12 Best Dragonbone Armor Mods For Skyrim

What could be more badass than using the bones of your enemies to make weapons and armor?

Just one thing: making them from the bones of dragons that were killed.

Even with all the DLC and Creation Club things that come with the Anniversary Edition, the Dragonplate and Dragonscale armor sets are some of the most powerful and cool-looking in Skyrim.

Still, there’s always room for improvement, and Skyrim’s mod community has been around for a long time, so there are lots of ways to make your dragon bone gear better.

12. Elven Dragonbone Light Armor Set

This mod introduces a new armor set called the Elven Dragonbone set to the game Skyrim. In order to craft this set at a forge, players must have both the Elven Smithing and Dragon Armor perks.

It’s important to note that this mod requires the Dawnguard expansion. By installing this mod, players gain access to a unique and visually appealing armor set that combines elements of Elven craftsmanship with the strength and durability of Dragonbone materials.

This provides players with an exciting new option for equipping their characters and enhancing their combat capabilities.

11. Dragonbone Crossbow

This mod introduces a new weapon to the game called the dragonbone crossbow. Players can obtain and use this crossbow, which is made from dragonbone materials, to unleash powerful ranged attacks.

The dragonbone crossbow provides a unique and visually appealing addition to the available arsenal in the game, offering players an alternative and exciting option for long-range combat.

10. Improved Dragonplate Armor

The Dragonplate armor is one of the most “dragonborn-like” sets of gear you can get in regular Skyrim. It’s not the best, which is a shame.

This title would go to the Daedric armor, even though making armor from Dragon bones and scales is harder and needs Smithing Level 100 instead of the Level 90 needed to make Daedric.

From where I stand, this doesn’t make much sense.

Even though Dragonplate is lighter than Daedric, does that really mean it should be so much harder to make?

The Improved Dragonplate Armor mod gives it a much higher armor rating, making it better than Daedric and making the Dragon smithing perk worth it.

9. Bony Footsteps for Dragonbone Boots

Improving an armor doesn’t have to be all stats and visuals.

I’ve always thought walking around with each armor set would make a remarkably different sound. Banging metal sheets against one another has to be different from leather sliding over leather, right?

This mod gives the boots from the Dragonplate armor set their own distinctive sound reminiscent of, well, bones clanking.

Think skeletons in Minecraft, but a little bit less cartoonish.

8. Reshaped Dragonbone Armor

If you like wearing Dragon bones as armor but don’t love bulky-looking characters, the Reshaped Dragonbone Armor mod is for you.

This add-on modifies the Dragonplate armor in several subtle ways to make your character look more slender and mobile when wearing it. The rounded pauldrons and slightly wider chestpiece give it a better-looking shape overall.

One of my favorite changes is the addition of leather/scale covering for your character’s arms.

Why would you leave anything unnecessarily exposed in the cold tundra environment of Skyrim?

7. Dragonscale Berserker Armor

Just as some people can’t stand bulky armor, others can’t get enough of it.

If your idea of good-looking armor is derived from Space Marines in Warhammer 40K, you’ll love the Dragonscale Berserker Armor.

This remodeled Dragonscale set features enlarged boots and gauntlets and many more spikes on the pauldrons that give it that “berserker” feel. In addition, the helmet has been closed off, providing more protection and making your Dragonborn look even more dangerous.

The set also includes a new two-handed sword based on the Dragonbone Greatsword, with a small dragon skull mounted on the handguard for extra bad-assery.

6. Oxidized Dragonbone Retexture

The dragon bones we get from dragons in Skyrim have a nice khaki color that’s fashionable and accurately mimics real bone.

That said, after wearing them for a long time, you’d expect them to change a bit in color.

One way to show this effect in-game is through the Oxidized Dragonbone Retexture, which colors all Dragonbone armor and weapons an earthy orange hue.

You’ll also find amethyst and “rocky moss” versions of some pieces for added variety.

5. Frankly HD Dragonbone & Dragonscale

I know a lot of people who don’t want to change Bethesda’s original plan for Skyrim. Instead, they just want to make it a little better.

With high-resolution textures from 2K to 8K, the Frankly HD Dragonbone & Dragonscale mod is the right way to bring these armor sets into the 2020s.

These textures were scaled up with software that uses neural networks. This makes the details sharper and clearer while keeping the style of the original texture.

The Jagged Crown is also included for people who like it better than the real caps.

For the most immersive experience, you should also install Frankly HD Dragon Bones.

4. Alduin’s Scale Armor

I always expected to get some sort of epic weapon or armor after defeating Alduin, and I was very disappointed when I got a lousy shout and not much more.

If I can make equipment out of normal dragon bone, why wouldn’t I do the same with Alduin’s remains?

Alduin’s Scale lets me live my dream with a new standalone armor set – or Dragonscale replacer, depending on your preference – based on the World Eater and crafted from his own scales.

This is a jet-black version of the Dragonscale armor, but the retexture is done with great skill, choosing just the right hues to keep it looking organic and appealing.

3. Imperial Dragonscale Armor

One thing the Dragonbone armor sets don’t have is elegance.

In fact, they’re the opposite: they’re rustic and wild, fit for a Stormcloak revolutionary but not necessarily a sophisticated Imperial.

If your character cares more about looking their best than inspiring fear in the hearts of their enemies, the Imperial Dragonscale Armor will serve them well.

This set is a blend of imperial styles with materials sourced 100% in the Imperial province of Skyrim (deal with it, Ulfric fanboys). It’ll help you look civilized and official while also providing excellent protection.

2. Dragonbone Barbarian Armors

For obvious reasons, the Dragonbone Barbarian Armors are some of the most famous in the Nexus.

A lot of Skyrim modders, including me, like armor sets that don’t cover as much skin, but the Dragonbne Barbarian set gives you full control over how much skin you want to expose.

This set is made up of more than 15 pieces of armor that can be put on and taken off to make different outfits. You can wear them all and look like you’re armed to the teeth, or you can keep it to one or two and look wild and wild-west-y, which is also hot.

Check out the UUNP Bodyslide + Physics version for females and the HIMBO version for men if you want your character to look like a Greek god or goddess.

1. Dragonbone Ebonsteel Armor

My favorite take on the Dragonbone armor sets is one of the oldest.

Sometimes, you get it right on your first try.

The Dragonbone Ebonsteel Armor combines the bestial strength of dragon bones with hundreds of years of Nord steelworking expertise to create one of the most bad-ass armor sets ever made.

Creator Dreogan took the vanilla Dragonplate Armor and reinforced it with expertly-worked ebony steel for extra protection and a more badass style.

The biggest changes are noticeable in the numerous helmet options, with different horns and the option to cover your exposed face with ebony mail.

If this doesn’t send your enemies running in your opposite direction, they must be acolytes of Sheogorath – in other words, completely insane.