Skyrim's biggest strength isn't just its immersive open-world. It also lets players become exactly what they want, without punishing them for that freedom. As such, the community has come up with a hundred and more different ways to complete the game by using the game's perks to their maximum potential.
A consistent favorite among fans is the stealth build. There are many variants of this character build, varying from an archer to a thief to even an illusion mage or a pure assassin using only a dagger. However, although it's among the most common builds, it's definitely not all that easy to finish the game as a stealth character. As with everything, there are pros and cons.
10 Best: Huge Profits
With stealth, the player opens up a whole new path to success in Skyrim. They no longer need to abide by the rules of the big cities. Everything and anyone's possession is now basically theirs, since pickpocketing is a major aspect of stealth builds.
Stolen items which don't have any special use, such as health potions and food, need to be sold to a fence. This is the only downside to being a thief, but after the Thieves Guild fences are activated, the profits that can be made are pretty significant. Finally, that cool mansion in Solitude can be yours!
9 Worst: Crouch Simulator
Stealth builds aren't just about the cool assassin outfit, the hood and a strong unique bow or dagger. It's also a lot of, well, crouching and being stealthy. This sort of becomes the default mode of playing the game long-term and it can get a bit tedious after a while.
In the beginning, in particular you might fail your sneak multiple times, which can feel really discouraging. Plus, it just seems a bit boring to spend most of the time hiding in the shadows and crouching, rather than charging head on at the enemy and dealing with the situation quickly.
8 Best: Use Niche Magic Schools
Stealth builds are often accompanied by a specific school of magic, which can make the whole process of staying hidden a lot easier. Magicka also provides great alternatives like summoning atronachs to help you in the fight and throwing off enemies.
Schools like Illusion, Alteration and Conjuration aren't usually favorites among mages in Skyrim, but the stealth build puts a nice emphasis on these niche schools. It's a great change of pace and an opportunity to try niche spells you wouldn't normally use.
7 Worst: Requires Magic Or Alchemy
There's also a downside to having some magic as part of a stealth character build. For one, it means that having a pure stealth build is incredibly hard if not impossible, and for two, it just takes away from other stealth-related perks that could be leveled up.
Alchemy is an offender in this regard as well, as it's usually paired with a stealth build to provide powerful damage and health buffs in combat to further increase your DPS. These are all great build ideas, but they're not part of a pure stealth build.
6 Best: Easier Stealth Missions
Skyrim isn't known for being a game focused on stealth and sneaky missions. However, that doesn't mean one can't get through some dungeons without being noticed and looting absolutely everything. Especially against powerful enemies, high sneak is a big bonus.
Moreover, there are some missions that become significantly easier with a stealth build. From entering Calcelmo's museum during the Thieves Guild quest to entering the Thalmor Embassy, there's always a time and place for successful stealth characters to shine.
5 Worst: Vulnerable Against Groups
One of the major problems with stealth builds is that they rely on you always knowing where the enemy is before the enemy finds you. In certain situations, however, it's the opposite, no matter what you do. An entire group of enemies will assault you, and then it's game over unless you have a tanky follower or can summon a creature to help you.
Group fights are the Achilles' heel of most stealth characters. It's practically impossible for a pure stealth character to survive them unless they run away and lose the enemy before approaching them again. These situations simply demand a follower or some magic or alchemy.
4 Best: Sneak Criticals
The main appeal in stealth builds is of course the aspect of surprise. Outwitting the enemy by walking in the shadows, only to pull out a unique dagger on them and cutting their throat is a pretty thrilling and empowering experience.
The critical attack bonus gained from sneaking is so significant it can allow the player to one-shot enemies from afar with a bow and instantly kill them by surprising them from behind. It's a satisfying and fast way to deal with opponents, when it can be pulled off.
3 Worst: Impossible Fights
Although you can make whatever type of Dragonborn you want, it's evident that Skyrim is sort of coded best for a heavy armor Nord warrior to survive. The amount of close quarter combat situations is so huge that stealthy characters will often struggle with scripted encounters in particular.
Dragons especially are a tough one, because they have the high ground and aerial advantage in most cases. While a stealth archer is quite well prepared, an assassin character will really struggle if they have no alternative weapon but a dagger to help them, or magic to assist them.
2 Best: Generally High DPS
Stealth characters are similar to mages in many ways. They're glass cannons able to dish out tons of damage, in exchange for a low armor rating. For archers, this damage can come from afar with an extremely powerful bow at their disposal.
For assassins, the extra damage comes from an enchanted dagger, and the ability to take the enemy by surprise. It's pretty much an instant kill, which heavy armor warriors would struggle to achieve.
1 Worst: Low Armor
As mentioned, stealth characters prioritize damage and being light on their feet in exchange for low armor. Light armor usually gives them higher stamina, which allows for better attacks with daggers.
On the other hand, many unique light armor sets counterbalance this lack of armor rating by providing other powerful bonuses like discounts in magic skills or higher damage or sneak abilities. It's always a trade, and in this case, the trade is that a stealth character must at all cost avoid close quarter combat.