What Does Killing Dragons Do in Skyrim?
Killing dragons in Skyrim is a core gameplay mechanic that offers a multitude of benefits, both immediate and long-term, directly impacting your character’s progression and the overall game experience. Primarily, slaying dragons allows you to absorb their souls, a crucial aspect tied to the player’s unique identity as the Dragonborn. These souls are not merely trophies; they’re the key to unlocking and enhancing Dragon Shouts, powerful abilities that can dramatically alter combat encounters and provide unique traversal options. Beyond this, dragon kills provide valuable crafting resources and contribute significantly to the unfolding narrative of the game. In short, killing dragons is fundamental to growth, power, and engagement with the world of Skyrim.
The Significance of Dragon Souls
The Dragonborn’s Unique Ability
The most vital consequence of killing a dragon in Skyrim is the absorption of its soul. Only a Dragonborn can permanently kill a dragon and absorb its essence. This process isn’t merely a symbolic gesture. Dragons in the world of Skyrim are fragments of Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, and their souls are powerful reservoirs of energy and knowledge. When the Dragonborn absorbs a dragon’s soul, they permanently prevent that dragon’s resurrection through Alduin’s magic.
Powering Dragon Shouts
Absorbing dragon souls serves as a resource for unlocking and powering Dragon Shouts. These are unique and versatile powers that are essentially words of the dragon language imbued with magical effect. You will need to collect dragon souls to unlock new shouts and then to increase the strength of existing ones. This progression system encourages dragon hunting, allowing you to enhance your arsenal of abilities as you engage more with the game’s world.
Material Rewards and Crafting
Harvesting Dragon Scales and Bones
In addition to absorbing their souls, the bodies of slain dragons are a valuable source of crafting materials. You can harvest dragon scales and dragon bones, which are essential components for crafting some of the most powerful armor and weapons in the game. Specifically, they are required for Dragon Armor, which comes in both light and heavy variants. This provides a compelling reason to actively seek out and engage with these formidable creatures.
Dragon Armor Variants
Heavy Dragon Armor typically only requires dragon bones, dragon scales, and some leather while light dragon armor utilizes a different recipe. This type of crafting system creates a clear progression path, where each dragon encounter brings you closer to acquiring top-tier gear.
Impact on the Game World and Narrative
Forced Encounters
The storyline also forces players to engage with dragons in certain key moments. For example, during the quest to uncover Alduin’s Wall, players will sometimes have to fight a dragon at the Karthspire camp to advance the storyline with Delphine and Esbern. These forced dragon encounters add to the tension and urgency of the main quest.
Random Encounters
Outside the main quest line, the presence of dragons adds a layer of unpredictability and excitement to exploration. They often appear at random locations in the wilds, forcing the player to be constantly vigilant and ready for a potential dragon fight. These encounters are part of Skyrim’s charm, creating a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Paarthurnax Dilemma
There’s a key decision point involving a dragon called Paarthurnax. He is not an enemy; in fact, he’s a friendly and important figure. The Blades faction will ask you to slay this pacifist dragon, a moral dilemma that forces the player to consider the ramifications of their actions. While slaying him yields a small benefit for appeasing the Blades, many players find the benefits of sparing his life far outweigh any potential rewards of slaying him.
FAQs about Dragon Killing in Skyrim
1. How many dragons do you have to kill to complete the main storyline?
You are required to kill only five dragons to complete the main storyline in Skyrim, although you will encounter and fight many more during your playthrough.
2. Are there any dragons I shouldn’t kill?
Yes, Paarthurnax is a friendly dragon, and many players recommend against killing him. The rewards for his death are minimal compared to the benefits of keeping him alive.
3. Can a normal mortal kill a dragon permanently?
Without a Dragonborn to absorb its soul, a mortal can only permanently kill a dragon through extremely unconventional methods. One example is capturing a dragon and starving it to death, as demonstrated by Olaf One-Eye.
4. What are the hardest dragons to kill in Skyrim?
Some of the hardest dragons to kill include:
- Sahrotaar, considered the most threatening in the world of Skyrim.
- Alduin, the final boss of the main questline.
- Vulthuryol, whose health is fixed at 3071.
- Durnehviir, the only undead dragon in Skyrim.
5. Can dragons be ridden in Skyrim?
Yes, with the Dragonborn DLC, you can tame and ride dragons using a specific Dragon Shout.
6. What level should I be before fighting dragons?
It’s generally recommended to be at least level 10 before engaging in dragon fights, though you can fight them at lower levels if you are prepared. Always be sure to have fire resistance and other survival tools.
7. What do I do with the Dragon Souls?
Dragon souls are used to unlock and upgrade Dragon Shouts, and they cannot be used for anything else.
8. What kind of materials do dragons drop?
Dragons drop valuable dragon scales and dragon bones, which are used for crafting high-level armor and weapons, notably Dragon Armor.
9. Does the Dragonborn permanently kill dragons?
Yes, when the Dragonborn absorbs a dragon’s soul, that dragon cannot be resurrected by Alduin. It is a permanent death.
10. Are there any friendly dragons in the game?
Besides Paarthurnax, there is now a mod that adds other friendly dragons, which also include new quests.
11. Are all dragons inherently evil?
While many dragons are hostile, some such as Paarthurnax are not, and the lore suggests they have individual motivations and personalities.
12. Is there a best way to defeat a dragon?
Ranged Destruction spells like Icy Spear, Thunderbolt, and Incinerate are effective against dragons, as are any physical attacks that cause physical or poison damage. You can also use Dragonrend to force them to land to make them easier to hit with melee weapons.
13. How long does a Dragonborn live?
Dragonborns grow rapidly to maturity by the age of 15 and typically live to be around 80.
14. Is the Dragonborn good or evil?
The Dragonborn’s alignment is determined by the player’s choices in the game. They are not inherently good or evil.
15. What is the most powerful Dragon Shout?
The shout that is often considered the most powerful is Become Ethereal, which makes the Dragonborn invulnerable to all damage for 13 seconds.