Skyrim (and The Elder Scrolls series at large) just keeps giving and giving. You have total freedom to play the game as you see fit. There is much to do — quests, grinding, smithing, alchemy, courting, and home decorating —and it never gets old.

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One of the most thrilling parts is leveling up your character in order to take on the highest-powered enemies in Skyrim. The enemies on this list are the most dangerous in the game, with the strongest among them intended purely for players with hundreds of hours logged and more.

Updated on April 8, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: We added a handful more baddies, including top vampire Harkon. We also added tables for each foe's stats, because who doesn't love tables?

22 Sabre Cat - A Skyrim Strong Enemy, But Not That Bad

Obviously, dragons and boss fights in Skyrim are the big features when it comes to the most powerful Skyrim enemies. But Sabre Cats hold their own in this arena -- especially given how quickly they can pounce on a character.

At close range, these predators dish out the damage and can keep apace with players of even the highest stamina. Want to beat them? Better be on the tankier side with heavy armor.

21 Chaurus Reaper - Like Why And Like...Don't?

As any Skyrim fan worth their salt knows, the Falmer have a pretty grim history. But the creatures they keep in their subterranean dwellings might be even more horrifying. The Chaurus are hard-shelled, bug-like arthropod monsters who look like the Grim Reaper's nightmares. Curiously enough, the most powerful of their kind is called a Reaper.

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Be wary of any Falmer chests you find for it could, instead, be a Chaurus Reaper in disguise. Though not as dangerous as other enemies, this is still kind of a rough one.

20 Giants - Gentle, Until They're Not

It's true that giants are not aggressive enemies unless they are provoked. Moreover, they aren't especially difficult from a mechanics perspective because of how slow-moving they are. However, a creature who can one-shot you into space with their club? That's nothing to scoff at.

The good thing is that, if you happen to encounter other powerful creatures around a giant, you might be able to haphazardly recruit it to fight them for you. Just try and run away before they club you.

19 Trolls - The Worst Thing Below Level 35

It's very true that Trolls are far from being the hardest enemy in Skyrim. In fact, they're pretty easy in higher levels despite the fact that they can regenerate health. But that trait paired with low-level, ill-equipped players means death.

The Frost troll who stalks the High Hrothgar path can be especially problematic for players who bolt through the storyline with no sidequests. The best tip is the make use of fire as trolls hate it, and it will help dispatch them more quickly.

18 Forsworn Briarhearts - Druids Too Into Bodily Harm

You know you are in trouble when you find yourself fighting a man willing to undergo a ritual in which their heart is cut out and replaced with a briar's. If you find yourself in a Forsworn encampment, you will encounter one of two types: the melee user and the shaman.

The former dual wields swords and axes. Get too close to the melee type, and you may find yourself dead after only a few blows due to perks like Bladesman, Dual Savagery, and Hack and Slash, all of which significantly increase the amount of damage dealt by them. Run away and the shamans (and their atronachs) will pummel you with destruction spells.

17 Volkihar Master Vampire - Not Quite Harkon

The Volkihar Master Vampire is the strongest vampire boss-type you can encounter in Skyrim if you aren't playing with any DLC. Volkihar Master Vampires can be found in several locations throughout Skyrim, often with a couple of their clan members in tow.

If you come across one in your adventures, be prepared to deal with Destruction spells such as Ice Storm, Chain Lightning, and Vampiric Drain — which can drain magicka, stamina, and health. Oh, and make sure to avoid contracting Sanguinare Vampiris. Unless, you want to be a vampire, in which case, carry on.

16 Werewolf Vargr - Howling Pain

The Werewolf Vagrs is yet another enemy that was introduced in Dawnguard. The boss-level Vargrs are the strongest werewolves in the game. They are likely the “lost” werewolves that Aela refers to during the quest “The Silver Hand.” There is... no need to seek them out.

Once the Dragonborn reaches level 38, they will randomly attack you on sight as you explore Silver Hand bases. What they lack in defense, they make up for in damage and speed. They use the spell Werewolf Claws to receive a Fortify Unarmed Damage effect, which gives them a substantial power boost.

15 Draugr Death Overlord - Weakness Is Not In His Vocabulary

If you have seen one Draugr, you have seen them all, right? Sadly, no. Once the Dragonborn reaches level 37, the Draugr Death Overlord will grace you with his presence in one of those dungeons you used to clear so easily.

Remember when shouts used to be special? Not anymore -- this guy can shout, too. They will blow you away with Unrelenting Force, charge at you, and attack with an Ebony or Ancient Nord weapon. If that doesn’t work, and you find yourself gaining the upper hand, they will use Disarm to strip you of your weapon.

14 Dremora Valkynaz - Deadly Dremora

The Dremora Valkynaz is the baddest of the bad when it comes to Dremora -- a type of Daedra. However, because they are summoned creatures, they are very rare. Still, it is possible to encounter them in battle. After completing the quest “Pieces of the Past,” Silus Vesuius will summon two Dremora to attack the Dragonborn at the Shrine of Mehrune — even if you don’t kill him — because he is a jerk.

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It is possible that these Dremora will be the Valkynaz type if the Dragonborn’s level is high enough. If you are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to engage one in battle, make sure you are wearing your best armor. These guys attack with powerful, enchanted two-handed weapons and specialize in Destruction spells such as the Adept-level Fireball and Expert-level Incinerate.

13 Falmer Warmonger - Dangers In The Dark

The Falmer were already annoying enough before Dawnguard went ahead and added Warmongers to the bunch, creating the most powerful Falmer in the game. These blind creatures with their heightened sense of hearing, smell, and touch are the Daredevils of the Skyrim universe with the toughest ones being the spellsword and melee boss types.

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They are proficient with melee weapons and are able to cast Destruction and Restoration spells. The spellswords, in particular, are not afraid to cast Chain Lightning or Ice Spike on their opponents. Both types possess the Extra Damage perk which, as the name implies, increases the amount of physical damage dealt by these dastardly creatures.

12 Vulthuryol - The Blackreach Dragon

Blackreach -- the enormous cavern the connects all the Dwemer cities -- is also home to this deadly dragon. In his defense, the Dragonborn rudely awakens by using their Fus-Ro-Dah on a resonating orb, so it's a bit fair that he is cranky.

The boss fight can only occur once at the Great Lift of Mzinchaleft; if you don't beat him, he flees and never comes back. That means you'll want to come expertly prepared for one of Skyrim's hardest boss characters.

11 Arch Mages - No, Not That Kind

Not to be confused with the Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, these enemies are comprised of all the most powerful types of spellcasters across Skyrim, from Cryomancers to Necromancers and Pyromancers to Electromancers. They cast spells that are adept and higher, dealing significant damage to the Dragonborn.

In particular, their Destruction spells are augmented with perks that increase their damage by 50 percent. They also have the Regeneration perk which increases the effectiveness of healing spells by 50 percent. Pair this with their ability to increase protection spells to reduce damage, and you will find that, though they are only wearing robes, they are difficult to take down — especially since they tend to travel with others.

10 Nightmaster Vampire - Undead And Deadly

If you have Dawnguard installed, you will eventually run into the Nightmaster Vampire, the strongest boss-type vampire in the game. They are commonly encountered in vampire lairs or while they are attacking cities. They are skilled mages and necromancers, specializing in Destruction and Necromancy.

Watch out for Vampiric Drain which saps 15 points of health, magicka, stamina per second from the Dragonborn, which totally sucks (ha!). They can also cast adept and higher Destruction spells, but the real game-changer is their ability to use Revenant to reanimate a powerful corpse to fight for them. Isn’t just fighting the Nightmaster bad enough? They can turn invisible for crying out loud. You’re on the verge of winning and then poof!

9 The Forgemaster - The Dwemer Star Destroyer

The Forgemaster is another unique enemy introduced in Dawnguard. It is a stronger and larger type of Dwarven Centurion found in the Ruins of Bthalft. The Dragonborn must defeat it if they wish to use the Aetherium Forge to make special magical items. If you thought battling Dwarven Centurion Masters was hard, then you aren’t prepared for this fight.

Unlike other Centurions, it is resistant to fire — along with poison and illusion spells. You may find yourself caught off guard by its fire and fireball breath attacks that replace the steam attacks used by normal Centurions. Don’t relax if you manage to evade this attack successfully. The fire lingers on the ground, waiting to cause more damage to unsuspecting fighters.

8 Lurker Vindicator - Vindicate Yourself By Killing Them

Lurkers are found in the realm of Apocrypha and can also be encountered in Solstheim. They are amphibious Daedric creatures who use melee attacks during battle and the strongest Lurker by far is the Vindicator. Don’t let their lack of armor fool you; these guys pack a powerful punch and their stomps are strong enough to stagger you — and cause poisonous tentacles to appear beneath their feet.

Its Lurker Spray attack causes 8 points of damage per second, whereas its ranged Acid Spit attack causes 20 points of damage over 5 seconds. Add the Extra Damage perk to the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster, no matter the distance. Even without Acid Spit, hanging back and spamming spells won’t work, as they have 25 percent resistance to Frost and Magic.

7 Naaslaarum & Voslaarum - What If Revered Dragons Were Worse?

And by worse here, the game means dreadfully powerful and also visibly frightening. The pair of Revered Dragons both have bright orange skin and the classic fire-breathing ability. But the Dragon Shout they use is what makes them difficult to beat.

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"Gaan Lah Haas", or the Drain Vitality Shout, drains a player's health over time, as well as their magicka and stamina for 30 seconds. They will also disorient you, they can fly, and the fight takes place on a frozen lake. Neat.

6 Harkon - Quite Truly Harkon

Harkon is, unsurprisingly, the hardest vampire in Skyrim. Dawnguard's final boss doles out some serious pain, enough to put him near the top of the list - though in truth, he's best described as 'just another high-level vampire, except this time with high elemental resistance'.

Put him to pasture the same way you would any of his peers, but be exceedingly liberal with your healing. Harkon's magic is the real deal.

5 Dragon Priest - Gotta Collect 'Em All

Dragon Priests lie in wait in their tombs awaiting the Alduin’s return. Approaching their resting place will trigger a battle no matter your level, so be sure to watch your back when exploring ruins. Each priest typically has an elemental attack that they prefer, casting related destruction spells and summoning atronachs of the same element. They cannot use melee attacks, so they will cast spells like Ebonyflesh to protect themselves from such attacks.

They are master spellcasters, with Conjuration, Destruction, Alteration, and Restoration maxed out — and the ability to summon Dremora. Expect to die a few deaths.

4 Legendary Dragons - Level 78+

Dawnguard introduced us to Legendary Dragons, the most powerful in the game. In order for them to appear, the Dragonborn must be at least level 78. You can tell if a dragon is legendary or not by the color of its scales. They also have large curved horns and, creepily enough, multiple eyes in a single socket.

Legendaries have 4,163 points (the frost versions have about 200 more points) of health, exceeding that of Karstaag’s. (More on him shortly.) At level 75, they make Revered Dragons look like a cakewalk. A Legendary will either attack with Frost or Fire Breath and use the Drain Vitality shout to damage the Dragonborn’s stamina, magicka, and health.

3 Miraak - You, But More Goth, Arrogant, And Gauche

Miraak is a former dragon priest who claims to be the very first Dragonborn and the main antagonist of the Dragonborn DLC. He is the perfect example of absolute power corrupting absolutely as his past is full of betrayal and arrogant behavior.

He uses a one-handed sword that drains stamina and a staff that causes poison damage by summoning tentacles (of all things). Being one of the Dragonborn, Miraak also has access to a number of shouts including one that allows him to bend the will of several dragons.

Just when you think you’ve got him on the rope, he will use another one of his shouts to devour the soul of a dragon under his control to replenish his health mid-battle. Darn!