The world of Skyrim offers plenty of different strategies for players to use as they fight dragons and delve into dungeons. Sometimes, though, the best option is one that's tried and true. Skyrim is a land of warriors, and what better way for the Dragonborn to fulfill their legendary role than with a sword, shield, and battle cry?
Through hacking, slashing, and blocking, playing a warrior Dragonborn is one of the easiest ways in which to take big hits and deal massive damage. With an endless array of weapons and armor at the player's disposal, they have plenty of choices to make their warrior build unique. But which warrior-affiliated skills are the most useful? Here's a quick ranking to help Skyrim's sword-wielders decide which skills to focus on.
6 Two-Handed
Though powerful, two-handed weapons tend to be clunky. Since they drain stamina quickly and move so slowly, they take a lot of practice to use effectively. Their sluggish swings leave the player vulnerable to attacks, especially when fighting a gang of bandits or hoard of draugr. It also means that enemies have ample time to dodge, leaving stamina drained and no damage done.
The Two-Handed skill can be useful, especially with perks that massively increase damage. However, it's always important to think about where the attacks will land before swinging these big, heavy weapons. Otherwise, they can quickly grow frustrating. Be prepared to use some strategy, and always carry plenty of stamina potions.
5 Block
This is another skill that takes a lot of work to use in any meaningful way. Coordinating blocks with attacks takes a great deal of focus and concentration. During fights with multiple enemies, it can be difficult for players to time their block reactions effectively, while also incorporating offensive maneuvers of their own.
Lots of perks in the Block tree, such as Deadly Bash and Disarming Bash, provide some great advantages in difficult fights, dealing heavy damage, and knocking away enemy weapons. However, any useful perks require a high skill level to use. Like Two-Handed, this skill is far from useless, but takes patience and strategic thinking to employ effectively.
4 Archery
Even warriors don't always go charging headfirst into a fight. Some like to hang back, making ranged weapons a good choice. Like the previous two, Archery takes patience to master, but it can be powerful if the player does it right. The perks in the Archery tree are incredibly useful, allowing the Dragonborn to zoom in on their targets and even slow time.
This skill does come with a few drawbacks. Bows tend to be most effective when used stealthily or from a distance, and become less useful when enemies start closing in. Aiming effectively can also take practice, taking into account the arc of an arrow's trajectory. However, when it comes to fighting dragons, there's no weapon better than a powerful bow.
3 Heavy Armor
Want to take a ton of hits and stay standing? Heavy armor is the way to go. While light armor improves the Dragonborn's stealth, it doesn't do much in the way of protection until the player invests heavily in perks. Meanwhile, its heavy counterpart does a better job of deflecting blows, and fits perfectly with a warrior aesthetic.
The main downside of heavy armor is its weight, and how much it drains stamina when sprinting. There are perks to help offset this, but they require a high level. However, Heavy Armor is an easy skill to raise: Just stand there and take hits. For warrior-style characters, the protection provided by heavy armor is worth the limitations—plus, their stamina is often high enough to handle the weight.
2 One-Handed
With their quick swings, one-handed weapons allow the player to deal damage to multiple enemies in a short period of time. They also don't eat up stamina as quickly as two-handed weapons, allowing for easier power-attacking. In general, one-handed weapons don't require a lot of strategy to use effectively, making it easy for new players.
Yet, veteran players can find ways to make this skill interesting. Using dual-wielding, a sword and shield, or equipping a spell in their free hand are all ways to make tough fights easier, and require a little more thinking than the blind hack-and-slash approach. Overall, one-handed weapons are incredibly versatile, earning this skill a high spot on this list.
1 Smithing
Like all crafting skills in Skyrim, Smithing is useful no matter the Dragonborn's play style. Almost any player can benefit from this skill, improving armor and weapons even without having to purchase perks. However, the Smithing perk tree is still worth investing in, to allow the player to craft their own items and improve existing ones to unbeatable levels.
Even at low levels, improving the Dragonborn's twiglike swords and flimsy armor can give players an advantage as they tackle their first few quests. This provides them with more opportunity to raise every other warrior skill, from One-Handed to Block. Brute force is all well and good, but every Skyrim warrior can benefit from taking a moment to sit down and forge their own perfect blade.