I like Valygar, especially since you were wondering about killing that shadow dragon.
SPOILER
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ok it's fairly common strategy around to set the traps to kill the stupid dragons....and yes on most of them it is cheap. However on the shadow dragon you have a wardstone so you have an excuse for getting away with it
. Take your newfound Valygar and set all his traps around that nasty shadow dragon and he'll be at least half dead before he ever starts attacking you. Makes your level requirements much lower.
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"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." - Lennon