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Sovngarde

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · Confronting Alduin in the afterlife

The Dragonborn arrives in the Nord afterlife of Sovngarde to defeat Alduin once and for all. You must navigate through the mist, cross the whalebone bridge by proving your worth to Tsun, and join forces with three ancient Nord heroes inside the Hall of Valor. Together, you clear the shroud of mist using the Clear Skies Shout and permanently slay the World-Eater.

Region: Aetherius
Getting there: Enter the portal located at the summit of Skuldafn Temple
Connects to: Skuldafn Temple, Throat of the World
Related quests: Sovngarde · Dragonslayer
Services and people: Tsun · Gormlaith Golden-Handle · Felldir the Old · Hakon One-Eye · Ysgramor
Enemy types: Alduin

Don't miss 0/3

Looted from Alduin's remains after he is defeated: Dragon Bones, Dragon ScalesLooted from Alduin's remains after he is defeatedRoasted Ox Leg: From the entrance inside the Hall of Valor, head forward to the long dining tables situated on either side of the central fire pit.How: Look at the serving platters on the tables and pick up the Roasted Ox Leg directly from them.Missable because: permanently locked out once you speak to Tsun to leave Sovngarde at the end of the quest "Dragonslayer", as Sovngarde cannot be re-entered.

Achievements here

DragonslayerComplete the final main quest "Dragonslayer" by defeating Alduin in Sovngarde alongside the ancient heroes.

Achievement guide and roadmap →

Key fights

Trial of the Whalebone Bridge

Enemies: Tsun

Threats: Powerful two-handed melee strikes with a battleaxe, high health pool, and relentless physical stagger

Weaknesses and resistances: Vulnerable to standard health damage and kiting; susceptible to Frost damage to drain stamina and slow movement

Tactics: Maintain distance along the narrow whalebone bridge approaches using ranged spells or archery, or use Unrelenting Force and shield-bashing to interrupt his power attacks until his health drops to roughly 50%

Rewards: Right to cross the bridge into the Hall of Valor, progression of the main questline "Sovngarde"

The Final Battle

Enemies: Alduin

Threats: Airborne invulnerability in Sovngarde's mist, Fire Breath, Frost Breath, and Meteor Storm (Armageddon) raining down area-of-effect fire damage

Weaknesses and resistances: Dragonrend shout strips his flight and invulnerability; vulnerable to combined assault from ancient heroes (Gormlaith, Felldir, and Hakon)

Tactics: Coordinate with the three Nord heroes to cast Clear Skies three times to dispel the mist, then immediately ground Alduin using Dragonrend and surround him on the central plain, attacking his flanks to avoid tail swipes and breath attacks

Rewards: Alduin's defeat and soul dispersal (no absorption), access to the return portal to Tamriel, Call of Valor shout bestowed by Tsun

Enemies

Alduin

Weak to Dragonrend ShoutSteal / drop Dragon Bones, Dragon Scales

Must be forced to land using Dragonrend before taking significant damage; he is immune to damage while flying in the mist.

Tsun

Challenges the player to a duel of honor before granting passage across the whalebone bridge; the fight stops when his health drops below half.

Tips

Sovngarde cannot be re-entered after completing the main quest, so pick up any unique food or items before speaking to Tsun to return to Tamriel.
Coordinate with Gormlaith, Felldir, and Hakon to use the Clear Skies Shout three times simultaneously to permanently dispel Alduin's fog.
Keep Dragonrend active on Alduin throughout the final battle to keep him grounded where the Nord heroes can continuously melee attack him.

Not listed for this area: secrets, shops and people.

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Skuldafn Temple

Fort Dawnguard

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