Zahkriisos
| Zahkriisos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armor Rating | 23 |
| Weight | 9 |
| Value | 1239 |
| Slot | Head |
| Set | Dragon Priest Masks |
| Level | - |
| Class | Helmets |
| Skill | Heavy Armor |
| Unique | Yes |
| Item ID | xx024037 |
| Game/DLC | Dragonborn |
Zahkriisos 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 shock and strengthens shock magic. It is taken from the dragon priest Zahkriisos in Bloodskal Barrow, during The Final Descent.
Armor Enchantment
Shock Resistance rises by 50% and shock spells do 25% more damage. Weapons with a Shock Damage or Chaos Damage enchantment also deal 25% more damage.
The Enchantment Effects page lists every armor enchantment.
Zahkriisos Map Location and Quest Guide
Zahkriisos map location:
The Zahkriisos mask is taken from the Dragon Priest Zahkriisos, the final foe of The Final Descent. The fight takes place in Bloodskal Barrow, reached through Raven Rock Mine.
- Speak to Crescius Caerellius.
- Find out what the East Empire Company sealed away in Raven Rock Mine.
- Enter Bloodskal Barrow.
- Kill the Dragon Priest Zahkriisos.
- Take the Zahkriisos mask from his remains.
Map credit by Map Genie.
How It Plays
Zahkriisos is the shock mask among the dragon priest masks of Solstheim. It resists shock and makes shock damage stronger. A lightning mage who wears it hits harder and shrugs off much of the lightning thrown back. Shock magic is the favorite school of many dragon priests and mages, so the resistance is useful far beyond Solstheim.
The damage bonus lifts every shock spell. Sparks, Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Thunderbolt and Lightning Storm all hit harder. Shock enchantments on weapons also deal more damage, and so does the Storm Call shout. A spellsword with a shock weapon gains on every swing.
Shock spells have a second strength. They burn the target's Magicka as well as its Health. A stronger shock hit drains more Magicka, so an enemy mage runs dry sooner. Against hostile casters and dragon priests, Zahkriisos helps a mage win the duel.
The shock resistance protects against Storm Atronachs, mages, and the many dragon priests who fight with lightning. Morokei, Otar, Hevnoraak and Vokun all use shock in some form. Zahkriisos takes a large share off their spells.
Zahkriisos is heavy armor with the standard rating of the priest masks. A battle mage in heavy armor can wear it with no loss of protection.
Perks and Builds
The Destruction Skill tree builds on the mask. Augmented Shock raises shock damage in two ranks, and its bonus adds to the mask. Disintegrate turns weak enemies to ash when shock damage finishes them. Impact staggers foes with dual cast spells. Together these perks make a shock mage very dangerous to other casters.
The Enchanting Skill tree adds the weapon side. Storm Enchanter strengthens shock enchantments on weapons. A spellsword with that perk and the mask deals much more shock damage with each blow.
A Breton gains the most from the defense side. The race already resists magic. With Zahkriisos and a ward, a Breton mage can stand up to lightning casters with little fear.
Compared with Other Masks
Ahzidal does the same for fire, and Dukaan does the same for frost. A mage picks the mask of the element used most. Shock spells drain Magicka, frost spells drain Stamina and slow, and fire spells can frighten.
Otar resists all three elements a little. A warrior facing every element may prefer Otar. A shock mage gains far more from Zahkriisos.
Nahkriin makes Destruction spells cheaper and adds Magicka. It suits a mage who mixes elements or heals. Zahkriisos suits a mage who commits to lightning.
Quest Background
Raven Rock Mine was once one of the richest ebony mines in Morrowind. It dried up long ago, and the town of Raven Rock now struggles to survive. An old ex-miner, Crescius Caerellius, believes the East Empire Company buried a secret in the mine. His great-grandfather Gratian died there almost two centuries ago. The company blamed a rockfall. Crescius knows better.
The quest is The Final Descent. Crescius hands over a key to a sealed section of the mine and a letter from the company. Behind the gate lies an old Nordic barrow, broken open by the miners. Gratian's journal pages lead the way through crypts full of draugr. The deathlords in the great chamber always carry ebony weapons.
Gratian found a strange blade on a pedestal in the barrow. That blade is the Bloodskal Blade. Its power attacks fire beams of energy, and those beams open the sealed doors of Bloodskal Barrow. The weapon is the key to the final chamber.
Zahkriisos waits in that chamber, beside a word wall and a flooded pool. He rises from the water and floats above it as he fights. He excels at lightning and, at higher levels, can cast Lightning Storm with one hand. He also uses Thunderbolt, Greater Ward and Ebonyflesh, and he summons Seekers from Apocrypha.
Lore
The name Zahkriisos means "Sword Blood" in the dragon language. It may refer to the unique blade that opens his tomb. He is one of the five dragon priests of Solstheim, with Ahzidal, Dukaan, Vahlok and Miraak.
Zahkriisos is the only dragon priest who grows with the player. His level starts low and rises up to level 60. The final chamber may therefore be an easier fight for a young character than other priest lairs.
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
Zahkriisos 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
Zahkriisos 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 |