I saw a thread about this when I was going pure mage but I can't find it now. I'm stealth/archery this play through, lvl 21. A Blood Dragon just about owned me last night. I only survived thanks to some npc assassins who were out to kill me showed up and they killed each other. I quaff resist fire potions but the best I can find are only 20%. He breaths fire, my health bar just disapears. I go through health potions like jello shots thru coeds. Any help strategy wise?

I manage ok and all my perks are in archery and stealth. Get some resist fire and resist frost potions and something to hide behind (lead him somewhere if not readily available) and as he lands shoot, hide and repeat. I fair better than I did when i played a pure warrior.

Use Lord Stone(25% magic resist) along with a questline from Temple of Mara in Riften(another 15% magic resist) to help out. You can also skill up alchemy to make your own potions which would be much better.

If you have enchanting you can put a "resist fire" effect on a ring and an amulet. That would help a lot, although you need grand or greater soul gems for any good effect.

I have a 25 Archer sneak and theonly way he can kill a dragon is if the dragon is focusing something else. Try to fight near a bear, i remember a blood dragon/dragon (2) were gankin rthe bear but the bear was a tanky dps soooo i was ashe in the back sniping

Somehow my Nightmere steed survives every single dragon attack (so far, at least). Not taking risks with it, but it's a nice joker to play from time to time.

Soddy forz the not-very-goody anglish,

I fink fighting dragoons is hardish wid stealthed people.

I am archer/sneak always have been and now level 35. But, I always hide behind a post and pop out back and forth popping shots at them. Never really had a hard time with dragons at any level. Also, at level 10 I started smithing, so I started to began to use better weapons.

My illusionist nightblade character who only sneaks up behind everything and backstabs them had some rough time with dragons at first. Still... In a couple cases I was able to easily lead the dragon on a cat and mouse chase (me being the mouse) and right into a pack of giants and mammoths. They did a pretty good job of keeping the dragons attention while I flailed wildly about with my daggers. Some times the stealthy types have to use their environment to their advantage. Big bad creatures out in the wild are part of that environment.

No its not glamous or very heroic, but hey... I'm a stealthy backstabbing thief. I don't do heroic well.

My sneak character is overpowered because of his archery and sneak skills....
I just duck down and dissapear...
Then i kill them with about 8 arrows on master difficulty
The game gets real easy when u can sneak so good its like wearing a 100% invisable suit in oblivion

Thanks for all the great advice everybody.

You actually can sneak on and backstab dragons. Then run like hell, hide and repeat maybe?

The first dragon was my absolute worst. Took forever to bring him down. I'm archer/sneak, but even at lower skills I found dragons kinda easy on master once you learn how to tackle them. Find cover you can navigate around, toggle between shooting and healing, and always update yourself on your own and the dragons position or you'll be toast.

Again, use cover to your advantage, and plan the approach/assault route in case you're spotted.

I am also light armor, with stealth and range. I have no problems at all killing drakes, having killed over 40 so far. What kind of armor are you using? And weps? I bet that is where we differ. I have worked hard to bump my smithing up so I have Dragon Scale armor and ebony weapons. In fact, I rarely take more than 30-50% damage, even with Elder Drakes. I DW so I take them down very quickly, so they have less time to beat on me. I also have made jewelry items with resists on them as well as the armor pieces. Good Luck! =)

Playing the mainquest will make things easier for you:
you will get near the end.

As the MQ is fairly short, you can get it rather quickly.

I can see the logic in this.

find some kind of obstruction ie pillar, large tree, or large stone and use the stick n move method... works for me everytime.

As many have said, you're a sneaky sort, there's no such thing as shame when we're talking about firing off arrows behind rocks, trees, buildings, etc. Nor is there any shame in allowing npc's to do your dirty work for you. Heck when i really 'need' somebody dead inside a town I sneak up to a good hiding spot in view of the victim, cast fury on them, and giggle with glee. Didn't even have to dirty my blade.

I know the feeling, I learned just how poorly stealth characters can do when their one advantage is no longer in play for them.

Generally, get yourself any gear and potions that add resistance to fire and frost, for their breath attacks. And until you've at least taken a perk or two in increasing damage reduction for your preferred armor class, don't try to wade in for the melee unless you like seeing how your character looks in a dragon's mouth.

Stay out of their range and pelt with arrows, use the terrain to your advantage if you can (and if are on open plain with no cover...run like hell). You can also try kiting the dragons to nearby towns with lots of guards to add support.

Stealth characters generally have to rely on being more strategic and inventive on the fly with fighting encounters like this, because without being able to drop out of sight and re-enter "Hidden" status, they have to fight in a way that emphasizes their every disadvantage. Makes victory ever the sweeter, though.

Without spoiling anything, joining the Companions and doing their quests up to a certain point can make fighting anything head to head much easier :thumbsup:

Guzzle potions, man. I'm a stealth archer, too, and this is the only way I can 1v1 a dragon. I mainly go for the fire resist potions and health potions.