What Makes a Shout the Strongest in Skyrim 2?
In Skyrim, one of the most powerful shouts is “Dragon Aspect.” Considered the best shout for its potent effects, it dramatically increases armor rating, resistances, and shout recharge rate. However, it is limited to the Dragonborn’s transformation.
Alternatively, many players recognize “Unrelenting Force” (also known as “Fus Ro Dah”) as an iconic shout. It serves multiple purposes: it can knock enemies off ledges, stagger them, or blast them away. This reliable shout is highly useful in numerous combat situations. In fact, the first word of the shout can be used to stagger an enemy, which is crucial for preventing an arrow or weapon strike.
Another strong contender is “Soul Tear.” Available exclusively with the Dawnguard DLC, this unique shout is learned from the dragon Durneviir after completing the quest Soul Cairn. Each time you summon him outside of the Soul Cairn, he teaches you the shout Soul Tear one at a time. This powerful shout deals 300 damage to an enemy, making it capable of one-shotting various creatures. Moreover, killing an enemy with this shout fills up a soul gem.
Additionally, “Marked for Death” stands out as the Dragonborn’s strongest offensive shout. It applies a minute-long debuff that reduces 4,500 armor and deals 180 damage.
Each shout serves different purposes, so the “best” shout can depend on your playstyle!
Top 5 Most Powerful Shouts Explained
Top 4 Most Powerful Shouts in Skyrim
- Unrelenting Force: The most iconic of all the Shouts. Unrelenting Force more than lives up to its name as a powerhouse. The first two words…
- Soul Tear: This shout has the ability to place opponents under the Dragonborn’s control. It can control foes who would otherwise be too powerful to raise by normal means, such as giants. Making this an incredibly powerful shout if used correctly.
- Marked for Death: This is the Dragonborn’s strongest offensive Shout. It applies a minute-long debuff that reduces 4,500 armor and deals 180 damage.
- Dragon Aspect: An amazing shout overall. It dramatically increases armor rating, resistances, and shout recharge rate. The only downside is that this…
Skyrim 2: How to Unlock and Use the Strongest Shouts
Strongest Shouts in Skyrim 2
- Marked for Death: This shout is the Dragonborn’s strongest offensive choice. It applies a minute-long debuff that reduces 4,500 armor and deals 180 damage for its duration.
- Soul Tear: This shout allows the Dragonborn to take control of powerful opponents, such as giants, who would otherwise be too strong to raise by normal means. It is considered one of the most powerful shouts if used correctly. Note that it is only available with the Dawnguard DLC.
- Dragon Aspect: Recognized as the best shout due to its potent effects.
- Unrelenting Force: Also known as Fus Ro Dah, this shout is considered iconic and incredibly useful in combat.
- Slow Time: This shout is deemed highly useful and can allow for strategic advantage. When combined with powerful weapons and damage-boosting potions, it can be incredibly effective.
When creating a tier list based on minimizing player deaths, defensive shouts generally receive higher ratings than offensive ones. The top-ranked shouts include:
- Become Ethereal
- Unrelenting Force
- Slow Time
- Bend Will
- Dragon Aspect
- Soul Tear
Best Shouts for Different Play Styles in Skyrim
When it comes to the best shouts in Skyrim for different play styles, the following options stand out:
- Dragon Aspect: This shout is widely regarded as one of the most powerful, especially for combat-focused players. With all three words, you receive:
- +20% resistance to fire and frost damage
- Faster shout cooldown
- More damaging shouts
- A significant boost to armor rating
- You also gain ethereal Dragonplate Armor and the ability to summon an Ancient Dragonborn for assistance when your health drops below 50%.
- Soul Tear: Considered the best shout, it deals 300 damage to an enemy, which can be lethal for many creatures. Additionally:
- Killing an enemy with this shout fills a soul gem.
- The killed body is reanimated for 60 seconds to fight as your undead ally.
- This shout is available with the Dawnguard DLC, and players must summon Durneviir multiple times to learn it.
- Notably, Soul Tear can control formidable opponents, such as giants, who typically cannot be raised by regular means.
- Dragonrend: This shout is essential for dragon combat. It forces dragons to land, making them easier targets. Additionally:
- It’s crucial for defeating Alduin the first time, as he is invulnerable while flying.
- Storm Call: This shout summons a storm that strikes enemies with lightning, inflicting damage over a wide area.
- Unrelenting Force: A versatile shout, FUS – ROH – DAH can blast enemies off cliffs and is effective in many situations. Its utility should not be underestimated.
- Marked for Death: This is the Dragonborn’s most potent offensive shout. It applies a debuff lasting a minute that:
- Reduces 4,500 armor
- Deals 180 damage
Comparing Skyrim 2 Shouts: Strength and Strategy
Comparison of Shouts in Skyrim 2
- Unrelenting Force: This shout is considered the most versatile and impactful for general combat. It can stagger and knock down enemies with just the first few words. Additionally, it is particularly effective in offensive scenarios, especially when the player is on a cliff or mountain, as it can blast enemies off, causing deadly fall damage.
- Soul Tear (Dawnguard DLC): This shout is extremely powerful against strong enemies as it allows you to temporarily control them by draining their soul.
- Become Ethereal: This shout provides temporary invulnerability to physical attacks, making it useful for escaping dangerous situations.
- Dragonrend: This shout is specifically designed to force dragons to land, which significantly eases dragon fights.
Locations to Find Key Shouts in Skyrim
Animal Allegiance:
- Inside Angarvunde in The Rift.
- Inside Dragon’s lair in Ancient’s Ascent.
- At the top of the mountain above Ysgramor’s Tomb. You can either exit through the upper door after completing the Companion Quest Glory of the Dead, or climb up the side of the mountain and get to it earlier.
Aura Whisper:
- At a Dragon’s lair at Northwind Summit.
- In Volunruud during The Silence Has Been Broken Dark Brotherhood quest.
- In the tomb, Valthume, just South East of Markarth.
Become Ethereal:
- Inside Ustengrav from The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller.
- Above the Lost Valley Redoubt, south of Bard’s Leap Summit (can be found alongside Hroldir’s Shield).
- End of Ironbind Barrow in Winterhold Hold.
Call Dragon:
- High Hrothgar. After the main quest, you can still summon Odahviing outdoors, but you need to utter all three words. You will receive all three words at once.
Additional Locations:
- The locations are Hag’s End, Korvanjund, and the Labyrinthian.
- The first word is on the northern part of Solsthiem. The other two words are in the Dragonborn quest line. To start the quest line, you need to go to Whiterun, and you will be approached by 2 Cultists.
Player Opinions: The Best Shouts on Reddit
The most powerful Shout I’ve found would have to be Dragon Aspect.
This Shout literally makes you next to unbeatable.
Between raising your damage output and defensive abilities, it’s very effective.
In fact, I used that shout to take down Karstaag in less than a minute on master difficulty.
Additionally, another notable shout is Marked for Death.
- The effects stack.
- You can use the first shout over and over again.
- With a quick cooldown, after about 5 shouts on a tough enemy, you can 2-shot them with melee weaponry or a bow.
- This is particularly great for taking down mammoths, giants, and dragon priests.
Become Ethereal: Is It the Most Powerful Shout?
Become Ethereal: This is a shout that can transform the Dragonborn into an ethereal form. While in this state of emptiness, the Dragonborn cannot be harmed by any means, including fall or poison. However, it is important to note that the Dragonborn cannot inflict harm on others while in this state. Additionally, any interaction with the world, such as fighting, accessing a container, or talking to an NPC, can void the shout’s effects.
The Become Ethereal shout lasts from 8 to 18 seconds, depending on the number of words used. You can use it strategically to take aim, especially in situations where you are outnumbered. During this time, you can target opponents without being staggered or damaged. Notably, the first level of this shout is long enough to last through a dragon’s breath attack.
While under the effects of this shout, you can also safely regenerate magicka, health, and stamina during combat. Notably, you cannot activate this shout while airborne. Additionally, meditating on the word Feim with Paarthurnax grants you the Eternal Spirit ability, which increases health regeneration by 25% while ethereal. This enhancement can be seen in your active effects.
Overall, Become Ethereal may be the most useful shout in Skyrim, providing utility in any situation where the player can take damage. Players can even meditate with Paarthurnax to hasten their health regeneration while ethereal. Consequently, this provides an opportunity to re-enter combat quickly once the effects wear off. Essentially, Become Ethereal represents the God Mode of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, making the Dragonborn invulnerable to all damage for up to 13 seconds, including fall damage. However, it’s worth mentioning that stamina will not regenerate during this time, although health and magicka will.
Contrast with Other Shouts: While Become Ethereal is highly regarded for its defensive capabilities, it is worth noting that Marked for Death is considered the Dragonborn’s strongest offensive shout. This shout applies a minute-long debuff that significantly reduces armor and deals damage, demonstrating its effectiveness against powerful adversaries.
