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Unrelenting Force, the most common shout used by characters and enemies (other than dragons) in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

For lore-based information, see Thu'um.

Dragon Shouts (THUuM), also referred to as Shouts or Thu'um in the Dragon language, are an ancient form of magic prominently used in Skyrim during the late Merethic and early First Era, but it has gradually become obscured. Shouts use the vocalization of specific "Words of Power" to create powerful magical effects, usually for offensive purposes. Each Shout is made up of three words. However, one or two words of a given Shout may be used, but the effect is correspondingly less powerful compared to the full force of the whole shout.

Dragons are able to master and use their Thu'um at will, as this sacred language is their natural language, inborn into their souls from the moment of their creation (when dragons shout, breathing fire or frost at each other with the Thu'um, they are actually having a deadly verbal debate). Mortals are only able to learn and use the Thu'um through a long process of meditation and the practice of the words. There are exceptions to this: rare individuals who are known as Dragonborn, exist with the bodies of mortals but the souls of dragons. The Dragonborn is able to intuitively learn Shouts, using the absorbed Souls of dragons to gain the dragons' understanding of the words. As shown during "The Way of the Voice," they can also absorb knowledge from other individuals who have mastered specific words.

The events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim follow the Dragonborn as they learn to use the language of the dragons to its full potential .[1]

"They say Ulfric Stormcloak murdered the High King... with his voice! Shouted him apart!"
Hold Guard[src]

A minority of other characters also have the ability to use Dragon Shouts, such as a small group of monks known as the Greybeards, who live in seclusion inside of the fortress of High Hrothgar. This fortress is located near the top of the mountain known as the Throat of the World, which is said to be the highest peak in all of Tamriel. The Greybeards use their Thu'um to meditate, as well as praise and worship the Divines. However, their beliefs differ from the Blades, who believe that the Thu'um should be used as a weapon in the battle against dragons.

Ancients ascent word wall

A Word Wall.

There are twenty Shouts in Skyrim, the Dawnguard expansion adds three new Shouts, and the Dragonborn expansion adds four more. The Dragonborn learns the shouts which are inscribed on Word Walls found in ancient Nordic ruins, and are unlocked with dragon souls. There are a select few, however, that are given by the Greybeards as a reward for completing quests for the Greybeards along the main quest. Dragon souls are gained by slaying dragons and absorbing their souls. Each word of power requires one dragon soul to be unlocked. Because each shout contains three words of power, it requires three Dragon Souls to be completely unlocked, thus enabling its full power.

These Shouts have powerful effects and provide the user with a variety of abilities. For instance, one shout sends foes hurling away, another shout allows for traveling a relatively long distance almost instantly. Others also project spells of fire or ice, inflicting heavy damage to opponents. The Dragonborn can use a partially unlocked Shout (only one or two words unlocked). The more words used in a shout, the longer it will take for the shout ability to recharge (the recharge time is displayed by the blinking outline of the compass) with a few exceptions.

Significant events involving Dragon Shouts[]

Alduins Bane

Felldir the Old reading the Elder Scroll to defeat Alduin.

Locating Shouts[]

Find the Word of Power[]

After finishing The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, Arngeir can be asked, "Have you located any Words of Power?" The location will be added to the map and a miscellaneous quest will be added to the journal. It is to be noted that if Paarthurnax is killed, then Arngeir will no longer give out the locations of the words of power.

Find the Source of Power[]

After shouting in a specific area, a courier may deliver a letter, which reveals the location of a nearby Word Wall, although it may be a location that has already been visited.

Note: While the locations of the three Word Walls for each shout are fixed, the words are not locked to a specific wall. Therefore, traveling to any of the walls related to one shout will always gain the Dragonborn the first, second, and third words in order.

Learning Shouts[]

Once a new shout has been discovered, a dragon soul is required to unlock it. Access the shouts sub-menu from the magic menu. Locked shouts are grayed out. In the bottom right corner of the menu is the number of dragon souls available to use. These accumulate as dragons are killed.

According to the Greybeards, a Dragonborn absorbs the knowledge of the words from the dragon's soul. Fully unlocking a shout requires the use of one dragon soul for each word of power learned, with each shout being composed of three words.

Unlocking shouts[]

To unlock a shout, select it and press the corresponding button.

  • Xbox 360 / Xbox One: Press Button x (x)
  • PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4: Press PS3 Square (square)
  • PC: Press the "R" key.
  • Nintendo Switch: Press the Y button on the right joycon.

Shouts[]

Dragon Shout Word of Power Translation Cooldown Word Wall Location
Animal Allegiance A Shout for help from the beasts of the wild, who come to fight in your defense.
RAaN Raan Animal 50 Angarvunde
Ancient's Ascent
Ysgramor's Tomb – during "Glory of the Dead"
MIr Mir Allegiance 60
TAh Tah Pack 70
Aura Whisper Your Voice is not a Shout, but a whisper, revealing the life forces of any and all.
LAaS Laas Life 30 Northwind Summit
Valthume
Volunruud
YAh Yah Seek 40
NIr Nir Hunt 50
Battle Fury

DR

Your Thu'um enchants your nearby allies' weapons, allowing them to attack faster.
MID Mid Loyal 20 Vahlok's Tomb

All words learned during "Lost Legacy"

VUr Vur Valor 30
SHAaN Shaan Inspire 40
Become Ethereal The Thu'um reaches out to the Void, changing your form to one that cannot harm, or be harmed.
FEiM Feim Fade 30 Ironbind Barrow
Lost Valley Redoubt
Ustengrav – during "The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller"
ZIi Zii Spirit 40
GRON Gron Bind 50
Bend Will

DR

Your voice bends the very stones to your will. As it gains power, animals, people, and even dragons must do your bidding.
GOL Gol Earth 10 Saering's Watch
HAh Hah Mind 90 Apocrypha – learned from Hermaeus Mora
DOV Dov Dragon 120 Skaal Village – learned from Hermaeus Mora
Call Dragon Odahviing! Hear my Voice and come forth. I summon you in my time of need.
OD Od Snow 5 Sky Haven Temple or High Hrothgar

All words learned during "The Fallen"

Ah Ah Hunter 5
VIiNG Viing Wing 300
Call of Valor The valiant of Sovngarde hear your Voice, and journey beyond space and time to lend aid.
HUN Hun Hero 180 Sovngarde

All words learned during "Dragonslayer"

KAaL Kaal Champion 180
ZOoR Zoor Legend 180
Clear Skies Skyrim itself yields before the Thu'um, as you clear away fog and inclement weather.
LOK Lok Sky 5 High Hrothgar

All words learned during "The Throat of the World"

VAh Vah Spring 10
KOoR Koor Summer 15
Cyclone

DR

Your Thu'um creates a whirling cyclone that sows chaos among your enemies.
VEN Ven Wind 30 Benkongerike
Kolbjorn Barrow – during "Unearthed"
White Ridge Sanctum
GAaR Gaar Unleash 45
NOS Nos Strike 60
Disarm Shout defies steel, as you rip the weapon from an opponent's grasp.
ZUN Zun Weapon 30 Eldersblood Peak
Silverdrift Lair
Snow Veil Sanctum – during "Speaking With Silence"
HAaL Haal Hand 35
VIiK Viik Defeat 40
Dismay And the weak shall fear the Thu'um, and flee in Terror.
FAaS Faas Fear 40 Dead Crone Rock
Lost Tongue Overlook
Shalidor's Maze in Labyrinthian
RU Ru Run 45
MAaR Maar Terror 50
Dragon Aspect

DR

Once a day, take on the mighty aspect of a dragon, delivering colossal blows, with an armored hide, and more powerful shouts.
MUL Mul Strength 5 Apocrypha, Waking Dreams Chapter VI
Bloodskal Barrow
Temple of Miraak
QAh Qah Armor 5
DIiV Diiv Wyrm 5
Dragonrend Your Voice lashes out at a dragon's very soul, forcing the beast to land.
JOoR Joor Mortal 10 Throat of the World – during "Alduin's Bane"
ZAh Zah Finite 12
FRUL Frul Temporary 15
Drain Vitality

DG

Coax both magical and mortal energies from your hapless opponent.
GAaN Gaan Stamina 30 Arcwind Point
Dimhollow Crypt – during "Awakening"
Forgotten Vale – during "Touching the Sky"
LAh Lah Magicka 60
HAaS Haas Health 90
Elemental Fury The Thu'um imbues your arms with the speed of wind, allowing for faster weapon strikes.
SU Su Air 30 Dragontooth Crater
Shriekwind Bastion
Statue to Meridia
GRAh Grah Battle 40
DUN Dun Grace 50
Fire Breath Inhale air, exhale flame, and behold the Thu'um as inferno.
YOL Yol Fire 30 Dustman's Cairn – during "Proving Honor"
Sunderstone Gorge
Throat of the World – during "The Throat of the World"
TOoR Toor Inferno 50
SHUL Shul Sun 100
Frost Breath Your breath is winter, your Thu'um a blizzard.
FO Fo Frost 30 Bonestrewn Crest
Folgunthur
Skyborn Altar
KRAh Krah Cold 50
DIiN Diin Freeze 100
Ice Form Your Thu'um freezes an opponent solid.
IiZ Iiz Ice 60 Frostmere Crypt
Mount Anthor
Saarthal – during "Under Saarthal"
SLEN Slen Flesh 90
NUS Nus Statue 120
Kyne's Peace The Voice soothes wild beasts, who lose their desire to fight or flee.
KAaN Kaan Kyne 40 Ragnvald
Rannveig's Fast
Shroud Hearth Barrow
DREM Drem Peace 50
OV Ov Trust 60
Marked for Death Speak, and let your Voice herald doom, as an opponent's armor and lifeforce are weakened.
KRIi Krii Kill 20 Autumnwatch Tower
Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary – during "With Friends Like These..." or "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!"
Forsaken Cave
LUN Lun Leech 30
AUS Aus Suffer 40
Soul Tear

DG

Your Thu'um cuts through flesh and shatters soul, commanding the will of the fallen.
RIi Rii Essence 5 Each word learned from Durnehviir after he is summoned
VAaZ Vaaz Tear 5
ZOL Zol Zombie 90
Slow Time Shout at time, and command it to obey, as the world around you stands still.
TIiD Tiid Time 30 Hag's End
Korvanjund – during "The Jagged Crown"
Labyrinthian – during "The Staff of Magnus"
KLO Klo Sand 45
UL Ul Eternity 60
Storm Call A Shout to the skies, a cry to the clouds, that awakens the destructive force of Skyrim's lightning.
STRUN Strun Storm 300 Forelhost
High Gate Ruins
Skuldafn – during "The World-Eater's Eyrie"
BAh Bah Wrath 480
QO Qo Lightning 600
Summon Durnehviir

DG

Durnehviir! Hear my Voice and come forth from the Soul Cairn. I summon you in my time of need.
DUr Dur Curse 5 All words learned from Durnehviir in the Soul Cairn.
NEH Neh Never 5
VIiR Viir Dying 300
Throw Voice The Thu'um is heard, but its source unknown, fooling those into seeking it out.
ZUL Zul Voice 30

Shearpoint – All words learned at once

MEy Mey Fool 15
GUT Gut Far 5
Unrelenting Force Your Voice is raw power, pushing aside anything - or anyone - who stands in your path.
FUS Fus Force 15 Bleak Falls Barrow
RO Ro Balance 20 High Hrothgar – during "The Way of the Voice"
DAh Dah Push 45 High Hrothgar – during "The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller"
Whirlwind Sprint The Thu'um rushes forward, carrying you in its wake with the speed of a tempest.
WULD Wuld Whirlwind 20 Dead Men's Respite
High Hrothgar – during "The Way of the Voice"
Volskygge
NAh Nah Fury 25
KEST Kest Tempest 35

Unavailable shouts[]

Dragon Shout Word of Power Translation Location
Devour Soul Used by Miraak during the battle between him and the Dragonborn in Apocrypha to instantly kill dragons and absorb their souls. Uniquely, it is the only shout with four words.
ZIiL Ziil Your soul Observed when fighting Miraak in Apocrypha.
LOS Los Is
DIi Dii Mine
DU Du To devour
Alduin's roar Used by Alduin to summon a storm that rains meteors down from the sky. This is the only shout with no words associated with it; instead, Alduin's roar is what seems to produce the storm.
N/A N/A Observed during the encounter with Alduin at Helgen during Unbound, at the Throat of the World during "Alduin's Bane" and in Sovngarde during "Dragonslayer." Can be countered with Clear Skies. As of Online, the shout can be translated as "Jiid So Daan," Or "Moon Sorrow Doom."[source?]
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
MQAlduinSlenTiidVo[note 1] Used by Alduin to resurrect Nahagliiv, Sahloknir, Viinturuth and Vuljotnaak from their burial sites.
SLEN Slen Flesh Observed at Rorikstead Resurrection, Kynesgrove Resurrection, Yorgrim Resurrection and Great Henge Resurrection dragon burial sites.
TIiD Tiid Time
VO Vo "Un-" prefix. (opposite of. e.g. unkind, unlikeable)
Open[note 2] A single word used by Borri during the quest "The Way of the Voice," in order to quickly open a gate.
BEX Bex Open Observed at High Hrothgar.
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
Phantom Form This shout is used by the Greybeards to summon a spectral clone of themselves for the Dragonborn to practice Unrelenting Force on.
FIiK Fiik Mirror Observed inside High Hrothgar during "The Way of the Voice."
LO Lo Deceive
SAh Sah Phantom
ResurrectionShout Used by Alduin to resurrect long dead dragons from their burial sites.
"MQFakeWord" "MQFakeWord" Observed at several Dragon Burial Mounds throughout Skyrim.
"MQFakeWord" "MQFakeWord"
"MQFakeWord" "MQFakeWord"
Return to Nirn Used by Tsun to return the Dragonborn to Nirn (specifically Skyrim) after the defeat of Alduin in Sovngarde.
NAhL Nahl Living Observed by the Dragonborn in Sovngarde.
DAaL Daal Return
VUS Vus Nirn
Soul Cairn Summon This shout is used by Durnehviir to summon a Boneman, a Mistman and a Wrathman from the Soul Cairn.
DIiL Diil Undead Observed when Durnehviir is in combat.
QOTH Qoth Tomb
ZAaM Zaam Slave
"Evil Mist" Alduin shouts his evil mist back across Sovngarde.
VEN Ven Wind Observed by the Dragonborn in Sovngarde.
MUL Mul Strong
RIiK Riik Gale

Reducing the time between shouts[]

Main article: Fortify Shouts

The recharge time between shouts can be reduced with the following methods:

  • Wearing the Amulet of Talos gives a 20% reduction of recharge time.
  • Using the Dragon Aspect DR shout can give another 20% reduction once per in-game day for five real time minutes.
  • Activating the Shrine of Talos will also grant a 20% reduction for 8 hours. In Active Effects this will incorrectly display as 0%, but the actual reduction is 20%.

The Morokei mask was also supposed to grant a 20% reduction in addition to a 100% faster magicka regeneration, but the reduction in shout recharge time does not actually work due to a bug. Fortify shout is unfortunately not available as an enchantment or alchemical effect.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Using a shout in a city may prompt a guard to run up to the Dragonborn and request that they stop, stating that it is making people nervous, although this will never create a bounty. A bounty will only occur if the shout harms someone.
  • Shouts are able to damage an enemy without the usage of Magicka or Stamina.
  • Storm Call will strike any character within range, regardless of if they are hostile/friendly characters; followers are also subject to being harmed by the Shout.
  • The Companion's Insight ability, available via Black Book: The Winds of Change, makes it impossible for shouts to damage followers in combat. DR
  • It is possible to learn the first two words of Whirlwind Sprint before going to High Hrothgar. If learned before going to High Hrothgar, the Greybeards will teach the second or third word of Whirlwind Sprint.
  • All three words of the Throw Voice shout are learned at once via a single Word Wall.
  • Throw Voice and Storm Call are the only shouts which are guarded by Dragon Priests.
  • The locations are shout specific, but not word specific, meaning they can be visited in any order and the words will be learned in the proper sequence.
  • Summon Spectral Clone has voice files (tested with all races) and is available through Console Commands. The ID for the words of power are 0002F2CC for Fiik, 0002F2CD for Lo, and 0002F2CE for Sah.
  • With Dawnguard, Soul Cairn Summon is also available through console commands, with the IDs for the words of power being xx01a162, xx01a163, and xx01a164.
    • When using this shout, however, the Dragonborn will not say the words (tested with Nord and Altmer) and it will only summon 1 creature from the Soul Cairn.
  • 44 Dragon Souls are needed to unlock every shout in the vanilla game. 13 Shouts require the full three souls to unlock, four Shouts (Call Dragon, Call of Valor, Clear Skies, Dragonrend) are learned automatically without needing to acquire any Dragon Souls, the first words of two Shouts (Fire Breath and Whirlwind Sprint) are learned automatically, but require two more souls each to fully unlock; and Unrelenting Force requires only one soul, which is used automatically when Mirmulnir dies, with the other two words being learned automatically through completion of the first act.
  • All Shouts can be "sheathed" by pressing Square (PS3) or X (360) right after the first Word.
  • With the Dawnguard and Dragonborn add-ons, 65 dragon souls are needed to unlock all dragon shouts. This does not include shouts learned from external sources (The Greybeards or Hermaeus Mora).
  • There are another four versions of the Drain Vitality shout in addition to the original. The four shouts, with consecutive editor ids (DLC1DragonDrainVitalityShout02, 03, 04, and 05), deal 1, 2, 3, and 4 damage per second, respectively, for 20 seconds. The two shouts used by the Revered and Legendary dragons have editor ids of DLC1DragonDrainVitalityShout06 and DLC1DragonDrainVitalityShout07, dealing 5 and 7 damage per second, respectively, for 20 seconds.
  • Dwarven Centurions have a "Steam Breath" power that the game engine considers as a shout. The Dragonborn can possess a variant of this with the Breath of Nchuak, which is only available with the helmet "Visage of Mzund." This is a special apparel from the Dragonborn addition.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Dragon Shouts. 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   360   PS3   XB1   NX   Rarely, a dragon shout will not work, and the Dragonborn will sound as if something is caught in their throat before the first word can be spoken.
  • Sometimes, it is possible for a Word Wall to produce no word. The only fix for this is to reload a save.
  •  PC   360   PS3   XB1   NX   There is a chance of, after shouting, it will not be possible to change said shout to another, and it will display something along the lines of, "you cannot switch shouts in the middle of one." To fix it, save and restart your console. Another potential fix is to switch to a power rather than a shout, as this seems to "unlock" the shout menu, allowing a different shout to be selected.
  •  PC   360   PS3   XB1   NX   Shouts, like "Drain Vitality," may duplicate more than once. Saving before approaching the Word Wall may fix the bug if reloaded. This will cause the shout to show numerical values for each stat it drains along with a max cool down of 12 seconds and each duplicate will be stronger than the previous(For as much as four times) but not as strong as the original.
  •  PC   360   XB1   NX   While in combat, the Dragonborn will shout the words, but no effect will occur. In the following time after, they cannot use spells, shout, or interact, but can attack with a weapon.
  •  PC   360   XB1   Occasionally, a dragon shout may not work with no sound being played and the Dragonborn will be unable to use shouts or powers, with the shouts tab saying you cannot change shouts during one.
    •  XB1 (Fix)   A fix for this is to sheath a currently equipped weapon, and upon the sheathing animation finishing, the first word of the shout will be automatically used.

Achievements[]

Words of Power (Achievement)
Words of Power
Learn all three words of a shout
Points 10 Gamer points
Trophy
Bronze trophy


Thu'um Master (Achievement)
Thu'um Master
Learn 20 shouts
Points 40 Gamer points
Trophy
Silver trophy


Appearances[]

Notes[]

  1. The shout is listed in Creation Kit as a topic response with ID "MQAlduinSlenTiidVo" and says "Slen Tiid Vo!" with the script note attached: "the Shout he's using to resurrect the dragon Sahloknir. Maximum intensity. Enunciate each word -- almost pausing between them." It is only a shout from a lore-focused perspective; it is not a game mechanic.
  2. The word is listed in Creation Kit as a topic response with the script note attached: "Word of power, means "open!"" It is only a shout from a lore-focused perspective; it is not a game mechanic.

References[]