Dragonborn Force, Flame, or Frost: Which Shout Enhancement Reigns Supreme?

The question of whether to choose Dragonborn Force, Dragonborn Flame, or Dragonborn Frost is a common one for players venturing into the Dragonborn DLC for Skyrim. The definitive answer is: it depends entirely on your playstyle and stage of the game, but Dragonborn Force offers the most consistently useful and widely applicable benefits. While Flame offers a fun, albeit situational, power boost, and Frost grants an arguably redundant effect, Force directly enhances the already potent Unrelenting Force shout, making it a reliable and powerful tool throughout your adventures.

The Dragonborn Shouts: A Closer Look

Let’s delve into each of these enhancements, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal applications.

Dragonborn Force: The Unrelenting Upgrade

Dragonborn Force directly improves the Unrelenting Force shout. This means increased damage and a chance to disintegrate enemies on impact. Unrelenting Force is already a cornerstone shout, capable of staggering even the toughest foes, sending enemies flying off cliffs, and creating breathing room in crowded encounters. Dragonborn Force simply amplifies these effects, making it even more effective.

• Pros:

  • Enhances an already excellent shout.
  • Provides both damage and crowd control.
  • Chance to disintegrate enemies is visually impressive and practically useful.
  • Effective at all stages of the game.

• Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer a completely new ability.
  • Relies on the player having and using Unrelenting Force.

Dragonborn Flame: Burning Vengeance

Dragonborn Flame is a more situational ability. It triggers when your Fire Breath shout kills an enemy, summoning a Fire Wyrm from their corpse to fight for you for 60 seconds. While the idea of a fiery, undead ally sounds appealing, its usefulness is limited.

• Pros:

  • The Fire Wyrm can provide valuable support in combat.
  • Visually striking and fun to use.
  • Adds a unique element to the Fire Breath shout.

• Cons:

  • Requires Fire Breath to kill an enemy, which isn’t always efficient or feasible.
  • The Fire Wyrm’s AI can be unpredictable.
  • The 60-second duration is relatively short.
  • Fire Breath itself is often outclassed by other offensive options.

Dragonborn Frost: Icy Paralysis

Dragonborn Frost adds a stamina-draining effect to your shouts. It’s frequently compared to the Ice Form shout, which completely freezes enemies. The added stamina drain is nice, but the effects are minimal.

• Pros:

  • Stamina drain can weaken enemies.
  • Theoretically allows for more power attacks.

• Cons:

  • The stamina drain is relatively minor.
  • Ice Form already provides superior crowd control through freezing.
  • Less versatile than Force.

Choosing Wisely: The Deciding Factors

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your character build, playstyle, and current stage of the game. Here’s a breakdown to guide your decision:

• Early Game: Dragonborn Force is arguably the best choice, you will have access to all words for Unrelenting Force at the start of the main quest line.

• Melee-Focused Builds: Dragonborn Force provides valuable crowd control and damage amplification, allowing you to quickly dispatch enemies and create openings for attacks.

• Mage Builds: Dragonborn Force is helpful.

• Roleplaying Considerations: If you enjoy summoning creatures and leaning into a fiery aesthetic, Dragonborn Flame might be more appealing, even if it’s not the most optimal choice.

• Stamina-Focused Builds: Dragonborn Frost could be useful, but its effects are subtle.

Conclusion

Dragonborn Force emerges as the most consistently useful and versatile option. While Flame offers a unique summoning ability, and Frost provides stamina drain, neither rivals the overall effectiveness and widespread applicability of a significantly enhanced Unrelenting Force shout. By choosing Force, you invest in a powerful tool that will serve you well throughout your Dragonborn adventure. In order to further hone your gaming knowledge and skills, be sure to check out the wealth of resources available at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly does “disintegrate” mean with Dragonborn Force?

Disintegration means the enemy is reduced to a pile of ash, similar to the effect of certain high-level spells or the Storm Call shout. This prevents them from being resurrected and can be quite satisfying.

2. Is the Fire Wyrm summoned by Dragonborn Flame any good?

The Fire Wyrm can be a helpful ally, especially in the early to mid-game. It deals fire damage and can draw aggro from enemies, giving you breathing room. However, its AI isn’t perfect, and it can sometimes get stuck or fail to engage effectively.

3. How do I unlock the Dragonborn Shouts?

The Dragonborn shouts are unlocked by reading the Black Book: Epistolary Acumen and then choosing the corresponding perk.

4. Can I respec my Dragonborn Shout choice later?

Yes! After beating Miraak, you can return to Hermaeus Mora at any time by reading the Black Book: Waking Dreams to spend a Dragon Soul to respec a single talent tree. This allows you to experiment with different options without being permanently locked into a choice.

5. Does Dragonborn Force make Unrelenting Force stagger larger enemies?

Yes, Dragonborn Force significantly increases the stagger potential of Unrelenting Force. Even larger enemies like Giants and Dragons can be staggered by the enhanced shout, providing valuable openings for attack.

6. Is Fire Breath a worthwhile shout to use Dragonborn Flame with?

Fire Breath can be effective in certain situations, particularly against weaker enemies vulnerable to fire. However, it often falls short compared to other offensive options like spells or weapons, especially at higher levels. Using Dragonborn Flame can make it more viable, but it’s still a situational choice.

7. How does Dragonborn Frost compare to the Ice Form shout?

Ice Form completely freezes enemies in place, making them vulnerable to attacks. Dragonborn Frost only drains stamina, which is a less impactful effect. Ice Form is generally considered superior for crowd control.

8. Does Dragonborn Force work with all three words of Unrelenting Force?

Yes, the disintegration chance and increased damage apply to all three words of Unrelenting Force.

9. Can I have all three Dragonborn Shouts at the same time?

Yes, you can respec to get all of the Dragonborn shouts.

10. At what level should I attempt the Dragonborn DLC?

Generally, players recommend being at least level 40-50.

11. Where do I find the Black Books in Skyrim?

To do so, you must find seven mysterious Black Books.

12. Is there a secret achievement in Skyrim?

Yes, there are 72 total secret achievements in Skyrim.

13. Can NPCs use Dragonborn shouts?

You don’t have to be a Dragonborn to learn Shouts. The Greybeards and Ulfric Stormcloak can all use Shouts, and none of them are Dragonborn. Being a Dragonborn gives an innate ability which helps them learn Shouts faster and more naturally than others.

14. Is being a Dragonborn a race in Skyrim?

The Dragonborn is not a race in Skyrim. It is a title given to the player character, signifying their unique ability to absorb the souls of dragons and use their power.

15. What happens if you choose the wrong shout?

You can respec at any time by returning to Hermaeus Mora and reading the Black Book: Waking Dreams! So do not worry about choosing the wrong shout.