Shouts, or Thu’um, are among the most distinctive and powerful tools in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. From throwing enemies across cliffs to slowing time itself, Dragonborn shouts tap into an ancient force tied to the dragons of old. But not all shouts carry equal weight in combat or utility. This ranked list breaks down every shout by its overall impact, usefulness, and synergy in various playstyles.
1. Unrelenting Force (Fus Ro Dah)
Words: Fus – Ro – Dah
The most iconic shout in the game, Unrelenting Force sends enemies flying and can stagger even dragons. Fully unlocked, it becomes a reliable crowd control tool, especially useful on cliffs, in dungeons, or to interrupt spellcasters and archers.
Best For: All builds
Power Rating: 10/10
2. Slow Time (Tiid Klo Ul)
Words: Tiid – Klo – Ul
Slows the world around you, allowing faster movement, easier dodging, and precise attacks. Exceptionally effective for melee combatants and archers who benefit from extra reaction time. Combines well with Fortify Alteration or the Steady Hand perk.
Best For: Archers, assassins, dual-wielders
Power Rating: 9.5/10
3. Storm Call (Strun Bah Qo)
Words: Strun – Bah – Qo
Summons a thunderstorm that rains down lightning bolts on everything in sight. Devastating in open battles, especially against groups. Not suitable for indoor use or around friendly NPCs.
Best For: Open-world warfare, dragon fights
Power Rating: 9/10
4. Marked for Death (Krii Lun Aus)
Words: Krii – Lun – Aus
Reduces enemy armour and drains their health over time. The debuff stacks if used multiple times and stays active far longer than most effects. Particularly punishing against high-defence enemies and dragons.
Best For: Warriors, solo adventurers
Power Rating: 9/10
5. Dragon Aspect (Mul Qah Diiv)
Words: Mul – Qah – Diiv
One of the few shouts that buffs the Dragonborn rather than affecting the environment. Grants increased power, damage resistance, and a spectral ally at full power. Limited to once per day but highly potent in boss battles.
Best For: Endgame encounters
Power Rating: 8.5/10
6. Bend Will (Gol Hah Dov)
Words: Gol – Hah – Dov
Forces dragons and people to obey your commands. Can turn dragons into allies and make even hostile NPCs passive. A game-changer in Solstheim and particularly useful in clearing out tough areas without raising your sword.
Best For: Solstheim quests, dragon taming
Power Rating: 8.5/10
7. Call Dragon (Od Ah Viing)
Words: Od – Ah – Viing
Summons the dragon Odahviing to assist you in battle. The cooldown is long, but the sheer firepower and tanking capability he brings can shift the tide of difficult fights.
Best For: Sieges, large-scale combat
Power Rating: 8/10
8. Disarm (Zun Haal Viik)
Words: Zun – Haal – Viik
Forces enemies to drop their weapons. It’s unreliable against high-level foes, but effective early on or against dual-wielders and archers. Certain draugr fights become much easier with this in your toolkit.
Best For: Mid-level melee encounters
Power Rating: 7.5/10
9. Dragonrend (Joor Zah Frul)
Words: Joor – Zah – Frul
Grounds flying dragons, forcing them into melee range. While situational, it becomes indispensable in later stages where aerial dragons avoid confrontation.
Best For: Dragon battles
Power Rating: 7.5/10
10. Elemental Fury (Su Grah Dun)
Words: Su – Grah – Dun
Greatly increases the speed of melee attacks. A top-tier damage boost for dual-wield builds and any melee playstyle, but it does not work on enchanted weapons.
Best For: Non-magical melee builds
Power Rating: 7/10
11. Throw Voice (Zul Mey Gut)
Words: Zul – Mey – Gut
Distracts enemies by projecting a false shout to a distant location. Excellent for stealth players, especially in tight dungeon corridors. Doesn’t do damage but opens the door to strategic ambushes.
Best For: Stealth, dungeon exploration
Power Rating: 6.5/10
12. Ice Form (Iiz Slen Nus)
Words: Iiz – Slen – Nus
Freezes enemies solid, rendering them immobile and vulnerable. The freeze can be followed up with power attacks or used to break enemy formations.
Best For: Crowd control
Power Rating: 6.5/10
13. Call of Valor (Hun Kaal Zoor)
Words: Hun – Kaal – Zoor
Summons one of three heroic warriors from Sovngarde to fight alongside you. Useful in prolonged battles, but often outclassed by summons or followers.
Best For: Companion playstyles
Power Rating: 6/10
14. Whirlwind Sprint (Wuld Nah Kest)
Words: Wuld – Nah – Kest
Propels the Dragonborn forward over a short distance. A mobility tool rather than a combat shout, though it can be critical for avoiding traps, crossing gaps, or flanking.
Best For: Exploration, puzzles
Power Rating: 6/10
15. Fire Breath / Frost Breath
Words: Yol – Toor – Shul / Fo – Krah – Diin
Breathes fire or frost in a cone. Early-game these can feel powerful, but their damage scales poorly into later levels. Fire Breath gets a slight edge due to better scaling with perks and resistances.
Best For: Early to mid-game
Power Rating: 5.5/10
16. Clear Skies (Lok Vah Koor)
Words: Lok – Vah – Koor
Clears weather conditions and removes fog. Required for navigating the Throat of the World. Limited practical use outside of scripted moments.
Best For: Atmosphere control
Power Rating: 4.5/10
17. Kyne’s Peace (Kaan Drem Ov)
Words: Kaan – Drem – Ov
Pacifies animals for a short time. Occasionally useful for avoiding wildlife, but nearly redundant with Sneak or Illusion perks.
Best For: Early survival gameplay
Power Rating: 4/10
18. Aura Whisper (Laas Yah Nir)
Words: Laas – Yah – Nir
Reveals all nearby living creatures, even through walls. Essentially a shout version of Detect Life, but slower and with limited range.
Best For: Stealth builds
Power Rating: 4/10
19. Dismay (Faas Ru Maar)
Words: Faas – Ru – Maar
Causes lower-level enemies to flee. Ineffective against strong opponents, and quickly outclassed by fear spells and other crowd control options.
Best For: Low-level crowd control
Power Rating: 3.5/10
20. Become Ethereal (Feim Zii Gron)
Words: Feim – Zii – Gron
Makes you invulnerable for a short time, but also unable to attack or cast spells. Best used for avoiding fall damage or surviving timed traps.
Best For: Niche survival tactics
Power Rating: 3/10
21. Animal Allegiance (Raan Mir Tah)
Words: Raan – Mir – Tah
Temporarily makes nearby animals fight for you. Very limited in scope, and the allies gained are often too weak to make an impact.
Best For: Gimmick builds
Power Rating: 2.5/10
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Shouts offer a dynamic system of powers that reward experimentation. While some are critical to progression or offer immense combat advantage, others lean more toward flavour or niche usage. Mastering the best of them can change how you approach boss fights, stealth missions, and large-scale battles in Skyrim.
Watch the guide:
