DONT DO IT! EVER! YOU WONT MAKE IT!

[Alnevar Odai]

SPOILERS PENDING INVOLVING DRAGONBORN DLC... PS IF YOU TRY YOU WILL DIE

Spoiler:

Some really awesome lore spots in game... one that I highly recommend is visiting the Castle Karstaag. But... if you choose to adventure just along the coast to the north...you will find something that is missing... WHATEVER YOU DO... DO NOT PUT THE SKULL BACK ON THE BODY...

Im level 25. I turned it to novice... I got 1 shot with level 70 HA skill and every level put into health... AND I BLOCKED... if you have a DiD character, this is your ONE AND ONLY WARNING... YOU WILL DIE.

This thread is dedicated to those dumb enough to try... Tell us your level, skills, and how close you were.

IF YOU DO BEAT HIM! Post in red. NO MODS! Tell us the story. If you are on PC take a screen or a video if you can (use spoilers).

[Udoma]

I'm level 81, full enchanted Stahlrim armor w/Stahlrim greatsword. Perks in Heavy Armor, Two Handed, Block, and Restoration. Playing on Master Difficulty.

He smashed me. A lot. Great throwback to Bloodmoon

[MathiasFlynnias]

That couldn't have gone more horrifically. Even for novice level.

[I_am_one]

I never played Bloodmoon, so I don't know if this is something that has to do with that or not.
I also have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Needless to say, I'm on my way to North Solsthiem to find something needing a skull.

[Valus]

Um, what it is you're talking about? I went along the coast to the North and didn't find anything except Horkers and Werebears.

[Alnevar Odai]

I never played Bloodmoon, so I don't know if this is something that has to do with that or not.
I also have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Needless to say, I'm on my way to North Solsthiem to find something needing a skull.

Well I dont want to spoil anything... or encourage you to wander into your inevitable death... but for those having difficulty.

Spoiler:

Castle Karstaag courtyard has a skeleton that is missing a head. The head is found in a cave on the coast nearby that has a handful of riekling... reunite the skull and the corpse and you will die. End of story.

[Duderino Abides]

Spoiler:

You fight the ghost of Karstaag himself. Looks like the frost giant from Dawnguard.

[Valus]

Oh, ok, so it's inside. See, you said "along the coast to the North" and that threw me off.
EDIT: Oh, damn. I was REALLY close to killing him, I have all three words to Dragon Aspect and I was kicking his ASS. I wasn't paying attention to my health meter and died. I got him this time, though.
EDIT: Got him.

[I_am_one]

What does that say under ectoplasm?

I don't know where Castle Karstaag is exactly, so I'll try and die by him later. I don't have enough time now

[Valus]

It says:
Ectoplasm (10)
Grand Soul Gem (Grand) (5)

[Alnevar Odai]

What was your kit?

[Valus]

Let's see...
Daedric Boots that increase my Stamina 70 points (Legendary)
Daedric Armor that makes my Magicka regenerate 37% faster and my Health 18% faster (Legendary)
Daedric Gauntlets that make Two-handed attacks and One-handed attacks do 24% more damage (Legendary)
Volsung (Legendary)
Daedric Shield that Blocks 24% more damage (Legendary)
Dragonebone War Axe that Absorbs 13 points of health per strike (Legendary)
and combined with the full dragon aspect shout which makes my power attacks do 25% more damage, +100 Armor, summons an Ancient Dragonborn if my health gets under 50%, and +25% resistance to fire and frost.

Even with all that it was somewhat of a challenge.

[11Justin93]

What's the name of the cave that contains the skull? I just looked through Castle Karstaag ccaverns and I couldn't find it.

[Valus]

The skull is in Glacial Cave.

[11Justin93]

Got it. Thanks. I'll let you guys know how this goes.

I'm a level 63 Imperial on Expert difficulty and this is how it went down:

1st Try: I stood right in front of the throne and was instantly thrown into the air and killed.

2nd Try: I ran away from him and try to kill him with a crossbow. It took too long to reload and I died.

3rd Try: I decided to go with my bread and butter move of charging at him with my sword and shield. After several power attacks and ultimate healing potions, he was dead.

Upon defeating him you get

Spoiler:

the ability to summon him and you can sit on the massive ice throne!

[Alnevar Odai]

I DID IT! Same character, same level. Level 25, novice. Same save.

I used a guardian circle, 4 flame temptists, mora's agony, fus roh dah, and every potion I had in my bag.

Everything you get from killing him

Spoiler:

10 ectoplasm, 5 grand soul gems already filled, 9 dragon souls, and the ability to summon him 3x.

[Mr.Argonian]

My question is why do you get dragon souls from him?

[11Justin93]

I didn't even realize that I got dragon souls from him.

[Dark Spark]

I would've been nice if you could command a follower to stick the skull on while you stand at a safe distance.

[11Justin93]

Yeah that would be useful. It's like lighting a short fuse on a stick of dynamite, you just have to sprint away after placing the skull.

[CBR JGWRR]

My level 81 Altmer beat him first time, just. At the time, she was wielding a daedric sword, with 415 damage, (160% fortify one handed plus 251% from fortify smithing) plus 2 enchants of 81 damage each, with a set of elven light armour at well over the armour cap, enough fortify magic school gear to have zero spell cost in restoration and destruction, with 600 health.

He only nearly won due to her being flung across the room, but it was all he needed to nearly get her...

[ToTheMadhouse]

Agreed, Level 78 using dragon aspect, dragonhide, and a 340 armour rating as well as 350 health, Karstaag has no mercy for Mortals. That being said though, I simply used slow time and killed him off before the ice wraiths appeared ;D

[ZackyZombify]

First try, lvl 81 Breton, auriel's bow (empty) 118 damage, ancient nord arrows 10 damage, aetherial crown with steed stone, lord stone, deathbrand armor, gauntlets, boots total of 503 armor rating. Took about 23 arrows.

[Razz]

Gonna try right now... Specs:
Level 51 Nord Warrior (Master difficulty)
256 damage Nordic Greatsword w/ 18 point fire damage enchant
713 Armor rating (Full Stahlrim)
Full Heavy armor and 2H perk trees
Lots of shouts and potions
Well, here goes nothing...

UPDATE:
Got him on my first try! I actually ended up being level 52 when I faced him, with full legendary Stahlrim (1112 armor rating, well above cap), and a legendary Stahlrim greatsword (228 dmg). In hindsight, it would've been a much easier fight if I hadn't forgotten to enchant my armor and weapons. I ended up using like 6 ultimate healing potions, and 2 ultimate stamina potions. I also used Dragon Aspect, Storm call, a scroll of blizzard (which did absolutely nothing), and a Berserker's Elixer (+50% 2H damage for 60 s).

That fight was freaking epic. Easily the hardest fight in the game. He and Miraak are the only two fights I have ever touched my ultimate healing potions for (I had like 50 without even knowing it lol).

Imagine if there wasn't a limit to the number of times or places you could summon him. That would be the most OP power ever lol. I'll probably end up using him when I fight my first legendary dragon.

[Alnevar Odai]

... lol I always delete characters at 49... I suppose thats a huge deal... Im gonna use him when I fight the ebony warrior... oh wait... gotta be 81 to do that.