Should I Kill Silus in Skyrim?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You want Mehrunes’ Razor as a permanent weapon or completion trophy. The restored dagger is a unique Daedric artifact, and killing Silus at the shrine is the only way Mehrunes Dagon will grant it. It also counts toward the Oblivion Walker achievement or trophy, which requires collecting fifteen Daedric artifacts.
• Good fit: Your Dragonborn is roleplayed as ruthless, power-hungry, pragmatic, or comfortable serving a Prince of Destruction. Killing Silus after he has served his purpose fits the darker tone of a daedric quest and keeps your decisions consistent with an evil or morally flexible playthrough.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are roleplaying a heroic, devout, or merciful character who avoids unnecessary murder and refuses to bargain with destructive Daedric Princes. Killing Silus in cold blood conflicts with that identity and can feel narratively out of place for a Dragonborn who protects the innocent.
• Warning sign: You value Silus as a persistent NPC in Dawnstar. He runs the House of the Dragonborn museum before the quest and remains in the town afterward if spared. Killing him removes him from the game world permanently, eliminating any future dialogue or atmosphere he provides.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• You receive Mehrunes’ Razor, a unique dagger with a small percentage chance to instantly kill almost any enemy. This can be useful against high-health targets and adds a distinctive item to your collection.
• You satisfy the quest condition that pleases Mehrunes Dagon, securing the artifact needed for completionists and making progress toward the Oblivion Walker achievement on supported platforms.

Cons

• Killing Silus is an irreversible act that removes a named NPC from your save. If you later regret the decision or want him alive for a future playthrough, you must reload an earlier save or start over.
• The choice locks you into the darker quest outcome and denies you the alternate ending. Players who prefer mercy or who dislike daedric bargains may find the act narratively unsatisfying.

Decision Checklist

• Do I want Mehrunes’ Razor as an equipable weapon, trophy, or achievement requirement more than I want Silus to survive?
• Does killing Silus fit the moral direction and personality I have established for this Dragonborn?
• Am I comfortable with Silus being permanently dead in this save, or would I rather keep him alive for immersion?
• Have I saved recently enough that I can reload and try the other outcome if I dislike the result?

Alternatives to Consider

If you do not want to kill Silus, you can choose to spare him at Mehrunes Dagon’s shrine. This avoids the murder and keeps Silus alive, but Mehrunes Dagon will be angered and you will not receive the restored Mehrunes’ Razor. Another option is to delay or ignore the quest entirely, leaving the decision for later or avoiding the moral conflict altogether. Because Skyrim is a single-player game with manual saves, you can also save just before the choice, experience one outcome, and then reload to see the other. This lets you view both results without committing to either permanently.

Final Recommendation

Kill Silus if your priority is obtaining Mehrunes’ Razor and your roleplay supports a harsh or daedric-aligned decision. Spare him if you prefer a merciful outcome, want to preserve a named NPC, or are uncomfortable with the darker path. Since this is a low-stakes, fictional choice with no real-world consequences, select the option that best fits your current playstyle and use your save files to explore both outcomes if you are uncertain.