The legendary dragon kill is the last achievement I need to 100% vanilla Skyrim and DG. I've been bouncing around to all of the Dragon Shrines seeing nothing but ancient dragons so far. I've been making it a point to kill every one I've come across. I'm currently only level 52 (been playing on master since the start of the play though). I've heard that people have seen legendary dragons in the 50's, albeit rarely. I don't want to power level to 70+ just to get the chance to see one, so my questions are...

1) Are Dragon Shrines the best way to get a legendary to show up for those that have seen one? If anyone has a favorite route I'd be happy to hear about it.

2) Any recommended followers/methods for dragon hunting? (I'm archery/1handed and WW maxed so I've been messing with both of those tactics. The follower you gain from the Azura Daedra quest was my favorite until I accidently killed her so I'm in the market for a new one.)

Thanks!!

1 it's completely random and if you're not 70+ and a Legendary does show up it WILL murder you. Trust me. my lvl 52 ran into one in riverwood once. the thing landed and swallowed me whole in one bite. instant reload.

2. Serana, Jizargo, or another mage type armed with what ever staff you don't mind getting hit with.

I'm lv 57 and have NOT come across this legandary dragon. I run down every dragon I see in the distance. Nothing

Look like I'll be power leveling then. I was trying to avoid it so I wouldn't outlevel any future DLC, but if I'm going to get pwned at 52 if I even come across one, I guess it's time to put on my grinding hat.


Edit: Thanks for the follower recommendations.

legendary dragons are no big deal. they don't even drop any cool stuff like super powerful staffs or swords when they die, you think you would get some better loot but oh no it's just junk and dragon bones.

I got Daedric Armor and gloves off an Acended Dragon last night, so loot wise it's a mater of luck. makes for a good fight though

I thought I'd seen posts saying they didn't spawn until level 70+...?

Just out of curiosity, if I have Dawnguard, and load a high level character, do I have to have started the DLC quest for the dragon to spawn, or will just having it present on the console spawn the dragons?

dragonrend + lightning storm = lolgendary dragon.

My level 78 character has only had a couple of Legendary Dragons and both were spawned when he fast travelled to towns, one for Dawnstar and one for Winterhold, he checked all the shrines and set dragons, not one was a Legendary. Most of the ones that just turn up to try and make a snack out of him are Revered Dragons

Level 71 and up and I'm getting them regularly, at least one or two every gaming session I'd suggest. Be wary, I didn't even know about them and kept wondering why I was getting seriously mauled and chewing through my ultimate healing potions like a thirsty camel on my first one...it wasn't until after the fight that I saw it was a newie to me.

Get in fast, and try to avoid taking it head on...take along some dragon bait, and come in on its' flank...not its' tail either...really watch out for its' magic, and get it on the ground fast.

every one i encountered was by fast traveling to riverwood and the strange thing is before dawnguard i never seen any dragon in riverwood

Thanks for the advice. Went from 52-56 last night with only a about an hour and a half of real grinding. Even at 56 I've found that revered dragons can chew me up if I attack them head on.

A few other questions/comments relating to gear....

Does it make more sense to use the heavy or light? My perks are all in light, but I will be leveling heavy.

Thoughts on the spellbreaker vs dragonbone enchanted shield.

I currently have an upgraded daedric bow w/ dragonbone arrows. Seems to be working better for me than the Auriel's.

There is no quest that I am aware of that spawns the dragon. You should be able to find them straight away.

Wow! I'm at level 49 and the first couple times I encountered an Ancient Dragon it was tough, but like anything else I guess you get used to it. I haven't encountered a Revered Dragon yet. When do they start showing up? I've been hunting down every dragon I see, unless I get distracted killing Thalmor...

Before Dawnguard, my first character had lots of dragons in Riverwood. Since before Christmas he would get a dragon appearing anywhere he fast travelled other than in a walled town. He would even get them just walking to towns, and he managed to get a couple of dragons in walled towns as well. Eventually he just stopped visiting Riverwood since he had already lost the smith and his wife. The dragon problem has been toned down a lot since Dawnguard, so he visits the smaller towns and Orc Strongholds a bit more now.

My very first revered dragon was a classic. I had just installed a mod giving me a farm, and been inside eyeing it off...when I stepped back out the front door the dragon flopped down and proceeded to spell-fry me and all the animals in their pens...major panic as I was in leather gear and wasn't expecting anything. Afterwards I sort of looked at my screen with these dead chickens, cows and horses all over the place and a big dead dragon on my front lawn and thought "Urrrrr....not keeping this place...".

On topic, as far as gear and weapons go it's pretty much personal choice, and is really dependant on your character type. My favourite (and usual) character is level 74, and a 'been there, done that' type. I tend to use unique weapons, although only one unique bit of apparel. My normal loadout is (and keep in mind I have modded with things like bags and bandoliers and horse enhancement mods for the extra carrying capacity):

Valkyr's lucky dagger; A skyforge steel hand axe; Dragonbane (unique katana); Harkon's sword (unique katana from DG); A two-handed katana (mod, 15 weight, and highest 2H sword hp - won't bash through better blocks, but it's fast and not so long and unwieldy); A dragonbone greatsword; A dragonbone bow and arrows.

Defensively, I alternate between Boethia's ebony mail, with ebony boots and gauntlets (last two enchanted - boots with muffle and sneak, gauntlets with 1H and 2H fortifies); or reinforced leather armour (not sure if this is a mod or not). Headgear I wear modded in circlets of the appropriate armour type, so I can get the perk bonuses.

As far as perks, I firstly went heavy armour, and picked up all the perks, same with block. For warrior type character, you have to make a couple of decisions as to how you fight, regardless of what you are fighting, and those should guide your loadout and tactic choice...do you tend to rush in and bash away and take the incoming, or do you need to get in fast and kill quick...or do you stand off and either spell the baddies down or hit them with arrows? For the higher level dragons, you are likely to take a hiding either way...it may pay you to build up a good stock of the better healing potions and hotkey them, and alchemy can help you their if you are a bash and smash merchant.

There's no simple and easy answer that applies across the board, each situation requires its' own solution, and is reliant on how you play your game overall.

Yeah have to be above level 70 for legendary dragons to show up.

ha true, poor alvor the blacksmith died at the breath of 1 of these fiends yet his body still remains dead on his doorstep months later

i visit riverwood alot for the trader, he's the only 1 to my knowledge who carries over 10k in gold

Sorry to go off topic a shade, but the biggest surprise I ever received after a dragon attack was a courier bringing me a notice that I'd been named in Faendel's will, because he was killed in the attack. Got a bunch of gold. I assumed this was because he'd been a follower.

I'm now level 60 and have been seeing elder/ancient dragons consistantly. Serana is a pretty decent follower post DG IMO. I haven't had too much trouble with either dragon. I just use dragonrend, hump corners, and let fly with my upgraded/enchanted daedric bow/dragonbone arrows. I have gotten caught out of position and roasted a few times though. I've got a quick little fast travel route, which will now include Riverwood thanks to aussie500, when I get bored of the grind.

Leveling has been pretty fun. I've been using Legate Emmanuel Admand as a punching bag while leveling alter,resto,heavy armor, 2H, illus, and destro. I basically use up all my magic in various ways, smack him with a daedric warhammer till he starts panting, fast forward time, and repeat. I have the lovers and mages stones active for this. If anyone has any input on how I can level quicker I'd be happy to hear it.

Question, does my heavy armor level up quicker if I have more of it equipped?

After the mid-50's, levelling your actual level is a lot harder...However, there are a couple of things you can do.

At that temple arrangement near the lunar forge, those little huts are quite handy to level block or destruction/restoration magic: Go find a nearby mammoth or pair of them, and snot it. Then, when it chases you, run into the hut...when inside you can block the angry mamoths consistently, and improve your block skill. Or, you can hit them with low level destro, then heal them with resto spells. It's basically grinding, but it works...getting out without killing them is the 'fun' part.

For Illusion spells...go find some chickens...the ones up the back of Dragonbridge are good for this. Then stand back and cast calm or similar on them...repeatedly (don't do fear or you won't find them again, and don't do fury or you'll end up in a brawl and have dead chickens).

The only ways to level your armours is either through training, or getting bashed. Go get a bunch of healing and magic potions, go find a cave or dungeon with low level draugr, stir them up, and stand still...and heal yourself as needed...don't kill them.

Oh, and save before you try any of these.