Game-changing perks

[sheepskin]

For me; quick reflexes and elemental protection.

 

I've always preferred playing melee toons regardless of which RPG I happen to wasting time on. I usually wane towards increased damage output at the expense of armor rating. However, I was having a bit of trouble with bears, trolls, dragons, giants, and mage-types in Skyrim. That is, until I spec'd elemental protection and quick reflexes. This completely changed the pace of the game for me, almost to the extent where the aforementioned adversaries are a bit too easy now. Trolls? Bears? They seem to always power up their strikes, permitting great returns on the 1-point investment into quick reflexes. Simply interrupt their attack by bashing them and continue onwards with the onslaught. Particularly powerful mages? No problem for elemental protection. Block and wait for an opening. Bash, then terminate. Of course block runner and shield charge would make this tactic even more effective, but I haven't gotten to that point yet. The perks/build speaks volumes for a sword/shield spec. And I'm to the point where I much prefer this tactic over a full-blown dps build, even if it is a bit slower. I'm basically invulnerable now.

 

How about you? Which perks changed your outlook in Skyrim?

Edited January 2, 2012 by sheepskin

[kennyishere]

well, the sneak perk with the 15x damage combined with the dark brother hood gloves kills absolutely everything in a single shot.

Also, the perk that slows down time for bows, never miss anything anymore.

[InuyashaFE]

Impact for the destruction school.

 

Less running. :)

[STONEDSTONER]

Faster Draw(or whatever its called) for Bow is Great also

[sheepskin]

well, the sneak perk with the 15x damage combined with the dark brother hood gloves kills absolutely everything in a single shot.

Also, the perk that slows down time for bows, never miss anything anymore.

 

I've read a bit about this and have experimented a little myself. I have a rogue-type toon I've yet to fully spec because I can't decide whether I want to go dual daggers or dagger/shield for elemental protection and quick reflexes. I mean, if I can get to a point where a sneak attack can KO pretty much anything when properly spec'd and geared, why not divert the remaining points into damage/magic mitigation? Paired with shadow warrior I think this build would prove to be REALLY powerful and especially suited to picking apart many types of situations.

[kennyishere]

well, the sneak perk with the 15x damage combined with the dark brother hood gloves kills absolutely everything in a single shot.

Also, the perk that slows down time for bows, never miss anything anymore.

 

I've read a bit about this and have experimented a little myself. I have a rogue-type toon I've yet to fully spec because I can't decide whether I want to go dual daggers or dagger/shield for elemental protection and quick reflexes. I mean, if I can get to a point where a sneak attack can KO pretty much anything when properly spec'd and geared, why not divert the remaining points into damage/magic mitigation? Paired with shadow warrior I think this build would prove to be REALLY powerful and especially suited to picking apart many types of situations.

 

 

Well, I just went dual blades just for the role playing of it.

I myself don't see an assassin with a shield running around.

I also think if you're carrying a shield it's harder to sneak around, unless until you get the right perks and enchantments.

If you sneak and do a power strike with 2 daggers, you get around 60x damage, and with that I could 1-hit ko giants at round lvl 7 - 10 or so, I don't really remember, (I might be wrong here.)

Anyways shield/dagger does seem viable early game and is really reliable late game, but it's going to be hard to get decent perks in block since both one handed and sneak skills both take up a lot of perks because of their primary starting perk takes 5 perks to master. I hope this helps you decide what you build your rouge as :D

[TimF]

Not a perk specifically, but invisibility spell for a rogue type, dead thrall for a mage. And of course, hitting 100 enchantment for a mage. The silliest thing is that you can swap apparel in battle, and have absolutely all spells for free without much weight.

[sheepskin]

well, the sneak perk with the 15x damage combined with the dark brother hood gloves kills absolutely everything in a single shot.

Also, the perk that slows down time for bows, never miss anything anymore.

 

I've read a bit about this and have experimented a little myself. I have a rogue-type toon I've yet to fully spec because I can't decide whether I want to go dual daggers or dagger/shield for elemental protection and quick reflexes. I mean, if I can get to a point where a sneak attack can KO pretty much anything when properly spec'd and geared, why not divert the remaining points into damage/magic mitigation? Paired with shadow warrior I think this build would prove to be REALLY powerful and especially suited to picking apart many types of situations.

 

 

Well, I just went dual blades just for the role playing of it.

I myself don't see an assassin with a shield running around.

I also think if you're carrying a shield it's harder to sneak around, unless until you get the right perks and enchantments.

If you sneak and do a power strike with 2 daggers, you get around 60x damage, and with that I could 1-hit ko giants at round lvl 7 - 10 or so, I don't really remember, (I might be wrong here.)

Anyways shield/dagger does seem viable early game and is really reliable late game, but it's going to be hard to get decent perks in block since both one handed and sneak skills both take up a lot of perks because of their primary starting perk takes 5 perks to master. I hope this helps you decide what you build your rouge as :D

 

My bad, I was under the impression sneak attack utilized only one weapon, it never crossed my mind to power attack when sneaking. This definitely changes the mechanics a bit. And yeah, I could see such a build being quite underpowered regardless. Even if it did work, you'd have to make it to lv25 to complete the core of the build. Then you'd still have light armor, enchanting, and any other personal twists to fill in. I guess the shield idea stemmed from the assassin martial arts builds in d2. Very combo reliant with an "in your face" play-style, they usually ran with a shield to improve mitigation/absorption and looked pretty cool imo. Those were really fun to play.

Edited January 2, 2012 by sheepskin

[Faivon]

The game already categorize each class perfectly for warrior, thief/assassins or mages.

 

For me, each character had to have either Alchemy/Enchating/Smithing. Extra Enchantment is one of overpowered perk, I didn't use much magic so I'll skip magical perk. 15x damage for backstabbing with dagger is a must for Thief/Assassin and so is the perk to allow zooming with bow. For warriors, it's very simple. Just maximize the armor rating and damage; nothing special, I think.

[aguliondew]

The crafting perks are all game changing and easily break the game. Enchanting turns all armor into mage gear. Smithing craft the best weapons in the game at a early level. Alchemy greatly improves your other 2 crafting perks as well as gives you easy to make potions. As far as magic resist you only need this on master level otherwise you have enough time to use heals/potions.

 

Archery is the best offensive perk tree, once you have leveled it. Once archery and sneak are maxed the game becames stupidly easy, sneak shot, stand, crouch, sneak shot. the first shot should kill anyone. Steady hand (50% slow time), Deadly aim (3xsneak damage), and archers hit as hard as 2h uses before the multipliers.