Of the three core stats utilized in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Stamina is the most important one for players who want to be quick on their feet or perform devastating attacks. However, Stamina isn't an infinite resource, and if steps aren't taken to expand the Stamina pool, it can become a hindrance in some builds.
Whether a player wants to build a heavy tanky character, an agile assassin, or even a deadly dual-wielding warrior, Stamina is one of those stats that often gets neglected but should be favored to get the most out of these character builds. Here are a few tricks that are easy enough to focus on to build up a huge Stamina pool.
10 Pick The Redguard Race
Right off the bat, it's pretty important to pick a race that's going to complement the play style the player wants. While all races can excel in just about any type of build thanks to the flexible perk system the game has, some races have nice stat boosts and advantages that make them particularly strong.
For stamina heavy builds, the Redguard is ideal. They have a unique race ability called Adrenaline Rush which allows them to regenerate their stamina pool ten times faster for 60 seconds straight. This is a huge boost right off the bat.
9 Always Level Up Stamina
Every time the player reaches a new level, their stamina bar will be automatically filled, which is nice but not something to rely on in the long run. It's more of a cool bonus if the player reaches a new level during a particularly intense bout of combat.
Whenever a new level is reached, one of the three attributes can be leveled. It's recommended to invest as many points as possible into stamina. Stamina builds rarely rely on magicka, so neglecting magicka in favor of stamina is a totally valid choice.
8 Activate The Lady Stone
The standing stones are powerful boosters that can be found scattered around Skyrim. However, activating just any stone willy nilly is a poor idea. Some of these stones are better suited for specific character builds, so picking the right one is incredibly important.
Found out on an island on Lake Illinalta is the Lady Stone. This is the only stone that actually boosts stamina, and since it's not far from Riverwood it's a good idea to visit it as soon as the game starts. Activating it boosts the regeneration of stamina, as well as health, by 25%.
7 Activate The Shrine Of Kynareth
In much the same way that the standing stones are a great way to gain boosts to skills and attributes, the different shrines scattered all around Skyrim are also an excellent way to gain an edge. Once again, picking the right shrine is vital, since each divine character gives the Dragonborn a unique boost.
The easiest place to find one is in Whiterun, where an entire temple is dedicated to Kynareth. Activating her shrine will cure the Dragonborn's diseases and boost stamina by 25 points. Another easy spot to find one is in the Temple of the Divines in Solitude.
6 Wear Gauldur And Kynareth Amulets
Unique amulets and trinkets that boost stamina are an absolute must-have for those who want to get the most out of it. Two amulets in particular do this job well, the first one being the Amulet of Kynareth, which boosts the player's stamina by 10 points. It can be looted randomly, or even sometimes bought at Radiant Raiments in Solitude.
Without a doubt one of the best amulets in the game, the Gauldur Amulet boosts each attribute by 30 points, including Stamina. Although its quest is challenging and quite long, it's well worth grinding through it. To start the quest Forbidden Legends, read the book Lost Legends, which can be found randomly in ruins and dungeons.
5 Make Stamina Potions
Yet another to reason to get into alchemy and crafting potions is how much it can do for a player's attributes. From momentarily fortifying stamina to restoring stamina when in a pinch, carrying a good stock of these powerful green potions is important for characters relying on their stamina pool.
A few base ingredients for Fortify Stamina are Chaurus Eggs, Garlic, Large Antlers, Lavender, Slaughterfish Egg, and Torchbug Thorax. For restoring stamina, try these ingredients: Purple Mountain Flower, Sabre Cat Tooth, Orange Dartwing, Pine Thrush Egg, and Eye of Sabre Cat. A dozen more ingredients found all around Skyrim are also good, so make sure to try everything.
4 Pick The Wind Walker Perk
If the player character is focused on their Light Armor skill tree, they're in for some good news: there's a powerful perk that boosts their stamina significantly if they wear Light Armor from head to toe. This is the Wind Walker perk at level 60, found after the Unhindered perk.
Wind Walker allows stamina to regenerate 50% faster when the player has their head, chest, hands, and feet all clad in Light Armor. This is a massive boost that doesn't require special items to be equipped for Light Armor wearers.
3 Cook Stamina Rich Foods
Cooking isn't the most powerful gameplay feature in Skyrim, but it's not something that should be overlooked, especially when in a pinch. With the right ingredients, the Dragonborn can recreate useful recipes that restore a fair amount of stamina when alchemy just isn't an option.
Some of the best recipes for stamina in particular are Venison Stew, Vegetable Soup, and Beef Stew. To get ingredients for these, make sure to gather cabbage, salt piles, red apples, potatoes, venison, leek, and tomatoes. They should be easy to find at farms or in barrels.
2 Sleep And Wait For Quick Restore
In a pinch, if the player isn't in combat but is in a hurry to get somewhere by running, the best way to quickly restore stamina without wasting potions and food is to resort to sleeping and waiting. Waiting is the simpler method as it can be done anywhere at any time.
Sleeping, however, requires a bedroll or a bed. Sleeping for a long period of time does give some nice bonuses, and if the player sleeps by their spouse, the bonuses are even more significant as they'll have a higher experience gain.
1 Get Stamina Enchantments
Finally, the most obvious method is to prioritize stamina related enchantments when enchanting items. It's not the easiest one to achieve, since you'll need to reach level 70 and get the Corpus Enchanter perk on the Enchanting skill tree in order to get the most out of it. This makes attribute enchantments on armor 25% stronger.
Make sure to save any armor found as loot that has stamina enchantments. Even if the enchantment itself isn't very powerful, it can be learned by unenchanting the object. As the player levels their enchanting skill, they can reuse the enchantment and make it much more powerful.