The Ebony Warrior

A Mysterious Malcontent

Once you’re a mighty adventurer of considerable repute, and you’ve achieved the monumental Level 80, the ultimate challenge awaits. Simply visit any of the mainland cities and wander toward the central part of the city. In this example, we journeyed to Windhelm. In Windhelm, this is the foot of the steps leading up to the Palace of the Kings, just past Candlehearth Hall. Loiter for a moment, and an impressively tall entity clad in exquisite ebony mail approaches you.

“The time has come.” The Ebony Warrior wastes no time with verbose introductions, informing you that he’s done all that can be done and has exhausted all avenues of adventuring save one: you. You are to be his final challenge. Only you can send him to Sovngarde with honor! When you’re ready to face him, you must trek to his last vigil, nestled high in the Velothi Mountains.

The Mightiest Duel

Assuming you want to honor this venerable warrior’s last request, head out from the city. Your journey to the Last Vigil (which was previously known as [9.T] Miner’s Camp: Velothi Mountains) means climbing some pretty sheer cliffs and craggy outcrops on the Rift’s eastern edge. If you’re Fast-Traveling, set out from either Tolvald’s Cave or Fallowstone Cave; they are the nearest Primary Locations. As you reach the half-buried miner’s corpse, you should see the Ebony Warrior polishing his blade. Approach him, and your duel can begin!

As the Battle Begins

Before engaging the Ebony Warrior, make sure you’re prepared for one of the most difficult single battles in your illustrious adventuring career:

• Pilfer Potent Potions: The Ebony Warrior is carrying a few potions of healing. When you first encounter him in town, attempt to pickpocket him and grab them. If that isn’t possible, during your fight you must keep pressing the attack to stop him from using these potions and prolonging the battle.
• The First Cut: When you reach the Last Vigil, the Ebony Warrior doesn’t attack you on sight. In fact, unless you blunder into him, you’re usually able to land the first blow. So make it count! Scour your inventory for potions and spells that fortify your defenses and augment your offense, and open the battle with your most powerful attack.
• Weaponless Equals Powerless: The Ebony Warrior favors the Disarm Shout (among others), and if he’s successful, be sure to have an extra weapon or two already flagged as Favorites to switch to. Scrambling for a blade you’ve had knocked out of your hands is an ineffective way to fight this foe!
• Careful by the Cliffs: He can also use the Unrelenting Force Shout, which can easily send you tumbling off the cliffs surrounding the Last Vigil. Be sure you’re facing the cliff edge, not standing on it!

Battle Tactics: Wearing Down the Warrior

The Ebony Warrior fights at range with a lethal bow or at closer quarters with a ferocious blade. He also uses the previously listed attacks. Aside from the usual method of foe-slaying (facing him with a weapon, which can take a frighteningly long time to whittle down his health), the following special techniques work particularly well:

• Fighting with Fire: If you’re using magic, note that the Ebony Warrior is marginally more vulnerable to Fire than the other elements, since only his shield confers Fire Resistance, and he won’t have it equipped if you fight him from range. Of course, his bow is quite deadly.
• Assassin’s Blade: With this Sneak perk and a suitably powerful dagger, you can really make your first attack count! For an even more lethal strike, save the Jarrin Root, a unique plant obtained in Dark Brotherhood Quests: To Kill an Empire, and use your Alchemy skill to craft an incredibly potent Damage Health poison to coat your blade for this battle.
• Making an Impact: The Destruction perk Impact allows you to stagger even the mighty Ebony Warrior, which can slow his assault and prevent him from healing.
• Cliff Top Drop: Although he is immune to falling damage, putting a little space between the two of you by shouting him off a cliff may give you a moment of respite to recover before resuming your assault.
• Bows from Above: Instead of hiking directly up to the Last Vigil, sneak around to the stone promontory above—if you’re highly skilled in Archery and want to hit him with a few surprise arrow attacks.
• Beast Form: Remember that you can fight the Ebony Warrior as a werewolf, because your attacks are surprisingly effective, and you can combat your foe’s tendency to heal by savaging him on the ground. For best results, use the Totem of Brotherhood (obtained in Companions Radiant Quests: Totems of Hircine), ideally upgraded with the Lycanthropy perk Totem of the Moon, to summon two powerful werewolves to fight at your side. You should also equip one of the enchanted rings sold by the werewolves of Solstheim’s Frostmoon Crag (Solstheim Side Quests: Rings of the Werewolves*

Battle Tactics: The More the Merrier

As with most opponents, distraction is a powerful tool. Here are some friendly faces you can bring or summon to keep the Ebony Warrior preoccupied:

• Follow Your Leader: Make sure to bring along your favorite Follower—someone who complements your play style—and strike from different directions so the Ebony Warrior can’t focus all his attacks your way. An animal companion can also provide a small distraction, although you shouldn’t expect them to stand up to the Ebony Warrior for long.
• King of the Frost Giants: Complete Solstheim Regional Activity: Karstaag’s Resurrection* before this battle, and (as you’re fighting outdoors) you can use one of Karstaag’s three summons to call him to your side. This pits two of Skyrim’s deadliest foes against one another in an epic confrontation!
• Summoned from Sovngarde: Complete Main Quest: Dragonslayer and Epilogue before this battle, then use your Call of Valor Shout, summoning one of the three ancient Nord heroes (Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Felldir the Old, or Hakon One-Eye) for 60 seconds of additional carnage.
• Atronach Attack: With the necessary spell, staff, or scroll, summon a powerful Flame, Frost, or Storm Thrall to aid you. A true master of Conjuration magic should summon a second thrall for even more assistance.
• The Winged Snow Hunter: Complete Main Quest: The Fallen before this battle, then yell for Odahviing using the Call Dragon Shout. Attack from the ground while the dragon strikes from above.
• A Flying Steed You Need: Better yet, complete Dragonborn Main Quest: The Gardener of Men, and unlock all three Words of the Bend Will Shout. Then summon Odahviing (or bind another dragon) and fly to the Last Vigil. Ready your projectile spells or Shouts and rain death on the Ebony Warrior from above!
• A Fine Steed Indeed: You may even be able to coax your trusty steed into battering the Ebony Warrior as well. Since this may prove fatal to the horse, make sure you can afford a replacement, or call upon the immortal Arvak instead.

Quest Conclusion

Once you’ve triumphed and the Ebony Warrior departs for Sovngarde, you can inspect his corpse for a variety of extremely impressive items. Take everything, use what you need, and sell the rest. You can rightly claim to be the mightiest warrior in Skyrim since Ysgramor himself!

• Ebony Bow of Winter
• Ebony Arrow (13)
• Ebony Sword of the Vampire
• Ebony Shield of Fire Suppression
• Black Soul Gem (Grand)
• Daedra Heart
• Flawless Gems (6)
• Human Heart
• Ebony Armor of Regeneration
• Ebony Gauntlets of Extreme Wielding
• Ring of Peerless Wielding
• Necklace of Shock Suppression
• Ebony Boots of Frost Suppression
• Ebony Helmet of Water-breathing