The Elder Scrolls 6 is still one of the most anticipated games on the horizon, despite how far that horizon may be. Very little information has been revealed about the next adventure in Tamriel. With that, fans are left to speculate based largely on series trends. One feature from Skyrim is likely going to be missing from Elder Scrolls 6 based on the franchise's trend to move forward in time.

The main plot and primary world-changing event that defined Skyrim was the return of dragons to the skies of Tamriel. Alduin had begun to resurrect the long-dead creatures and filled the province with dragons. As such one of Skyrim's most valuable resources were dragon bones and scales. The heavy materials sold for tons of gold and could be crafted into some of the game's most powerful weapons and armor. While events like the dragons' return and the Civil War in Skyrim are likely to have ripples into Elder Scrolls 6, the dragons numbers have likely dwindled to the point where those iconic armors and weapons won't be available.

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Many elements of Skyrim are sure to make their way into Elder Scrolls 6, but dragons being plentiful likely won't be one of them. The franchise tends to move forward in time with each new entry, so after the true death of Alduin, dragons don't have the same way to be resurrected they did before. That being said, each successive Elder Scrolls title still features elements that harken back to events of previous games, like the Mehrune's Razor questline in Skyrim that directly references the events of Oblivion. Dragons may still appear, but if they do, dragons are sure to be incredibly rare.

Without that source of dragon bone and scales, it goes without saying that creating armor and weaponry from that source probably won't appear in the next game. While the Elder Scrolls 6 will probably still address dragons it's safe to assume that after what'll probably be a centuries-long time jump between games that their numbers have fallen to the point where crafting with their durable remains won't be a feature.

That being said, it's still totally possible that a unique set of dragon-themed equipment could still exist. While it's more likely that Elder Scrolls 6 will deal with the Thalmor and the Empire's tensions following the Civil War in Skyrim, delving into ancient ruins is still a hugely important facet of any Elder Scrolls title. So it's totally plausible that players may be able to explore some ruin that once housed a dragon-worshipping cult with armor or weapons built from their bones and scales as a reward.

Elder Scrolls tendency to move time forward will probably have a big impact on the dragon population. But it's also worth noting that Bethesda is likely trying to find ways to distinguish the next game from the almost mythically popular Skyrim. So changing up the nature of weapons and armor in Elder Scrolls 6 will assuredly include moving away from one of the most iconic sets that existed in its predecessor. Obviously with so little known about the next game this is largely speculation, but series trends and the pressure to make Elder Scrolls 6 distinct from Skyrim means that dragon bone and scale gear won't make a return.

The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.

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