Skyrim is a game that has so many build options, it can be difficult to know where to begin. But for veteran players especially, trying a variety of weaker builds with unique play styles can be an interesting way to begin a new playthrough of the legendary game.

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Skyrim builds like the stealthy archer are known for their overpowered capabilities. But players used to the game will likely want to try something new. While many options are well-known, some builds have barely ever been used consistently in a playthrough. There are so many weapons, styles, and options in Skyrim that players never need to use a similar build twice.

6 No Weapons

Believe it or not, of all the many weapons in Skyrim, a unique and perfectly viable way to play through the game is completely unarmed. With the right build, fists can be deadly enough to get a player through the whole game. Playing as a Khajiit is a must for this style of play, as this race starts out at the beginning of Skyrim with additional unarmed damage due to their claws.

It is important to focus while using this style on heavy armor, as good gauntlets with the right enchantments will go a long way to making this build viable for defeating even the largest and most powerful enemies. In the Skyrim Anniversary Edition, this challenge becomes even more possible, as the Fearsome Fists creation adds unarmed gloves which can help hugely. The heavy armor perk “fists of steel” is a necessity as well.

5 No Magic Wizard

Skyrim Dumner Mage Dravynea the Stoneweaver Outdoors Blue Robe

Definitely one of the least utilized builds in the history of Skyrim, it combines two elements that players often completely ignore. Staffs and scrolls is another name for this build, or the dumb wizard because the character is considered too stupid to cast spells but insists on being a wizard. This basically means players need to get many perks in different types of magic, so the staffs use less of their charge with each usage.

A fun and unique way to play Skyrim since these elements are so completely unused in most builds, the no-magic wizard can be frustrating but very fun. Important notes are finding a conjuration staff with a soul trap to help recharge all staffs and to use the College of Winterhold’s Atronach Forge for creating scrolls. Spider scrolls can also be found in the Solstheim DLC. Using only spells, even the most powerful Skyrim spells, is also an under-utilized build in the game.

4 Pacifist

skyrim pacifist courier

Most Skyrim players are fairly used to, if not excited to, wantonly murder their way through much of the population of Tamriel. However, one of the trickier ways to play Skyrim is to make it through (almost) all the game without killing anybody at all. It is surprisingly possible when simply running away is added to high-level sneaking and pickpocketing.

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Additionally, the spells calm and pacify can stop enemies from pursuing the player. Shouts like throw voice and whirlwind sprint can be used to escape some of the trickier situations, and there are definitely some quest lines and missions that cannot be completed in this fashion. However, for veteran players, there are only a few challenges like seeing how few enemies can be killed in this fashion. Of course, there are a few particularly tough Skyrim enemies that need to be watched out for in this type of run.

3 Poison Build

Skyrim Most Valuable Potions Poisons Poison

Another entirely viable but strange build that can be used in Skyrim is to focus entirely on poisoning enemies. Stealthy characters in Skyrim are usually focused on archery or backstabs with daggers. But it is possible with good enough pickpocketing to place poisons in enemy inventories. With this build, that is the main focus at all times.

With a filled alchemy perk tree early in the game, players can make poisons that are strong enough to destroy enemies. Add restoration poison spells that can help out in trickier situations and great sneaking/pickpocketing abilities, and players can make this build work better and better as the game goes on. There are some situations where it may be more difficult than others though, such as when the player themselves is being ambushed.

2 The Terrible Weapon

While even builds with no weapons can end up reasonably strong later in the game, taking one of the worst weapons in the game and trying to only use this is always going to be a pain. Great examples include the iron dagger, the wooden sword, or an axe. Any of these weapons being the only one that players can use makes for a tough build.

Even focusing on enchantments that can level up one of these weapons leads to a very average weapon at the very best of times. Players can escape Skyrim with just one weapon, even one this bad, but it will be an incredibly frustrating, amusing experience.

1 The Healer

Restoration magic is not the strongest type of weaponry available in Skyrim. Actually, it’s terrible. For healing, it has many excellent uses. It also gains a lot of traction as the game goes on against undead opponents, including vampires. However, besides that, it would be very difficult to make it through the game with only restoration spells.

That is what makes it so amusing to try. Role-play as some sort of holy person worshiping a certain God or just as a generally kind, happy person, attempting to navigate Skyrim with only the power of healing and restoration on their mind. A brutal way to build a character, but one that can work with persistence and a lot of painful fun.

Skyrim: Anniversary Edition was released on 11th November 2021 and is available on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4&5, Xbox One, Series X & Series S, and on PC.

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