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Skyrim After Alduin: A Dragonborn’s Guide to Post-Main Quest Adventures

So, you’ve faced Alduin, the World-Eater, and emerged victorious from Sovngarde. Congratulations, Dragonborn! But Tamriel is a vast and unforgiving land, and your journey is far from over. The question now is: Where do I go after defeating Alduin? The answer, my friend, is anywhere and everywhere! Skyrim unfolds into a playground of possibilities after the main quest. Now is the perfect time to explore those unexplored areas, engage in unfinished quests, and fully embrace the life of a legendary hero.

Embracing the Freedom: What Awaits You

With Alduin vanquished (for now, at least), the world opens up in exciting ways. The urgency of the main quest is gone, replaced by the freedom to forge your own destiny. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits:

Unfinished Business: Remember those half-finished quests cluttering your journal? Now is the time to tie up those loose ends. Maybe you promised a farmer you’d retrieve a family heirloom, or perhaps you’ve been putting off a delicate diplomatic mission.
Faction Fortification: You’ve likely dipped your toes into at least one of Skyrim’s factions: the Companions, the College of Winterhold, the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood. Now’s the time to fully immerse yourself in their ranks, complete their questlines, and become their leader. Imagine being the Arch-Mage, the Harbinger, the Guild Master, or the Listener – all while being the Dragonborn!
DLC Delights: If you own the DLCs (Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn), you have even more content to explore. Dawnguard offers a choice between becoming a powerful vampire lord or hunting them down with the Dawnguard. Hearthfire lets you build your own home and start a family. And Dragonborn sends you to Solstheim to face Miraak, the first Dragonborn.
Exploration Unleashed: Skyrim is a beautiful and dangerous place. With the threat of Alduin lessened, you can finally take the time to truly explore its hidden corners. Discover new caves, find hidden treasures, and stumble upon unique encounters. Maybe you’ll finally uncover the secrets of those standing stones or find a powerful artifact in a forgotten ruin.
Roleplaying Revelations: Now that you’ve fulfilled your destiny as the Dragonborn, try shaping your character’s identity further. Did your character develop after becoming Dragonborn? Or did they become something else?

Mastering the Post-Alduin World

Don’t just wander aimlessly, though. Here are some tips to make the most of your post-Alduin adventure:

Optimize Your Build: By this point, you should have a solid understanding of your character’s strengths. Refine your skills, find the best equipment, and master your preferred combat style. Experiment with different perks and enchantments to create a truly unstoppable build.
Engage with the Community: Skyrim has a thriving modding community. Explore the vast library of mods available on platforms like the Nexus Mods website to enhance your gameplay experience. From graphical improvements to new quests and gameplay mechanics, mods can breathe new life into the game. Consider that the Games Learning Society explores the influence of gaming communities to enhance learning.
Embrace Challenges: Increase the difficulty level to make combat more challenging. Try playing with self-imposed rules, such as limiting your use of fast travel or only using certain weapons. You can also set personal challenges to beat.
Collectibles and Completionism: Aim to collect all the unique weapons and armor in the game. Find all the Standing Stones, clear all the dungeons, and complete every side quest. Becoming a true completionist can provide hours of additional gameplay.
Legendary Skills: Once a skill reaches level 100, you can make it Legendary, resetting it to level 15 but allowing you to continue leveling up and gaining perk points. This is a great way to continue progressing your character and exploring different playstyles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions players have after defeating Alduin, along with helpful answers:

1. Do dragons stop spawning after killing Alduin?

No, dragons will still spawn, but less frequently. Alduin’s death doesn’t eradicate all dragons from Skyrim. Think of it as reducing the dragon population rather than eliminating it entirely. So, keep an eye on the skies!

2. Can you return to Sovngarde after defeating Alduin?

Without using console commands (on PC), no. Sovngarde is a unique location that is not designed to be revisited after completing the main quest. Be sure to grab everything you want before leaving!

3. Is there any loot after killing Alduin?

You cannot loot Alduin’s body directly, but you can harvest dragon heartscales. However, his soul is not absorbed by the Dragonborn.

4. Where can I find Delphine after defeating Alduin?

Delphine relocates to Sky Haven Temple in the Reach after relinquishing ownership of the inn in Riverwood.

5. What is the last mission in Skyrim?

The last quest stage on the main quest is called Dragonslayer, which you receive upon defeating Alduin. However, this marks the end of the main quest, but not the end of the game.

6. Is there anything worth grabbing in Sovngarde?

Yes, you can find the Roasted Ox Head and Roasted Ox Leg, unique non-food miscellaneous items. There are also some flowers that you can pick.

7. Does Skyrim end after the main storyline?

No. You can continue playing with sidequests, faction quests, and exploration after completing the main story.

8. Does Alduin level with you?

Alduin is always a high-level dragon, with a max level of 100. His damage scales as you level up, making him a formidable opponent regardless of your level.

9. What happens to souls eaten by Alduin?

The lore suggests that Alduin uses the devoured souls to strengthen and revive his dragon army and Dragon Cult followers. When Alduin is defeated in Sovngarde, these souls might be absorbed into the skies, possibly by Akatosh or Shor.

10. Is Miraak the final boss in Skyrim?

Miraak is the final boss of the Dragonborn DLC, not the main Skyrim questline. He is a powerful opponent and another Dragonborn.

11. Why are there still dragons after killing Alduin?

Killing Alduin only ends the Main Questline. You can kill many of the dragons, but getting rid of ALL of the dragons isn’t the goal of the main quest.

12. What level is the Legendary Dragon in Skyrim?

The Legendary Dragon spawns randomly when you reach level 70 or higher. It is a powerful dragon with significantly more health and power than other dragon types.

13. What is the secret of Alduin’s Wall?

Alduin’s Wall contains information on how Alduin was defeated in the past, particularly a powerful Shout. Finding the wall is a key part of the main questline.

14. Is Stormcloak or Imperial better?

The choice between the Stormcloaks and the Imperials is a matter of personal preference and roleplaying. Each side has its own strengths and weaknesses.

15. Will Esbern follow me if I fast-travel?

Yes, Esbern should follow you when you fast-travel, although he might be a bit slow. Make sure he’s close by before you teleport!

The Dragonborn’s Legacy

Defeating Alduin is a monumental achievement, but it’s only one chapter in the saga of your Dragonborn. The world of Skyrim is rich with possibilities, waiting to be explored and experienced. Embrace the freedom, delve into the lore, and carve your own legend in the annals of Tamriel. Your adventures are just beginning!

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