What is the solution to the first Reachwater Rock puzzle, I've got the claw (hard to miss) but can't find any hints as to what the solution might be.

Its for the quest to reforge Gauldur's amulet in the questline Forbidden Legend.

Update: I've bruteforced the solution, see my answer, if someone can point out the hints I've missed I'll accept their answer, otherwise I'll accept my own in a few days.

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3 Answers

You can find the solution on the back of the claw: open your inventory, inspect it, and rotate it around. As you noted, the solution is:

• Outer: Bear
• Middle: Whale
• Inner: Snake

There are a few puzzles that consist of looking at the quest item at different angles: Bethesda seems to have been very proud of this feature, and these quests appear to just be a means to highlight it.

If some are looking here for the 2nd one, it's (I used bruteforce):

• Eagle
• Eagle
• Dragon

This is actually the Ivory Dragon Claw for the second door. If you look at the claw in your inventory, you will see the combination on the underside of the claw itself.

Aha, I still haven't found any hints, but I've brute forced my way through.

It is (top to bottom) Bear, Whale, Snake.

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