Skyrim drops you into a frozen province on the brink of civil war, then hands you the soul of a dragon and lets you go anywhere. The Special Edition adds 64-bit support, better lighting, and full mod compatibility on top of the 2011 base game. You can play 200 hours and still trip over a quest you never saw.
New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stealth Archer | S | Crouch, line up the shot, vanish, repeat | Daedric or Dragonbone Bow, Deadly Aim perk, Muffle enchantment on boots |
| Two-Handed Berserker | A | Walk forward, swing, ignore most incoming damage | Daedric Greatsword, full Daedric heavy armor, Elemental Fury shout |
| Destruction Mage | B | Dual-cast Impact to stunlock, kite everything else | Staff of staves, Fortify Destruction gear, Impact perk for stagger |
| Conjuration Summoner | A | Summon, reanimate, let the army carry | Bound Bow for early game, Conjuration cost-reduction gear |
| Sword and Board Paladin | B | Block, bash to stagger, counterattack | Dawnbreaker, heavy shield with block enchant, Restoration spells |
For detailed meta rankings, see our The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition tier list.
S-Tier: Stealth Archer
The build everyone falls into for good reason. Sneak attacks with a bow deal triple damage, and with the right perks that becomes a flat 3x sniper kill from the shadows.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Stamina for draw speed, then Health | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | shout system | Dragon Shouts are unlocked by absorbing dragon souls at Word Walls scattered across the map. |
How to Play Stealth Archer
Crouch, line up the shot, vanish, repeat
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Highest overall performance
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Clear stat priority (Stamina for draw speed, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
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Works in all content types
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Popular pick, resources may be contested
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Two-Handed Berserker
Heavy armor and a greatsword that turns enemies into paste. Power attacks stagger and the Critical Charge perk closes distance fast.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Health first, Stamina for power attacks | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | skill perk trees | Eighteen skills level through use, and every level grants one perk point to spend across constellation-shaped trees. |
How to Play Two-Handed Berserker
Walk forward, swing, ignore most incoming damage
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Most versatile option
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Clear stat priority (Health first, Stamina for power attacks) makes gearing straightforward
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Works in all content types
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Lower peak damage than S-tier
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Destruction Mage
Fire, frost, and shock from range. Destruction scales poorly at high levels without crafting support, so pair it with Alchemy to stay relevant.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Magicka above all, then Health | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | smithing and enchanting | Smithing improves and creates gear, Enchanting adds magical effects, and the two loop together with Alchemy to push damage absurdly high. |
How to Play Destruction Mage
Dual-cast Impact to stunlock, kite everything else
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Best survivability
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Clear stat priority (Magicka above all, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
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Works in all content types
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Slower clear speeds
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Conjuration Summoner
Let bound creatures and reanimated corpses do the fighting. A Dremora Lord tanks while you cast support spells from safety.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Magicka, then Health | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | standing stones | Thirteen Standing Stones grant passive bonuses like 20% faster skill leveling or extra carry weight. |
How to Play Conjuration Summoner
Summon, reanimate, let the army carry
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Strong in group/team content
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Clear stat priority (Magicka, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
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Excels in its niche
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Weaker solo performance
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Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Sword and Board Paladin
Restoration healing, a one-handed sword, and a shield for bashing. Slow but nearly unkillable, ideal for a first survival-focused run.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Health and Stamina split | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | alchemy crafting | Mixing two or more ingredients at an alchemy lab creates potions and poisons. |
How to Play Sword and Board Paladin
Block, bash to stagger, counterattack
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Unique, rewarding playstyle
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Clear stat priority (Health and Stamina split) makes gearing straightforward
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Excels in its niche
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High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
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Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Two-Handed Berserker: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Stealth Archer once you understand core mechanics and have access to Daedric Bow
- Keep a Destruction Mage setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Sword and Board Paladin for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Rush The Lover Stone near Markarth at low level for 15% faster skill gains across the board.
- Buy every Fortify Smithing and Fortify Enchanting potion ingredient you find, the crafting loop is the real endgame.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
Similar Games
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