The Dragon Priests of Skyrim, also known as Dovah-Sonaak in the archaic language of the Dragons, are among the strongest bosses to be found in the game. They once controlled the north of Tamriel on behalf of their masters and received supreme abilities as a reward for their work.
In the main game, there are 8 Dragon Priests, with 5 more included via the Dragonborn DLC. These enemies are never found roaming about the map, as the player is expected to travel to the location of their burial site in order to engage them in combat. Here are some of the most interesting facts about Dragon Priests that will help shed some light on their history and lore.
They Are Constantly Floating
It may not always be obvious what Dragon Priests look like at first glance, or even how they glide so eerily across any surface because the amount of energy expended by the Dragonborn takes up all the player's attention.
In fact, these characters don't actually reach the ground, but rather remain suspended in mid-air. This is due to their once-great heritage as the rulers of Skyrim, as the Dragons themselves sought to reward their followers in a multitude of ways.
Fus Ro Dah Is Useless Against Them
Well, not completely useless, to be perfectly honest, as releasing the full might of Fus Ro Dah does fluster them for short periods of time (which is when attacks are more likely to hit.)
However, unlike most other characters, the Dragon Priests are not flung across the screen in that pleasing way players have come to expect — an ode to their prowess, in some ways. In addition to this, it is impossible to paralyze them, whether via envenomed weaponry or magical spells.
Miraak Of Solstheim Was A Dragon Priest
The first Dragonborn, Miraak, was apparently one of the major non-Skyrim Dragon Priests, given that his main habitat happened to be Solstheim. However, he is bewitched by the Black Book of Hermaeus Mora, leading him to attack the Dragons and consume their souls as a means of extending his own power.
Later, a different Dragon Priest, Vahlok the Jailor, manages to vanquish Miraak, putting an end to his reign of tyranny (at least until the current Dragonborn is able to finally vanquish him once and for all.)
Krosis Is Entombed Within A Mountain Peak
The Dragon Priests are usually located deep within a Nordic sarcophagus and often surrounded by religious elements such as shrines, temples, and so on. On the other hand, Krosis' tomb is kept at Shearpoint, a notable Dragon Lair that is hidden in the craggy peaks strewn across the southern regions of The Pale.
This makes sense to a point, especially considering that Krosis is technically ice-based, but ironically uses the Staff of Fireballs, a powerful artifact that makes it difficult to kill him easily.
Rahgot Is Responsible For Mass Suicide
The Dragon Priest known as Rahgot used to be a cult-leader in Forelhost monastery, but his entire group was attacked by an army platoon under the banner of King Harald.
As the blockade continued, Rahgot took his minions deeper into the building and insisted that they all "commit suicide" in order to help him survive. Nevertheless, when the monastery finally fell, there was no sign of the Dragon Priest, although his body seems to have been preserved in the same location (for the Dragonborn to defeat in the future.)
Dragon Priest Masks Are Made Of Different Materials
Each Dragon Priest is provided with a unique mask, all blessed with incredible enchantments (that are very useful depending on the circumstances.)
Interestingly, depending on the character themselves, the masks have been constructed out of a variety of materials, for instance, orichalcum, corundum, bronze, marble, moonstone, ebony, iron, steel, and so on. There is also a mask made of wood, called the "Wooden Mask", but this isn't associated with any Dragon Priest known to Tamriel.
Three Masks Are Stronger Than Any Known Headwear
The helms/headwear in Skyrim are essential components of armor, adding a massive boost to player health. Although the Dragon Priest masks are known mostly for their magical properties, some of them also have surprisingly high base armor values.
In the Light Armor category, the most durable helmet is made of Dragonscale, and possesses a rating of 17 points, compared with Volsung and Krosis, both of which stand at 21 points. Similarly, while the Daedric helmet is given a 23 base armor score, Konahrik comes with 24.
Dragon Priests And Ebonyflesh
Melee players are less likely to use Alteration spells in combat (after all, why turn the Dragonborn's skin into temporary armor when smithing and crafting are so much better?) On the contrary, Dragon Priests are almost entirely Magicka-fueled creatures; their billowy, tattered robes are no match for their opponent's attacking power.
Therefore, in order to even out the playing field, the cast Ebonyflesh on their own bodies, improving their armor rating for as long as combat ensures. In addition, they may also generate a shield of fire, frost, or electricity, depending on their natural element.
A Minimum Level Of 50
Even though the Dragonborn can come across a Dragon Priest very early on in the story, these bosses are set at Level 50, which is why they are so tough in the beginning stages.
Of course, this isn't a universal rule, as Dukaan and Ahzidal from the Dragonborn DLC possess all the strength of a Level 60 character, while Zahkriisos' level depends on the player (it starts at 25, but is capped at Level 60.) They're still a pain to destroy, though, even at higher levels.
They Are Often Word Wall Guardians
The Word Walls are among the most crucial locations in all of Skyrim, as these Nordic sites are claimed to reveal secrets only known to the Dragons (such as the patterns required for the Thu'um.)
The game makes it quite challenging to access any of these places, given the significance of the final reward, and thus posts overwhelming forces to keep the Dragonborn away for as long as possible. These include Draugr Deathlords, Dragons, and even Dragon Priests.