Most Skyrim item, spell and shout codes you find here start with 00 and you can paste them straight into the console. But codes from the official add-ons — Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn — are listed with an XX at the front, like XX0177AF. That XX is not something you type literally; it stands for a number that depends on your game.
What the XX prefix means
A Skyrim form ID is eight hexadecimal digits. The first two are the load-order prefix: they identify which plugin the record comes from, by that plugin's slot in your load order. The base game, Skyrim.esm, is always slot 00, so every base-game code begins with 00. Each add-on or mod gets the next slot — 01, 02, 03 and so on — and that slot becomes the first byte of all of its form IDs.
Because the slot depends on what else you have installed and in what order, there is no single correct value to print — the same Dragonborn spell might be 020177AF on one setup and 040177AF on another. That is why we show it as XX0177AF.
Set your prefix once
Enter the first two digits for each DLC below. We remember them in your browser and automatically fill them into every code on the site — on the item, spell and shout lists, in every command builder, and on each detail page. Leave one blank if you do not own that add-on.
How to find your numbers
- Open the console with the tilde key (
~). See our guide to opening the console if you need it. - Type
help "item name" 0— for examplehelp "Bonemold Helmet" 0. - Read the form ID Skyrim prints. Its first two digits are your load-order prefix for that add-on. Enter them above.
With only the three official add-ons enabled, they usually load as Dawnguard 02, Hearthfire 03 and Dragonborn 04 (after Skyrim.esm 00 and Update.esm 01). Mods shift these, so always confirm with help if a code does not work.
Using the codes
Once your prefix is set, copy any code from our lists and run it like normal — see the item codes guide for the full player.additem walkthrough. For DLC spells use player.addspell, and for shouts player.addshout — the resolved ID works the same way.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Skyrim DLC item code start with XX?
XX is a placeholder for the load-order prefix — the first two hexadecimal digits of a form ID. The base game (Skyrim.esm) is always 00, but every DLC and mod is assigned a slot number based on its position in your load order, and that number becomes the first byte of all its form IDs. Because the slot depends on what else you have loaded, the same Dragonborn item can be 02xxxxxx for one player and 04xxxxxx for another, so reference sites write it as XX.
How do I find the real first two digits for my game?
Open the console (tilde ~) and type help "item name" 0 — for example help "Bonemold Helmet" 0. Skyrim lists every matching form with its live ID for your exact load order, so the first two digits are already correct. Copy that ID into player.additem. You can also read it from a mod manager's load-order list, counting from 00 for the first plugin.
What is the load order for the official Skyrim DLC?
If you have only the three official add-ons enabled, they typically load as Dawnguard (often 02), Hearthfire (03) and Dragonborn (04), after Skyrim.esm (00) and Update.esm (01). This is only a guideline — any mods or a different enable order will shift the numbers, which is exactly why you should confirm with the help command.
Do base-game item codes need a prefix?
No. Base-game items live in Skyrim.esm, which is always slot 00, so their codes start with 00 and you type them exactly as listed. The XX prefix only applies to content from Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn, Creation Club, and mods.