The Staff of Magnus ( Skyrim ) The Staff of Magnus is a quest available in . It serves as the seventh quest in the College of Winterhold sequence of quests . Background . Traversing Labyrinthian , the Dragonborn searches for the fabled Staff of Magnus , which is needed to control the Eye of Magnus . Morokei , a Dragon Priest , holds the staff and must be battled to obtain it . The battle is difficult and recommended for levels 20 and above . Walkthrough . Preparation . Shock - resistant armor will make this quest easier , as the boss uses high level shock magic and can summon a Storm Atronach . The Arch - Mage ' s Quarters at the College of Winterhold has a pair of boots with 40 % shock resistance on top of the short wardrobe to the right of the bed . Also in the quarters is a Draught of Resist Shock on the shelves with the alchemical ingredients . Approximately four potions of resist shock can be made with the ingredients found here , alleviating some of the difficulty of the boss battle . Labyrinthian . Upon arriving at Labyrinthian , there are many staircases leading up . Following the quest marker up the steps leads to a large stone door named the Ceremonial Door . Just before the door is reached , a conversation takes place between the ghosts of six former College mages who undertook an expedition within Labyrinthian . The group is led by Atmah and also includes Savos Aren , Takes - In - Light , Elvali Veren , Girduin , and Hafnar Ice - Fist . Once the ghosts disappear , the door can be opened . Opening it requires the Torc of Labyrinthian , which was given to the Dragonborn by Mirabelle Ervine following Savos Aren ' s death . Thus , Labyrinthian is entered . The foyer inside the entrance contains numerous skeletons . On the right ( east ) side , on a table , is a randomly generated spell tome . Possible tomes found here include Detect Life , Ironflesh , Telekinesis , Waterbreathing and Equilibrium . Upon approaching this table , the six ghosts will appear again , talking about what they expect to find inside . An iron door on the north end leads further in to the ruin . A path leads down and curves to the right ( east ) . Just outside a narrow passageway , that leads to a closed iron gate , is a lever that opens them . The gate remains open only for a short time , so sprinting is advisable ; Whirlwind Sprint will almost certainly achieve this . Alternatively , however , ranged attacks which can be fired through the bars may be a wise idea . The huge room beyond the bars contains several animated skeletons , including a Skeletal Dragon . All of these can be looted once defeated , although it should be noted that the dragon does not have a soul to absorb . There are also several urns scattered about the edges of the room , containing gold and a few potions . At the eastern end of the room , steps lead down to a pedestal on which is an etched tablet . Upon approaching the pedestal , the mage ghosts appear again , in which they discuss their encounter with the dragon and other skeletons and the fact that Girduin perished in the battle . The etched tablet reads : < poem > " Hail All - Brave City Bromjunaar Forever These Walls Shall Stand May Enemies See Her Majesty May all Quake to Behold Her " < / poem > The path turns right ( south ) down stairs to double wooden doors that enter the next area . Labyrinthian Chasm . Against the right ( west ) wall is a raised area with a bench . To the right of the bench , behind a pillar , is an urn containing minor loot . The main chamber has two sets of downward steps to the south - the left steps come to a dead end with several urns . Down the right - hand stairs is a room that holds a frozen door and two guardians : a Restless Draugr , which is in an alcove in the right ( northwest ) wall , and a Frost Spirit that emerges from the iced - over door . An ethereal voice speaks to the Dragonborn before they enter the room ; this experience depletes all of the Dragonborn ' s magicka . A door is covered in ice and impassable , so melt the ice using Flames , Fire Breath , or another form of fire magic . After the door opens a " frost spirit " ( which is a ghost ) appears and will either attack with Ancient Nord Sword s or frost magic . A spell tome is in an alcove in the south wall . The door just opened reveals a passage down to the west . Starting down the path will trigger another encounter with the ethereal voice that drains magicka . The passage opens up to a pit with a walkway curving down roughly counter - clockwise . At the landing are two draugr wights , a troll , or a frost atronach , depending on the Dragonborn ' s level . An opening to the south lies behind them . It leads down , turns right ( west ) , and heads down another staircase where a draugr awaits . At the bottom , the path turns left ( south ) . On the left ( east ) side is a door , sealed with a Lightning Rune . This rune does approximately 100 points of lightning damage and ward s do not protect against it . However , the draugr in the room can open the door from the other side and set off the rune . Flinging projectiles at the trap may spring it prematurely . In this room , on a table , sits a spell tome for the Alteration spell Equilibrium which turns 25 points of health into magicka per second . There is also an Alchemy Lab and an Arcane Enchanter , along with a chest and some supplies . In a chair , in front of the enchanter , sits the skeleton of a novice conjurer with some loot . Back out in the original pit , continuing down further , triggers a third encounter with the magicka - draining voice , who this time speaks in English ( " Must I use this guttural language of yours ? " ) . At one point , it is possible to turn left ( south ) or go straight ( west ) across a stone walkway . Across the walkway is an opening leading northwest up a few stairs . After a jog to the right , there is an arched walkway with a draugr standing guard on the other side . Beyond it is another draugr . At the northwestern end of the room are several urns and a piece of gold ore . Turning around , a set of steps leads down back to the southeast ( next to the walkway just crossed ) . There are several shelves and an urn with minor loot . To the left ( north northwest ) , an open wooden door leads to a rough passage down to a river . Against the right wall , a ledge leads to a dead Argonian , a Coin Purse , and a chest . The river flows left ( north ) to a door to the next section . However , it is also possible to turn right ( south ) and walk through the rest of the cave that was skipped before . There is a Nirnroot on the right side . Near the end , a set of steps leads up to the left ( east ) to a dead end . At the very end , a rough ledge leads back up to the right , and eventually back to the place where the voice was heard for the third time . Back in the river , now following the current , the magicka - draining voice speaks for a fourth time ( " Have you returned , Aren ? My old friend . " ) . A door leads to the next section , the Labyrinthian Thoroughfare . Labyrinthian Thoroughfare . The path starts out to the west , through a metal gate to where several draugr and / or skeletons lie in wait . A novice - locked gate lies ahead , but an alternate path leads right ( north ) . Through the gate , the path turns left ( south ) and leads to an iron grate that can ' t be opened . There is a path to the right ( west ) just before the grate that leads to an alcove with two chests and two urns . The path turns right , then left and leads to a broken archway from which it is possible to jump down to water . However , returning to the room with the novice gate and following the path north , it immediately turns back left ( west ) . Upon starting down that path , the magicka - draining voice says , " Do you seek to finish that which you could not ? " The path turns right again . At the point of the next turn , a small pool of water to the right has a piece of malachite ore . It may be necessary to move it to a shallower location to pick it up . Continuing forward to the west , there is a stone walkway straight ahead , but it leads to a dead end . It is possible to turn left and walk down the rough area to which it was possible to jump down earlier . At the end with the waterfall , the path turns right , then leads down a free - standing set of steps to the floor of a large room . Behind these steps against the southern wall of the room is a chest . Against the northern wall are three fixed grates that provide a view of a room beyond . Against the eastern wall is a passageway leading north that is protected by a troll . Along this path , the magicka - draining voice speaks again , saying , " You only face failure once more . " This path leads to an opening midway up the wall of an even larger room . A staircase along the right - hand ( east ) wall leads down to a landing . An arched walkway leads left ( west ) , while the stairs continue down to the floor , where several draugr or skeletons lie in wait . Across the walkway , the path leads west past a troll to a room that contains another troll , a chest , an urn , and several bunches of nightshade . Back in the main room , halfway down the steps , the voice says , " You are not Aren , are you ? Has he sent you in his place ? " At the southwestern end of the room are two gold ore veins , although one can not be mined . The northeastern end of the room has another gate , operated by a lever . Beyond the gate is a pathway to the left . At the end , turning left ( southwest ) leads to a set of steps going up to the left the eventually come out on the area above the battlements of the gateway ; a chest and a skull are found here . Back down the steps and heading northeast , there are three wisps floating around a fire and what appear to be gravestones . The wisps are non - hostile until the Dragonborn runs past them , or attacks first . The Wispmother will appear on the raised platform near the empty coffins . In the northeastern corner of the room , from the raised platform , an opening leads to a door which is on fire . When approaching it , the voice says , " Did he warn you that your own power would be your undoing . That it would only serve to strengthen me ? " If the door is approached too closely , a fire spirit may attack , as the frost spirit had earlier , though it can cast fire magic as well as melee attacks . The door can be opened with frost magic , such as Frostbite , Frost Breath or other frost - based magic . A Frostbite spell tome and two Scroll of Ice Spike s are found to the left of the door within a small gray circle . The door leads east to a junction . Proceeding straight leads to a dead end with several urns . To the left ( north ) , a metal gate opens to a small room , where another vision of Savos Aren and his expedition is seen . The group has again grown smaller , as Elvali Veren was killed by " something from behind " before anyone could save her . The room contains a spiral downward ramp that leads nowhere . Moving forward to the east , the voice says , " Come , face your end . " At the other end is a small room with a waterfall falling on a metal grate in the floor . A skeleton , a draugr wight , and a spectral warhound are all here . The wight may drop a Drainheart sword or similar item , as do many of the other spectral foes in this dungeon . The path proceeds southeast , then east , leading down some stairs . It turns left ( north ) , then left again ( west ) . In the next room are two more spectral foes , and a skeletal compatriot below them . A gold ingot and a soul gem can be found on a bookcase in the upper level where the room is first entered . There are two spectral foes beyond the next door . The path then leads right and down steps to a door to the Labyrinthian Tribune . Labyrinthian Tribune . The Tribune is a tomb , with more spectral foes to defeat . The path starts out heading west . It turns left ( south ) , and heads down a set of stairs to a pedestal with a spell tome of Steadfast Ward and a chest . After turning right ( west ) , more stairs lead down to fireball and ice storm traps . These traps can be deactivated with anything that dislodges the soul gems powering them ( e . g . , arrows or a fireball spell ) , or one can simply run in and take the gem before it fires . The shout " Become Ethereal " can be used to gather them one by one without taking damage . At the end of the hallway , steps go up to the right ( north ) . At the top , the path goes left ( west ) to a large pit . To the left , a wooden walkway leads up into a tower with several spectral foes , two chests and several urns . A ledge along the right wall leads down to more spectral enemies . At the very bottom is a pool . Before reaching the bottom , a path leads west . Walking through it triggers another drain of magicka , although with no voice this time . At the end is a T intersection . To the left is an adept - locked gate . Beyond this is some worthwhile loot , including an ebony shield , an enchanted sword , and a unique helmet . Back at the T intersection , to the right , steps lead down to a door where magicka is drained with no warning . Beyond it , a draugr deathlord sits on a throne facing away from the door ; with a high Sneak skill , the Dragonborn can approach it without detection and do some damage before it has a chance to rise . Once defeated , down the stairs is a word wall to learn the word of power for the Slow Time shout . There is also a chest hidden on the right ( north ) side of the room behind a dead tree . The next hallway contains a few foes - two draugr , and two other foes , which the Dragonborn can draw out of hiding by firing an arrow down the hallway . In the alcove on the left side of the hallway are two Ebony Ingots . At the far end , in the next room , another vision of Savos and friends appears , in which they talk about how their number has again decreased ; Takes - In - Light was mortally injured and urged the remaining three companions to leave her , but the spirits of Savos , Atmah , and Hafnar pledge to one another that they will see their quest through to its end . This room contains more loot , including a black soul gem . To the left ( south ) , behind a final door , stands the Dragon Priest Morokei , who wields the long - sought Staff of Magnus . He is sealed inside a magical aura , which is being sustained by a pair of Enthralled Wizard s ; these are all that remain of Atmah and Hafnar , whom Savos sacrificed in order to contain the power of the Dragon Priest . Fighting Morokei . This fight is not recommended for levels 20 and below . Morokei uses wards , shouts , Mage Armor , and shock spells , but also has a spell which may convert summoned beings or zombie s against their summoner . Summoners using scrolls are not affected by this either . Once he locks onto his target , he does not move . As he has high - damage spells , attacking him at melee range is difficult ; ranged attacks are effective . The Bretons ' Dragonskin power is very useful to kill Morokei by the fact that each attack he uses against the Dragonborn will instantly regenerate their magicka . Shock resistant armor and potions help diminish the effectiveness of his attacks , and a shock resistance score of 80 % is enough to be completely invulnerable to his attacks . Also , The Atronach Stone ' s power will absorb his spells , refilling magicka instead of causing harm , and when he uses the Staff of Magnus against the Dragonborn to refill his magicka , the Stone ' s power will make the attack " refill " the Dragonborn ' s magicka , instead of draining it . This makes it possible for those of a lower - level ( 10 + ) to defeat him without a prolonged fight . The Slow Time shout can be used to slow down his attacks , making dodging much easier . Using a weapon with the " drain magicka " enchantment , such as the Drainspell Bow found earlier in the dungeon , is also an effective strategy , particularly when used in conjunction with an atronach or summoned daedra , to allow for ranged attacks whilst the conjured creature prevents the Dragon Priest from causing harm . Combining ranged attacks with a high Sneak skill can potentially prevent Morokei from doing any damage to the Dragonborn at all before he is defeated . To kill Morokei , it is necessary to kill the enthralled wizards first . At that point , Morokei becomes free . Using long range attacks from above will finish him off . From this position , his spells may not reach the Dragonborn and hurt them . Leaving Labyrinthian . There is a chest at the bottom of the pool of water . Note that a Slaughterfish is in the pool . There are Deathbell s near the pool . Behind the ledge where the lower of the two Enthralled Wizards was positioned is the staircase leading to the exit . There are two chests in this room ; one is right near the exit door , while the other is concealed in a narrow passage on the left ( north ) side of the stairs ( it can be viewed from the chamber where Morokei was slain through a gated window ) . One last ghostly vision is encountered upon leaving , in which Savos Aren apologizes to his dead friends for having sacrificed them to seal Morokei , and promising that he will make sure no one is ever able to enter Labyrinthian again . Finally , up the path to the east , then turning south and climbing stairs , an opening to the sky can be found . To the left ( east ) is a gate with a lever beside it . When it is opened , Estormo , a Thalmor mage , attacks so that he can retrieve the staff of Magnus for Ancano . He can be killed , or it is possible to sneak past him . Proceeding south leads to a ladder that allows exiting to Skyrim . Unfortunately , it is impossible to return to the College of Winterhold , because it is now completely surrounded by the force of the Eye . Tolfdir is found outside , battling more magic anomalies . Talking to him reveals that Mirabelle Ervine is dead , sacrificing herself to make sure everyone else escaped . This completes the quest and begins the next , " The Eye of Magnus . " Morokei dialogue . The following remarks can be heard at intervals throughout the exploration of Labyrinthian . Each time Morokei speaks to the Dragonborn , the Dragonborn ' s magicka is completely drained by the experience .