibility to all forms of attack, which is why you must acquire the Staff of Magnus.
Steps
Locate the Staff of Magnus
Head to Labyrinthian. Starting from the city of Morthal, follow the road south and turn east. Continue along this path and take the first right turn heading south. Follow the trail, and you will reach the entrance to Labyrinthian, a ruined and abandoned city.
Defeat Morokei. Explore Labyrinthian until you reach the third-floor chamber, known as Labyrinthian Tribune. Here, you will encounter the dragon priest Morokei, who possesses the Staff of Magnus; defeat him.
- Ranged weapons like bows and magic spells are highly effective against Morokei. Melee weapons such as swords or axes can also deal damage but are less efficient. Additionally, avoid the shock spells he casts, as they can cause significant harm if they hit you.
Retrieve the Staff. After defeating Morokei, approach and search the remains to collect his mask and the Staff of Magnus.
Return to Winterhold. After killing Morokei, you will find a door inside Labyrinthian Tribune leading back to the outside world. Exit through this door and head northeast to return to Winterhold.
Locate Ancano
Enter the College. Upon arriving in Winterhold, a strong wind will blow through the courtyard, making movement difficult. Equip the Staff of Magnus, aim it at the empty space, and press the 'Attack' button on the controller. The entrance to the college will be cleared.
Locate Ancano. Enter the largest tower in the area, known as 'The Hall of Elements.' Inside, Ancano is channeling magic into a large orb, which is the Eye of Magnus.
- At this point, Tolfdir (an NPC) will enter the room and confront Ancano. Once the dialogue concludes, Ancano will paralyze Tolfdir, signaling the moment for you to attack.
Close the Eye of Magnus. After Tolfdir collapses, aim the Staff of Magnus at the large orb, the Eye of Magnus. You will see the Eye gradually close, and its emitted energy will diminish. Continue directing the staff toward the orb until it fully closes.
- Do not attack Ancano if the Eye of Magnus is not completely closed. Ancano remains invincible to all attacks as long as the orb is still radiating energy.
Defeat Ancano. Once the Eye of Magnus is closed, approach and attack Ancano using any weapons or spells at your disposal until he is defeated.
- Occasionally, Ancano will attempt to reopen the Eye of Magnus to regain invincibility. When this happens, repeat step 3 to close the orb and continue damaging Ancano.
- Fire-based spells you’ve learned earlier in the game are particularly effective against Ancano.
- After Ancano is defeated, Tolfdir will regain consciousness. Speak with Tolfdir to proceed with the quest.
Tips
- Bring a follower (if available) to assist in combat, as Ancano’s Eye of Magnus will summon Magic Anomalies to attack you when activated.
- Prepare health potions and magic resistance potions. You need to defeat Ancano quickly, as he may seize opportunities to flee and reopen the Eye of Magnus.
