Dragonbone Armor in Skyrim: A Bone-Crushing Analysis
Dragonbone armor. The name itself evokes images of a Dovahkiin, clad in the calcified remains of fallen dragons, striding across the snow-swept tundra of Skyrim. But how good is it, really? The short answer: Dragonbone armor is excellent, especially for heavy armor users looking for a strong, readily craftable, and visually imposing set. It offers a compelling alternative to Daedric armor, boasting near-equivalent protection at a lighter weight, making it a top-tier choice for any aspiring dragon hunter.
Dragonbone vs. The Competition: A Head-to-Head
The effectiveness of Dragonbone armor depends on how it stacks up against other contenders for the title of “best armor.” Let’s break down the key considerations:
- Armor Rating: Daedric armor boasts a slightly higher base armor rating. A Daedric Plate Armor has 49, while a Dragonplate Armor has 46. However, the armor cap in Skyrim is 567. Achieving this cap significantly diminishes the difference between the two sets. With proper Smithing skill, perks, and enchantments, both Dragonbone and Daedric can easily reach this cap.
- Weight: This is where Dragonbone shines. A full set of Dragonbone armor is considerably lighter than Daedric. This difference is crucial, as weight affects your character’s stamina, movement speed, and carrying capacity. The weight of a Dragonplate Armor is 40 units compared to Daedric’s 50.
- Crafting Difficulty: Acquiring Daedric armor requires more effort. You’ll need to collect Daedra Hearts, a relatively rare resource. Dragon bones and scales, while not exactly common, are far more readily available, especially as you progress through the main quest and hunt more dragons.
- Perks: The Heavy Armor skill tree offers perks like “Conditioning,” which makes equipped heavy armor weigh nothing. If you invest in this perk, the weight advantage of Dragonbone becomes less significant.
- Aesthetics: This is subjective, but many players find Dragonbone armor visually appealing. Its raw, bone-like appearance projects a more primal, savage aesthetic compared to the sleek, demonic look of Daedric armor. This alone is enough for some players to choose Dragonbone.
Crafting and Acquisition
Crafting Dragonbone armor requires a high level of Smithing (100) and the “Dragon Armor” perk, which becomes available once you reach that level. You’ll need:
- Dragon Bones
- Dragon Scales
These materials are obtained by slaying dragons. The number of bones and scales dropped varies per dragon. Finding dragons becomes easier as you progress through the game. Keep an eye on your world map for dragon lairs, and complete the main quest line to unlock more dragon encounters.
Enchanting Your Dragonbone Armor
Enchanting is essential to maximizing the effectiveness of any armor set. With Dragonbone armor, you can tailor enchantments to suit your playstyle. Popular choices include:
- Fortify Health: Increases your maximum health.
- Fortify Stamina: Increases your maximum stamina.
- Fortify Magicka: Increases your maximum magicka (if you’re a mage).
- Resist Magic: Reduces incoming magical damage.
- Fortify [Combat Skill]: Increases your damage output with a specific weapon type (e.g., Fortify Archery, Fortify One-Handed).
Dragonbone Weapons: A Complementary Force
While this article focuses on the armor, it’s worth mentioning Dragonbone weapons. The Dragonbone Bow and Dragonbone Battleaxe are particularly powerful. The Dragonbone Battleaxe does more damage than the Daedric one, demonstrating that Dragonbone is a powerful weapon to be used when you need it. If you’re already crafting Dragonbone armor, crafting a matching weapon set is a logical next step.
Reaching the Armor Cap
As mentioned, the armor cap in Skyrim is 567. This might sound intimidating, but it’s surprisingly easy to reach with Dragonbone armor. Here’s how:
- Smithing Skill: Max out your Smithing skill (100).
- Smithing Perks: Invest in perks like “Steel Smithing,” “Arcane Blacksmith,” and “Dragon Armor.”
- Smithing Enchantments: Enchant items with “Fortify Smithing” to improve your crafting.
- Potions: Use Smithing potions to further boost your crafting skill.
With these buffs, you can significantly improve the armor rating of your Dragonbone set, easily hitting the armor cap and maximizing your protection.
Dragonbone Armor: Final Verdict
Dragonbone armor is a fantastic choice for any Skyrim player looking for powerful, readily available, and visually striking armor. While Daedric armor boasts a slightly higher base rating, the lighter weight of Dragonbone, coupled with its ease of crafting, makes it a compelling alternative. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to Skyrim, Dragonbone armor is a worthy investment that will serve you well on your adventures.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Dragonbone armor better than Daedric armor?
Not definitively “better,” but a strong alternative. Daedric has a slightly higher base armor rating, but Dragonbone is lighter and easier to craft. Both can reach the armor cap with proper Smithing.
2. How do I get Dragonbone armor at level 1?
Technically, it’s impossible to craft Dragonbone armor at level 1, as you need a Smithing skill of 100 and the Dragon Armor perk. However, some exploits or console commands might allow it.
3. What is the strongest armor in Skyrim?
Daedric armor has the highest base armor rating, but with the armor cap, other sets like Dragonbone become equally effective with proper enhancements.
4. What is the coolest armor set in Skyrim?
Coolness is subjective! However, Nightingale Armor, Daedric Armor, and Dragonscale Armor are often cited as visually appealing.
5. What is the most intimidating armor in Skyrim?
Daedric Armor, with its demonic appearance, is often considered the most intimidating.
6. Is Ebony or Dragon armor better?
Dragonplate (heavy armor version) is generally considered better than Ebony armor due to its higher armor rating and lower weight, although both are excellent.
7. Is Dragonbone better than Madness armor?
Madness armor is a Creation Club content. It is similar to Daedric and Dragonbone, so it comes down to aesthetic preference.
8. How many dragon bones for full armor?
You’ll need approximately 6 dragon bones and 12 dragon scales to craft a full set of Dragonbone armor (including a shield).
9. Which dragon armor is heavy Skyrim?
Dragonplate is the heavy armor version, requiring dragon bones and dragon scales. Dragonscale is the light armor version, requiring only dragon scales.
10. What weapon in Skyrim does the most damage?
The Daedric Warhammer has the highest base damage, but Dragonbone weapons, especially when crafted with high Smithing skill, can be very powerful.
11. Is there light dragon armor in Skyrim?
Yes, Dragonscale armor is the light armor version of Dragon armor.
12. Is Dragon armor better than Diamond?
In the context of Skyrim, Dragon armor (Dragonplate or Dragonscale) is far superior to any “Diamond” armor.
13. Is Ebony better than daedric?
No, Daedric is stronger than Ebony in terms of base armor rating.
14. Is Dragonbone bow good?
Yes, the Dragonbone Bow is one of the best bows in the game, boasting high damage output.
15. What is the best helmet in Skyrim?
The Dragon Priest mask Konahrik is considered one of the best helmets due to its unique effects and high armor rating.