Nahkriin
| Nahkriin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armor Rating | 23 |
| Weight | 9 |
| Value | 2173 |
| Slot | Head |
| Set | Dragon Priest Masks |
| Level | - |
| Class | Helmets |
| Skill | Heavy Armor |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | 00061ca5 |
| Game/DLC | Skyrim |
Nahkriin is the ebony dragon priest mask and one of the strongest helmets for a battle mage. It adds Magicka and makes Destruction and Restoration spells cheaper. It is taken from the dragon priest Nahkriin at Skuldafn late in the main quest, during The World-Eater's Eyrie, and it is the easiest mask in the game to miss for good.
The name Nahkriin means "Vengeance" in the dragon language. The mask is heavy armor with the same base rating as a Daedric Helmet. It gives a mage real protection and real magic at once, which few other helmets do.
Armor Enchantment
Magicka rises by 50 points, and Destruction and Restoration spells cost 20% less to cast.
The Enchantment Effects page lists every armor enchantment.
Nahkriin Map Location and Quest Guide
Nahkriin map location:
The Nahkriin mask is taken from the Dragon Priest Nahkriin at Skuldafn. Skuldafn is reached only during the main quest The World-Eater's Eyrie.
- Set Odahviing free and talk to him.
- Fly with Odahviing to Skuldafn.
- Fight through Skuldafn to Alduin's portal to Sovngarde.
- Kill the Dragon Priest Nahkriin.
- Take the Nahkriin mask from his remains.
Map credit by Map Genie.
Missable: Skuldafn can never be visited again after the portal.
How It Plays
Destruction and Restoration are the two schools a battle mage casts most. Destruction deals the damage, and Restoration keeps the caster alive. Nahkriin makes both cheaper. Every Firebolt, Ice Spike, Healing and ward costs less Magicka for the rest of the game.
The flat Magicka bonus works with the cost cut. A larger pool and cheaper spells mean more casts before the bar runs dry. The mask fits a mage who throws Fireball and Incinerate in the opening seconds of a fight.
Nahkriin also suits a Paladin style character. Such a fighter wears heavy armor, swings a weapon and heals with Restoration between blows. The mask gives that build cheap healing and a full rating heavy helmet.
The mask is useful early and late. A character who picks it up at Skuldafn already has a strong mask for the end of the main quest. It stays worth wearing far into the late game.
Perks and Builds
The cost cut from the mask stacks with the cost perks. Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert and Master Destruction each halve the cost of spells of their level. The Restoration tree has the same five perks. With those perks and Nahkriin, a mage spends very little Magicka on everyday spells.
Heavy armor and spells clash in one place. The Alteration perk Mage Armor works only with no armor worn, so Nahkriin turns it off. A battle mage who wears Nahkriin should lean on the Heavy Armor Skill instead. Juggernaut and Well Fitted add the armor that Mage Armor would have given.
A High Elf gains the most from the extra Magicka. The race starts with a bigger Magicka pool, and the Atronach Stone adds more. With Archmage's Robes and the mask, such a mage carries a very large pool. The robes can be worn together with any dragon priest mask.
Compared with Other Masks
Morokei doubles Magicka regeneration instead. Morokei is better for a mage who keeps concentration spells running. Nahkriin is better for a mage who casts in bursts and also wants armor.
Ahzidal, Dukaan and Zahkriisos are the three elemental masks of the Dragonborn DLC. Each strengthens one element of Destruction and resists the same element. A pure fire mage may prefer Ahzidal. A mage who uses all three elements, or who heals often, keeps Nahkriin.
Miraak is the other late game choice. It adds more Magicka and has more armor at high levels, while Nahkriin keeps the cheaper spells. Konahrik shares the heavy rating and saves the wearer at low health, which suits a warrior more than a mage.
Quest Background
The World-Eater's Eyrie begins once Odahviing is trapped in Dragonsreach and agrees to help. He flies the Dragonborn to Skuldafn, an old temple high in the mountains. Alduin has fled through a portal there to Sovngarde.
Skuldafn is full of draugr and dragons. The path climbs through the temple, past a word wall and up to a great dragon seal. Nahkriin waits in front of the portal. He floats up, takes the Dragon Priest Staff from the seal and attacks.
Nahkriin is a level 50 caster. He throws frost, fire and lightning and calls a Storm Atronach. His taunts are spoken only in the dragon language. On defeat, he drops his mask and the staff. The staff is needed to open the portal to Sovngarde.
The portal is a one way door. Skuldafn cannot be reached again after it, so Nahkriin must be taken from his remains before stepping through. A fast character can sprint past Nahkriin with Whirlwind Sprint and enter the portal without the fight. Doing so loses the mask forever.
Lore
Nahkriin was told by his overlord to guard the portal. His first words, spoken in the dragon tongue, say exactly that. He is one of only two dragon priests who do not rise from a coffin. Morokei is the other.
The mask is one of the eight that complete the shrine at Bromjunaar Sanctuary. Without Nahkriin, the shrine cannot be completed and Konahrik stays out of reach.
Bugs
Placing Nahkriin on its bust at the shrine removes any tempering. The mask returns as a fresh copy.
Dragon priest masks share their equipment slot with circlets. A few helmets that should block a mask, such as the Jagged Crown, can be worn together with one.
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.
- Place it on its bust at the shrine in Bromjunaar Sanctuary, together with the other seven masks of Skyrim, to reveal Konahrik.
- Take it before entering the portal to Sovngarde, because the mask is lost for good otherwise.
Smithing Guide
Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.
Upgrades
Nahkriin 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
Nahkriin 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 |
Notes
Nahkriin means "vengeance" in the dragon language.
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 |