Seeker

Seekers are tentacled Daedra of Hermaeus Mora that guard forbidden books in Apocrypha, drain their victims and split into clones when hurt.

Seekers are Daedra in the service of Hermaeus Mora, drifting through his library-realm of Apocrypha like ink stains with ambitions. The Dragonborn DLC loading screens point out that they are seldom seen outside that plane, so most players meet them while following the trail of Miraak, who managed to bend some of them to his own will during his long stay there.

In their solid form they are a tangle of tentacles, and the comparison with Lovecraftian horrors is hard to avoid. When left alone, a Seeker will happily summon a book out of nowhere and settle in to read it, which is a good reminder that they are scholars first and guards second. Their look is close to that of the Ascended Sleeper.

Variants

Three ranks share the same spells, the same Paralysis immunity and the same 33-point shock resistance; they differ in toughness and in the size of soul they leave behind.

Variant	Level	Health	Magicka	Damage	Soul
Seeker	21	550	330	40	Common
Seeker Aspirant	32	660	355	60	Greater
High Seeker	42	760	405	60	Grand

The Seeker Aspirant is described as a fairly uncommon type that starts turning up from level 32, while High Seekers appear from level 42 onward. The Seekers standing beside Miraak at the Dragonborn’s first meeting with him are said to be of the stronger kind, much like the step between a frost and a storm atronach. All ranks attack the Dragonborn and any followers on sight.

Where to find them

Apocrypha – throughout the realm, usually posted beside tomes of forbidden knowledge. Sneak carefully and you can catch them reading.
Dragon Priest fights on Solstheim – the Dragon Priests Ahzidal, Dukaan and Zahkriisos can call Seekers into battle.
Your own conjuration – the Conjure Seeker spell pulls one out of Apocrypha to fight for you, and it also works inside Apocrypha itself.

Notes

The clone trick works much like the Shades of a Wispmother: the copy is only as durable as the original, and it vanishes when the real Seeker dies. Vampiric Grip from the Vampire Lord form has no effect on them.

Abilities & attacks

Seeker Drain – absorbs Health, Magicka and Stamina over 10 seconds.
Knowledge Drain – a second drain spell whose effect varies with the Seeker type.
Mist form – turns into a near-invisible cloud of dark green mist that can still be hit, and darts across the battlefield almost like a teleport.
Clone – after losing roughly a third of its Health it can create a copy of itself.
Melee tentacle attacks (40 damage for a Seeker, 60 for the higher ranks).

How to beat it

Focus the original Seeker: killing it removes the clone as well, so don’t waste time on the copy. The mist form can still be hit, so keep swinging or casting when it rushes in rather than waiting for it to solidify. Their drain spells steal all three attributes, so keep potions handy and avoid long trades at range. Paralysis is useless against them and shock spells lose some bite, so lean on fire, frost or plain steel.

Loot & harvestables

Books
Scrolls
Spell Tome (occasionally)

Ingredients and items it drops

Where to find it

Also encountered in

Apocrypha

Apocrypha in Skyrim Dragonborn: Hermaeus Mora’s realm reached via the Black Books – Seekers, Lurkers, toxic seas, the Dragon Aspect Word Wall and survival tips.

Temple of Miraak

Temple of Miraak in Skyrim Dragonborn: Miraak’s temple at the heart of Solstheim with cultists, Deathlords, the Dragon Aspect Word Wall and Waking Dreams.