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With the final Word for Bend Will learned from Storn's still-warm body, you are finally able to challenge the First Dragonborn, Miraak in Apocrypha. Far from Skyrim and Solstheim, you will need to find your way through shifting corridors and more bizarre enemies to𝓀 end Miraak and the danger that he posesܫ.
Your previous visits to Apocrypha give a good indication of what to expect. The green-tinted world is difficult to navigate and full of dangerous creatures with knowledge scattered around every available surface. As the ending to the game's final expansion, it is every bit as challenging as you would expect.
Starting At The Summit Of Apocrypha
Continuing right after the conclusion to The Gardener Of Men, you will need to use a Dragon Soul to unlock the final word in Bend Will. With this shout, you will be able to rival Miraak's power and stand a chance against him.
This knowledge had come at a price. Frea's father and Skaal shaman, Storn Crag-Strider had been killed by Hermaeus Mora in exchange for the final Word. At his grieving daughter's urging, read Waking Dreams to re-enter Apocrypha and stop Miraak.
Take Epistolary Acumen from Storn's body before you leave. The book will disappear otherwise.
Once again, rea♌ding Waking Dreams will drag you into Apocrypha, starting your ascent to the Summit.
Reaching The Summit Of Apocrypha
As always, you begin at Chapter 1. This time, all you need to do is walk toward the quest marker to reach Chapter 2. There, you are introduced to the main obstacle of the dungeon, the need to collect booಞks to solve a puzzle at🐲 the end.
Getting Boneless Limbs
Walking up the stairs, you will need to defeat two seekers. The way forward will be blocked by a set of retracted stairs. To extend them, turn around and look for the book Boneless Limbs on a pedestal overlooking the stairs. Pick the book up to extend the stairs. This will allow you to reach Chapter 3.
You will be fighting many seekers throughout this quest. Boosting your magic resistance will help you survive them.
Getting Delving Pincers And Prying Orbs
Apocrypha becomes truly mind-bending from here. This area has a confusing layout. You will need to go through the corridor you start at, defeat a pair of seekers and get the book Delving Pincers.
Turn around and go through a previously closed door and interact with a Scrye at the end. You will enter an open area with some enemies. Look for the next book, Prying Orbs, to the southwest. You will be able to reach Chapter 4 once you have it.
Getting Gnashing Blades
Chapter 4's architecture changes as you navigate it. Start by walking toward the hallway below the entrance. It will contract and summon seekers once you set foot inside. Leave the way you came to discover a completely different room. The book Gnashing Blades can be found overlooking the exit.
You can find Fonts of Magicka and Fonts of Stamina throughout Apocrypha. Activating them will restore their respective resource over time.
To reach Chapter 5, head through the south hallway and head east. You will find a Scrye at the end. Retrace your steps to find a large chamber with a pool of ichor in the middle. A lurker will emerge from it to fight you. Activate a nearby Scrye to progress.
In Chapter 5, you will need to place each of the four books on the correct pedestal. The order is indicated by the patterns on each one. Match the book to unlock the book to Chapter 6. If you are struggling, the solution is below
- Boneless Limbs is in the northeast.
- Delving Pincers is in the southeast.
- Gnashing Blades is in the southwest.
- Prying Orbs is in the northwest.
Chapter 6 is the final stage of this quest.
Reaching Miraak
There are two seekers guarding a Word Wall directly ahead of you. The dragon Sahrotaar will swoop down and attack you after defeating them. Use all three words of the Bend Will Shout to sway him to your side. Offering to brℱing you to Miraak, you hop on his back.
You will be able to tame other dragons with Bend Will. This flight with Sahrotaar is a tutorial for the mechanics for future uses.
You will have to command him to kill several enemies on the way before commanding him to land at Miraak.
Defeating Miraak
Miraak approaches as you land, saying that he will be able to use your soul to escape Apocrypha. Combat starts shortly after. As the First Dragonborn, Miraak has access to Shouts which he makes ample use of, alongside magic and melee attacks. This combination makes him dangerous at all distances.
He is able to deplete your magicka with Shock magic and your stamina with his unique tentacle-like sword.
When you manage to deplete most of his health, he will use Become Ethereal and Whirlwind Sprint to escape and consume the soul of a nearby dragon. Each time he does this, he will be completely restored. He will do this twice before Hermaeus Mora chooses to kill Miraak for trying to escape, ending the battle.
You earn several rewards for defeating Miraak.
- For completing Waking Dreams, you are able to trade a Dragon Soul to reallocate your perks without needing to Legendary the Skill Tree.
- You can loot Miraak's body for his unique weapons and armor.
- You will absorb Dragon Souls from Miraak, including any that he had stolen from you since completing The Temple Of Miraak.
Read the book to return to Solstheim. This ends Dragonborn's main storyline, though there are many more things to discover across Solstheim.