Whether players are learning about their legacy as the last Dragonborn for the first time or the 300th time, there is always a rush of exhilaration at the idea of being able to fight the most powerful creatures in all of Skyrim. Granted, many players will encounter their first dragon during the intro ofTheElder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, when theirexecution in Helgenis interrupted by a devastating dragon attack. While players cannot slay that particular dragon, they soon find themselves going head-to-head with one.
During the early beginning of the main quest line, players who have made their way to Whiterun are soon given a quest titled “Dragon Rising.” In this quest, the"world-eater" dragon Alduinhas sent the dragon Mirmulnir to attack the western watchtower outside of Whiterun, requiring the player character to help slay the creature before it can launch a full attack. This quest serves as one of the game’s most pivotal moments, as slaying Mirmulnir results in the player absorbing his soul, revealing their identity as the Dragonborn. Unbeknownst to most players, Mirmulnir has more importance to the lore of Skyrim than meets the eye.
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Mirmulnir Left Standing After The Ancient Dragon War
Although Mirmulnir is often quickly forgotten in the wake of the Dragonborn discovering their identity, he has had a role in the lore ofSkyrimbefore. Mirmulnir is one of the few dragons left alive by the Blades in the wake of the Dragon War and not resurrected by Alduin. The Dragon War was an ancient and epic conflict between humans and dragons that saw Alduin cast out of Nirn and most dragons slain. Given the significance of the Dragon War in the history of Tamriel, it is incredible to think that Mirmulnir existed during the earliest eras of Skyrim history.
In fact, more information about Mirmulnir can be found in theAtlas of Dragons, a book that can be found in the Sky Haven Temple. The temple actually served as an outpost for the earliest known dragon hunters called the Dragonguard, who fought dragons in theFirst Era of Skyrim’s history. This group would soon form into the Blades faction, which explains why the text is found in a possible Blades headquarters and is full of traps that only a Dragonborn can disable. The book details how Mirmulnir was left alive, possibly meaning that the dragon has been on the Blade’s radar for years.
Mirmulnir Has Hidden Abilities As A Main Dragon
SeasonedSkyrimplayers might have noticed that most of the antagonistic dragons that attack from the air don’t have names of their own. Only three dragons are named and are thus considered “Main Dragons.” This list includes Alduin, Mirmulnir, and Paarthurnax. While Alduin andPaarthurnaxhave significant roles to play in the fate of Tamriel, Mirmulnir’s appearance in the game is much less impactful. However, this depends a little on when the Dragonborn first encounters the dragon. As most players know,Skyrimgives players an immense amount of freedom, allowing them to explore in whatever way they please.
Players can put in hours of playtime before encountering Mirmulnir, as there is plenty to see and do on the southern edge of Skyrim. Anyone who levels up their Dragonborn before facing off with Mirmulnir might be surprised to see that the dragon has leveled up as well. If at a high enough level, the Dragonborn will encounter Mirmulnir as a blood dragon, frost dragon, or ancient dragon. Clearly,Mirmulnir was meant to be a powerful entity inSkyrim, given he has hidden skills that mirror the Dragonborn’s progression. It seems Mirmulnir was designed to be maximally impactful even when encountered later in the game, which underscores his importance.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - Anniversary Editionis out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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