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.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Daedric Bow | The highest base-damage bow in the unmodded game, craftable at the Atronach Forge or smithed with Daedra Hearts. |
| Core Gear | Daedric or Dragonbone Bow, Deadly Aim perk, Muffle enchantment on boots | Maximizes build potential |
| 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
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.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Daedric Bow and shout system creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Daedric or Dragonbone Bow, Deadly Aim perk, Muffle enchantment on boots amplifies this further. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Stamina for draw speed, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Mehrunes' Razor | A dagger with a flat chance to instantly kill any target, scaling beautifully with sneak multipliers. |
| Core Gear | Daedric Greatsword, full Daedric heavy armor, Elemental Fury shout | Maximizes build potential |
| 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
Heavy armor and a greatsword that turns enemies into paste. Power attacks stagger and the Critical Charge perk closes distance fast.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Mehrunes' Razor and skill perk trees creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Daedric Greatsword, full Daedric heavy armor, Elemental Fury shout amplifies this further. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Health first, Stamina for power attacks) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Chillrend | A leveled glass sword that frost-damages and has a chance to paralyze, best grabbed at high level for the strongest version. |
| Core Gear | Staff of staves, Fortify Destruction gear, Impact perk for stagger | Maximizes build potential |
| 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
Fire, frost, and shock from range. Destruction scales poorly at high levels without crafting support, so pair it with Alchemy to stay relevant.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Chillrend and smithing and enchanting creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Staff of staves, Fortify Destruction gear, Impact perk for stagger amplifies this further. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Magicka above all, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Dragonbane | A katana from the Blades questline that shocks targets and deals bonus damage to dragons. |
| Core Gear | Bound Bow for early game, Conjuration cost-reduction gear | Maximizes build potential |
| 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
Let bound creatures and reanimated corpses do the fighting. A Dremora Lord tanks while you cast support spells from safety.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Dragonbane and standing stones creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Bound Bow for early game, Conjuration cost-reduction gear amplifies this further. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Magicka, then Health) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Auriel's Bow | A Dawnguard bow that fires sun damage and, with Sunhallowed arrows, can stagger most enemies in daylight. |
| Core Gear | Dawnbreaker, heavy shield with block enchant, Restoration spells | Maximizes build potential |
| 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
Restoration healing, a one-handed sword, and a shield for bashing. Slow but nearly unkillable, ideal for a first survival-focused run.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Auriel's Bow and alchemy crafting creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Dawnbreaker, heavy shield with block enchant, Restoration spells amplifies this further. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Health and Stamina split) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- 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
More The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guides
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Overview
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Tier List
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Walkthrough
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Beginner's Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Tips & Tricks
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Weapons Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Combat Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Boss Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Maps & Locations
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Crafting Guide
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Classes & Characters
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