In the frozen lands of Skyrim, strength alone isn’t enough to survive. True power belongs to those who can harness the ancient Voice—the Thu’um. As the Dragonborn, you don’t just wield magic or steel. You command the very forces of the world, shouting words so powerful they can shatter mountains, freeze time, or bend dragons to your will. Every shout is a piece of ancient history carved into battle, carrying the soul of dragons and the fury of the Dovah. These are the ten most powerful Dragonborn shouts—the ones that shaped Skyrim, toppled legends, and turned the Last Dragonborn into a force no enemy could withstand.
#10: Clear Skies – Lok Vah Koor
At first glance, Clear Skies seems modest. A simple shout to dispel mist, storms, and clouds. But in practice? It’s one of the most game-changing Thu’um powers in Skyrim.
Clear Skies isn’t just about seeing the sun. In gameplay, it can instantly clear deadly blizzards in the mountains, disperse magical fogs during critical quests (like the climb to High Hrothgar or navigating Sovngarde), and even remove storm effects created by enemies like Alduin himself.
Lore-wise, this shout symbolizes purity and clarity—the power to banish chaos and see the world as it truly is. It reflects the Dragonborn’s destiny to bring order amid destruction.
Behind the scenes, developers intended Clear Skies to act as both a puzzle-solving tool and an emotional breather for players, symbolizing moments of hope amid Skyrim’s constant turmoil.
Every time you shout Lok Vah Koor and the clouds’ part to reveal a brilliant blue sky, it’s not just gameplay utility—it’s pure magic.
#9: Disarm – Zun Haal Viik
There’s no moment more satisfying than shouting Zun Haal Viik at an arrogant foe and watching their weapon fly from their hands like a toy.
In gameplay, disarm strips enemies of their weapons, forcing even the deadliest warriors into desperate, panicked fistfights. It’s devastating against tough opponents like Draugr Deathlords, Bandit Chiefs, and Dremora Lords who suddenly find themselves powerless.
Lore-wise, Disarm showcases the mastery of dominion through voice—forcing others to surrender their strength simply by speaking. It’s pure Thu’um-based humiliation, breaking not just bodies but pride.
Though Disarm’s range and effectiveness vary by enemy level, its sheer psychological and tactical value is undeniable. Against mortal foes, it turns the tides instantly.
Developers confirmed that Disarm was intended to reward strategic players who used shouts not just for damage, but for total control over the battlefield.
#8: Dismay – Faas Ru Maar
Dismay isn’t just a shout—it’s terror weaponized.
When shouted, Faas Ru Maar causes enemies to panic and flee in fear, scattering formations, breaking sieges, and leaving once-coordinated groups scrambling like frightened rats.
In gameplay, Dismay is pure crowd control genius. Facing multiple enemies? One well-timed Dismay shout and suddenly you’ve divided and conquered without lifting a sword.
Lore-wise, Dismay embodies the mythic terror that dragons inspired in ancient times—the soul-freezing dread that made armies collapse without a single blow. As Dragonborn, you inherit that primal force.
Developers designed Dismay to make the player feel “like a living legend,” feared by even the bravest warriors—and when enemies turn tail at the sound of your voice, that feeling is unforgettable.
#7: Ice Form – Iiz Slen Nus
Ice Form is what happens when the Dragonborn’s voice turns enemies into helpless statues—literally.
When you shout Iiz Slen Nus, you encase enemies completely in solid ice, freezing them in place for a few precious seconds. Not only does this stop their attacks cold (pun fully intended), but it leaves them wide open for critical hits or devastating combo strikes.
Gameplaywise, Ice Form is one of the best crowd control shouts in Skyrim. Whether you’re facing a dragon, a gang of Forsworn, or a roaming Frost Troll, freezing one or more enemies can mean the difference between overwhelming odds and an easy clean-up.
Unlike basic stuns or knockdowns, Ice Form completely immobilizes foes, making it one of the few ways to neutralize high-level enemies without burning tons of stamina or magicka. In fact, some players build entire strategies around cycling between Ice Form and heavy weapon finishers.
Lore-wise, it mirrors the ancient Nordic belief that the Voice could not only command life but also death and the elements themselves. Developers said Ice Form was inspired by the brutal winters of Skyrim’s landscape—turning nature’s harshness into a literal battlefield weapon.
The visual of an enemy frozen mid-attack, helplessly awaiting their fate, never loses its cold-blooded satisfaction.
#6: Whirlwind Sprint – Wuld Nah Kest
Few shouts feel as viscerally exciting as Wuld Nah Kest—Whirlwind Sprint, the Thu’um of pure speed.
When activated, the Dragonborn hurtles forward in a lightning-fast burst, crossing massive gaps, dodging deadly attacks, or escaping seemingly impossible situations in an instant.
Gameplaywise, Whirlwind Sprint opens up the battlefield like no other shout. It’s used for evasion, repositioning, solving environmental puzzles (such as crossing collapsing bridges), and closing the distance on dangerous archers or mages. In boss fights, it turns a slow-footed Dragonborn into a ghostly blur, allowing surprise attacks from unexpected angles.
Lore-wise, Whirlwind Sprint taps into the primal, ancient speed of dragons themselves—how they could dominate the skies and battlefield through impossible movement.
Developers created Whirlwind Sprint with the intention of giving players “the power to move through the world like a force of nature,” and it absolutely succeeds.
There’s nothing quite like blasting past a Deathlord’s power attack, spinning around, and delivering a finishing blow before they can even react.
#5: Slow Time – Tiid Klo Ul
Slow Time is one of the most godlike shouts the Dragonborn can master—and one of the coolest.
By shouting Tiid Klo Ul, the Dragonborn bends the very fabric of time itself, slowing down everything around them while maintaining their own full-speed motion. Enemies crawl sluggishly, projectiles hang in midair, and deadly attacks can be effortlessly dodged.
In gameplay, Slow Time is invaluable for dodging incoming chaos, setting up devastating critical hits, and utterly overwhelming enemies who can’t react fast enough. Against strong bosses like Dragon Priests or high-level Draugr, it feels like flipping a switch from desperation to domination.
Lore-wise, mastering time manipulation through voice speaks to the true potential of the Dragonborn—someone whose power transcends the physical world and taps into the raw structure of reality itself.
Developers noted that Slow Time was inspired by cinematic moments where heroes seem to move through frozen battlefields—and pulling it off in Skyrim delivers that exact thrilling sensation.
Few experiences in gaming are more electrifying than shouting Tiid Klo Ul and turning an impossible battle into your personal playground.
#4: Dragon Aspect – Mul Qah Diiv
Dragon Aspect is less a simple shout and more a full transformation—when the Dragonborn speaks these words, they don the spectral armor and raw force of a true Dovah.
Upon activating Mul Qah Diiv, the Dragonborn’s power surges dramatically. Armor rating increases, melee damage skyrockets, and new powers—like the ability to launch explosive attacks—become available. It even adds a second, devastating shout effect if you trigger it while active.
Gameplaywise, Dragon Aspect feels like flipping a “god mode” switch. Especially during boss fights or dragon battles, it elevates the Dragonborn into a living force of destruction. What’s even better is that it boosts shouts themselves, reducing cooldown times so you can hurl Thu’um after Thu’um with terrifying speed.
Lore-wise, Dragon Aspect represents the ultimate realization of the Dragonborn’s heritage. It’s not about shouting louder or fighting harder—it’s about embodying the soul of a dragon, commanding power beyond mortal limits.
The developers created Dragon Aspect as “the embodiment of the peak of Dovahkiin potential,” and it shows.
When the ethereal wings flare from your back and enemies stagger in awe, you know you’ve ascended to Skyrim’s true apex predator.
#3: Bend Will – Gol Hah Dov
Bend Will is one of the most mind-bendingly powerful shouts in Skyrim, gifted by the Dragonborn DLC—and it completely changes the game.
With Gol Hah Dov, the Dragonborn can dominate the will of living creatures, forcing dragons to land and serve as mounts, compelling mortals to fight for you, and even seizing control of Daedric constructs.
Gameplay-wise, Bend Will is pure strategic domination. Instead of just killing your enemies, you enslave them. You can ride dragons into battle, turn enemy mobs into temporary allies, or even take over hostile environments like Solstheim itself.
Lore-wise, Bend Will reflects an ancient, almost taboo level of Thu’um mastery—one that even most dragons fear. Using the power of the Voice not just to destroy but to command life itself elevates the Dragonborn into a figure of near-divine authority.
Developers stated that Bend Will was designed to “blur the line between mortal and god,” giving players a taste of what it might feel like to rule over Skyrim as an unstoppable legend.
Controlling a dragon with your voice? That’s not just power. That’s myth-making.
#2: Storm Call – Strun Bah Qo
Few shouts in Skyrim feel as apocalyptic as Strun Bah Qo—Storm Call.
When shouted, the skies darken, thunder cracks, and bolts of lightning rain down indiscriminately on all enemies (and sometimes allies!) across a wide area.
Gameplaywise, Storm Call is pure battlefield chaos. It’s devastating during sieges, large open-field fights, or dragon battles, where multiple targets mean the lightning’s wrath is maximized. It also bypasses defenses—armor, shields, and magical wards mean nothing against the fury of the storm.
Lore-wise, Storm Call harkens back to the ancient days when dragons ruled the skies and could command the weather itself. As Dragonborn, summoning a storm isn’t just a flex—it’s an assertion that you are the storm now.
Behind the scenes, developers wanted players to feel “like a walking natural disaster” when using Storm Call—and when the sky tears open and enemies fry, it’s clear they succeeded.
Few things in Skyrim are as satisfying as standing calm in the middle of your summoned maelstrom while your enemies get obliterated by pure nature.
#1: Unrelenting Force – Fus Ro Dah
It had to be this. Fus Ro Dah isn’t just the most famous shout in Skyrim—it’s the most iconic power fantasy moment in modern gaming.
At full strength, Unrelenting Force unleashes a massive shockwave that sends enemies flying through the air like ragdolls.
Gameplaywise, Fus Ro Dah is pure dominance. Use it to blast enemies off cliffs, shatter enemy formations, interrupt spells, stagger bosses, or just create absolute mayhem. It’s versatile, hilarious, and deadly depending on the terrain and situation.
Lore-wise, Fus Ro Dah is the literal shout of dominance—the voice made manifest to bend the world itself. Among the Greybeards, it is revered as one of the purest expressions of the power of the Thu’um.
The developers of Skyrim knew they had struck gold: Fus Ro Dah isn’t just a tool—it’s a symbol of the Dragonborn’s will shaking the world.
Whether you’re launching a bandit into the stratosphere, tossing a frost troll off a cliff, or simply sending a few goats flying for fun, Fus Ro Dah is pure, joyful power—and no shout defines Skyrim better.
The Thu’um isn’t just an ancient art—it’s a reminder that words have the power to move mountains, topple kings, and change the world. Through these devastating shouts, the Dragonborn doesn’t just survive Skyrim—they conquer it. Whether freezing time, summoning storms, or commanding dragons themselves, every shout echoes across the mountains as proof that true power lies not in steel, but in the strength of your Voice.
