Legendary Dragon

The Legendary Dragon is the strongest dragon breed in Skyrim, added by Dawnguard and met from level 78, with fire, frost and Drain Vitality shouts.

The Legendary Dragon is the top of the dragon food chain. Added with the Dawnguard expansion, it starts appearing once the Dragonborn reaches level 78, and nothing that flies over Skyrim hits harder. With 4,163 health it outclasses even Alduin in health, shout strength and bite damage, though the World-Eater makes up for that with 50% resistance to all damage.

Appearance

Legendary Dragons are easy to spot. They are the only breed with thick, curving horns, their scales are black and purple, and their white wings are mottled with purple spots. Look closely at the head and you will see something stranger still: what seem to be compound eyes, several small eyes clustered into each socket.

How it fights

Despite its reputation, a Legendary Dragon has no special tricks of its own. It circles overhead and bathes the ground in either Fire Breath or Frost Breath, and it touches down either when it feels like it or when Dragonrend forces it to. What sets it apart from most breeds is Drain Vitality, a shout it shares only with the Revered Dragon. Combined with its enormous health pool, that turns every encounter into a war of attrition.

Where to find them

Legendary Dragons spawn rarely as random encounters across Skyrim after level 78. The most reliable place to meet one is Arcwind Point, where a Legendary Dragon is often found once you have reached that level.

Rewards

On top of the usual Dragon Bone, Dragon Scales, gold and gems, a Legendary Dragon’s high level gives it an extra chance of carrying Daedric weapons and armor such as pieces of Daedric Armor. Defeating one also unlocks the Dawnguard achievement “Legend”.

Notes

Below it in the hierarchy sit the Revered Dragon, Ancient Dragon and Elder Dragon. The Revered Dragon is the only other breed that shares its Drain Vitality shout.

Abilities & attacks

How to beat it

It fights like any other dragon, just with far more health, so plan for a long battle. Because it may use either fire or frost, check which breath it uses before committing to a resistance potion. Use Dragonrend to drag it to the ground, then stay at its flanks where the breath cannot reach you. Keep health and stamina potions at hand to recover from Drain Vitality.

Loot & harvestables

Dragon Bone
Dragon Scales
Gold
Gems
Chance of Daedric weapons and armor

Ingredients and items it drops

Where to find it

Arcwind Point in Skyrim: open-air Nordic temple with deadly draugr, skeletons, a dragon, quicksilver veins, Withershins and the Drain Vitality Word Wall.

Also encountered in

Quests featuring this creature

Characters connected to it

More creatures like this

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Sources checked: Elder Scrolls Fandom wiki (creature article) + Skyrim/DLC game files (NPC records)