Serpentine Dragons are a breed of dragon added in Dragonborn, and they only ever appear on Solstheim. They are late-game opponents: the Dragonborn has to reach level 50 or higher before they start circling the island.
The name comes from the head, which looks far more like a snake’s than a dragon’s. Their scales are finer and smoother than those of their kin, and a heavy underbite gives the face a distinctly unfriendly look. For all that, the creature underneath is built the same way: once a Serpentine Dragon is slain and its soul absorbed, it leaves behind the same skeleton as any ordinary dragon.
On paper it is one of the toughest beasts on the island: level 58, roughly 3,500 Health and both breath elements in its repertoire. In practice it fights like any other dragon – strafing runs from the air, then bites, tail sweeps and wing slams once it lands – so the familiar dragon-hunting routine still applies; it simply takes far longer to grind down.
Where to find them
Serpentine Dragons can turn up anywhere on Solstheim once the level requirement is met. They do not appear in mainland Skyrim, where Elder, Ancient and Legendary Dragons fill the same high-level role.
Sahrotaar
The best-known serpentine dragon is Sahrotaar, one of Miraak‘s personal mounts. During the quest “At the Summit of Apocrypha” the Dragonborn takes control of him and rides him to Miraak for the final confrontation.
Notes
- Its snake-like skull hides an entirely normal dragon skeleton.
- Serpentine Dragons can use both Fire Breath and Frost Breath, so neither elemental resistance covers you completely.
- For the other dragon types, see Blood Dragon, Frost Dragon and Revered Dragon.
