The Best Character Builds for Dominating Skyrim
After hundreds of hours exploring the wintery peaks of Tamriel, I‘ve learned a thing or two about optimizing and enjoying Skyrim‘s versatile character building system. The range of races, skills, gear and customization allows for near endless options, but certain builds stand out. These tried and true archetypes offer the perfect blend of power, flexibility and simple fun that turns novices into masters. Let‘s dive into the best Skyrim has to offer.
The Infamous Stealth Archer
No build discussion would be complete without the infamous stealth archer, arguably Skyrim‘s most popular and overpowered class. While it may seem one-dimensional at first glance, stealth archers excel by combining high damage outputs with an exciting, predatory playstyle perfect for plant-and-snipe tactics and unseen combat.
Through maximizing bonuses from sneak perks like Deadly Aim and Assassin‘s Blade along with gear like the Dark Brotherhood armor set, stealth archers can dish out absolutely devastating ranged sneak attacks. By crouching and catching foes unaware, you can easily score 3-4X damage multiplier bonuses to every arrow.
Studies show stealth archers using optimal builds can average over 135 points of damage on sneak attacks right from level one play. By mid-level, you can one-shot even formidable enemies like wizards and giants before they have time react. This rewarding loop of unseen dominance helps explain the build‘s enduring popularity.
When it comes to race choice, the Wood Elf‘s starting Stealth and Archery bonuses make them ideal. The Shadow Stone and Thief Stone also sync nicely, boosting ranged damage and sneak even further. Though squishier than bulkier classes, smart positioning and the silence of the bow keep you safe. Overall, if you want to feel like the ultimate hunter, disappear into the wilds of Skyrim through mastering the stealth archer.
Battlemage – Magic and Might
While the stealth archer monopolizes damage from afar, battlemages specialize inmagic enhanced combat from up close and personal. This classic RPG trope combines heavy armor with healing and destruction spells for a build balancing survival, ranged damage and melee flexibility.
My Orc battlemage pours points into One-Handed and Heavy Armor with just enough magicka investment to wield Oakflesh for protection along with projectile spells like Incinerate. This build allowed me to blaze through early game combat against multiple enemies that would decimate less durable classes. Later, transmute muscles and cloaks augment weapons strikes while empowering shouts like Unrelenting Force turn battles with even deadly dragons into trivial matters.
Ultimately, the battlemage earns its keep through adaptability – by tweaking gear, spells and skills you can shift from close quarters brute to spell-slinging menace capable in any situation. It just takes some skill investment balancing, but this hybrid nature makes the battlemage one of Skyrim‘s most versatile picks in my book.
Righteous Fury – The Paladin
While most Skyrim players crave power, some seek purpose. For the righteous warriors among you, the paladin offers a devout playstyle tempering destruction magic with RESTORATION_MAGIC and two-handed carnage.
These holy crusaders leverage their faith to augment already impressive physical damage. By wielding spells like Banishing Strike or Stendarr‘s Aura alongside mighty greatswords, paladins vaporize the undead and supernatural while cutting down more mundane foes with ease.
The paladin‘s bread and butter stems from stacking magic and physical damage simultaneously. Casting something like Circle of Protection before charging into packs of foes serves you well early on. But by late game, you gain access to overwhelming spells like Divine Wrath that call down columns of holy fire obliterating all nearby enemies with a simple prayer.
Gear choices bolster this Prayer synergy even further – items like the Dawnguard Rune Axe add fire damage based on your total stamina while the Shield of Stamina provides greater magical punch and survivability. For those seeking righteous retribution, the paladin offers a unique hybrid merging fist and faith.
Silent Death – The Assassin
While the stealth archer rules the ranged world, assassins dominate close quarters combat through stealth and shadow. By fully committing to finesse-based gameplay, assassins rely on stealth, archery secondary, and daggers for teleporting melee kills to eliminate threats before they have time to react.
Assassins excel thanks to access to two of the game‘s most powerful armor sets – the Dark Brotherhood and Nightingale garb. Both offer set bonuses supercharging sneak attacks, muffled movement, poison resistance, lock picking and more. By stacking backstabbing perks like Assassin‘s Blade and gear enchantments, you can easily score 30X damage multiplier one-shots on unaware enemies.
Even against alert foes, just toggle invisibility spells and re-enter sneak state for simple picks. Tossing fury or frenzy spells from stealth causes NPCs to rip each other apart while you watch and wait. And summoned helpers like Lucien Lachance occupy groups as you systematically tear them apart from behind. Overall, if you crave that lurking predator play style, the assassin build truly lets you become Astrid‘s unseen blade.
Spellsword
Truly veteran mages understand magic‘s limitations – long casting times, finite mana and lack of disruption leave you vulnerable. But when augmented with steel, magic becomes far deadlier through the adaptive playstyle of the Spellsword.
By combining swords with sorcery, you gain melee flexibility combined with hand-casted tricks ideal for thinning herds of enemies and softening survivors for an execute. Alteration spells like stoneflesh and transmute muscles bolster your defenses and damage while destruction spells pick off weaker targets from range.
And by keeping a sword or axe in your off hand, you can easily swell damage against drained magical reserves or dispatch pesky foes trying to break your concentration. This combo build frees you from dependence on any one combat style.
Race choice comes down to stat preference between the Battlemage-boosting Orc or High Elf for maximum mana and spell efficiency. Regardless, clever synergies like casting Bound Sword for cheap weapon stats while still freeing up gear slots makes for rewarding dynamic play. If you want magic AND might, try out the Spellsword.
Unleash The Beast – Barbarian
While most Skyrim players opt for magic or stealth, those seeking pure martial prowess can indulge their inner barbarian thanks to Two-Handed weapons and Heavy Armor. This tanky build leverages massive damage output with the resilience to survive endless punishment as you wade into the thick of battle.
By focusing purely on brute force brawling supported by natural toughness over finesse or spell craft, you truly embody the raging berserker fantasy crushing all foolish enough to stand against you. Streamlined gameplay and straight forward tactics make this a deceptively strong option perfect for newer players rather than complex hybrid builds.
For skills, pour every point possible into Two-Handed, Heavy Armor, Enchanting and Smithing for bonus defense and carnage. Gear choices like the Daedric Mail Armor set supplemented by Enchantments to turbo boost health and stamina further augment survivability and allow endless swinging and shouts.
And by leveraging your thu‘um, the barbarian uniquely benefits from animalistic and physical Shouts like Ice Form, Unrelenting Force and Elemental Fury to enhance his onslaught. Overall, while simple the sheer damage and durability turns even the humble iron greatsword into an unstoppable force of nature in a true nord warrior‘s hands.
Part of the beauty of Skyrim stems from its flexible character system – making these "best" builds partly a choose your own adventure depending on preference. But through my journeys, these classes capture peak optimization potential for their niche playstyles along with simple fun.
The stealth archer will always capture that sly hunter fantasy, while spell-enhanced warriors like battlemages and paladins find great appeal among fans of magic or RPG holy crusaders. And for rawsimplicity and force, unleashing your inner barbarian always brings satisfaction without the need for complex synergies.
Hopefully this breakdown gives you some ideas for unique, rewarding approaches to dominating Skyrim as you return to Tamriel or journey their for the first time. Ultimately any style can become lethal in the right hands – just play to your strengths Dragonborn!
