Skyrim DLC starting locations — How to start Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn expansions
As with many of Bethesda’s huge adventures, Skyrim was treated to a series of hefty expansions that introduced new questlines, weapons, factions, locations and even the ability to build your own house.
If you’re playing the original versions of the game and have bought the DLC, it’ll show up on the game’s main menu to signify it’s available. If you have bought the PS4, Xbox One or PC version of the Special Edition, it’ll automatically be included too.
If you are playing the 2021 Anniversary Edition, we have explainers on features such as fishing.
On this page:
- How to start Dawnguard DLC in Skyrim
- How to start Hearthfire DLC in Skyrim
- How to start Dragonborn DLC in Skyrim
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How to start Dawnguard DLC in Skyrim
To get the ball rolling on Dawnguard, talk to common guards that roam inside or surrounding major cities, and they should tell you about the Dawnguard faction. From there, you’ll get the ‘Dawnguard’ quest unlocked, with a mission marker that guides you to a cave (Dayspring Canyon) before heading to Fort Dawnguard, where you speak someone inside to start ‘Awakening’ and the DLC proper.
If you can’t find one of the above guards to trigger the location, it’s said you can just go straight to the Keep and start chatting to those inside to start anyway. To make your way to Fort Dawnguard, following the directions in the following video by OfficialBackend:
How to start Hearthfire DLC in Skyrim
Hearthfire isn’t a traditional story-driven expansion, instead adding the ability to own plots of land, alongside other smaller additions across the game (including adoption).
In order to access the meat of the DLC — building your own homes — then you must visit specific Jarls and complete quests to unlock them. Our Skyrim House page will break down how to unlock each plot of land.
Want more help with Skyrim? Find out how to join every guild and faction, how to earn Gold fast, learning about XP and levelling to 100, max Crafting skills, max Warrior skills, max Thief skills and max Mage skills, how to get married, where to buy a house, how to start Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn DLC expansions.
If you’re on PC, we have a list of console commands and cheats, and you can learn about the remastered version and how to install mods with our Skyrim guide. Finally, with Switch owners, we have Skyrim amiibo support explained to help unlock special Zelda-themed items.
How to start Dragonborn DLC in Skyrim
Play the main story past ‘The Way of the Voice’ (where you climb up the Throat of the World) and then visit a major city. You should see cultists walking around, who will ask you if you’re the Dragonborn.
After the conversation, they should fight you. Check their bodies for orders that direct you to Windhelm docks. Once there, find Gjalund Salt-Sage on boat ‘The Northern Maiden’ and ask him to take you to Solstheim.
He’ll refuse initially, so try the various options available until he agrees to take you the island to begin the DLC. Here is OutsideXbox with some finer details of the journey:
Of course, this page simply has what you need to start each expansion, with each quest spinning out to a number of main and side-quests and encounters, the details of which we’d rather not spoil.
As with anything else in the game, you’re free to put them off or pursue them whenever you like — the choice is yours!
How to Start the Dragonborn DLC
By
Ethan Webb
To start the Dragonborn DLC in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, players must encounter a certain faction of hostile NPCs after entering a settlement.
Dragonborn is the third official expansion of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which introduced an entire new questline and region to the game. In this DLC, Elder Scrolls fans must venture to Solstheim, an island northeast of Skyrim and northwest of the realm of Morrowind. On Solstheim, players can experience a plethora of new quests, characters, story lore, and more. In addition, the Dragonborn DLC also grants players the unprecedented ability to tame and ride dragons in Skyrim.
To access Dragonborn‘s add-on content in its entirety, Skyrim players must begin the expansion’s main questline, «Dragonborn.» There are two primary ways to start the Dragonborn DLC. The first method requires players to accept «The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller,» the next main quest after «The Way of the Voice.» Once Elder Scrolls fans meet the Greybeards at High Hrothgar, they will be tasked with discovering the whereabouts of the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. The quest ends with Riverwood innkeeper Delphine revealing she’s an undercover Blade and seeks the Dragonborn’s aid.
Related: Skyrim: How to Become a Vampire-Werewolf Hybrid
Whether or not the player completes «The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller,» they will encounter Cultist NPCs once they travel or enter any town or city in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. These Cultists will confront the player, forcing them into a dialogue sequence, after which they will always become hostile and attack.
Once the enemies have been slain, loot their corpses to find a note, which will trigger the «Dragonborn» questline upon being read. If the Cultists do not appear, try using the «wait» mechanic nearby or within any settlement in Skyrim.
Next, players must travel to Windhelm, the capital of Eastmarch Hold, located in northeastern Skyrim. After arriving at the stables outside the city, walk down the slope on the right to the docks. At this location in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, speak with Gjalund Salt-Sage, the captain of the Northern Maiden. Inquire him regarding passage to Solstheim, and he will demand the player pay a voyage fee of 500 gold. Choosing the «Intimidate» option is recommended, as it will guarantee a free trip to Morrowind without hassle.
Alternatively, players can access Solstheim right after leaving Helgen’s Keep. Even without completing «The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller,» players can meet Gjalund Salt-Sage at Windhelm’s docks and go straight to Solstheim.
However, the Dragonborn questline will not have initiated, rendering several significant points of interest inaccessible even though they’ve arrived at Raven Rock. First, players must travel across the island to the Temple of Miraak and speak with Frea. After Elder Scrolls fans travel to this location in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and enter dialogue with Frea, they can begin the Dragonborn DLC.
Next: Skyrim: How to Get A Bone Wolf (Pet Guide)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
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About The Author
Ethan is an American from California and holds a double-major degree in Business Admin.
and Media & Comm. While adept in writing a variety of articles, he currently focuses on writing game guides for Screen Rant. He has a lifelong purpose of conquering his Steam backlog someday.
How to start Dragonborn Skyrim
After completing the quest «The Way of the Voice», the dragonborn will be attacked by unknown cultists. Having dealt with them, you need to pick up an order from one of the bodies. From the document, Dovakin learns that a certain Mirak from the island of Solstheim gave the order to attack.
It will also become known that the fanatics arrived on the ship «Northern Maiden» through the port of Windhelm. At the docks, you need to talk to the captain of the ship, Gjalund. Without much desire, he will agree to deliver the protagonist to the island for 500 septims.
With developed eloquence, you can intimidate an intractable captain.
Upon arrival at Solstheim, Dovahkiin will be met by the stern Dunmer Adril Arano.
When trying to find out information about Miraak, he will send the hero to the Earth Stone. You can go there or additionally interview local residents.
In addition to the Earth Stone, they will mention the Temple of Miraak. That’s where you should be heading. The temple is located in the center of the island.
To start the next quest, Dovahkiin needs to stand in the middle of the temple.
Note: You can get to the desired location faster if you go to bed soon after arriving on the island (you can easily find a place to sleep by renting a room in the Drunken Netch tavern). Dovakin will wake up near one of the Stones of the All-Creator, working on a par with the locals.
Skyrim guards after level 10 will tell you that the Dawnguard is recruiting fighters into their ranks. Entering the nearest settlement, Dovakin will meet a middle-aged orc Dorak, who will give more detailed information.
To continue the story, you will have to visit Fort Dawnguard (a corresponding marker will appear on the map indicating its location).
The easiest way to get there is from Riften. The marker will lead the protagonist to a gorge among the rocks.
A new location is hiding there.
On the way to Fort Dovakin, you will meet Agmeyr, who also wants to join the fighters with vampires. Together with him, you can safely get to the fort and listen to a short conversation between Tolan and Isran at the gate. The latter is the leader of the order and should be approached to join the Dawnguard.
Dovakin will receive a crossbow and a handful of bolts, after which a new quest «Awakening» will start.
It is also possible in Skyrim to have an alternative start for Dawnguard. The storyline of the add-on starts if Dovakin finds the fort on his own, before reaching the tenth level. Subsequent story quests will be difficult to pass immediately.
But this is a good option to, for example, get hold of a powerful ranged weapon at the beginning of the game.
Note: after joining the order, you can go around the fort and pick up a few more crossbows and a mass of steel bolts.
In the main hall, Isran advises the novice Agmeir to practice with a crossbow. Dovakin can come up and get the required number of bolts from the boxes.
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Skyrim: The most powerful Dragonborn
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The Dragonborn is the main storyline of Skyrim. However, according to in-game data, the player character is far from the only Dragonborn in the history of the Scrolls. In the past, there have been several similar creatures that have played a significant role in the history of Tamriel.
According to Prior Emelyn Madryn’s book On the Dragonborn, the term first appeared in connection with the Testament of Akatosh, after Alessia took the Amulet of Kings into her hands and the Dragonfires were lit for the first time in the Temple of the One.
Thus the history of the Dragonborn dates back to the First Era . At that time, some people claimed that the Dragonborn had a divine right to command, which was received from Akatosh. At the same time, others believe that the power of Thu’um was a gift from Kynareth, or, according to the Nords, it was a gift from the goddess Kin.
8. Saint Alessia
Saint Alessia is the first known Dragonborn according to the Elder Scrolls. She is known for leading the human uprising against the Ayleids, and after successfully overthrowing the Wild Elves, she founded the Alessian (Cyrodiil) Empire and became the first Empress of Cyrodiil. Saint Alessia also created a Pantheon of eight gods, which included the culture and religion of different peoples.
Although not known to have the power of a dragonborn, Alessia initiated a deal with Akatosh to close the door to Oblivion in exchange for her right to rule, whereby he blessed her with the blood from his heart, thus putting the beginning of the Dragonborn lineage .
7. Reman Cyrodiil
According to legend, a descendant of Saint Alessia, Reman Cyrodiil also did not show the abilities of a dragonborn, but he was the greatest hero of his time. He managed to defeat the invaders from Akavir, and also subjugated them, forcing them to help him create the Second Empire. Precisely Reman started the tradition of lighting dragonfires as a rite of passage for new emperors. . This tradition will continue until the Third Era and will be interrupted with the assassination of Uriel Septim. These events are detailed in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.
6. Mankar Camoran
Mankar Camoran is best known as one of the main perpetrators of the Oblivion Crisis.
As the leader and main antagonist of the Daedric cult Mythic Dawn, he was responsible for Mehrunes Dagon’s invasion of Tamriel. Although Mankar is nowhere mentioned as a dragonborn, there is some hard evidence for this. In particular, he could wear the Amulet of Kings, which is only possible for the descendants of Saint Alessia. Also Mankar wrote that he could speak a new language and three nights later his speech became fire . Which is very similar to the power of the Thu’um.
5. Wulfhart
Wulfhart (also known as the Ash King, Storm Kyne, etc.) is the high king of ancient Skyrm. He was the incredible master of Thu’uma . His power was so great that he could not talk to other creatures for fear of harming them. Wulfhart held the title of Ysmir, which was given to Tiber Septim, and in The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, to Dovahkiin (the player character and the last Dragonborn).
4. Martin Septim
Martin Septim is the illegitimate son of Emperor Uriel Septim VII, the last known Dragonborn before the events of Skyrim.
Like many others of its kind, it has not shown the ability to use the Thu’um or the ability to speak the language of the dragon. However, he was able to demonstrate a certain level of power that is inherent in the Dragonborn. For example, he was able to sacrifice his body to become a vessel for the Great Dragon Akatosh in order to fight the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon.
With Martin’s death, the Septim Dynasty ended, and only those who were gifted by the gods, rather than being a hereditary trait, gained the ability of the Dragonborn.
3. Tiber Septim
Tiber Septim is one of the greatest Dragonborn in the history of the Elder Scrolls, also known as the human god Talos. He united the kingdoms of Tamriel under his banner and marked the beginning of the Third Era with his reign. During his reign, he distinguished himself by many achievements as a ruler and warrior, and also managed to achieve the title of Ysmir after training with the Greybeards.
However, Tiber Septim became most famous after his death, when was deified and added to the Pantheon, becoming the ninth god of .
2. Mirak
Mirak — translated from the dragon language as «Faithful guide», was originally a dragon priest in the Merethic era. In fact, was the first Dragonborn of , although this notion only came about after Alessia. Thanks to his talents, he reached a high rank in the Dragon Cult, but soon began to serve the Daedric prince of the Unidentified — Hermaeus More, who awarded him the Black Book. Thanks to this book, Mirak was able to learn the Shout «Submission of Will» and with the help of this knowledge he began to destroy dragons and absorb their souls. He was later defeated by Valok the Jailer, but was able to escape death thanks to the help of Hermaeus More, who transported him to Apocrypha. In The Elder Scrolls V, Miraak returns to the mortal world, where he will be defeated by Dovahkiin.
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