Why is Miraak Just Standing There? Unraveling the Dragonborn DLC Glitch
So, you’ve finally reached the summit of Apocrypha, ready to face Miraak, the First Dragonborn, and he’s…just standing there. Immobile. Spectral. Utterly unresponsive. This frustrating glitch in the final battle with Miraak in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a common problem that has plagued players since the Dragonborn DLC’s release. But what causes this, and more importantly, how do you fix it?
The core issue stems from an interruption or corruption of the scripted sequence when Miraak is supposed to transition between his physical and ethereal (spectral) forms. Specifically, the game struggles when Miraak’s health is depleted too rapidly or unevenly, particularly during his soul absorption phases.
Essentially, when Miraak’s health drops to a critical threshold (typically below 20%), he becomes ethereal, retreats to the center of the arena, sacrifices a dragon, absorbs its soul to replenish his health, and then returns to physical form to continue the fight. The glitch occurs when this process is interrupted, leading to him getting stuck in his ethereal state.
Preventing the Miraak Freeze
Here’s a breakdown of the common culprits and strategies to avoid this game-breaking snag:
- Overwhelming Damage: Dealing excessive damage too quickly, especially in a single burst, can disrupt the scripting. The game might not register the dragon soul absorption correctly if his health drops too low, leading to the freeze.
- Interrupting Soul Absorption: Damage from the player or Sahrotaar (your dragon) during Miraak’s ethereal phase, specifically while he’s absorbing a dragon soul, can trigger the bug.
- AI Confusion: The game’s artificial intelligence (AI) for Miraak can sometimes become confused by various factors, such as being attacked while transitioning phases, resulting in him becoming unresponsive.
- Mods: Although we are approaching this problem without mods, conflicting or outdated mods can exacerbate the problem.
Fixes and Workarounds (Without Mods)
If you find yourself staring at a spectral, unmoving Miraak, don’t despair! Here’s a compilation of tried-and-true methods to attempt to resolve the situation:
- Reload a Previous Save: This is the most reliable solution. Go back to a save before initiating the final battle. This ensures you’re starting with a clean slate and can employ preventative strategies to avoid the glitch.
- Fight Strategically: This is where the “slow and steady” approach comes into play:
- Pace Your Attacks: Avoid unleashing a flurry of high-damage attacks. Focus on consistent, moderate damage output.
- Use Weaker Weapons: Consider using weaker weapons or even unarmed combat (yes, bare knuckles!) during the initial phases of the fight to prevent accidentally overwhelming Miraak.
- Avoid One-Shot Builds: If you have a build optimized for huge single-hit damage (e.g., a stealth archer with massive sneak attack multipliers), tone it down for this fight.
- No Shouts (Initially): Refrain from using powerful shouts like Dragonrend or high damage elemental attacks like firestorm until after Miraak has absorbed at least one dragon soul.
- Dragon Takedown Prioritization: Instead of focusing solely on Miraak, stay mounted on Sahrotaar at the beginning of the battle and eliminate the other dragons circling the arena first. This reduces the chaos and potential for interruptions during Miraak’s soul absorption phases.
- The Sneak Reset: If Miraak is already glitched, try these steps:
- Distance and Stealth: Run away from Miraak and attempt to enter a hidden state. The goal is to make him “forget” about you and potentially reset his AI.
- Re-engage: After a sufficient period of sneaking, re-enter the combat arena. This might force Miraak to restart his combat sequence.
- Patience is a Virtue: Let Miraak finish his dialogue and scripted actions before engaging aggressively. Ensure all animations complete fully before launching attacks.
- Mind Your Dragon’s Actions: Be mindful of Sahrotaar’s attacks. Ensure your dragon isn’t bombarding Miraak while he’s ethereal and absorbing a soul. Try positioning Sahrotaar away from the central platform during these phases.
These methods should help you get back on track and finish your battle with Miraak. Understanding the process that causes him to freeze will make you a master dragon born in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions and answers regarding Miraak and the Dragonborn DLC:
1. Why does Miraak randomly show up after I kill a dragon?
Miraak has a 25% chance of appearing every time you kill a dragon that has a soul that you can absorb. It’s a way for the game to constantly remind you of his existence and the questline associated with him. The first dragon soul is guaranteed.
2. Why is Miraak stuck in Ethereal form?
As explained above, he is often stuck when you deal too much damage too quickly. If you deal enough damage in a single strike or spell to bring him below 10% health, he will kill a dragon, absorb its soul, but will be unable to regain full health.
3. Is Miraak supposed to steal my dragon souls?
Yes, until you finish the Dragonborn questline, there’s a chance Miraak will steal dragon souls you absorb. You get them back upon defeating him, but it can be frustrating in the meantime.
4. Why did Miraak betray the dragons?
Under the tutelage of Hermaeus Mora, Miraak learned the Bend Will shout, allowing him to dominate dragons. He then turned against his dragon masters, absorbing their souls to gain power.
5. Can I ally with Miraak?
There is no way to ally with Miraak within the normal gameplay of Skyrim. Mods can introduce this element, however.
6. Why didn’t Miraak try to stop Alduin?
Miraak prioritized his own ambitions over the fate of Skyrim. He sought power and control, believing he could gain more by siding with the dragons than opposing them during the events of the main storyline.
7. What happens if I use Bend Will on Miraak during the final fight?
During the battle with Miraak, he doesn’t use Bend Will on you, nor are you required to use Bend Will during the battle.
8. Can Miraak become a follower?
No, in the base game, Miraak cannot be a follower. He dies at the end of the Dragonborn DLC. However, mods exist that can enable him as a follower.
9. Is Miraak a true Dragonborn?
Yes, Miraak was the first Dragonborn, living during the Merethic Era. He served the dragons as a Dragon Priest before betraying them.
10. How many times does Miraak heal himself during the final battle?
Miraak will heal himself by absorbing dragon souls twice during the final encounter.
11. Can I let Miraak live?
No, there’s no way to complete the Dragonborn questline without killing Miraak.
12. Is the Dragonborn DLC just a side quest?
While it’s a DLC, the Dragonborn questline is a substantial story with its own main questline, separate from Skyrim’s main story. The Temple of Miraak is the second quest for Dragonborn Main Storyline.
13. What race was Miraak?
Miraak was a Nord. This is evident in his appearance and his ancient connection to Skyrim and the dragons.
14. Can I defeat Miraak without using the Bend Will shout?
Yes, you can defeat Miraak without using the Bend Will shout. It isn’t used during the encounter.
15. Do dragons still spawn after killing Alduin?
Yes, dragons continue to spawn in Skyrim even after Alduin is defeated, though they may spawn less frequently. The Dragonborn DLC can also impact the spawn rate of dragons. Games, such as Skyrim, can lead to learning opportunities outside of the game. Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
By understanding the mechanics of the Miraak fight and employing these strategies, you can hopefully defeat the First Dragonborn without encountering this frustrating bug. Good luck, Dragonborn!