The “Bend Will” shout in Skyrim is an incredibly powerful ability that allows the player to dominate the minds of various creatures, including dragons. This shout is part of the Dragonborn expansion and significantly enhances the Dragonborn’s potential by providing control over animals, NPCs, and dragons.
Where to Learn and How to Unlock “Bend Will”
- Saering’s Watch: The first word of the shout can be learned at the word wall located at Saering’s Watch on the island of Solstheim.
- The Gardener of Men Quest: The second and third words are taught to the Dragonborn by the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora during the main questline, specifically in the quest “The Gardener of Men.” This involves reading the Black Book titled “Epistolary Acumen” and progressing through the associated stages of the quest.
What It Is Used For
The “Bend Will” shout has multiple uses, each corresponding to the different words of the shout. Below is a table summarizing these uses:
| Word | Effect | Recharge Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gol (Earth) | Cleanses the All-Maker Stones on Solstheim | 10 seconds |
| Gol Hah (Earth Mind) | Forces NPCs and creatures to become temporary allies for 30 seconds | 90 seconds |
| Gol Hah Dov (Earth Mind Dragon) | Tames dragons and allows them to be ridden | 120 seconds |
Use Cases and Effects
- Cleansing All-Maker Stones: The first word, “Gol,” is essential for purging corrupted All-Maker Stones scattered across Solstheim. Cleansing these stones allows the player to unlock powerful abilities.
- Controlling NPCs and Creatures: The second word, “Gol Hah,” enables the Dragonborn to dominate NPCs and creatures, turning them into temporary allies during combat.
- Dragon Riding: The third word, “Gol Hah Dov,” allows the Dragonborn to tame dragons. This includes mounting and riding them. When tamed, dragons can assist the player in battles, but they will leave after being dismounted.
ID Codes and Spell Information
For players using console commands to unlock the shout, here are the ID codes for each word:
- Gol (Earth):
xx0179d9 - Gol Hah (Earth Mind):
xx0179da - Gol Hah Dov (Earth Mind Dragon):
xx0179db - Spell ID:
xx0179d8
Special Notes
- Using the shout on dragons forces them to land, similar to the Dragonrend shout. This can be useful if you haven’t unlocked Dragonrend yet.
- The shout does not work on all dragons, such as Alduin, Paarthurnax, and specific dragons found in unique locations or scenarios.
- The “Bend Will” shout can also inadvertently increase your bounty if the tamed dragon kills non-hostile NPCs.
- Riding a dragon facilitates fast travel, even when enemies are nearby, unless the dragon’s health is below 50%.
Bugs and Issues
- Performing significant damage to a dragon before using the shout might cause it to fly to the nearest crash landing marker rather than landing directly.
- Undead creatures and specific dragons are immune to the effects of this shout, only experiencing a stagger effect.
The “Bend Will” shout is a versatile and powerful tool in the arsenal of the Dragonborn, offering unique gameplay mechanics and strategic options in Skyrim. Mastering it can significantly alter the course of battles and questlines, providing the player with unparalleled control over their surroundings.
