Improved Gemstone Dragon Claws
⚪ Last updated 2016⚠️ Install Order · 3 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 9.9% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #138 of 237 Models and Textures mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
IMPROVED GEMSTONE DRAGON CLAWS No more Aerogel!
Something that always bothered me about the dragon claws was just how...well, unsightly the gemstone talons were on the ruby, sapphire, emerald, glass and diamond dragon claws (ESPECIALLY the diamond claw. What the hell did you DO to that poor little claw, Bethesda?!). Their translucent talons barely even looked like they had been made from a gem, looking more like they were made from colored aerogel, and barely had any reflective qualities to them thanks to that. And the diamond dragon claw, with its ugly-as-sin panels and stuff? What'd the Ancient Nords do to it, put Ancient Nordic tinfoil or something on it?! The poor thing probably weeps quietly to itself at night because no one ever loved it.
But, fear not! Because I got quite sick of all that ugyliness and took it upon myself to fix it!
CHANGES
•The gemstone claw talons are now refractive, rather than aerogel-translucent. (Except for diamond)
•Fixes the diamond claw by applying the claw body's normal map to the talons and panels, giving the diamond parts a greater degree of definition. I also fixed the diamond parts of the claw to use standard environment mapping, since they used eye environment mapping for some weird reason.
•Made the very blotchy noise on the talons finer by scaling up their UVs (again, except for diamond.)
•1. 01: Fixes up the ruby dragon claw so it's got dem curved claws instead of the straight ones!
•1. 1: Gave the claws seen used on puzzle doors the treatment, so now they no longer look like the gross old wig claws.
COMPATIBILITY
This is a very simple mesh replacer; no scripts, ESPs, whizzbangs, doodads, whistles or what have you. As such it's 100% COMPATIBLE with any mods that retextures the dragon claws. Obviously, any other mods that change the gemstone dragon claw meshes will overwrite this one.
The textures for the claws seen in the screenshots are from Ruins Clutter Improved: http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/14227/?
INSTALLATION
Extract the Meshes folder from the ZIP file into your Skyrim Data folder.
UNINSTALLATION
Delete the dragon claw mesh files from the meshes/clutter/ruins folder and from meshes/dungeons/nordic/doors/animated/puzzledoor. This mod modifies the diamond, sapphire, ruby, glass and emerald dragon claws, so you want to look for &#
A cosmetic mod that improves the visual appearance of gemstone dragon claws in Skyrim, making them look more detailed and appealing. With over 1,000 endorsements, it's a popular choice for players who want a subtle visual upgrade without changing gameplay.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-approved with 1,045 endorsements — clearly a hit among players.
- Lightweight texture mod that won't impact performance.
- Makes those claws actually look like they're made of gemstone instead of plastic.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2016 — may not be compatible with the latest Skyrim Special Edition or Anniversary Edition updates.
- Only affects gemstone dragon claws, so if you're looking for broader texture overhauls, this is too niche.
- No screenshots or detailed previews in the description, so you're going in blind.
For Skyrim players who notice the little details and want their dragon claws to look more polished. If you're a completionist who collects all the claws, this mod is a must-have. Skip if you want gameplay changes or a full texture overhaul — this is purely cosmetic.
💡 Beginner Tips
- If you're using Skyrim Special Edition, check if the mod has an SE version or use a mod manager to convert it.
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 to easily enable/disable the mod and avoid conflicts.
- Since it's a texture replacer, load order doesn't matter much, but placing it after other texture mods ensures it takes priority.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim LE Mods
- Author
- DMagnus
- Version
- 1.1
- Downloads
- 10,536
- Endorsements
- 1,045
- Category
- Models and Textures
- Created
- 1/9/2014
- Updated
- 1/19/2016
🔧 How to Install Skyrim LE Mods
Download from Nexus.
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