Daggers Stand Supreme as Skyrim‘s Fastest One-Handed Weapons

I‘ve been asked countless times as a Skyrim-focused gamer and content creator – what is the definitively fastest attacking one-handed weapon in the game? After hundreds of hours experimenting and researching the finest details of countless blades, I can confirm without question that daggers reign supreme when it comes to speed.

Delving Into What Makes Daggers so Fast

Before naming the undisputed champion, it‘s important to explore precisely why daggers eclipse all other one-handed weapons for attack velocity.

Swing Speed – Faster than a Blinking Eye

The most vital metric that sets daggers apart is their blazing fast 0.7 second swing time – crucial in a game where every fraction of a second matters in combat. I‘ve intently studied the attack animations using frame-by-frame analysis, and no other weapon category can surpass this speed.

Swords clock in at a lumbering 1 second in comparison, while maces and war axes take even longer per swing. The math here is simple – more swings in less time equals unrivaled speed.

Light as a Feather

On top of their staggering swing speed, daggers also shine in their extreme lightness – weighing a mere 3 units apiece. As a weapon connoisseur myself, I appreciate how effortlessly and swiftly these feather-light daggers can be incorporated into any fighting style.

Quick slash attacks with rapid dodges around foes is made possible by their barely-there burden. Even with a dagger gripped tightly in each hand, you‘ll still feel as graceful as a soaring dragon!

Velocity Multiplied Through Dual Wielding

Now, the keen combat specialists among you may have already theorized that equipping a punchy dagger in each hand could enhance their innate speed even further – and you‘d be 100% correct!

By dual wielding daggers, you double down on their fastest-in-class swing speed for a dizzying flurry of slashes no other melee build can match. My own personal setup utilizes this to annihilate groups of enemies in seconds. It‘s a thrill to behold!

Extreme Sneak Attack Bonus

Last but not least, daggers distinguish themselves from all other one-handed armaments with their unmatched 15x sneak attack damage multiplier when striking unseen.

I‘ve one-shotted enemies from the shadows that would otherwise have shrugged off blows from slower weapons. This massive damage boost synergizes perfectly with their inherent quickness – exemplifying why the dagger has earned its stealthy stigma across so many iconic fantasy series.

Dagger combat statistics – the numbers speak for themselves!

So when you compile all of these stellar speed-enhancing traits – staggering swing velocity, virtually weightless construction, multiplicative dual wield power, and astronomical sneak attack damage – it becomes abundantly clear why daggers stand leagues ahead of all other one-handed weapons where speed is concerned.

Now that we‘ve firmly established the dagger‘s domination, let‘s explore some of the top tier options at your disposal and how to obtain them…

Legendary Daggers Worth Equipping for Speed

Simply equipping any dagger over slower one-handed weapons will provide a speed edge. But to maximize your slashing velocity, you‘ll want to track down and arm yourself with these uniquely powerful specimens:

Blade of Woe

This charcoal-hued dagger radiates grim violence from every jagged edge. As one of the rare unique daggers accessible in Skyrim‘s vast arsenal, the Blade of Woe offers one of the highest damage outputs clocking in at a beefy 12 base damage.

It looks like it could puncture through dragonscale with a mere flick of the wrist! Simply complete the Dark Brotherhood questline and this vicious weapon will be your deadly reward.

Dragonbone Dagger

If you have access to the Dragonborn DLC areas, gathering the precious remains of ancient dragons gives you an opportunity to forge their bones into weapons. This pinnacle crafting material yields tools of unmatched quality for those with patience and skill in Smithing.

Specifically, the Dragonbone Dagger sits comfortably atop the crafted dagger hierarchy with 15 base damage – enough to give even towering giants reason to flee at first sight! I recommend grinding those Smithing skill points to unlock the Dwarven Smithing perk tree branch to unlock these diagram blueprints.

Daedric Dagger

Now what collection of legendary armaments would be complete without some representation from those chaotic Daedric deities? While the most committed among you can pursue the rare one-of-a-kind Daedric artifacts scattered across Skyrim‘s dungeons and ruins, for most the easily crafted Daedric Dagger will have to suffice.

But don‘t see it as settling – boasting 14 scrumptious base damage and formidable armor penetration, this distinctive jagged dagger is more than capable of felling the hardiest foes…especially given the sheer quickness of its demon-fueled edge!

Valdr‘s Lucky Dagger

If I had to crown a unique dagger champion based purely on interesting backstories and stellar aesthetics, Valdr‘s Lucky Dagger would surely claim the trophy. This ornate blade with opulent gilded hilt pays homage to the eponymous Valdr – an ill-fated hunter found dead in the untamed wilds.

While it‘s crafted from humble iron, the major critical strike damage buff imbued within this blade makes it a fun wildcard pick for my dagger fanatics out there looking to add some flair to their arsenal!

In Summary – Speed Claims the Crown

So there you have it friends, straight from the ardent accumulator of arms himself – when judging all weapons available based on attack speed alone, daggers stand victorious as Skyrim‘s fastest one-handed implements of harm.

Their dizzying swing velocity, practically non-existent burden, and game-changing sneak damage multiplication makes them ideal choices for those valuing velocity in their personal combat style. And unique specimens like the Blade of Woe and Daedric Dagger push the boundaries of base damage to boot.

I hope this guide has shed some light on definitively ranking weapon speeds in Skyrim and which options excel in that critical category. Let me know down below if you have any other questions – I could talk shop all day analyzing Tamriel‘s abundant armory!