Elder Scrolls
Register
Advertisement
Elder Scrolls

Main article: Dragon Shouts

Become Ethereal is a dragon shout in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Effects[]

This shout makes the Dragonborn spectral in appearance and will make them invulnerable to all damage for the duration of the effect; 8/13/18 seconds. In addition, stamina will not be depleted while this shout is active (but will not replenish while running). However, any damaging attacks performed while the shout is active will immediately end the effect. Casting any spells will also end the effect.

Shouting additional words increases the duration and cooldown of the effect. A word of the shout can be meditated on with Paarthurnax to increase health regeneration while using the shout.

Advantages[]

  • Quickly descend mountains, as all fall damage is completely ignored.
  • Unlimited sprinting for the duration, as Stamina drain is ignored.
  • Ignore damage from all traps. Some swinging blade traps may still displace the Dragonborn.
  • Provide a small window for uninterrupted Magicka regeneration.
  • Charge various master spells mid-battle without the risk of being interrupted (with the exception of Dragonhide).
  • Can be used to make enemy mages deplete their Magicka while attacking the Dragonborn.
  • Can be used to quickly negate massive amounts of damage from dragon breath attacks.
  • Can draw enemy attacks while healing/supporting a follower.
  • Fire, Frost and Lightning Cloak spells used before Shouting still damage the enemy while Ethereal.
  • J'zargo's Flame Cloak Scrolls can be tested while Ethereal to avoid taking damage.
  • Can be augmented with Ethereal Spirit, increasing health regeneration while Ethereal by 25%.
  • Can be used to traverse normally dangerous terrains, such as the liquid pools in Apocrypha DR and the lava in the Aetherium Forge. DG

Disadvantages[]

  • Dispelled after a short duration, possibly just before massive damage output.
  • Unable to interact with objects and people without dispelling.
  • Cannot attack, use potions/poisons, or cast healing spells without dispelling.
  • Cannot use other Shouts while Ethereal is active.
  • Cannot be used to run through things or people.

Word Wall[]

Thu'um Dragon Language
Transliteration Translation
Become Ethereal
Locations: Ironbind Barrow, Lost Valley Redoubt, and Ustengrav
Feim Feim-wordwall
NONVUL BRON DahMaan DaaR ROT FIN
FODiiZ BORMah-Nii LOS HeyV DO ENOOK
MUN WaH LahNey VOTH ahKRIN ahRK ZIN
LEH ROK FeiM VODahMIN KOTIN VULOM
Noble Nords remember these words (of) the
hoar father - It is duty of each
man to live with courage and honor
lest he fade forgotten(?) into darkness.
Zii Zii-wordwall
NAFNI WahLaaN QETHSEGOL BORMahii
VahRUKT ROGNVALD WEN Zii FEN
MahFAERaaK aaK OK BROD
ahRK FOLooK OK HOKORON
Nafni raised (this) stone
(in) memory of his father Rognvald, whose spirit will
forever guide his clan
and haunt his enemies.
Gron Gron-wordwall
HET NOK BeIN NahGahDINOK
AZARAN FaaL MUNAX WO UNT
Wah GRON KRILOT DILON DO
SOVNGARDE Wah LeiN DO JUL ahRK FUNT
Here lies foul Necromancer
Azaran the Cruel, who tried
to bind (the) valiant dead of
Sovngarde to (the) world of man and failed.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The "Azaran the Cruel" mentioned on the third Word Wall is very likely a reference to a necromancer of the same name in Thief II: The Metal Age.
  • In one of the "tests" of the Pilgrim's Path, there is a chamber in which exposure to the light causes health damage at an alarming rate. The shout does not render the Dragonborn immune to this damage.
  • If the Dragonborn uses Become Ethereal while it is still active through the use of alteration bonuses, the duration will not be extended.
  • The Bloodskal Blade's special attack can be used with Ethereal without dispersing the effect of the shout.
  • Reading an Elder Scroll while the effects of the shout are active will give the Elder Scroll the same spectral appearance.
  • Become Ethereal will not protect the Dragonborn from darkness-based damage in either Black Book: Filament and Filigree or Black Book: The Sallow Regent DR.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Become Ethereal. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

  1. Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
  2. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
  3. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
  • When the Dragonborn unequips the Ebony Mail and uses the shout and re-equips it, the shadow effect then disappears.confirmation needed
  • Upon jumping into the water while using this shout, the Dragonborn may appear invisible.confirmation needed
  • While in water the model becomes "broken up" and it ceases to merge, making the lines of all the individual pieces in the model become visible.confirmation needed
  •  PS3   The second Word of Power may not register after learning it from another Word Wall at either Ustengrav or Bard's Leap Summit, leaving the shout with only the first word available for use, as the Word Wall will have the hissing and chanting, but the Word will not light up. This can happen after getting a Letter from a Friend suggesting looking for the Word of Power in Ironbind Barrow.
    •  PS3 (Fix)   A solution to this is to avoid reading the letter and get the first Word from Ustengrav during "The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller," then go after the second Word at Lost Valley Redoubt next, then hit the third and final Word in Ironbind Barrow. By doing it in this order, the second Word will be unlocked properly at Lost Valley Redoubt, so the Word Wall in Ironbind Barrow will work after this.
  •  360   On very rare occasions, the shout may not even work at all.

Appearances[]


Advertisement