Summary
Skyrimfans are debating whether one of the game’s most notoriously tedious quests, called No Stone Unturned, which tasks the player with gathering a complete collection of bright pink stones called Unusual Gems, is worth finishing. The quest is far from necessary for finishing the main story inSkyrim,and typically requires an immense amount of time and dedication, as players have to explore across the entire map to locate each one.
The most popular game in theElder Scrollsfranchisein terms of player numbers and sales,The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimoffers an expansive open world with a wide array of side quests and a high-stakes main storyline to play through. While many of these quests involve simple tasks like retrieving a magical artifact or eliminating a gang of bandits, some require a bit more devotion or can last throughout an entire playthrough.
One such quest is called No Stone Unturned, which tasks the player with finding various shiny pink gemstones known asStones of Barenziah located throughout the map inSkyrimand its various explorable regions. This quest was the topic of a Reddit post from user Solardies in the officialSkyrimsubreddit, who posed a debate to other fans about whether the quest was worth the reward it provides.
A Notorious Side Quest in Skyrim Sparks Debate About Its Rewards
The reward in question is the Crown of Barenziah, a legendary item that enhances the player’s thief abilities and increases the chances of finding rare gems in chests scattered throughout Skyrim and its many nooks and caves. Fans in the comments varied on their opinions about the item and the quest required to attain it, with some enjoying the novelty and others feeling underwhelmed by its effects.
Some stated that the Crown of Barenziah was a useful tool for earning money, as all of the extra gems players are likely to find can be a valuable resource for making money or simply a unique collectible to decorate one’s in-game home. Others complained about the fact that the crown is often unlocked so late in the game that players are likely to have made plenty of gold already from any number ofother money-making methods inSkyrim.
Collecting all the Stones of Barenziah is entirely optional, but it has led to some discussion regarding the future of such types of objectives in later titles, withthe next mainlineElder Scrollsgamestill reportedly in the works. There is still no official information about a potential release date forThe Elder Scrolls 6as of right now, however, so fans will have to wait and see what comes from developer Bethesda as time goes on.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim celebrates 10 years of adventuring in stunning detail. The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content: the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus Creation Club content released on or prior to June 15, 2025.EPIC FANTASY REBORNSkyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLDPlay any type of character you’re able to imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAYChoose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.BATTLE DRAGONSBattle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
