Across theElder Scrollsvideo game series, Skyrim is undoubtedly in a league of its own. Between exploration and questing, it can take years for players to complete every possible activity and location. One constant throughout all the replays is the fundamental element of the boss fight.
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We all know that moment: the vast antechamber with the ominous door, suspiciously helpful supplies laid at your feet, the calm before the storm. Each boss inSkyrimis completely different, and what kinds of skills and gear you use may make some easier to slay or nearly impossible to harm.
The final boss of the College of Winterhold quest line, Morokei waits at the end of Labyrinthian. While he’s considered one of the weaker dragon priests in general, his staff and abilities can quickly drain your magicka. After you defeat the ghostly mages holding Morokei bound, he’ll summon a Storm Atronach and attack you with the Staff of Magnus or spells.
If you’re using magic or a bow, stay on the walkways behind where the ghostly mages stood. This will provide cover from Morokei’s devastating spells and staff. He can also be defeated slightly more easily with a strong melee character. Bringing such a follower along to help is a great plan.
9Queen Potema
The Wolf Queen can be found in the catacombs far beneath Solitude, at the end of a two-quest chain. In the first phase of this fight, Potema’s floating spirit will resurrect a vampire corpse and multiple draugr strewn about her Sanctum, some of which can summon their own atronachs. While all of those attack you she will also fire off lightning bolts. There are Resist Shock potions in the previous room, andmaking your own potions can be even better!
After Potema’s spirit stops resurrecting enemies, she will retreat to a previously locked room and take the form of Potema’s Ghostly Remains. In this second phase, she must be personally defeated several times in a row. Once again she will resurrect enemies from the previous room, so watch your back!
This dragon priest is technically a mini-boss, but Nahkriin makes the list due to his companions. He waits at Skuldafn Temple, protected by two high-level dragons. While his abilities are not super impressive, his staff deals tremendous shock damage.
The key to making this fight easier is going straight for Nahkriin himself. He spawns with only 50% health, and at first instead of attacking, he’ll move to pick up his staff from the pedestal behind him. Unrelenting Force can stagger him, or Slow Time will allow you to reach him before he gets that staff.
7Lord Harkon
The ultimate boss of the Dawnguard DLC, Harkon can be a real pain to fight depending on the choices you make during that main storyline. He’ll continuously summon skeletons and gargoyles, and attack you himself with Drain Life. Fortunately, you’ll have Serana on your side. As one of the best companions in Skyrim, she can easily handle the mobs.
When Harkon’s health gets too low, he’ll use Mist Form to return to his pedestal and regenerate his health. He’ll also use a nearly impenetrable barrier to prevent you from interrupting his regen. This barrier can only be broken using Sunhallowed Arrows fired from Auriel’s Bow.
Although his mechanics are simpler than most other bosses, Ahzidal is fully capable of wiping out unprepared players in seconds. He can be found at the bottom of his tomb in Kolbjorn Barrow, after paying a great deal of gold and waiting a few days. Ahzidal uses strong protection magic and will resurrect zombies periodically, and his unique Fire Stream spell is particularly dangerous.
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Fire Stream costs less magicka to cast than Incinerate, and does more damage with a larger AOE. It also has no charge time, so players without substantial fire or magic resistances will be in huge trouble. Stealth can also be used against him, a rarity for Skyrim bosses.
5Haknir Death-Brand
The Deathbrand quest on Solstheim can take quite a bit of legwork. But finding Haknir Death-Brand’s treasure is very much worth it! Once you find his resting place and claim the legendary scimitar Bloodscythe, the fight will begin. Death-Brand attacks extremely rapidly with ghostly versions of his swords. Bloodscythe absorbs health and reduces armor, while Soulrender absorbs magicka and dispels your buffs.
This epic boss fight is purely about endurance. Once you take out about 20% of Death-Brand’s health, he’ll disappear and make you fight his ghost pirate crew. Be sure to bring enough potions to keep you going, and it never hurts tobring a strong follower.
Of course Skyrim’s main boss deserves mention, and not just for honors alone. Alduin’s level can range up to 100, and he ignores 50% of all damage. But defeating him can still be fairly easy with efficient use of Dragonrend, and also by watching your surroundings.
Dragonrend should be used to bring Alduin down, but not when he is already on the ground. This will not extend the effect, and the shout has a long cooldown. When he uses Dragon Storm Call, be sure to use Clear Skies to avoid the meteors with huge AOE damage. And as with any dragon, avoid standing in front of his mouth.
3The Reaper
Skyrim ispacked full of hidden locationsand enemies. The Reaper is only discoverable by exploring the world and not strictly following quests. Three Reaper Gem Fragments can be found throughout the Soul Cairn, then placed in an altar at the Reaper’s Lair to summon the mysterious figure itself.
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The Reaper can scale up to level 100 based on the player’s level multiplied by 1.5, and he is also immune to poison and paralysis. Fire and shock attacks work normally on him, and the Slow Time shout can be extremely useful. Distract him with an atronach or follower and target his bonemen first.
The final boss of the Dragonborn DLC, Miraak boasts powerful shouts and destruction magic. His staff creates tentacles on the ground that can poison and stagger you, and he is also accompanied by two dragons. One unique option for this fight is that players can cast magic or shoot arrows at Miraak from the back of the dragon Sahrotaar, at least for a while.
As you weaken Miraak he will occasionally sacrifice a dragon to regenerate his health. He must be weakened enough to sacrifice all three dragons present, at which point he can truly be defeated. This is a long fight, designed for the highest-level players.
Karstaag is by far the hardest boss to fight in Skyrim, and he’s also one of the hardest bosses to find due to his quest not being tracked in the journal. On Solstheim, players must retrieve Karstaag’s Skull from the back of the Glacial Cave, then take it to Castle Karstaag and place it on his throne. Doing so will immediately summon the ghost giant, and the fight will begin.
Karstaag has a permanent Frost Cloak effect and can repeatedly summon three Ice Wraiths to his side. On top of those, his attacks deal much more damage than a regular giant and also cause Slow in addition to the stagger effect. His health and resistances are extreme, but he does have a 25% weakness to fire and can be staggered by Werewolf attacks.
