Draugr (Skyrim)
Basic Info
Level	Various
Resistance	Immune to Poison, Resist Frost 50%
Base ID	000387C0 to C9 (Draugr), 0001FE86 to 89 (Restless), 00023BC4 (Wight), 00023BF7 (Scourge), 00042473 (Overlord), 00038A0E (Deathlord)
Sound

For other uses, see Draugr.

Draugr are undead Nordic warriors of Skyrim. It is believed that draugr once served Dragons; 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.

Draugr use Ancient Nordic Weapons. Some draugr only appear as corpses, usually containing a few pieces of gold. Draugr are weak to fire as well as silver weapons. Draugr loot includes a chance of jewelry, gems, soul gems, ingots or potions; however, their armor cannot be looted and must be crafted at the Skyforge in Whiterun after completing The Companions quest, Glory of the Dead.

Amongst the draugr

Amongst the Draugr, by Bernadette Bandian, 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. In her words, she 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 it's construction, we might not have even known any of its inhabitants were dead!"^[1]

Types

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 have a 50% resistance to Frost.

Draugr Archers

Type	Lvl			STA	Weapons	Spells
Draugr	1	50	0	80	Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, Ancient Nord War Axe	N/A
Restless Draugr	6	175	0	205	Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, Ancient Nord War Axe	Frostbite
Draugr Wight	13	400	0	340	Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, Ancient Nord War Axe	Frostbite, Ice Spike
Draugr Scourge	21	900	0	480	Ancient Nord Bow, Ancient Nord Arrows, Ancient Nord War Axe	Unrelenting Force, Conjure Frost Atronach
Draugr Overlord	30	1000	10	575	Ancient Nord Bow, Orcish Arrows, Ancient Nord War Axe	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Deathlord	40	1300	10	625	Ebony Bow, Glass Bow, Ebony Arrows, Ancient Nord War Axe	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force

Draugr Warriors - Two-Handed

Type	Lvl			STA	Weapons	Armor	Spells
Draugr	1	50	0	80	Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword	Iron Shield	N/A
Restless Draugr	6	150	0	204	Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword	Iron Shield	N/A
Draugr Wight	13	320	0	340	Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword	Iron Shield	N/A
Draugr Scourge	21	700	0	480	Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword	Iron Shield	Unrelenting Force, Summon Frost Atronach
Draugr Overlord	30	1000	10	575	Ancient Nord Battle Axe, Ancient Nord Greatsword	Iron Shield	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Deathlord	40	1000	10	575	Ebony Warhammer, Ebony Battleaxe	Ebony Shield	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force

Draugr Warriors - One-Handed

Type	Lvl			STA	Weapons	Armor	Spells
Draugr	1	50	0	80	One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield
Restless Draugr	6	150	0	204	One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield
Draugr Wight	13	320	0	340	One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield
Draugr Scourge	21	700	0	480	One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield	Unrelenting Force,Summon Frost Atronach
Draugr Overlord	30	1000	10	575	One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Deathlord	40	1000	10	575	One-Handed Ancient Nord Weapon	Ebony Shield	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force

Draugr Warlocks

Type	Lvl			STA	Weapons	Spells
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	Lvl			STA	Weapons	Armor	Spells
Draugr Overlord	7	210	0	180	Enchanted Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield	Unrelenting Force
Draugr Wight Lord	15	490	0	450	Enchanted Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield	Disarm, Unrelenting Force
Draugr Scourge Lord	24	880	0	595	Enchanted Ancient Nord Weapon	Iron Shield	Disarm, Unrelenting Force, Frost Breath
Draugr Deathlord	34	1290	10	645	Enchanted Ancient Nord or Ebony Weapon	Iron Shield	Frost Cloak; Disarm, Unrelenting Force, Frost Breath
Draugr Death Overlord	45	1400	10	700	Ebony Weapon	Iron Shield	Frost Cloak, Disarm, Unrelenting Force, Frost Breath

Dragon priests

	Level			STA	Resistances	Spells
Dragon Priest (Fire)	50	1490	545	0	Immune to Poison	Greater Ward Conjure Flame Atronach Fireball Ebonyflesh Command Daedra Incinerate
Dragon Priest (Frost)						Ice Storm Greater Ward Conjure Frost Atronach Ebonyflesh Icy Spear
Dragon Priest (Shock)						Greater Ward Conjure Storm Atronach Chain Lightning Thunderbolt Command Daedra Ebonyflesh

Quests

The Draugr appear in the quests:

• Bleak Falls Barrow
• The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller
• Wilhelm's Spectre
• Speaking With Silence
• The Golden Claw
• The World-Eater's Eyrie
• The White Phial
• Under Saarthal
• A Scroll For Anska
• Ancestral Worship
• Siege On The Dragon Cult
• Proving Honor
• The Man Who Cried Wolf
• The Wolf Queen Awakened
• The World-Eater's Eyrie
• Silenced Tongues
• The Jagged Crown
• Speaking With Silence
• The Staff of Magnus
• Forbidden Legend

Combat behavior

In battle, draugr make extensive use of the Unrelenting Force shout. Scourges also have the ability to do this. Although the ability can throw off a sword wing or an aimed arrow, it cannot knock the Dragonborn of balance. Draugrs can be found 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.

Draugr are some of the very few human-sized, human-like enemies who are unaffected by decapitation, finisher cinematic is used. All types of draugr are immune to Dead Thrall.

Soul trapping

• Although the in-game help for Soul Gems states that 'undead' enemies do not have souls to capture, this is referring to resurrected enemies only. Draugr do indeed yield souls that can be captured:
• Draugr yield petty souls.
• Restless Draugr and Draugr Wights yield lesser souls.
• Draugr Scourges yield common souls.
• Draugr Deathlords yield greater souls.
• Draugr Death Overlords and Dragon Priests yield grand souls.

Dialogue

The following are phrases that are uttered by the Draugr:

• Qiilaan Us Dilon! (Qiilaan means "Bow" and Dilon means "Dead". "Bow to Dead" would be Qiilan Wah Dilonne, so it's unlikely this is what the sentence means.)
• Bolog Aaz, Mal Lir! (Beg (for) Mercy, Little [Lir]. "Lir" is pending translation. The former translation was "king", but Jun is the word for "king".)
• Kren Sos Aal! ("Break blood may." Perhaps meaning "May (his) Blood Break.", although that would be Aal Sosi Kren.)
• Dir Volaan! ("Die Quickly")
• Aar Vin Ok! (Aar means "Slave/Servant". Vin is unkown but could be Viik meaning "Defeat". Ok means "His", making it "Servant Defeat His". Could mean either "Defeat His Servant" directed at the player's follower or "Servant, Defeat Him"; Aar, Viik Rok.)
• Unslaad Krosis! ("Eternal Sorrow".)
• Faas! Pook! Dinok! ("Fear! Stink! Death!")
• Fus Ro Dah! ("Force Balance Push", Unrelenting Force shout.)
• Aav Dilon! ("Join (the) Dead!")
• Sovngarde Saraan! ("Sovngarde Awaits!")

Trivia

• Draugr is the Old Norse word for "ghost".
• Draugr appearance is randomized and not gender specific. This means that a Draugr can spawn with a female body and a beard.
• They have previously appeared in the Morrowind expansion pack Bloodmoon, notably in the barrows of Solstheim.
• In the quest The Staff of Magnus, unique spectral Draugr are encountered.

Mythological connections

Draugr take their mythological inspiration and several traits from the draugr, undead creatures from Norse mythology. It should be noted that one differentiates between sea-draugar and land-draugar (draugar being plural of draugr): while land-draugar were simply undead with numerous magical abilities, sea-draugar were fishermen who had drowned at sea, thus being denied the privilege of being buried. The mythological draugr can also arguably be considered much more terrifying than the game version, as the land-draugar could change their size at will and grow enormous, were somewhat intelligent, possessed superhuman strength, could only be killed if burned completely to ash and took great pleasure in killing their victims. Mostly the draugr would crush their victims to death by increasing their size, but other methods included hacking them to bits with their weapons or even eating them alive and drink their blood.

Gallery

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References

1. ↑ Amongst the Draugr

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon (First appearance)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim