The villains of The Elder Scrolls universe are just as numerous as they are devious. From scheming necromancers to ancient gods, there's no shortage of enemies of mortal existence on Nirn. However, The Elder Scrolls 6 could take a different approach to villainy not seen in over two decades.
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind's villain, Dagoth Ur, is widely regarded to be one of the best in the franchise. His perplexing personality and peerless power made him among the most threatening villains found in The Elder Scrolls universe. The Elder Scrolls 6 should follow up on this idea, creating another iconic villain for the franchise.
The History and Future of The Elder Scrolls’ Villains
Dagoth Ur, formerly known as Voryn Dagoth, was a born as a chimer in the 1st Era. After the events of The Battle of Red Mountain against the Dwemer, Dagoth Ur would perish alongside Indoril Nerevar, who would reincarnate as the player character of Morrowind. Unlike Nerevar, Dagoth Ur bathed in the power of Lorkhan's heart, becoming a godlike entity. However, due to this power, he would also be driven insane and would strive for vengeance against the Tribunal. This would end when the player character of Morrowind, the Nerevarine, would find and kill him by destroying the enchantments on Lorkhan's heart.
One of the primary reasons Dagoth Ur remains widely loved as a villain is because of his relationship with the player character, the Nerevarine. As the player learns more about Dagoth Ur, Indoril Nerevar, and the Tribunal, they can often feel somewhat empathetic to Dagoth Ur. He speaks of betrayal, and the Tribunal that the player helps is the same group that killed the original Nerevar, all for the sake of power. Dagoth Ur even offers the Nerevarine a place at his side, taking back what was once theirs. Due to the past and present, Dagoth Ur genuinely felt like a friend who had gone too far and had to stopped, even though the player understood his motivations. He makes an excellent example that The Elder Scrolls' other big bads should follow.
This is opposed to a villain like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim's Alduin, who despite carrying many deep meanings and motifs, lacks in his interactions with the player. Throughout Morrowind, Dagoth Ur constantly communicates to the player through unsettling dreams. When they finally meet, they can have a long and memorable conversation. On the other hand, Alduin's appearances are as short as they are sparse, often not lasting long enough to make an impression on the player. While the substance for a great villain is there, the player does not interact with Alduin in enough meaningful ways to create real tension between him and The Last Dragonborn.
Future Elder Scrolls games could do this by establishing a personal connection between the player character and main villain. This helps the player understand the main villain's motivations, allowing the player form their own opinion about them. It also helps the player feel personally invested in either stopping the villain or -- if the game allows it -- siding with the villain. Their interactions should also leave lasting impressions that the player will remember even after they finish the game, touching on the weight of their relationship. These memorable moments are what make many of The Elder Scrolls' villains fun to interact with and do battle against.
Though essentially nothing is known about what will feature in The Elder Scrolls 6, hopefully its villains can measure up to ones of the past. The nuanced nature of The Elder Scrolls' universe leaves a lot of potential to be had in its villains.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.