Skyrim's main quest consists of seventeen required quests and two optional quests. During these quests you discover your heritage as the Dovahkiin, learn why dragons have returned to the world, and find a way to respond to the dragon threat. Completing the main quest will take approximately 15-30 hours depending on your character's level. Eight achievements (170 points; 7 Bronze and 1 Gold) are directly tied to completing the main quest; in addition, several dragon shout-related achievements are inevitably unlocked during the quests. Quests belonging to the main quest are marked in your journal by the dragon head knotwork, which is pictured above.
- Unbound: Escape Imperial custody and a dragon attack. (
10 pts/Bronze) - Before the Storm: Inform the Jarl of Whiterun about the dragon attack on Helgen.
- Bleak Falls Barrow: Retrieve the Dragonstone. (
10 pts/Bronze) - Dragon Rising: Investigate a dragon sighting near Whiterun.
- The Way of the Voice: Meet the Greybeards. (
20 pts/Bronze) - The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller: Retrieve a Greybeard artifact from Ustengrav.
- A Blade in the Dark: Prove you are Dragonborn to Delphine by slaying the dragon Sahloknir.
- Diplomatic Immunity: Infiltrate a party at the Thalmor Embassy. (
20 pts/Bronze) - A Cornered Rat: Locate Esbern.
- Alduin's Wall: Locate the prophecy within Sky Haven Temple. (
20 pts/Bronze) - The Throat of the World: Receive a lesson from Paarthurnax.
- Elder Knowledge: Recover an Elder Scroll to learn an Ancient Secret. (
20 pts/Bronze) - Alduin's Bane: Exploit the Time-Wound to learn Dragonrend and defeat Alduin at the Throat of the World.
- The Fallen: Capture and interrogate an ally of Alduin. (
20 pts/Bronze)
- (optional) Season Unending: Enforce a ceasefire to secure Dragonsreach.
- (optional) Paarthurnax: Deal with a potential threat.
- The World-Eater's Eyrie: Battle through Skuldafn to reach Alduin's portal to Sovngarde.
- Sovngarde: Seek out Alduin within Sovngarde.
- Dragonslayer: Put an end to the World-Eater. (
50 pts/Gold)
