Elder Scrolls
Advertisement
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.

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, or they can use the Conjure Frost Atronach spell.

Most draugr use ancient Nordic weapons, although the high ranked variants can use ebony weapons. Some draugr only appear as corpses, usually containing a few pieces of gold. Draugr are weak to silver weapons. 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.

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!"[1]

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. 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 respectively be used to poison them, and cause bleeding damage. Until the Master of the Mind perk is obtained, all draugr will be immune to illusion spells.

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 26 800 0 505

Ancient Nord Weapon

Dented Iron Shield Unrelenting Force

Other types

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. 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, higher level draugr make extensive use of the Unrelenting Force shout. Although the ability can throw off a sword swing or an aimed arrow, it typically does not knock the Dragonborn off balance. Draugr can be detected by using the Detect Dead spell or Aura Whisper, while using a power attack on, or casting a Frenzy spell at a closed coffin containing a draugr can cause it to emerge without harming the Dragonborn. If the Dragonborn has a high enough Sneak skill, it is possible to crouch walk towards a sleeping draugr and successfully kill them with one hit.

Draugr are some of the very few humanoid enemies who are unaffected by decapitation.

The three shouts draugr use, Unrelenting Force, Frost Breath and Disarm, can be countered by any ward spell, Spellbreaker or absorbed using spell absorption.

Draugr possess a 50% resistance to frost damage, are immune to poison and are unaffected by illusion spells unless the Dragonborn has the Master of the Mind perk.

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!)"

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, because the character models are counted as a whole piece, instead of separated armor pieces.
  • Higher level draugr, such as Deathlords, will often laugh at 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 spells only seem to use ice-based or ice-related spells.
  • Attempting to pick the pocket of a sleeping draugr will awaken it and cause it to begin a search and/or attack.

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.

Appearances

References


Advertisement