For me it's a tie between wispmother and dwarven centurion- my thief couldn't handle either one of them for more than a few seconds so I think it's fair to call it even

I'm a Lv.25 Bosmer battlemage (Apprentice destruction robes, flawless leather boots, flawless light Imperial bracers, legendary Imperial sword with a 15dam frost enchantment and Ice Spike), the only things that really give me any troubles are the dragon priests, Falmer, Chaurus and Forsworn Briarhearts. Dragons are easy.

That said, I am playing on Apprentice (?) difficulty. Planning on upping the ante to Expert soon.

The giant in Malakath mission. He could crush my lvl 40 character with two blows. I had to climb on the central statue and shot him while he was running for cover (and least he was smart enough NOT to stare at me while I pounded him from above; a welcome change from Morrowind/Oblivion).

Dragon priests are dangerous only if allowed to cast their spells from distance. I usually corner them against dragon walls and hack them to pieces with one weapon in each hand. Any spell they launch (they love area effect spells) will also damage them.

That Draugr Deathlord in Saarthal who has the disarm shout or spell, whatever it was. I am a scrapper with sword and shield, about level 22 and my magics are really weak so I can't use spells. Every time I confronted this guy he send my blades scattering. My inventory ran out of weapons. There were two elven swords in that chest through the iron door — he disarmed me of them too.

So I would be standing there with my dukes up ready for some unarmed combat for crying out loud! I didn't stand a chance. But then I thought why the heck not? I hit him dead centre with the Unrelenting Force shout. He went flying back 50 metres and slammed into the far wall and fell to the floor below, dead as a doornail.

The joke was on me because I could of just dashed up those steps through the iron door and continued with the quest, leaving the Deathlord in my dust. Problem was I wanted my weapons back so I had to search for them in that room. If I had it to do all over again, I would just run past that Draugr and through the door and on to finish the quest. Tolfdir would have had to deal with the Deathlord himself.

I laughed fit to bust when the same day, Lydia took on a dragon with a few arrows and she killed it. What? I am supposed to be the Dragonslayer, ffs! Lydia is much stronger since I did the disable/enable trick on her. She can fight all the baddies while I stand back and watch.

Lvl 25 sword and board warrior. Due to my latest encounter it's easily Ancient Vampires. I'm a little scared of them now. (does that count as an npc?)

Krosis was a monster at level 23...

But at level 55, I ran into a Ancient Dragon while playing on Master.. It also happened to be a word-wall dragon.. Which seem to both hit harder and have about 30% more health... As I ran into a random Ancient dragon a few hours later and it took noticeably less hits to take down.

Anyways, this guy roasted my follower, and would kill me in two melee hits, or two breath attacks.. So it basically took everything I had at the time to take down this particular dragon.. There was also the part where I was wearing the wrong gear... Had to turn into a Werewolf to run away, go back, and fight the Ancient Dragon AND an Elder Dragon at the same time... All on a different attempt.

Try a dragon couple. Just as I managed to do in a frost dragon, its mate (?), a blood one attacked. That was the end for me on that battle.

I think a lot of the enemies are pretty challenging on expert and above. The steps to High Hrothgar are a killer for my conventional Conan-clone named Swarnold. Having gone smithing crazy Im at level 12 with leather armour and a steel greatsword. A snowy sabre cat kills me in about 2 seconds. I'm going to have to use that Staff of Paralyse I pick up in that cave every time, which just doesn't feel right for the character. The pilgrimage to high Hrothgar is a fairly low-level quest right? Why do you have to face snow beasts and a snow troll? Destruction mages may svck at later levels but they have a much easier time at this point than a melee user.

You know, Elm, you don't need to fight everything there is you encounter. I didn't get the snow tiger but I sure had an issue with the troll. I just ran away both times. Coming down from HH you have a method to leave the troll way behind.

As to encountering foes which are too tough, to me that's part of the fun and interest. Do you really wish to play a game where every foe is weak? The stronger foes are either for later or you devise strategies. Frex, your Arnold guy can also keep within character by using ranged weapons - right?

gah! I haven't even heard of HALF of the creatures you guys mention! LOL

wisps? Krosis? got my work cut out for me.


Easy kills, those wolfies... but omg, when you're in low visibility (like the snowy mountains) they flank and usually scare the bejezuz outta me! Last night I literally flung my mouse across the room and had a cardiac arrest! They're sneaky bastards!

Ok, I've just met my first Ancient Dragon....definitely the HARDEST thing I've encountered so far...

Oh man I hated that guy, I spent more time looking for my damn sword then I did fighting......I was with a companion luckily so he held off the other draugrs while the deathlord chased me around. I had pictured myself in game on all fours going:
"wait....wait.....come on man time out......there we go i GOT IT!

Deathlord: *hoWAH!*

*clink*......

Right now? A measly necromancer with the broken resistance. I can kill a giant with one power attack but a necromancer rocking ice spears sends me running like a little girl.

Krosis was easy since all you had to was hide by the bones which gives you great cover from his attacks, and keep shooting with him a bow and 50+ arrows.
Morokei on the other hand, [censored] me, he's challenging, and I'm level 40 on a higher difficulty.
I'll have to think twice about dual-wield rushing him.

Good luck rushing Morokei. He'd two shot me every time. If I had to do it again, I'd get stronger in Conjuration and wear him down that way. As it was, I had to hit at range, run, heal, return hit and so forth.

i finished off morokei with a bow and steel arrows, shouts and whatever poisons i had at my disposal while crouching on a little platform. it took awhile...

For me...

Dwarven Centurions, atleast the Master or whichever is considered "elite". It's the only one I've run across so far, and it was pure HELL.

He blasted me with what I assume was steam and almost killed me a few times.
The only thing to sway the battle in my favor was a doorway.

They are a pain lol, died once actually too when one deathlord and two others that could shout rushed me and kept on attacking/shouting. Still second go around different tactics were just fine.

Try:

Player.placeatme 640b7 10

Most people will not survive it. Unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Draugr deathlords at level 4. two swings and youre a dead dragonborn.

Draugr deathlords,ice wraiths and frost trolls that is of course until i installed a mod that makes dragons much much much much harder than before.(seriously they have much more health,better resistances,do a lot more damage and actually use shouts)

That naked mage undernesth the meadery... During the thieves guild quest

The giant in Malakath quest. I did it at lvl 40+ and he could still smash me with a couple of hits.

If you're using magic yourself then any lightning spell drains magic from enemies as well as health. Also you could try using resist magic potions or enchant your weapon with lightning damage.

Oh, man. I played my first play-through as a mage. I didn't even know that the draugr shouters were using that shout!!!

Now I am on a new character who will be employing his most prized possessions in battle. Yikes. Didn't the Nords ever invent those wrist strap thingies? You know, like on a racquetball racquet or on a ski pole?