Skyrim:Cultist

Cultists are mysterious followers of Miraak, the first Dragonborn, who live in his temple on the island of Solstheim and carry out his wishes. Once you have been recognized as Dragonborn during the quest The Way of the Voice, a pair of cultists will be sent to Skyrim to hunt you and kill you for being a "false" Dragonborn. All cultists are powerful mages, relying on summoning and elemental magic spells in combat. The type of cultist you encounter depends on your level, and you will continue to meet low-level cultists even at high levels.

Cultists

A Cultist firing a shock spell

Cultists are members of the Conjurer NPC class and use Destruction spells in battle. All cultists of Miraak wear a uniform of robes, boots, gloves, and an eerie bone mask. Arch Cultists wear a standard warlock outfit instead, consisting of a pair of boots along with black mage robes, hooded black mage robes, robes of Alteration, robes of Destruction, robes of Restoration, or robes of Fortify Magicka Rate.

Cultists also carry a leveled dagger (iron, steel, orcish, dwarven, elven, glass, or an enchanted dagger of any quality from iron to Daedric). They also have a 10% chance to carry a leveled Conjuration or Destruction staff.

In addition to the gear listed above, cultists have a small chance to carry potions, poisons, soul gems, Novice or Apprentice level spell tomes, ingredients (common, uncommon, or rare), recipes, and a small amount of gold. If the quest Conjuration Ritual Spell or Good Intentions was completed, they are also carrying up to two atronach forge recipes in their inventories - one at 2% chance for each completed quest.

On death, cultists have a 10% chance to drop potions and poisons, and a 5% chance to drop one of the following scrolls:

• Alteration: Scroll of Mass Paralysis
• Conjuration: Scroll of Conjure Storm Atronach, Scroll of Dread Zombie
• Destruction:Scroll of Blizzard, Scroll of Fire Storm
• Illusion: Scroll of Call to Arms, Scroll of Harmony, Scroll of Hysteria, Scroll of Mayhem
• Restoration: Scroll of Bane of the Undead, Scroll of Guardian Circle

Master Cultists and Arch Cultists have the same miscellaneous items and daggers as other cultists, and have a 50% chance to carry a Staff of Chain Lightning, Staff of Fireballs, or a Staff of Ice Storms and do not have the leveled lists for atronach forge recipes.

Name	PC Level	NPC Level	Race		ID			Sta.	Spells	Perks
Cultist	1	12	Dark Elf		xx034fba	192	198	25	• Fast Healing • Steadfast Ward • Firebolt • Stoneflesh • Flames	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance • Augmented Flames • Recovery • Mage Armor • Regeneration
			Dark Elf		xx034fbb
			Nord		xx034fb9
Cultist Adept	18, 19	19	Dark Elf		xx034fbd	375	270	25	• Banish Daedra • Sparks • Close Wounds • Steadfast Ward • Fast Healing • Stoneflesh • Lightning Bolt	• Atromancy • Regeneration • Mage Armor • Respite • Magic Resistance • Ward Absorb • Recovery
			Dark Elf		xx034fbe
			Nord		xx034fbf
Ascendant Cultist	27	27	Dark Elf		xx034fc0	567	323	25	• Chain Lightning • Fast Healing • Close Wounds • Lightning Bolt • Command Daedra • Steadfast Ward • Expel Daedra • Stoneflesh	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance, rank 2 • Augmented Frost • Regeneration • Elemental Potency • Respite • Mage Armor, rank 2 • Ward Absorb
			Dark Elf		xx034fc1
			Nord		xx034fc2
Master Cultist	36	36	Dark Elf		xx034fc3	767	383	25	• Chain Lightning • Greater Ward • Close Wounds • Ironflesh • Command Daedra • Lightning Bolt • Expel Daedra	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance, rank 3 • Augmented Shock, rank 2 • Regeneration • Elemental Potency • Respite • Mage Armor, rank 3 • Ward Absorb
			Dark Elf		xx034fc4
			Nord		xx034fc5
Arch Cultist	46	46	Dark Elf		xx034fc6	975	500	50	• Chain Lightning • Greater Ward • Close Wounds • Ironflesh • Command Daedra • Thunderbolt • Expel Daedra	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance, rank 3 • Augmented Shock, rank 2 • Regeneration • Elemental Potency • Respite • Mage Armor, rank 3 • Ward Absorb
			Dark Elf		xx034fc7
			Nord		xx034fc8

^1These Cultist Adepts appear twice in the leveled list for this type of cultist: once at level 18 and once at level 19.

Summoner Cultists

A Cultist with a flame atronach ally

These cultists have the ability to use Destruction magic as well, but prefer to summon flame atronachs and seekers to fight alongside them. They wear the same cultist's outfit as the cultists listed above, except Master Cultists and Arch Cultists, who wear the warlock outfit instead. Otherwise, their weapons, staves, and miscellaneous inventory items are the same as non-summoner cultists.

Name	PC Level	NPC Level	Race		ID			Sta.	Spells	Perks
Cultist	1	12	Dark Elf		xx0365f4	192	198	25	• Conjure Flame Atronach • Flames • Fast Healing • Steadfast Ward • Firebolt • Stoneflesh	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance • Augmented Flames • Regeneration • Mage Armor • Recovery
			Dark Elf		xx0365f3
Cultist Adept	19	19	Dark Elf		xx034fc9	375	270	25	• Banish Daedra • Lightning Bolt • Close Wounds • Sparks • Conjure Seeker • Steadfast Ward • Fast Healing • Stoneflesh	• Atromancy • Regeneration • Mage Armor • Respite • Magic Resistance • Ward Absorb • Recovery
			Dark Elf		xx034fce
			Nord		xx034fcf
Ascendant Cultist	27	27	Dark Elf		xx034fd0	567	323	25	• Chain Lightning • Fast Healing • Close Wounds • Lightning Bolt • Command Daedra • Steadfast Ward • Conjure Seeker • Stoneflesh • Expel Daedra	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance, rank 2 • Augmented Frost • Regeneration • Elemental Potency • Respite • Mage Armor, rank 2 • Ward Absorb
			Dark Elf		xx034fd1
			Nord		xx035650
Master Cultist	36	36	Dark Elf		xx035651	767	383	25	• Chain Lightning • Expel Daedra • Close Wounds • Greater Ward • Command Daedra • Ironflesh • Conjure Seeker • Lightning Bolt	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance, rank 3 • Augmented Shock, rank 2 • Regeneration • Elemental Potency • Respite • Mage Armor, rank 3 • Ward Absorb
			Dark Elf		xx035652
			Nord		xx035653
Arch Cultist	46	46	Dark Elf		xx035654	1325	500	50	• Chain Lightning • Expel Daedra • Close Wounds • Greater Ward • Command Daedra • Ironflesh • Conjure Seeker • Thunderbolt	• Atromancy • Magic Resistance, rank 3 • Augmented Shock, rank 2 • Regeneration • Elemental Potency • Respite • Mage Armor, rank 3 • Ward Absorb
			Dark Elf		xx035655
			Nord		xx035656

Related Quests

• Dragonborn: Travel to the island of Solstheim to find out what's happening there.
• The Temple of Miraak: Uncover the source of Miraak's power in the Temple of Miraak.

World Interactions

• Cultist Attack ^DB

Dialogue

Cultists encountered in Solitude

Greetings

• You there! You're the one they call Dragonborn?
• Your lies fall on deaf ears, Deceiver. The True Dragonborn comes... You are but his shadow.
• Then it is too late. The lie has already taken root in the hearts of men.
• So we shall expose to them the falseness in their hearts by tearing out yours, Deceiver!
• Your lies fall on deaf ears, Deceiver! We know you are the False Dragonborn!
• You shall not stand in the way of the true Dragonborn's return. He comes soon, and we shall offer him your heart!
• You cannot escape the truth. You cannot escape the True Dragonborn!
• When Lord Miraak appears all shall bear witness. None will stand to oppose him!
• When Lord Miraak appears all shall bear witness. None shall stand to oppose him!

Combat

• The unworthy flee before the Master's power.
• Another offering for the Master.
• You cannot escape Miraak's sight!
• You cannot escape the Dragonborn's justice!
• You won't win!
• Miraak help me!
• I shall not fall!
• For Miraak!
• The truth will take you!
• Master, guide my hand!
• The true Dragonborn will judge you!
• You will be an offering to the Master!
• Your soul belongs to Miraak!
• The true Dragonborn returns to this world soon, and all will be judged!
• The rightful Dragonborn comes soon!
• We shall clear the way for the coming of the true Dragonborn!
• Your blood will flow in Miraak's name!
• Your false reign ends now!
• You would dare call yourself the true Dragonborn?
• I will purify the world for Miraak's return!
• None shall stand against Miraak!

When cultists lose sight of you, they say:

• Find them!

See Also

For more information on the original Dragon Cult, see the lore article.

Books

• Atlas of Dragons by Brother Mathnan — A glossary of Skyrim's dragons
• Skorm Snow-Strider's Journal by Skorm Snow-Strider — The journal of a First Era Nordic commander and his encounter with the Dragon Cult