Ahzidal
| Ahzidal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armor Rating | 23 |
| Weight | 9 |
| Value | 1165 |
| Slot | Head |
| Set | Dragon Priest Masks |
| Level | - |
| Class | Helmets |
| Skill | Heavy Armor |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | xx0240fe |
| Game/DLC | Dragonborn |
Ahzidal is a dragon priest mask from Dragonborn, a unique heavy armor helmet with a base armor rating of 23 and a weight of 9. It resists fire and strengthens fire magic. It is taken from the dragon priest Ahzidal in Kolbjorn Barrow on Solstheim, at the end of the quest Unearthed.
Armor Enchantment
Fire Resistance rises by 50% and fire spells do 25% more damage. Weapons with a Fire Damage or Chaos Damage enchantment also deal 25% more damage.
The Enchantment Effects page lists every armor enchantment.
Ahzidal Map Location and Quest Guide
Ahzidal map location:
The Ahzidal mask is taken from the Dragon Priest Ahzidal in Kolbjorn Barrow on Solstheim. He is fought at the end of Unearthed, which Ralis Sedarys gives outside the barrow.
- Travel to Kolbjorn Barrow on Solstheim and speak to Ralis Sedarys outside.
- Fund the excavation with 1,000 gold to start Unearthed.
- Clear the draugr inside each time a courier brings a letter from Ralis.
- Pay 2,000, then 3,000, then 5,000 gold for the next stages of the dig.
- Return a final time and defeat Ahzidal.
- Take the Ahzidal mask from his remains.
Map credit by Map Genie.
How It Plays
Ahzidal is the fire mask among the dragon priest masks of Solstheim. It does two jobs at once. It makes the wearer much harder to burn, and it makes every fire spell hit harder. A fire mage who wears it both deals and survives fire better than with any other helmet.
The fire resistance pays off against the worst enemies of the late game. Dragons breathe fire, and fire mages throw Fireball and Incinerate. Flame Atronachs and Ash Spawn deal fire damage too. The mask cuts a large share of all of it.
The damage bonus lifts every fire spell, from Flames to Fire Storm. It also lifts weapons with a fire enchantment, such as a sword of burning. A spellsword who carries a fire weapon and casts fire spells gains on both sides.
Ahzidal is heavy armor with the standard rating of the priest masks. A battle mage in heavy armor wears it with no loss of protection. A pure mage in cloth loses the Mage Armor perk, as with any armored helmet.
Perks and Builds
The Destruction Skill tree builds on the mask. Augmented Flames raises fire damage in two ranks, and its bonus adds to the mask. Intense Flames makes weak enemies flee in fear. Impact staggers foes with dual cast fire spells. A Destruction mage with these perks and Ahzidal burns most enemies quickly.
The Enchanting Skill tree adds the weapon side. The Fire Enchanter perk strengthens fire enchantments on weapons. With that perk and the mask, a fire weapon deals much more damage per hit.
The Heavy Armor Skill tree carries the armor. Juggernaut raises the rating, and Well Fitted adds a bonus when head, chest, hands and feet are all heavy. Conditioning removes the weight of heavy armor.
A Dark Elf is the natural wearer. The race already resists fire and has a fire cloak power. With Ahzidal, a Dark Elf battle mage takes very little fire damage and deals a great deal.
Compared with Other Masks
Dukaan and Zahkriisos are the twin masks of Ahzidal. Dukaan does the same for frost, and Zahkriisos does the same for shock. A mage picks the mask of the element they use most. Frost spells also slow enemies and drain Stamina, and shock spells drain Magicka.
Otar resists fire, frost and shock at once but adds no damage. A warrior who faces every element may prefer Otar. A fire mage gains far more from Ahzidal.
Nahkriin makes Destruction spells cheaper and adds Magicka. It suits a mage who mixes elements or also heals. Ahzidal suits a mage who commits to fire.
Quest Background
Kolbjorn Barrow lies just northeast of the Old Attius Farm on Solstheim. A Dark Elf treasure hunter named Ralis Sedarys camps outside. He says a treasure lies in the barrow, but he cannot afford to dig it out alone. He asks for 1,000 gold and promises a share.
The quest is named Unearthed. After each payment, a courier brings a letter a few days later. Each visit finds more draugr and more dead miners. Each visit also opens a new part of the barrow. Relics of Ahzidal lie on pedestals along the way. The excavation costs 11,000 gold in total.
The couriers grow uneasy as the letters continue. The final note says only "You're needed." Deep in the barrow, past a word wall that teaches part of Cyclone, Ralis is found finishing a ritual. It wakes the dragon priest Ahzidal. Ahzidal fights with fire, throws a fire stream like a dragon's breath and raises the dead.
After the fight, Ralis claims he was under a spell. He can be killed or spared. If spared, he becomes a follower. Either way, his unique pickaxe Hoarfrost can be taken. The Black Book Filament and Filigree lies at the end of the exit tunnel.
Lore
The book Ahzidal's Descent tells his story. He grew up in Saarthal, the first Atmoran city in Skyrim. His talent for magic outgrew all his teachers, so he left to study under elven masters. When he returned, the elves had sacked the city, and all who lived there were dead. In the ashes, he swore an oath of vengeance. The legends gave him the name Ahzidal, the embittered destroyer.
Ahzidal later offered his knowledge to Ysgramor and the Five Hundred Companions. His enchantments helped them take back Saarthal. His hunger for power then drew him to the secrets of the dragons, and into the order of Dragon Priests.
Ahzidal is remembered as the first great Nord enchanter. His relics, found throughout Kolbjorn Barrow, carry that skill.
Relics of Ahzidal
The mask is separate from the Relics of Ahzidal. Ahzidal's Armor of Retribution, Ahzidal's Boots of Waterwalking, Ahzidal's Gauntlets of Warding, Ahzidal's Helm of Vision and the two rings form that set. Wearing exactly four of them grants Ahzidal's Genius, a bonus to the Enchanting Skill. The mask and the Helm of Vision both take the head slot. A character who wants the mask and the bonus wears the mask with the armor, boots, gauntlets and one ring, or with both rings in place of one armor piece.
Gameplay Tips
Temper it at a workbench with one Ebony Ingot. The Daedric Smithing perk doubles the improvement, and the Arcane Blacksmith perk is needed.
Smithing Guide
Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.
Upgrades
Ahzidal is improved at a workbench with one Ebony Ingot per improvement. The Daedric Smithing perk doubles the improvement, so each quality tier needs less Smithing skill. An enchanted copy can only be improved with the Arcane Blacksmith perk.
| Quality | Smithing | With Perk | Armor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | 14 | 14 | +1 |
| Superior | 31 | 22 | +3 |
| Exquisite | 65 | 40 | +5 |
| Flawless | 100 | 57 | +7 |
| Epic | 134 | 74 | +8 to +9 |
| Legendary | 168 | 91 | +10 |
Armor Set
Ahzidal is one of the Dragon Priest masks. The table shows all of them.
| Name | Image | Slot | Armor | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahzidal | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Dukaan | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Hevnoraak | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Konahrik | 
|
Head | 24 | 7 |
| Krosis | 
|
Head | 21 | 5 |
| Miraak | 
|
Head | 27 | 9 |
| Morokei | 
|
Head | 5 | 4 |
| Nahkriin | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Otar | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Rahgot | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Vokun | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
| Volsung | 
|
Head | 21 | 5 |
| Wooden Mask | 
|
Head | 1 | 2 |
| Zahkriisos | 
|
Head | 23 | 9 |
Armor Categories
All Helmets
Light Armor
All light armor helmets are listed below with their armor rating, weight, set and upgrade material.
Heavy Armor
All heavy armor helmets are listed below with their armor rating, weight, set and upgrade material.
Dragon Priest Masks
The Dragon Priests wore these masks, and each one carries its own enchantment.
| Name | Image | Armor | Weight | Value | Set | Upgrade | Perk | DLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahzidal |
|
23 | 9 | 1165 | Dragon Priest Masks | Ebony Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Dragonborn |
| Dukaan |
|
23 | 9 | 1202 | Dragon Priest Masks | Ebony Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Dragonborn |
| Hevnoraak |
|
23 | 9 | 891 | Dragon Priest Masks | Iron Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Konahrik |
|
24 | 7 | 3200 | Dragon Priest Masks | Gold Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Krosis |
|
21 | 5 | 1615 | Dragon Priest Masks | Iron Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Miraak |
|
27 | 9 | 849 | Dragon Priest Masks | Cannot be upgraded | None | Dragonborn |
| Morokei |
|
5 | 4 | 637 | Dragon Priest Masks | Refined Moonstone | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Nahkriin |
|
23 | 9 | 2173 | Dragon Priest Masks | Ebony Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Otar |
|
23 | 9 | 1521 | Dragon Priest Masks | Refined Malachite | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Rahgot |
|
23 | 9 | 962 | Dragon Priest Masks | Orichalcum Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Vokun |
|
23 | 9 | 2182 | Dragon Priest Masks | Steel Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Volsung |
|
21 | 5 | 4611 | Dragon Priest Masks | Corundum Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Skyrim |
| Wooden Mask |
|
1 | 2 | 51 | Dragon Priest Masks | Cannot be upgraded | None | Skyrim |
| Zahkriisos |
|
23 | 9 | 1239 | Dragon Priest Masks | Ebony Ingot | Daedric Smithing | Dragonborn |