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Elder Scrolls

For other uses, see Draugr.

Draugr are undead Nordic warriors of Skyrim. It is believed that draugr once served the Dragon Priests; some even know several Words of Power. It is also believed that they are cursed with undeath for treachery.[1]

Draugr are among the most common foes in Skyrim's many crypts and catacombs. They retain the ability to wield weapons such as swords, axes, and bows, and higher-ranked draugr can even use Dragon Shouts, most notably Unrelenting Force. Some draugr can also use frost magic, such as Conjure Frost Atronach.

Most draugr use ancient Nordic weapons, although the high-ranking variants can use ebony weapons. Some draugr only appear as corpses, usually containing a few pieces of gold. Draugr loot includes a chance of bone meal, jewelry, gems, soul gems, ingots, or potions. Their armor can be crafted at the Skyforge in Whiterun after completing The Companions quest "Glory of the Dead," or found in these locations, but it can never be looted directly from them, as the armor is a part of their model.

Amongst the Draugr[]

Amongst the Draugr, by Bernadette Bantien, a mage from the College of Winterhold, reports her studies on the subject.

It has taken her seven months to learn how to be able to approach the draugr without being regarded as a threat, although she could not learn to understand their language. Bernadette stated that she had "...always wondered why the ancient priests of the dragon cult insisted that their followers be buried with them," until noticing everyday a different set of draugr would awaken and prostrate themselves before the priest's sarcophagus, after which they would meticulously clean the area. Their dedication after death also seemed to explain why they so ferociously defend their chambers.

After further observation, she reports that when the group of draugr came to pay homage to their fallen leaders, a distinct flow of life-force could be noted between the priest and the followers. The second eternal life of the dragon cult was only promised to those who ascended to priesthood, while the lesser functionaries contributed their life force to sustaining them for eternity.

Directly quoting the book:

I don't know what sort of eternal wellspring they draw from, but it's clear that the draugr carry only the barest whisper of life in them, and it rekindles nightly while resting in its niche. I now believe that the grotesque forms that we see in the barrow were, in fact, buried fully as men and women, and only over the thousands of years that have passed withered into the wretched things we know. If we had visited a barrow directly after its construction, we might not have even known any of its inhabitants were dead!"[2]

Variants[]

"Woe to the unwary explorer who delves deep into the burial crypts of the ancient Nords, and disturbs the Draugr that dwell within."
Loading screen for female draugr[src]

Draugr come in a number of variants. The specific type that is encountered is typically level-dependent; however, lower-leveled draugr can still be encountered at higher levels. In addition to regular variants, there are also special types of draugr only encountered as boss enemies, such as overlords or scourge lords. Higher-level draugr may wield honed ancient nordic weapons, supple bows, or ebony weapons. Some draugr use iron shields (Hulking draugr may use a dented iron shields). Archers use bows and one-handed weapons while warriors can use one-handed weapons and shields or two-handed weapons. Warlocks use one-handed weapons and frost magic. All boss draugr, as well as draugr scourges and greater, are capable of using at least Unrelenting Force, and the highest level may be able to ragdoll opponents with this shout, as well as use Frost Breath and Disarm.

Draugr Archers[]

Type Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Weapons Spells
Draugr 1 50 0 80 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, and Ancient Nord War Axe N/A
Draugr Thrall 1 12 0 200 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, and Ancient Nord Arrows (may also be unarmed) N/A
Restless Draugr 6 175 0 205 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, and Ancient Nord War Axe N/A
Draugr Wight 13 320 0 340 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, and Ancient Nord War Axe N/A
Draugr Scourge 21 900 0 480 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, and Ancient Nord War Axe Unrelenting Force
Draugr Deathlord 40 1300 10 625 Ebony Bow, Ebony Arrows, and Ancient Nord War Axe Disarm, Ebonyflesh, Unrelenting Force

Draugr Warriors – Two-Handed[]

Type Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Weapons Spells
Draugr 1 50 0 80 Ancient Nord Battle Axe or Ancient Nord Greatsword N/A
Restless Draugr 6 150 0 205 Ancient Nord Battle Axe or Ancient Nord Greatsword N/A
Draugr Wight 13 320 0 340 Ancient Nord Battle Axe or Ancient Nord Greatsword N/A
Draugr Scourge 21 700 0 480 Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword Unrelenting Force
Draugr Overlord 7 210 0 260 Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword Unrelenting Force
Draugr Deathlord 30 1000 10 575 Ancient Nord Battle Axe of Ice, Ebony Battleaxe, Ebony Greatsword, Ebony Warhammer, Honed Ancient Nord Battle Axe, or Honed Ancient Nord Greatsword Disarm, Frost Cloak, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Death Overlord 34 1290 10 645 Ancient Nord Battle Axe of Ice, Ebony Battleaxe, Ebony Greatsword, Ebony Warhammer, Honed Ancient Nord Battle Axe, or Honed Ancient Nord Greatsword Disarm, Frost Breath, Frost Cloak, Unrelenting Force

Draugr Warriors – One-Handed[]

Type Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Weapons Armor Spells
Draugr 1 50 0 80 Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe Iron Shield N/A
Draugr Thrall 1 50 50 50 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, and Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe (may also be unarmed) Iron Shield N/A
Draugr Thrall 1 12 0 200 Ancient Nord Bow or Supple Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, and Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe (may also be unarmed) N/A N/A
Restless Draugr 6 150 0 205 Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe Iron Shield N/A
Draugr Wight 13 320 0 340 Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe Iron Shield N/A
Draugr Scourge 21 700 0 480 Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe Iron Shield Unrelenting Force
Draugr Overlord 7 210 0 260 Ancient Nord Sword of Cold, Ancient Nord War Axe of Cold, Honed Ancient Nord Sword of Cold, or Honed Draugr War Axe Axe of Cold Iron Shield Unrelenting Force
Draugr Deathlord 30 1000 10 575 Ebony Sword or Ebony War Axe Ebony Shield or Iron Shield Disarm, Frost Cloak, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Death Overlord 34 1290 10 645 Ebony Sword or Ebony War Axe Ebony Shield or Iron Shield Disarm, Frost Breath, Frost Cloak, Unrelenting Force

Draugr Warlocks[]

Type Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Weapons Spells
Draugr Thrall 1 50 150 50 Ancient Nord Sword, Ancient Nord War Axe, Honed Ancient Nord Sword, or Honed Draugr War Axe N/A
Restless Draugr 6 150 50 180 One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon Frostbite
Draugr Wight 13 490 100 280 One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon Frostbite, Ice Spike
Draugr Scourge 21 700 160 380 One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon Conjure Frost Atronach, Frostbite, Ice Spike

Draugr Overlords[]

Type Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Weapons Armor Spells
Draugr Overlord 7 210 0 260 Enchanted Ancient Nord Weapon Iron Shield Unrelenting Force
Draugr Wight Lord 15 490 0 450 Enchanted Ancient Nord Weapon Iron Shield Unrelenting Force
Draugr Scourge Lord 24 880 0 595 Enchanted Ancient Nord Weapon Iron Shield Disarm, Unrelenting Force, Frost Breath
Draugr Deathlord 30-40 1000-1300 10 645 Enchanted Ancient Nord or Ebony Weapon Iron Shield Disarm, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Death Overlord 45 1400 10 700 Ebony Weapon Iron Shield Disarm, Unrelenting Force, Frost Breath

Hulking Draugr[]

Type Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Weapons Armor Spells
Hulking Draugr DR 26 800 0 505

Ancient Nord Weapon

Dented Iron Shield Unrelenting Force

Niche Draugr[]

There are three types of draugr lying or standing in burial niches. The first kind look like skeletons and never have loot, nor do they ever awaken. The second kind, which look fleshier than the first kind, but wear no armor, are loot containers, and cannot be moved or reanimated with raise dead spells. The third kind are sleeping Draugr who look like the second kind, but their body model includes armor and these will awaken and attack the Dragonborn if they sense their presence. If the Dragonborn is sufficiently stealthy, a way to distinguish between the second two types is to mouse over the draugr. If the search text comes up, they are loot containers and if not, they are currently susceptible to a sneak attack.

Combat[]

In battle, draugr lords as well as scourges make extensive use of the Unrelenting Force shout. Typically this is not much of a threat as it does very little damage and at worst can throw off the Dragonborn's aim, however, the highest level draugr are capable of knocking those caught by the shout off of their feet with their shout, ragdolling them. They provide some early warning to this as when they are about to use the shout, they will tense up, stand up straight with their head reared back, then lean forward as they open their mouths to unleash the shout. They also use other shouts such as Frost Breath, but this can't ever ragdoll. The other shout draugr can use is Disarm, though they stop using it against the Dragonborn once they reach level 31 (though can still use it against other targets as long as they are below that level). These shouts can be countered by any ward spell, Spellbreaker or absorbed using spell absorption.

Draugr can be detected by using the Detect Dead spell or Aura Whisper. Most draugr are initially asleep, though some may already be awake, and they can be detected as well. Using a power attack on, or casting an area affect spell at a closed coffin containing a Draugr can cause it to emerge. If the Dragonborn is stealthy enough, it is possible to crouch walk towards a sleeping Draugr and successfully land a stealth attack (which can often kill them in one hit without giving them a chance to fight the Dragonborn), or simply sneak past them.

While draugr appear humanoid and possess certain humanoid abilities, they are not treated as true humanoids by the game. They generally have a different moveset in combat to humans (including several taunting animations) and are not susceptible to certain effects, such as decapitation, that normally affect humanoids, and cannot be pickpocketed (note this is not simply due to draugr being undead as vampires are true humans and are also undead).

All draugr are immune to poison and bleeding damage, with the additional attribute of possessing 50% resistance to frost. However, the Ebony Mail and Targe of the Blooded can be used to poison them or cause bleeding damage, respectively. As they are undead, all draugr are weak to silver weapons, susceptible to the effects of Dawnbreaker and anti-undead magic such as Turn Undead and the Necromage perk, and will be completely immune to all illusion spells until the Master of the Mind perk is obtained. Contrary to popular belief, draugr possess no specific weakness to fire damage.

Soul trapping[]

Dialogue[]

  • "Qiilaan us dilon! (Bow before [the] dead!)"
  • "Bolog aaz, mal lir! (Beg [for] mercy, little worm!)"
  • "Kren sosaal! (Break [and] bleed!)"
  • "Dir volaan! (Die, intruder!)"
  • "Aar vin ok! ("Aar" means 'Slave' or 'Servant.' "Vin" is unknown, but could be 'Viik' meaning 'Defeat.' "Ok" means 'His,' making it "Servant Defeat His." This could mean either "Defeat His Servant" directed at the Dragonborn's follower or "Servant, Defeat Him"; 'Aar, viik rok.')"confirmation needed
  • "Unslaad krosis! (Eternal sorrow!)"
  • "Faaz! Paak! Dinok! (Pain! Shame! Death!)"
  • "Aav dilon! (Join [the] dead!)"
  • "Sovngarde saraan! (Sovngarde awaits!)"
  • "Daanik Kendov! (Doomed Warrior!)"
  • "Daanik Ah Dov! (Doomed Dovakiiin!)"confirmation needed

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • In Old Norse and Icelandic, the word "draugr" means "ghost," "spirit," or "undead."
  • Draugr appearance is randomized and not gender specific. This means that a draugr can spawn with a female body and a beard.
  • In the quest "The Staff of Magnus," unique spectral draugr are encountered. According to Creation Kit, the spectral draugr in Labyrinthian (also referred as Hollowed Dead) are classed as DraugrMagicRace, separated from default draugr race.
  • Draugr armors cannot be unequipped from them, because the character models are counted as a whole piece, instead of separated armor pieces.
  • Draugr will often laugh at and taunt the Dragonborn and followers whilst in combat.
  • Although draugr are zombies, if reanimated using a spell (for example, Raise Zombie), their eyes will not glow blue but remain empty.
  • Draugr with magic only use ice-based spells.
  • If a draugr hits its target with the Disarm shout, the weapon may disappear entirely instead of falling to the floor.
  • With the Skyrim Anniversary Edition installed, draugr can wield the Ancient Nord Maces and Ancient Nord Warhammers in addition to swords and axes.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Draugr (Skyrim). 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.
  •  PC   Draugr will sometimes awaken and fall dead immediately, particularly when emerging from standing sarcophagi.
  •  PC   Draugr animations can sometimes incorrectly display draugr as using a block attack with their weapon or a shield when it is in fact a normal attack.

Appearances[]

References[]


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