Online:Castle Thorn

Group Dungeon
Discoverable	Yes
Completion	Objective
Dungeon	Yes
# of Zones	4
Occupants
	Rat
Zone
	Karthald, Western Skyrim
Instanced Dungeon
Min Level	45
Group Size	4
Bosses	5
Mini-Bosses	0
Veteran Speed Run Target	30 mins
Loading Screen
	"Despite Lady Thorn's mysterious past, the Ravenwatch never felt the need to deal with her directly. She seemed content to hide away in the mountains, alone in her horrific castle. This one wonders if ignoring her was a terrible mistake." —Adusa-daro

Castle Thorn

Castle Thorn is a group dungeon nestled in the Haafingar Mountains of Western Skyrim.

It is part of the Stonethorn dungeon pack DLC, along with Stone Garden. The vampire lord named Lady Ingerien, a high elf who once pertained to Clan Direnni, better known by her byname, Lady Thorn, rules from here, commanding her Thorn Legion.

Castle Thorn, Ancestral Necropolis

Backstory Description[edit]

Update 27 Patch Notes

Biding her time in her mountain stronghold, Lady Thorn has quietly built her forces for some nefarious means. Now, whispers and rumors in Western Skyrim point to large host gathered at the castle, preparing to march to war … but to where and for what purpose?

Storm a Fortress of the Undead in Castle Thorn

Nestled within the barren mountains of Western Skyrim, the formidable Castle Thorn has stood for centuries, with its mysterious inhabitants preferring to remain isolated behind its heavy walls. However, with a dark shadow now rising over Solitude, something evil is stirring within the keep … Once again, the local populace from the surrounding regions have begun to disappear, and all signs point to Lady Thorn's great fortress. However, as this new threat emerges, so do those willing to stand in its way, including House Ravenwatch … With a new army of vampiric monsters unlike anything you've faced before, Lady Thorn prepares to march on Western Skyrim. You and your allies must infiltrate the fortress, uncover the truth behind this new army of the undead, and stop the Vampire Lord before her darkness can threaten Tamriel. Are you ready to assault Castle Thorn?

Stonethorn Bundle Details

After years of isolation, the mysterious Lady Thorn now amasses a dread army within the walls of her ancient castle. Gather your allies, storm the fortress gate, and stop the Thorn Legion before it marches on Western Skyrim.

Related Quests[edit]

Castle Thorn Objective: Storm Castle Thorn and uncover Lady Thorn's secret. / You defeated Lady Thorn and her Thorn Legion.
- Blood of the Past: Launch a frontal assault on a Vampire Lord's castle.
Pledge: Castle Thorn: Prove you are truly Undaunted by clearing Castle Thorn.

Characters[edit]

Castle Thorn
Gwendis Talfyg

Enemies[edit]

Normal Enemies[edit]

Elite Enemies[edit]

Bosses[edit]

Hard Mode[edit]

Boss Mechanics[edit]

Dread Tindulra[edit]

Dread Tindulra isn't very complicated when hard mode isn't active. She spits a lot of fire, and starting at 75% health, she periodically raises her head to the sky and howls, calling a swarm of Death Hound Broodlings to chase the group. Avoid the fire, kill the broodlings and defeat Dread Tindulra. It may be a smart idea to leave one of the Death Hound Broodlings alive, as Dread Tindulra will call another group of broodlings some time after one of her swarms has been completely culled.

Blood Twilight[edit]

Blood Pool Phase

The Blood Twilight is complicated compared to Dread Tindulra. There are two phases that the Twilight alternates between during the fight. Phase changes are on a one minute timer.

Standing Phase[edit]

The Blood Twilight engages the group up close during this phase. The change of phases is on a one-minute timer.

Dark Barrage: The Blood Twilight attacks one person by rapidly shooting purple bolts at them. The tank can get in front of the target and absorb the damage by blocking. Alternatively, the healer should go nuts to keep the target alive. However, the former is the more viable option. To best mitigate the damage without having the tank block in front of the target, the target should block, set up damage shields and make use of whatever heals they or the healer can throw at them. Attempting to survive without the help of a tank is not viable on Veteran difficulty.
Shadow Strike: The Blood Twilight teleports and slams down upon its target, dealing devastating physical damage. This can be survived by blocking, warding and healing on normal, but on Veteran, the Twilight should be focused on the tank to prevent weaker group members from being killed in one shot.
Summon Blood Channelers: Summons four Blood Channelers on all four sides of the room to empower the Blood Twilight. Kill them as soon as possible, they channel a beam into the Blood Twilight that causes it to deal more damage.
Blood Mines: Blood mines are occasionally summoned after the Blood Channelers die. Stepping on these mines deals magic damage. Try to avoid them; they're very obvious, and look like little red lumps sitting on the ground.

Blood Pool Phase[edit]

The Blood Twilight hovers above the center of the arena, becoming invulnerable and causing a pool of red Ichor to rise beneath it. A Reanimated Vampire is summoned during this phase. The change of phases is on a one-minute timer.

Ichor

Standing in the ichor applies a slowing debuff, and deals a lot of magic damage over time. Stay out of the ichor. If you get hit into the pool, there are stairwells that you can climb to get out of it. Mitigate the damage as best you can as you make your way back up.

Shades: The Blood Twilight will summon red shades (identical copies of itself that cannot be hit) to try to push players into the center. If they manage to push you, they deal mild damage.
Strategy for Avoiding Being Hit Into the Ichor: Try to hug the wall. Your group should pick a corner to huddle in together and burn the Reanimated Vampire down. Huddling in a corner makes the shades less likely to hit you into the center. When the shades show up, stay in the corner and move around. Do not stray too far from the corner, lest you get shoved into the center.

Blood Channelers: If there are any Blood Channelers alive during this phase, now would be a good time to take them out, as the Blood Twilight itself will not face you to deal any damage.

Vaduroth[edit]

Talfyg[edit]

Lady Thorn[edit]

Lady Thorn is the final boss of Castle Thorn.

Hard Mode Mechanics[edit]

Layout[edit]

Ancestral Necropolis[edit]

Ancestral Necropolis

The Ancestral Necropolis is a large graveyard leading up the castle's courtyard, and the first area of the dungeon. Gwendis and Talfyg can be seen arguing near the entrance of the dungeon. Several Thorn Legion Sanguimancers, one Thorn Legion Mauler, several Skeletal Hounds and plenty of Bloodfiends guard the path to the courtyard.

A single Thorn Legion Senche-raht guards the door to the courtyard. You cannot enter the courtyard unless you defeat the group of enemies in front of the door.

Castle Courtyard[edit]

Castle Courtyard

A large courtyard with a pointed fence blocking off an expanse of land littered with headstones on either side of the walkway. Dread Tindulra guards the entrance to the castle.

Castle Thorn[edit]

Castle Thorn

The castle proper. A chest can be found in the entrance hall, to the right of the stairs. An Architectural Survey Summary Report lies on table in the central hallway. A Thorn Legion Senche-raht must be killed to go through the door to the Garden Conservatory.

Garden Conservatory[edit]

Garden Conservatory

An indoor garden, complete with gargoyle statues on the rafters above. You will face the Blood Twilight in this chamber.

Southern Training Yard[edit]

Southern Training Yard

The Southern Training Yard must be passed to reach the Northern Training Yard. In this area, you will be introduced to the mechanic for the next boss fight. Vampires train for combat here. This is also the first area Hemopteras appear.

Northern Training Yard[edit]

Northern Training Yard

Beyond this area lies the Sanctuary of Lament. More vampires can be seen training for combat here.

Sanctuary of Lament[edit]

Sanctuary of Lament

Many creatures have been hung from the ceiling on hooks. Vaduroth is fought here.

Castle Keep[edit]

Castle Keep

A chest can be found on the northern side of the center hallway, before the stairs with the Seething Gargoyles. A heavy sack can be found in the eastern hallway, by the exit.

Castle Exterior[edit]

Castle Exterior

Statuary Garden[edit]

Statuary Garden

Talfyg serves as the dungeon's fourth boss in this section.

Battlements[edit]

Battlements

The last bastion before the Cathedral, where Lady Thorn is holed up. Two Seething Gargoyles guard the bridge, and two Thorn Legion Senche-rahts guard the door to the Cathedral.

Cathedral Narthex[edit]

Cathedral Narthex

A note titled A Daedric Proposal can be found on a desk in the center of the Cathedral Narthex.

Grand Cathedral[edit]

Grand Cathedral

Lady Thorn is fought here.

Books[edit]

Architectural Survey Summary Report by Tarnolvar, Chief Surveyor of the Architectural Guild, Daggerfall Branch — A letter addressed to Lady Thorn, regarding the Castle Thorn's structural integrity
A Daedric Proposal by Galdrus Salobar, Sanguimancer Supreme — A letter addressed to Lady Thorn, regarding the act of resurrecting dead Vampires

Sets[edit]

Set Name	Bonuses	Location(s)	Set Type
Talfyg's Treachery	2 items: Adds 15-657 Critical Chance 3 items: Adds 25-1096 Maximum Magicka 4 items: Adds 3-129 Weapon and Spell Damage 5 items: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 8-372. Increases your damage taken from Flame and Fighter's Guild abilities by 5%.	Castle Thorn	Light Armor
Unleashed Terror	2 items: Adds 3-129 Weapon and Spell Damage 3 items: Adds 25-1096 Maximum Stamina 4 items: Adds 25-1096 Maximum Stamina 5 items: When you deal direct damage with a Blink, Charge, Leap, Teleport, or Pull ability, you cut your enemy, causing them to bleed for 10 seconds, dealing 1870 Bleed damage over the duration and applying the Hemorrhaging status effect every tick. This ability can occur once every 10 seconds per target and scales off the higher of your Weapon and Spell Damage.	Castle Thorn	Medium Armor
Crimson Twilight	2 items: Adds 28-1206 Maximum Health 3 items: Adds 4% Healing Taken 4 items: Adds 28-1206 Maximum Health 5 items: After taking damage you surround yourself in an 8 meter mist of blood. After 2 seconds, the mist is violently siphoned into your body, dealing 1946 Bleed Damage to nearby enemies and healing you for 100% of the damage done. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds and scales off your Max Health.	Castle Thorn	Heavy Armor
Lady Thorn	1 item: Adds 28-1206 Maximum Health 2 items: Casting an ability that costs Health spawns a blood ball for 10 seconds. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds. You or an ally near the blood ball can activate the Sanguine Burst synergy, dealing 2879 Disease damage to nearby enemies and applying Major Maim for 8 seconds, decreasing their damage done by 10%. Enemies can only receive Major Maim from Sanguine Burst once every 20 seconds. The damage scales off the synergy activator's Max Health.	Castle Thorn	Monster Helm Sets

Achievements[edit]

There are 18 achievements associated with this dungeon:

Achievement		Points	Description	Reward
	Stonethorn Explorer	5	Enter either Stone Garden or Castle Thorn for the first time.	Non-combat Pet: Energetic Dwarven Shock-Spider
	Thorn Legion Style Master	50	Learn every chapter in the Thorn Legion style book, occasionally found as rewards for completing the Castle Thorn Dungeon.
Needed for Castle Thorn Challenger
	Castle Thorn Challenger	50	Complete the listed achievements for Veteran Castle Thorn.
	Castle Thorn Conqueror	10	Defeat Dread Tindulra, the Blood Twilight, Vaduroth, Talfyg, and Lady Thorn in Veteran Castle Thorn.	Skin: Reanimated Vampiric Thrall Bust: Lady Thorn (page)
	Thorn Remover	50	Defeat Lady Thorn after raising the challenge banner in Veteran Castle Thorn.	Title: The Inedible
	Impervious Onslaught	50	Defeat all encounters in addition to Dread Tindulra, the Blood Twilight, Vaduroth, Talfyg, and Lady Thorn in Veteran Castle Thorn without suffering a group member death.
	Homewrecker	50	Defeat Dread Tindulra, the Blood Twilight, Vaduroth, Talfyg, and Lady Thorn within 30 minutes of entering Veteran Castle Thorn. Your timer starts when you engage the first group on enemies.
Normal
	Stonethorn Scout	10	Complete both Castle Thorn and Stone Garden in Normal.
	Castle Thorn Vanquisher	10	Defeat Dread Tindulra, the Blood Twilight, Vaduroth, Talfyg, and Lady Thorn in Castle Thorn.	Trophy: Lady Thorn (page) Castle Thorn Gargoyle (page) 0002500025,000
	Sickle Skills	10	Burst 70 corpses using any of Vaduroth's Sickles in Castle Thorn.
Veteran
	Stonethorn Delver	50	Complete both Stone Garden and Castle Thorn in Veteran.	Dye: Hazardous Chartreuse
	Bane of Thorns	50	Defeat all encounters in addition to Dread Tindulra, the Blood Twilight, Vaduroth, Talfyg, and Lady Thorn after raising the challenge banner in Veteran Castle Thorn within 30 minutes without suffering a group member death.	Title: Bane of Thorns
	Thorn Legion Senche-Raht Slayer	10	Defeat 50 Thorn Legion Senche-rahts in Veteran Castle Thorn.
	Thorn Legion Slayer	10	Defeat 200 Thorn Legion Vampires in Veteran Castle Thorn. This includes Thorn Legion Sanguimancers, Quickblades, Marksmen, Maulers, or Reanimated Vampires.
	Four by Four	10	Defeat Vaduroth after each group member bursts at least one imbued hanging corpse with the sickle in Veteran Castle Thorn.
	Guardian Preserved	10	Defeat Lady Thorn after raising the challenge banner without killing the Blood Guardian in Veteran Castle Thorn.
	Hound Pound	10	Defeat Dread Tindulra and kill her Broodlings while they are at least 15 meters apart in Veteran Castle Thorn.
	Let Sleeping Gargoyles Lie	10	Defeat Talfyg without killing any of the large Frozen Gargoyles during his encounter in Veteran Castle Thorn.
	Taking Turns	10	Defeat Lady Thorn after completing both bat swarm phases where each player used the Blood Scavenger synergy at least once per phase in Veteran Castle Thorn.