Miraak
| Miraak | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armor Rating | 27 |
| Weight | 9 |
| Value | 849 |
| Slot | Head |
| Set | Dragon Priest Masks |
| Level | 1-44; 45-59; 60+ |
| Class | Helmets |
| Skill | Light Armor; Heavy Armor |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | xx039d2b, xx039d2e, xx039d2f, xx039fa1, xx039fa2, xx039fa3 |
| Game/DLC | Dragonborn |
Miraak is the unique dragon priest mask of Miraak, from Dragonborn. It weighs 9, and its armor rating of 23 to 27 depends on the character's level. It adds up to 70 Magicka. It is looted from Miraak's remains at the summit of Apocrypha, at the end of the Dragonborn main quest.
Armor Enchantment
Magicka rises by 50 points on the light armor version and 40 on the heavy version at levels 1 to 44. Both versions give 60 points at levels 45 to 59 and 70 points from level 60.
The Enchantment Effects page lists every armor enchantment.
Miraak Map Location and Quest Guide
Miraak map location:
The Miraak mask is looted from Miraak's remains at the summit of Apocrypha. It comes at the end of the Dragonborn main quest, At the Summit of Apocrypha.
- Unlock the Bend Will shout.
- Read the Black Book Waking Dreams.
- Cross Apocrypha to Miraak's Temple.
- Tame Sahrotaar with Bend Will.
- Reach the summit and defeat Miraak.
- Loot the Miraak mask from his remains.
Map credit by Map Genie.
- The mask is leveled to the character.
- It comes as light or heavy armor, whichever armor skill is higher.
How It Plays
Miraak is the mask of the First Dragonborn, and it is the strongest helmet in the game at high level. From level 60, it has the highest armor rating of any helmet, light or heavy. It also adds a large pool of Magicka. A mage who wears it gains both protection and spell power from one slot.
The mask adapts to its new owner. It drops as light armor or heavy armor, whichever of the two skills is higher at the moment of looting. If both skills are equal, it drops as light armor. The light and heavy versions share the same armor rating and weight, which is very unusual in Skyrim.
The light version is the real prize. A light armor helmet usually trails far behind heavy helmets in protection. Even the lowest level light Miraak beats a Dragonscale Helmet by a wide margin. An archer or thief in light armor gets a helmet as tough as Daedric plate.
The level at looting decides the strength for good. The mask comes in three tiers, at levels 1 to 44, 45 to 59 and 60 or higher. Miraak is the one dragon priest mask that stays fixed at its looted strength, because the base game refuses to temper it. A character who wants the best version should reach level 60 before the final fight of the Dragonborn DLC.
Perks and Builds
The Magicka bonus at the top tier equals a Peerless Fortify Magicka enchantment. That is the highest level an ordinary enchantment reaches. A High Elf gains the most, since the race starts with extra Magicka. With Archmage's Robes, the Atronach Stone and the Necromancer Amulet, a High Elf mage carries a very large pool.
Miraak suits a spellsword in either armor type. A light armor battle mage takes Agile Defender and Custom Fit from the Light Armor Skill tree. A heavy armor battle mage takes Juggernaut and Well Fitted from the Heavy Armor Skill tree. Either way, the mask fills the head slot for the set bonus.
Mage Armor in the Alteration Skill tree only works with no armor worn. The mask switches it off like any helmet. A mage who wants Mage Armor should look at a hood or a circlet instead.
Miraak's Robes, Miraak's Boots and Miraak's Gloves complete the look of the First Dragonborn. The robes absorb Magicka from spells and dragon breath. The boots and gloves each raise that absorption.
Compared with Other Masks
Konahrik has the highest base rating among the base game masks. Miraak passes it from level 45. Konahrik saves its wearer at low health. Miraak adds Magicka in every fight.
Nahkriin is the other big Magicka mask. It adds a little less Magicka at the top tier and also makes Destruction and Restoration spells cheaper. A pure Destruction mage may still prefer Nahkriin. A mage who wants the most armor and a bigger pool picks Miraak.
Ahzidal, Dukaan and Zahkriisos are the elemental masks of Solstheim. Each strengthens one element of Destruction and resists the same element. Miraak gives broader value to a mage who uses all schools.
Quest Background
Miraak is the main enemy of the Dragonborn DLC. Cultists attack the Last Dragonborn and call them a false Dragonborn. Their orders lead to Solstheim. There, Miraak has been controlling the people of the island in their sleep. They build shrines around the All-Maker Stones and chant his mantra.
In the Temple of Miraak, the Black Book Waking Dreams carries the hero into Apocrypha. Miraak appears, strikes the hero to the ground and leaves on a dragon. Later, he steals the souls of dragons that the hero slays.
The final quest is At the Summit of Apocrypha. The hero learns Bend Will, tames the dragon Sahrotaar and flies to the summit. Miraak fights with shouts, lightning, a tentacle staff and Miraak's Sword. Each time he nears death, he calls down one of his dragons and devours its soul to heal. Once all three dragons are gone, he can be defeated.
Hermaeus Mora then impales Miraak with a tentacle and declares his disappointment. Miraak crumbles into a skeleton. The mask and his robes are looted from those remains.
Lore
Miraak was the first Dragonborn and a dragon priest who ruled Solstheim in the Merethic Era. He turned against the dragons he served. He made a pact with Hermaeus Mora in return for forbidden knowledge. When the dragons came to punish him, Hermaeus Mora carried him away to Apocrypha.
The name Miraak is close to the dragon word "miiraak", which means "portal". The mask itself has a design unlike any other dragon priest mask, and only Konahrik shares that honor.
A loading screen of Dragonborn says that some ancient Nord heroes had voices powerful enough to tame and ride dragons. Miraak was such a hero, and Sahrotaar was one of the dragons bound to his will.
Bugs
The heavy version at the lowest tier gives less Magicka than the light version at the same tier. The two versions match at the higher tiers.
Gameplay Tips
- It comes in a light and a heavy armor version, and both share the same armor rating at each level.
- Even the lowest version, at 23 armor, beats every other light armor helmet.
Smithing Guide
Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.
Armor Set
Miraak 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 |