I have been playing a mage and an archer and they both have ranged attacks so they don't have too hard of a time taking dragons out. My warrior on the other hand gets his butt kicked if he gets within melee distance of a dragon. Is it possible to create a warrior who does not need ranged attacks to take a dragon out effectively? For some reason I don't like the idea of my heavy armored nord using a mace and sword needing to pull out a bow every time a dragon shows up. I would use magic, but then I would have to worry about leveling magicka to keep my magic offense relevant.

Is there any tips or strategies anyone can give me for taking a dragon out with melee only. I know you get some shouts later, but I don't have many when I first start facing dragons.

I am wondering if a shield is worth anything against a dragon biting at you.

Also I wonder if using an orc character with the berserker power going would be enough of a boost to go toe to toe with a dragon in melee.


If I have to I will break down and use a bow, but I want to see if I can do without. It would be just another skill I need to put perks into that I only really use for dragons.

Wait for them to land, or get the Shout to make them land. It's feasible unless they can one shot you.

Do you have a follower? If so, let them soak up some hits. Then flank the dragon and keep on smashing while you can. If he catches you, run for cover, then repeat.

Use Dragon Shouts, do power shieldbashes, let Lydia fire some arrows for you. That is how I do it, sure, I use the bow sometimes, but it deals such a pitiful amount of damage to a dragon that I almost see no reason to.
I eventually managed to take down my second dragon that way, after a lot of deaths and potions used... I really need to get that 50% magic resistance perk for shields...

I do it all the time, one handed as well. Just wait for them to land or have a companion who uses archery. For me Lydia always uses archery against Dragons. Being near a town helps as guards will shoot at them too.

I've found that standing just behind their rear leg is the safest spot... it's really hard for them to hit you. In fact, I can get many hits in without being hit.

with dragonrend
No problem

or you can tank while you wait for it to land

Todd Howard did it

I dunno. My little level 11 or 12 lightly armored Khajiit doesn't have much trouble with them once they're down. They've suffered a little from the arrow shots of her companion, but usually my char can get a couple shots in each time the dragon lands and eventually kills it using her mace.

I have zero ranged skills on my latest character and have no problems taking dragons using sword and board.

It can be annoying waiting for them to land before the dragonrend shout though.

Anyhow as for tips power bash will interrupt breath and melee attacks so I just stand at the head alternating between bashes and regular attacks.

My first character is Melee and I don't really have an issue with Dragons once my combat skills were out of the basemant (in the 20's and 30's). I still had to be careful, but I could prevail. Now that LA and 2H are up there at high levels, I pretty much just stand in front of them and wail away with my sword.

I could do it, but then I took an arrow to the knee.

Long as you are willing to let a few fly off and get away, or svck up having some use rooftops/hovering to stay out of range, it won't be a problem. Not every dragon's first action will be to commit suicide by attacking the Dragonborn.

Seriously, some think dragons are like the UPS man delivering packages (loot) from newegg.

My twohanded Warrior waits till the came down and then dashes forward to beat the s*** out of them. Works fine with some Potions or some Cover.

I'm primarily hand-to-hand and I have no problem with dragons. I might get two arrows into them first, then they make the mistake of landing and trying to chomp me, despite me being covered in hard metal and swinging nasty pointy sharp objects at them. If they were smart they'd simply stay in the air and try to roast me from the air.

I've found absolutely no trouble fighting dragons on my sword and board nord without the aid of companions.

Just get decent gear and have decent combat skills. The most important thing is interrupts. Bash that dragon whenever you see him make a move on you, or to interrupt their breath weapon. It also helps to stick to one side or the other. Stay away from the mouth or tail if you can.

The hardest thing about fighting a dragon is that they won't stay down. The last one I fought with a bunch of guards was a pain. I kept running back and forth around a tower as it took off and landed again. I'd get one or two shots with a bow then it would be off again and I'd have to run to the other side of the tower to catch it.

I had no issues with my dual 1h wielding Nord which was my first character.

Master could be an issue without the landing shout due to the heat seeking breath attacks : / which is bull crap when they fly by facing away from you and somehow it does a 180 and comes directly to you no matter what.