Dragon Priest ( Skyrim ) Dragon Priests ( Dovahzul : " Dovah - Sonaak " , " Dragon - Priest ( s ) " ) are powerful undead enemies found in . Thousands of years ago , these priests ruled over Skyrim at the behest of their Dragon overlords . In their service , many of these dragon priests were granted extraordinary powers and knowledge in arcana , and some of them managed to reach lichdom to evade their own demise . They are typically buried in one of the many ancient tombs and temples dotted all across Skyrim , awaiting the return of Alduin the " World - Eater . " There are eight high ranking priests , each wearing a unique dragon priest mask that bears a powerful enchantment said to be given to them directly from their dragon benefactors . These priests can be encountered at any level , and are typically found within Nordic tombs and ruins that house Word Wall s . Often they are accompanied by an array of undead underlings , such as draugr and skeletons . Dragon Priests in Skyrim . Hevnoraak . In life , Hevnoraak was a powerful dragon priest who practiced a form of mind - controlling magic . Using his power , he managed to build up an army of enthralled followers . Before his death , Hevnoraak planned his resurrection obsessively . He drained his own blood from his body and planned to transfer his power back into himself after death , thus becoming a powerful Lich . He was buried in the ancient tomb of Valthume . Krosis . Krosis was buried , not within a tomb or temple like other dragon priests , but atop one of Skyrim ' s highest peaks , known as Shearpoint . His sarcophagus is located directly in front of a Word Wall . His name also means " sorrow " in Dragon Language . Morokei . Morokei was a powerful priest who was entombed in the ancient city of Bromjunaar , specifically within Labyrinthian . At some unknown point , he came into the possession of the Staff of Magnus , an immensely powerful artifact . In the early Fourth Era an ill - fated group of mages , including a young Savos Aren , encountered Morokei within Labyrinthian . The trip resulted in their deaths , with the exception of Savos . In an attempt to seal away Morokei permanently , Savos forced two of the surviving mages to remain behind , magically enthralled and forced to maintain a barrier around Morokei . Nahkriin . Nahkriin was a priest who was buried in the secluded Nordic Temple of Skuldafn , high in the Velothi Mountains . In the Fourth Era , he was found in the service of Alduin , and presided over a portal that lead to the Nordic afterlife of Sovngarde . Otar the Mad . Otar the Mad was originally an ancient Nord ic chieftain who ruled over the city of Ragnvald in the Merethic Era . Initially , he was believed to have been a fair ruler and successful in battle , but his mind was corrupted by unknown forces that drove him to insanity . Otar became a Dragon Priest and subjected his people to great cruelty until two Nordic heroes named Saerek and Torsten were sent to stop his tyranny . Both heroes were unable to defeat Otar , so instead they sealed him in a large sarcophagus in Ragnvald and locked it with two skull keys that each of them kept . They pledged to guard the keys so that Otar may never escape his imprisonment . The city of Ragnvald was eventually abandoned , but Saerek and Torsten remained as his guardians . Rahgot . Rahgot is believed to be one of the Dragon Priests to survive the Dragon War . In the early First Era , he led a small cult in the secluded monastery of Forelhost high in the Jerall Mountains . A legion of King Harald ' s soldiers , commanded by Skorm Snow - Strider , discovered the hidden stronghold of dragon cultists and laid siege to it for several weeks . In a desperate act , Rahgot ordered the entire cult to commit mass suicide , while Rahgot himself was entombed within the temple . Vokun . Vokun was a priest who was buried in the Nordic tomb of High Gate Ruins . He was the bearer of the Vokun mask , and his name means " shadow " in dragon language . Volsung . Volsung was a priest who was buried in the Nordic tomb of Volskygge . He was the bearer of the Volsung mask . Dragon Priests in Solstheim . Miraak . During the period of time when dragons ruled over mortals , Miraak served as a dragon priest on the island of Solstheim . He came into possession of a Black Book , which in turn lead to him to servitude under Hermaeus Mora , the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Fate , who taught him a means to great power . With this forbidden knowledge in his possession , Miraak turned on his dragon masters , using his power to devour their souls to become ever more powerful . Because of his betrayal , the dragons razed his temple on Solstheim . His rebellion was unsuccessful , and was defeated by another Dragon Priest named Vahlok who was then made his jailor , restraining him to Solstheim . Other accounts mention that just as Vahlok was about to kill Miraak , Hermaeus Mora saved him by transporting him to the realm of Apocrypha . The dragons then appointed Vahlok as ruler of the island , but not before he was compelled to swear an oath of vigilance to watch for Miraak ' s return , earning him the title " The Jailer . " Meanwhile , Miraak stayed in the realm of Hermaeus Mora until he could amass enough power and influence to return to Solstheim , which he was able to do in 4E 201 . Vahlok the Jailor . According to Skaal folklore , Vahlok served as a dragon priest during the rule of dragons in the Merethic Era . One of his contemporaries , a priest named Miraak , was seduced with promises of power and forbidden knowledge by the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Fate , Hermaeus Mora . Miraak began to secretly plot against his dragon overlords . However , Vahlok discovered his plans and confronted him . The two fought a lengthy battle that was said to have lasted for days , and was so destructive that Solstheim was torn apart from the mainland of Skyrim . Vahlok was victorious and gained much glory and his dragon masters appointed him as ruler of the island , but not before he was compelled to swear an oath of vigilance to watch for Miraak ' s return . Ahzidal . Ahzidal was the first great Nord enchanter , and the first human to master elven methods of arcane magic . In his lust for knowledge and power , Ahzidal had become corrupted , eventually falling mad with his obsession . Not satisfied with the knowledge of man and mer , he sought out the secrets of Dragon - runes , which eventually led him to join the ranks of the dragon priests . Even this was not enough , though , and eventually Ahzidal turned his focus to the Planes of Oblivion . In his lust for power and knowledge , Ahzidal finally lost himself , falling victim to his own pursuit of perfection . Eventually , he fled to Solstheim , and was sealed in the depths of Kolbjorn Barrow , together with the last of his relics . Dukaan . Dukaan was a priest , and buried in the Nordic tomb of White Ridge Barrow . He was the bearer of the Dukaan mask , and his name means " dishonor " in Dragon Language . Zahkriisos . Zahkriisos was a priest buried in the Nordic tomb of Bloodskal Barrow . He was the bearer of the Zahkriisos mask , and his name means " sword blood " or " bloody sword " in dragon language . Interactions . In the base game , eight named dragon priests can be encountered at their place of burial throughout Skyrim . Often they are found in the company of several draugr , while some priests can be found guarding word walls . In addition , unnamed dragon priests can be encountered at various locations at higher level s . With the addition of , four additional priests can be encountered in Nordic ruins throughout Solstheim . Three of these priests guard one of Hermaeus Mora ' s Black Books . Dragon Priest Masks . High ranking priests were known to wear dragon priest masks that each bore a unique enchantment . These masks can be obtained by killing the priest . Bromjunaar Sanctuary , within Labyrinthian , is the location of the mysterious dragon priest shrine . The shrine displays the busts of the eight high ranking dragon priests found throughout Skyrim . Masks that have been obtained from defeated dragon priests can be displayed on their respective bust on the shrine . Once the eight masks are in place , the final mask , Konahrik , is revealed . The other masks may be taken from the shrine once Konahrik is obtained . Variants . Dragon priests in the base game are generally identical in both appearance and attributes . They share many of the same spells and resistances . These include the ability to use Wards , Mage Armor and both summon and turn Daedra . They are also immune to poison and paralysis . The only difference between them is the type of elemental magic they ' re attached to . Most named dragon priests deal in shock magic , and will only use the corresponding spells during combat , such as Thunderbolt or Chain Lightning . Other priests are fire based , and will only use Fireball or Incinerate as part of their core arsenal . One exception to this rule is the priest Nahkriin , who is primarily shock based , but also uses fire and frost spells during combat . Some priests also wield a destruction based staff , which usually takes precedence over their own spells . Dragon Priests encountered in the base game are fixed at level 50 . In , Ahzidal and Dukaan are fixed at level 60 , and Zahkriisos is leveled , placing him between level 25 and 60 , depending on character level . These priests have knowledge of similar spells as the original eight priests , but also possess a powerful elemental spell that is unique to them . Ahzidal uses Fire Stream , Dukaan uses Frost Stream , and Zahkriisos uses a one handed variant of Lightning Storm . Vahlok has no unique spells and , like his counterparts in Skyrim , is fixed at level 50 . All dragon priests are highly adept in the arcane arts , and boast a level 100 skill in Conjuration , Alteration , Destruction , and Restoration . Combat . Combat with dragon priests is usually initiated when approaching their sarcophagus . The cover is flung to one side , and the dormant priest will awaken with a high pitched shriek . As combat begins , priests typically activate Ebonyflesh for added protection against melee attacks and their assigned elemental cloak . They may also summon their elemental - based Atronach to aid them . As they have no form of melee attack , they are forced to exclusively fight with their elemental magic spells , but this may be overridden if they wield a destruction - based staff . Occasionally , they will use a Greater Ward to protect against both melee and magical attacks . Upon death , their bodies will crumble into a pile of ash , while their armor and robes will remain intact . It is possible to make dragon priests very easy to kill by using the Atronach Stone , the Atronach perk and Miraak ' s Robes along with another item of the Miraak set to set spell absorption to 100 % . As dragon priests lack a non - magical attack , the only threat to the Dragonborn would be their Atronachs ( or undead minions , in the case of Ahzidal ) . Notable items . All named dragon priests ( excluding Vahlok the Jailor ) drop an aforementioned dragon priest mask , a leveled amount of gold and , occasionally , a leveled staff . On rare occasions , they may drop Kahvozein ' s Fang , a unique dragon priest dagger used in the " Alteration Ritual Spell " quest .