The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim puts players in the shoes of the Dragonborn and tasks them with putting an end to the dragons who have returned to Skyrim. While most of the dragons the player encounters are hostile and will attack, some, like Paarthurnax, wish to see the Dragonborn succeed in their quest.
The Dragonborn meets Paarthurnax when they first visit the Throat of the World above High Hrothgar. Continuing the main quest, the wise dragon proves to be a strong ally and a valuable asset, so it's likely that some will want to avoid killing him. That said, those hoping to appease the Blades will be required to defeat Paarthurnax in order to gain their respect. Players will need to make several tough choices during their Skyrim playthrough, but this is one of the hardest.
What Happens If You Don't Kill Paarthurnax?
Since the "Paarthurnax" quest doesn't give players a choice in whether Paarthurnax should live or die, the only way to complete it is to kill Paarthurnax. Failing to do this, Esbern and Delphine will distance themselves from the Dragonborn and refuse to talk to them about anything of note until the wise dragon is dead.
Leaving this quest unfinished will prevent the player from pursuing any Radiant quests offered by Delphine. These quests require the Dragonborn to seek out and defeat various dragons, which can be a pretty handy way to acquire Dragon Bones and Dragon Scales. Though the quests themselves serve as good ways to acquire these materials, they can also be acquired by defeating dragons while exploring the world, so they aren't exactly necessary.
Leaving Paarthurnax unharmed also allows players to complete Radiant quests for the Greybeards. These quests, when pursued, will lead the Dragonborn to a Word of Power, making it much easier for players to acquire every Shout Skyrim has to offer. Though these Shouts can be acquired by simply exploring the Skyrim's vast world, these quests make the process of finding some of them much easier.
What Happens If You Kill Paarthurnax?
If the Dragonborn kills Paarthurnax, they will be tasked with returning to Sky Haven Temple and speaking with Delphine. Upon hearing the news, Delphine will commend the Dragonborn for their help and welcome them back into the Blade's circle.
As a member of the Blades, players will have access to the Radiant quests Delphine offers, but they will lose access to Radiant quests offered by the Greybeards.
Should You Kill Paarthurnax?
If players wish to complete every quest Skyrim has to offer, they will need to kill Paarthurnax. Those who don't mind having an uncompleted quest pop up in the pause menu, however, are free to make whatever decision they prefer.
Though it's entirely up to the player on whether they kill Paarthurnax or not, it's arguably better to leave the dragon unharmed, as doing so will make it easier for players to locate Shouts. Keeping Paarthurnax alive also makes more sense regarding the overall story; killing him feels somewhat unnecessary, given how much the dragon aided the Dragonborn throughout their journey.
The rewards gained from completing Radiant quests for Delphine are pretty lackluster, too, so if players decide not to kill Paarthurnax, they won't miss out on much.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available for PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
