Skyrim talk:The Ebony Warrior

He's HOW tough?

I'm a little confused about how hit points, armor, and poison work now that I've gone up against this guy five times now with varying and assorted loadouts. (Aren't reloads wonderful?) As far as his personal gear is concerned, he's equipped like a player character would be if you didn't max out enchanting such that you could put two enchantments on one item - his gear is somewhere between sweet and incredibly nasty.

But that's where my confusion comes into play. Since I HAVE maxed out enchanting, alchemy, and smithing, it's not too tough to create a bow that does 500 points of damage per shot, along with poisons that do 5,000 points of damage. So I'm sneaking uphill from this guy so I DON'T get blown off the mountain by HIS Fus-Ro-Dah (again(!)) and open up the combat by hitting him with a poisoned arrow (5540 damage) from a bow while sneaking (triple damage) - so he should have taken about 7,000 hit points in damage from that one shot.

It drained his bar down considerably, but it did NOT one shot kill him. I've taken down ancient dragons with one shot with that combination.

After I finished him off, I reloaded with another loadout - my armor such that he couldn't actually hurt me, and I only used a bow that did 940 points of damage per arrow. Okay, we both ended up F-R-D'ing each other a couple of times, but it still took me 20 arrows to take him out. I know he has regenerating armor - but doing 18,000 plus points of damage to ONE NPC? Damn....

Long story short (too late) - how is it that his armor is that good, that I didn't croak him with that poisoned arrow? Does he just have that darned many hit points, or what? Agmen (talk) 00:08, 19 December 2012 (GMT)

His stats are listed on this page and all the perks he has are listed in a hidden table here. All of this information comes directly from game data. — ABCface^◥ 00:18, 19 December 2012 (GMT)

Thanks for the second link, I'd missed that. (And I only have official add-ons for my 360 copy of the game, not for my PC version.) But that still doesn't make sense to me. If he has 2071 hit points, and I do more than 7,000 points of damage with one poisoned arrow, why did he not croak? My archery skill has me doing twice as much damage, my poisons are twice as strong (and due to using the restoration tweak, I can make some seriously nasty stuff), my sneak skill bows do triple damage. So I was sneaking and hidden, with a bow and arrow that do a base of 570 damage. 3x on the sneak means the physical damage was 1710. That would still put me doing 300 ish with the sneaking bow. Does armor also negate up to 80% of poison damage as well? If so, that ought be put up somewhere as well, for I've not seen that on here. THAT would make sense on why I didn't one shot kill him, and why an Ancient Dragon which has more than 3,000 HP DID die when shot with the same poison tipped arrow. Agmen (talk) 21:33, 19 December 2012 (GMT)

EDIT BY THE IDIOT! And by that I'm referring to myself. Playing with settings on Master, which means half damage from my attacks. So yeah, I feel pretty stupid. But hey, it's nice that the game designers put in someone who's just as tough and nasty as we normally are at this level. Agmen (talk) 02:47, 20 December 2012 (GMT)

Unable to Start the Quest

I was already level 81 when I installed the DLC. It seems that this may prevent me from starting the quest... --108.196.129.75 07:30, 2 January 2013 (GMT)

It shouldn't. I was already level 81 on one of my characters before installing the DLC and was still able to start the quest. Maybe you just need to wait a little longer. — ABCface^◥ 07:34, 2 January 2013 (GMT)

Okay, it eventually started for me. I'm not sure why it took so long but oh well. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 23:24, 5 January 2013 (GMT)

On my current playthrough, I took a break from Skyrim for a few weeks after finishing the main questline. I left my character on the Throat of the World, and after getting Hearthfire and Dragonborn I fast-traveled to Whiterun to find a queue of people waiting to chat. First a courier with two letters, then this guy, and finally two cultists. Those two didn't like waiting though, so the Ebony Warrior got to make his challenge while two impatient children whacked away with cheap daggers at my impenetrable Legendary Daedric Armor. I like how the AI deals with unusual situations.--Playerseekingbugs (talk) 18:18, 30 March 2013 (GMT)

Several Important Clarifications

According to this page, he has a base resistance to Fire, Frost, and Shock. Has this been confirmed? I figure these resistances simply come from his enchanted items...Because otherwise, elemental damage would do next to nothing to him. Next, the article claims he's harmed by falling damage, but I used Unrelenting Force to knock him off the steepest cliff in the area and he fell all the way to the bottom and lived. Finally, his Reflect Blows perk seems to behave differently than the normal perk. Several times I have attacked him and simply died instantly before my attack could connect. I suppose this means that the damage caused by the perk ignores all damage resistance and is calculated before the target takes damage. Otherwise, his Reflect Blows perk is unique and completely stops him from receiving damage when it activates. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 02:30, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

About the elemental stuff. He has 50% resistance to frost, fire, and shock from his boots, shield, and necklace. His perk, elemental protection adds a further 50% to each when blocking with his shield. So using the shield to block is adding the full 100% for fire, and without it he has no resistance to fire, but maintains 50% on the frost and shock. Silence is Golden^{Break the Silence} 02:46, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

Isn't elemental resistance capped? I saw somewhere that you couldn't go above 75% (which I thought was odd, considering that magic resistance is capped at 85%) 90.11.117.46 08:40, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

Elemental Resistance (And every other resistance for that matter) is capped at 85%. Even if you have enough to put you over 100%, you are stuck at 85%. (I think. I have never personally tested this). Jeancey (talk) 14:17, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

The info about his elemental resistances should probably be rephrased but I have other things to bring up. I just fought him about 20 times over and learned several things. It would obviously be good to have some people confirm everything mentioned here but for now, I may be the only one who kept a save file right before fighting him. First things first. I wrote this on the page and will include it here. "While he can be harmed by falling damage, you must damage him after he lands but before he stands back up for the damage to take effect. Otherwise, he can survive any fall and will actually be restored to full health after he gets back on his feet." I did this about 10 out of the 20 times I fought him. If I knocked him off the cliff and just watched him go (or even followed him to the bottom of his fall), he survived every time and got full health. When I would shoot him with an arrow once he hit the ground, he would die. It's something that I've never seen happen to another NPC but he's special for some reason. Speaking of shooting with arrows; I tried shooting him in the head multiple times and the arrows went right through him (tried a firebolt spell too). I even took shots at his upper shoulders and some of those went right through as if he weren't there. (I mostly did this while he was standing around but also tried it in combat). I assume that this is a bug: He's really tall but his hit box was never extended to match the height. That's all for now. Whew, that was some tedious research. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 00:00, 19 February 2013 (GMT)

I suppose this would be implied, but he does not resist magic itself, just certain kinds. You can use a strong Absorb Health weapon and some very good enchanted armor to kill him inside of five to ten minutes depending on your weapon skills.--Playerseekingbugs (talk) 18:37, 30 March 2013 (GMT)

It seems to me that his elemental protection doesn't work, as he still takes damage from spell while blocking and there are visual effects(fire burning/electricity etc) on him too. An NPC can completely neglect spell if they have 100% magic resistance. If you use restoration loop to create such an item with 100% magic resistance given to your follower, they'll be immune to unrelenting force, all your hostile spells etc, and a message will be shown saying that they resisted the spell you cast on them.Ifoolb (talk) 02:45, 1 May 2018 (UTC)

Resurrection

Has anyone tried using the Ritual Stone greater power on him once he's dead? Conceivably, you would need to be a Vampire with the Necromage Perk. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 02:40, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

The Necromage perk only affects the spell on undead minions, not the level of the spell itself, even if you're a vampire. So no Ebony Warrior thrall without a custom spell (yay for PC?) That would be a real game breaker though... 90.11.117.46 08:50, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

Oh yeah, I thought about that wrong...It would have been a nice reward for the quest but I guess they wanted us to just be happy with the satisfaction of beating him. Even a cool amulet would have been enough for me. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 23:20, 15 February 2013 (GMT)

Just tested out using the Soul Tear Shout on him, and it will reanimate him to fight by your side for a little bit at least, though this is pretty useless, since it appears that he won't fast travel with you when you do this, even to the nearest location...... ---Gamer3427 (talk) 20:20, 4 March 2013 (GMT)

Vs. Random Encounter.

So I fast travelled here to do the mission having already discovered the location before my meeting with the Ebony Warrior and upon arrival we were set upon by a Blood Dragon. I remained hidden and it attacked him, he promptly dispatched it in less than 5 hits before moving on to kill my horse. When I approached him as he was killing my horse he hit me, thus initiating the battle without my hitting him first. Syko Conor (talk) 22:05, 24 February 2013 (GMT)

It still seems a bit unclear what it is you want to be changed on the page? —MortenOSlash (talk) 05:33, 25 February 2013 (GMT)

I guess we could mention that he becomes hostile no matter who or what hits him. Of course given how isolated the place is, there aren't many possibilities aside from Dragons. Elakyn (talk) 10:09, 25 February 2013 (GMT)

Essentially what Elakyn said; the page states that the battle cannot begin unless you hit him first which isn't strictly true. Syko Conor (talk) 18:33, 25 February 2013 (GMT)

80 or 81? Also; potential bug.

Ok so I was running around cities at level 80 without him appearing. Not until level 81 did he approach me in a city. Is the info on him appearing at 80 wrong?

Also I noticed a potential bug; or at least something really weird. I sneak attack him and instantly die. That's right; me. He did nothing and I instantly died (from my own attack?). After reloading it worked as normal however. 85.230.252.211 08:37, 28 February 2013 (GMT)

Well, he has the Reflect Blows perk so I guess if your attack made like 6000 damages (or more, I don't know how much health you have) it could kill you? Elakyn (talk) 10:09, 28 February 2013 (GMT)

Yeah, the Reflect Blows thing can be murderous when it works against you. Your attack doesn't even need to do 6000 damage, only the amount of damage equal to how much health you have. Based on what I've observed, the damage reflected goes through your armor resistance, so even if your weapon damage is in the 800 or 900 range (which is quite possible with optimal smithing and enchanting), every swing you take at him has a 10% chance of instantly killing you (after the number of times I tried, it seems a lot higher than 10%). Even though Reflect Blows is supposed to also deal the damage to him as well, it seems that the damage dealt to you is applied first, so you die before your attack ever touches him. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 02:40, 2 March 2013 (GMT)

Yes, I noticed the reflect blows perk works against you but does NOT EVER work against him. Try to make the fight last and just heal yourself, you will confirm this easily. Also I think his reflect blows is bugged. I've used a dagger doing only about 150 damage and have it come back at me at around 700 damage, and that is without a power attack. There are multiple youtube vids showing people dying with simply one attack. I now consider this guy bugged. I would accept reflect blows, if the player would be allowed to use it too. Sad but I'm going to have to reduce difficulty to kill this guy. R.P. — Unsigned comment by 50.174.36.176 (talk) at 20:27 on 21 August 2013

Dragon Aspect Heals Him?

Found a potentially problematic bug. It seems as though when you have the Dragon Aspect shout active, he will be instantly restored to full health when the Ancient Dragonborn is summoned. It's possible that I'm simply missing him using his healing spells very rapidly or something, but I know that when I fight him, no matter how low his health was, he will suddenly be back at full health if the Ancient Dragonborn is summoned. I've tried this multiple times, and it seems like it happens when he switches to target the Ancient Dragonborn, rather than simply when it is summoned. Could someone else please confirm or disprove this glitch? ---Gamer3427 (talk) 20:27, 4 March 2013 (GMT)

I fought him several times (many of which the Ancient Dragonborn was summoned) and I don't think it's specifically Dragon Aspect that's the issue. From what I saw, his health is restored to full if combat with him ends. In other words, when he turns his attention to the Ancient Dragonborn, he is no longer fighting you, so his health restores to full. The same thing will happen if you run away from him. I don't think this always happens, I've found that as long as I continue to engage him, his health stays where it's at. See if this happens for other summons too. I know usually, he'll immediately attack most things that you summon. --BlackhawkXIII (talk) 22:06, 5 March 2013 (GMT)--BlackhawkXIII (talk) 22:06, 5 March 2013 (GMT)

Actually it dose heals him. I am mage who used 2 Dremora lord in battle and in battle he was fighting them all alone. It appears that every time when Ancient Dragonborn knock him down using unreleting force(not pushing him from the edge), I lost his heath bar only to find out when I attack him again he heals himself. However it s ok if you use unrelenting force(not pushing him from the edge). I haven t tried what will happen if Sovengarde hero use unrelenting force. — Unsigned comment by 94.189.226.253 (talk) at 13:36 on 14 September 2013

Accolades as Prerequisites

So the Ebony Warrior is rumored to be a metaphor for the Dragon born, as in he has conquered everything and nothing is left standing for him to defeat. I wonder if, in the game, it is impossible to encounter him before you have pretty much 100%'d the game itself? In other words, has anybody here encountered him without finishing the College of Winterhold, Dark Brotherhood, Companions, Thieves Guild, or Dragonborn questlines, or without getting the Oblivion Walker Achievement? Forgive me if I left out any others that I'm not remembering off the top of my head. But it makes me wonder, are there other criteria for meeting him that most people just coincidentally have met by the time they are level 80, and so were never really explored or tested? 69.243.145.202 20:20, 31 March 2013 (GMT)

The game data clearly shows that the only requirement is to be level 80. Jeancey (talk) 20:24, 31 March 2013 (GMT)

I just ran into him at Level 80, having aborted the Dark Brotherhood questline by killing Astrid, and never starting with the Companions (blech!) or Thieves Guild. On the main questline, I haven't even bothered to go to Riverwood to meet Delphine yet. So yes, Level 80 is the only criterion. Robinwitch1 (talk) 22:15, 16 November 2013 (GMT)

Gaenor from Morrowind: Tribunal

Yeah so the Dragonborn DLC contained a lot of nostalgic stuff from Morrowind, perhaps the Ebony Warrior is indeed a reference to Gaenor from tribunal with his full ebony and ridiculous amount of health + luck?

Thoughts guys?

HircinesHunt (talk) 02:10, 29 August 2014 (GMT)

I can see it, but I don't think the connection is strong enough. Kinda, but not exactly. •WoahBro^►talk 02:36, 29 August 2014 (GMT)

I don't see the connection. He's a bit tall for a Wood Elf impersonator. —Legoless (talk) 02:37, 29 August 2014 (GMT)

No connection? Both fights were the hardest fights of their respective game and both came jacked up in a suit of ebony. It would make sense if it was a reference (as I stated) not a connection, seeing as Dragonborn had a load of references to good ol' Morrowind. HircinesHunt (talk) 04:04, 29 August 2014 (GMT)

I can see how you can see a connection, but it's not certain enough to be featured. 1. He's not a wood elf. 2. He has no measurable luck. 3. You never see him without his armor (alive, that is). And 4. At no point does he say anything about money. Is it a coincidence that ebony armor is in both games? •WoahBro^►talk 21:27, 29 August 2014 (GMT)

Conflicts With Vampire Attacks

The Ebony Warrior showed up in Whiterun outside my house at the same time one of those Traveler Vampires attacked. Presumably as a result of the attack, something got stuck and the EW won't talk to me, he just cowers in fear when I come around. 72.73.33.145 15:18, 4 April 2015 (GMT) --Dan

Follower doesn't follow

Has anyone else had an issue with their follower stopping at the bottom of the hill before arriving at the Last Vigil? For the life of me I can't get my follower to get closer to the Ebony Warrior. Not sure if this is by design to force a 1:1 fight or a bug. In any case I ended up doing a sneak attack on the Ebony Warrior and then running down the hill so that my follower could help with the fight. Has anyone else seen this behavior? Luke1138 (talk) 19:03, 23 November 2015 (UTC)

No it's just general AI that considers that slope unreachable, for any NPC unless you push them over that or so otherwise they won't walk through there normally. In case of your follower should you fast travel or walk up there and wait 1 hour then they'll teleport beside you. Ifoolb (talk) 02:18, 1 May 2018 (UTC)

Spawn in any city or only major cities?

The page is a bit ambigious in that regard. Does he spawn in any city like Morthal, Ravenrock etc or just on traveling to any walled hold capital with its own worldspace? — Unsigned comment by 95.223.74.119 (talk) at 18:05 on 1 July 2021 (UTC)

The latter. The page states in the first sentence of the detailed walkthrough that he "will approach you in any major city". --Oriwa ^Talk 21:46, 1 July 2021 (UTC)