Requires: The Dragonborn DLC (in Anniversary/Legendary Edition).
Trigger: Cultists attack you in a mainland Skyrim town once you've completed The Way of the Voice.
Unlocks: The shout Bend Will, dragon riding, and the 7 Black Books.
1. Reaching Solstheim
After defeating the cultists who attack you (they carry a note: "Miraak shall be Dragonborn alone"), read the order and travel to Windhelm docks. Board Gjalund Salt-Sage's ship Northern Maiden to Raven Rock on the ash-covered island of Solstheim.
2. The All-Maker Stones
Miraak has enthralled the island's people to build shrines at the All-Maker Stones. You'll free them one by one — the Earth Stone, Water Stone, and others — often by fighting off his controlled workers and later using Bend Will to cleanse them.
- 1
Temple of Miraak
Investigate the Temple with Frea of the Skaal. Inside you recover the first Black Book, Waking Dreams, which pulls you into Apocrypha and sets Miraak as your rival.
- 2
Seek Storn & Neloth
The Skaal shaman Storn and the Telvanni wizard Neloth in Tel Mithryn help you understand Miraak's plan and the power of the Black Books.
3. Learning Bend Will
To reach Miraak you need the shout Bend Will, learned across the DLC: the first word from the Word Wall at Saering's Watch (which you then shout at the Wind Stone to cleanse it), the second from Hermaeus Mora, and the last from Mora again once Storn reads the Black Book and hands over the Skaal's secrets. Bend Will can pacify the All-Maker Stones and, crucially, tame dragons — letting you ride them.
In The Path of Knowledge, solve the Dwemer puzzles of Nchardak to reach the Black Book Epistolary Acumen; reading it (The Gardener of Men) takes you to Hermaeus Mora, who gives you the second word of Bend Will.
4. Boss: Miraak
- 1
Tame Sahrotaar
In Apocrypha's final chapter, shout Bend Will at the serpentine dragon Sahrotaar to tame him. Ride him to Miraak's platform.
- 2
The duel
Miraak fights like a Dragonborn: he shouts, drains dragon souls, and periodically goes intangible to heal. Hit him hard between phases; use your best shouts and keep healing ready — he mirrors your tricks.
- 3
Hermaeus Mora's price
As Miraak nearly dies, Hermaeus Mora intervenes and finishes him personally, claiming his knowledge. You absorb the dragon souls Miraak had stolen.
Apocrypha's floors sprout damaging tentacles and Seekers cast Blur. Stay mobile and don't get cornered during Miraak's teleports.
5. Rewards
You keep Bend Will (dragon riding for good), and can loot Miraak's Mask and Robes — some of the best mage gear in the game. Solstheim opens up for full exploration, including all 7 Black Books and their permanent Apocrypha powers.
Sources
Checked on 1 October 2026 against the Spanish walkthroughs of EliteGuias and Eurogamer.es and against UESP, which set when the cultists first appear and where each word of Bend Will comes from.