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Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

Are you wondering where to get Clay in Skyrim? Knowing exactly where to get it can be difficult if you are new to the game or do not know where to look for it. Worry not because we’ve got you covered!

Like straw, clay is an important resource in Skyrim if you want to build your own home. Both of these materials were introduced in Skyrim with the Hearthfire DLC. Clay is not only used to build houses but also to craft Shrine bases, Smelters, Trophy bases, Planters, and Walls.

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

To get clay in Skyrim, you need to mine the deposits that are found across the entire map. Some of the most notable places where you can find it are Heljarchen Hall, Lakeview Manor, and Windstad Manor.

There are many other locations where you can get clay in Skyrim so if you want to know about them, we’ve listed them in the section below. Plus, if you want to know why is it important to get clay, we’ll talk about that as well. With that said, let’s dive right in and take a look at where to get clay in Skyrim and what it’s used for.

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

As aforementioned, you can find clay at tons of deposits that can be found across the map of Skyrim. If you do not know where these deposits are located, we’ve listed down all the places where you can get it so that you don’t aimlessly roam around in hopes of finding clay. 

Finding clay can be an annoying task. Plus, mining it can take some time depending on how much quantity you want – which can be quite frustrating to deal with since it is an important resource. However, once you find the deposits, you can mine away all the clay until you have the required quantity needed to build your house. We’ve divided this list into two parts since you can find clay deposits in a few homesteads as well as random areas as well. 

Homestead Deposits

The good thing is that you can find clay deposits near the three most notable homestead locations. This is especially useful since you will have a free deposit next to your land after purchasing it. You’ll be able to easily mine it and continue building the house of your dreams.

Heljarchen Hall

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

Once you find or purchase this homestead, you can find the clay deposit behind the stable that can be found to the right of the main hall. The deposit is quite difficult to miss if you know where you’re looking for. 

In case you do not know what the clay deposits look like, they have a brown smudge-like appearance. You will want to use a pickaxe to mine clay so make sure that you bring that with you. Plus, each deposit gives you almost 4000 clay, so, you’ll have a good amount to build your home. 

Lakeview Manor

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

After you are at this location, go to the front door and look for the three trees that are close together. Right next to these trees, you will find a clay deposit that you can mine to start building your house at the Lakeview Manor. Again, make sure that you bring a pickaxe with you or you won’t be able to mine it. 

Windstad Manor

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

Finally, you can find the clay deposit in the Windstad Manor north of the wood chopping block. This one can be a bit tricky to find but just head north of the wood chopping block and look towards the east of the log pile that you can find in this area. 

Random Deposits

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

These deposits are found across the map but you will have to know where exactly they are located. The good news is that each of these deposits contains about 4000 clay, so, it should be enough to help you build your home. With that said, here is a list of all the random clay deposits in Skyrim:

  • Bleakwind Basin
  • Brandy-Mug Farm
  • Brittleshin Pass South
  • Bruca’s Leap Redoubt
  • Druadach Redoubt
  • Guardian Stones
  • Ilinalta Fisherman
  • Ivarstead
  • Kolskeggr Mine
  • Largashbur
  • Lost Valley Redoubt
  • Mara’s Eye Pond
  • Merryfair Farm
  • Nightgate Inn
  • Riften
  • Riverwood
  • Robber’s Gorge
  • Treva’s Watch
  • Valtheim Towers
  • Along a river bank between Sky Haven Temple and Reachwater Rock
  • Along the waterside just south of Nilheim
  • Southeast of the Old Hroldan Inn
  • Along a river bank west of Karthspire

Luckily, these deposits are located across the map. So, you can easily find more clay without having to travel long distances. Make sure that you always get plenty of clay so you don’t have to visit the deposits again and again just to mine more. Some of these locations have more than one clay deposits which is a great thing since you can mine more from one place.

While the usual quantity of these deposits is about 4000 clay before they run out, you can mine an infinite amount of clay. After a deposit has run dry, wait a while for it to fill again before you start mining. However, if you are in quick need of clay, you can always visit the other locations and start mining those deposits. 

What is Clay Used For

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

Now that you know where you can stock up on clay, let’s take a look at what it is used for. Clay was first introduced in the Hearthfire DLC. It allows you to construct your houses if you mix it with stone and other materials. While the entire process of making your own house isn’t that difficult, it can be pretty annoying and tedious all things considered. 

On top of that, you can also make Planters with clay so that you can plant various seeds and grow food or other flowers. This will allow you to decorate your house as you see fit without any issues and also harvest your garden to get the resources you need. This is a good way to have rare crops growing right next to your house so that you do not have to constantly look for these materials across the map. 

Where to Get Clay in Skyrim

Another useful thing that you can craft using clay is the Trophy base. These bases allow you to display your hard-earned trophies in your house. This will not only enhance the aesthetic of your homestead but also allow you to display your collection of various dragon heads or anything else that you want to show. 

Looking for more Skyrim content? Check out these guides:

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is available to play on Steam.