"Maw unleashing razor snow, Of dragons from the blue brought down, Births the walking winter's woe, The High King in his Jagged Crown."
Introduction
Like many of you, I've been a TES fan for over a decade, and I've spent more time in Skyrim than I care to admit. When Dragonborn was announced, I decided to start a new character to take with me into Solstheim, and I realized that I had never actually played a pure warrior character. With that in mind, I sat out to create a pure warrior and the High King was born. Please note, this is my first posted build. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
This build gets its name from the Jagged Crown, the ancient crown of the High King of Skyrim. This is one of the most unique helms in the game and is a perfect fit for a Dragonborn warrior. This, of course, means that you'll need to pick up the quest 'The Jagged Crown' early in the Civil War questline, and either not turn the quest in after you receive the crown, or glitch the game to retain possession after finishing the quest. (While I link the Stormcloack version of the quest, this is equally available to the Imperial faction. It's just a better RP fit with the Stormcloaks.)
The main idea of the build is martial versatility. You won't be proficient with magic or subtlety, but you are a master of armor and weaponry. Your primary focus will be on Block and your weapon skills, using power bashes and power attacks to dominate the battlefield. Supplementing your martial prowess is your skill in Dragon Shouts, which more than makes up for your deficiency in the magic department.
From an RP standpoint, you are Ysmir, Dragon of the North, who saved Skyrim from the threat of Alduin and, as such, gained the respect of the people of Skyrim. Though Ulfric Stormcloak led the rebellion against the Empire, it was you who turned the tide of the rebellion, and now the population of Skyrim holds you in reverence as their High King. You'll spend much of your time clearing out dungeons filled with Draugr and remnants of the Dragon Priest cult, all the while learning new shouts to add to your Thu'um arsenal. With the Dragonborn DLC fast approaching, this is a perfect character to take into it, as the threat of another Dragonborn and the Dragon Cult of Atmora is something that the Dragonborn High King of Skyrim would be sure to investigate.
Because the build is so narrow, focusing solely on combat abilities (and a little bit of focus on Smithing), there is a lot of room for customization. The bulk of this build can be fully explored by level 50, giving you room with your perks to branch out into magic or sneaking such as you wish.
The Build
General Information
- Race: Nord
- Blessing: Blessing of Talos
- Stone(s): Lord/Lady (Either/Or. Ideally both, once you've completed 'Lost to the Ages'.)
- Major Skills: Two-Handed, Block, Heavy Armor, Smithing
- Minor Skills: One-Handed, Archery
- Stat Distribution: Magicka 0/Health 2/Stamina 3
- Weapon(s): Wuuthrad (for use with Elemental Fury), The Rueful Axe, Volendrung, and generally any weapon that excels at smashing face. Any one-handed weapon of preference for use with shields.
- Armor: The Jagged Crown, Aetherial Crown, Amulet of Talos, Dragonbone Plate, Shield of Ysgramor.
Recommended Perks (italicized represents optional perks)
- Two-Handed: Barbarian (5/5), Champion's Stance, Devastating Blow, Great Critical Charge, Sweep, Warmaster, Limbsplitter (3/3), Skull Crusher (3/3), Deep Wounds (3/3)
- Block: Shield Wall (1/5), Power Bash, Deadly Bash, Disarming Bash, Deflect Arrows, Elemental Protection, Block Runner, Shield Charge, Shield Wall (5/5)
- Heavy Armor: Juggernaut (5/5), Well Fitted, Tower of Strength, Matching Set, Reflect Blows, Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning
- Smithing: Steel Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Orcish Smithing, Ebony Smithing, Daedric Smithing, Dragon Smithing, Arcane Blacksmith
- One-Handed: Armsman (5/5), Fighting Stance, Savage Strike, Paralyzing Strike, Hack and Slash (3/3), Bone Breaker (3/3), Bladesman (3/3)
- Archery: Overdraw (1/5), Eagle Eye, Overdraw (5/5), Critical Shot (3/3), Power Shot, Quick Shot, Bull's Eye
Important Quests /Skills
- Quests
- The Jagged Crown is the most important quest for this build, in my opinion. Though it has no real effect on gameplay from a mechanical standpoint, it provides the appropriate aesthetic for the High King. Information on how to glitch this so that you can keep the crown but finish the questline (if you're into that sort of thing) can be found here. Also provided during this quest is one word to the shout Slow Time.
- The Companions questline provides access to two of the more lore-appropriate items for this build: Wuuthrad and The Shield of Ysgramor. I cured my lycanthropy as I felt it didn't have a place in the build, but if you want to be a werewolf go nuts. You also unlock one of the words for Fire Breath during the course of this questline.
- Lost to the Ages is an important quest as well, choosing the Aetherial Crown as your quest reward. The Aetherial Crown can be worn with the Jagged Crown, and the benefit of using two standing stones (in this case, combining the defensive bonuses of the Lord's stone with the Health and Stamina regen of the Lady Stone) is a major boon for any character. Substitute the Atronach Stone for the Lady stone if you wish to be more defensive. (Requires Dawnguard)
- The Main Quest is important for this character. As the Dragonborn, and a true son of Skyrim, it is important to you that Alduin is defeated. Also, completing the Main Quest grants you access to several very powerful shouts.
- Shouts
- Call of Valor
- Elemental Fury
- Slow Time (Partially quest-locked. Complete the Mage's Guild questline if you wish to unlock this shout's full potential.)
- Storm Call
- Fire Breath (Specialized during the Main Quest)
- Marked For Death (Partially quest locked. Gain access to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary outside Falkreath to unlock this shout's full potential.)
- Misc.
- Depending upon how purely you RP, it is (as always) worthwhile to invest in enchanting. If you do, one of the better enchants for your armor is Stamina Regeneration, since the build is based largely around power bashes and power attacks.
- Always have an unenchanted Two-Hander available for use with Elemental Fury, but if you swap to One-Hander and Shield, use an enchanted weapon as Elemental Fury isn't at it's best with Sword-and-Board.
- As this build doesn't take any points in Restoration or Alchemy, it's highly recommended to invest in health potions often.
- Since Stamina is very important to this build, consider doing some cooking for the amazing Vegetable Soup and the like.
- A lot of folks will see the recommended perks and be confused why some are there. I put the perks there for versatility with weapons and armor. These can be ignored if so desired.
Special Moves
- Ysmir's Fury (Two-Handed Power Bash + Backwards Two-Handed Power Attack + Elemental Fury): Your prowess with Two-Handed weapons allows you to break your opponent's defenses, causing them to fall to the ground in fear. You then pummel them with a series of quick, ferocious strikes.
- Flame Arc (Fire Breath + Sideways Two-Handed Power Attack): You Thu'um a blaze that engulfs your enemies, followed by a series of wide swings that decimate enemy groups (This is an AoE skill)
- Royal Charge (Slow Time + Two-Handed Sprinting Power Attack): The weight of your armor and weaponry cannot slow you. You charge into battle quicker than enemies can react, striking them down before they have a chance to mount a defense.
- Judgment of the High King (Battle Cry + Marked For Death): With Royal Authority, you decree Death for your enemy.
- Royal Authority (Call of Valor + Fortify Shout): Even Sovngarde recognizes your Sovereign Highness. At will, you can summon a subject from the halls of the glorified dead to attend to their King.
- Wrath of the High King (Battle Cry + Storm Call): The Ultimate Display of power. You Thu'um a Lightning Storm, and all who surround flee, terrified at the wrath of the Dragonborn.
Other
Thanks for taking the time to read the build. It's not as versatile as a lot of the other builds out there, and it's not as unique as some of the builds out there, but I think it is quite enjoyable, and has room for customization per individual preference. At some point, I'd like to pretty it up a bit with more pics and icons for the special moves, but alas I'm not great with image editing and I'm not great at finding artwork. Please leave feedback and let me know what you think!
Update: Added icons for abilities, removed light armor from the build per feedback.
"Maw unleashing razor snow, Of dragons from the blue brought down, Births the walking winter's woe, The High King in his Jagged Crown."
Introduction
Like many of you, I've been a TES fan for over a decade, and I've spent more time in Skyrim than I care to admit. When Dragonborn was announced, I decided to start a new character to take with me into Solstheim, and I realized that I had never actually played a pure warrior character. With that in mind, I sat out to create a pure warrior and the High King was born. Please note, this is my first posted build. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
This build gets its name from the Jagged Crown, the ancient crown of the High King of Skyrim. This is one of the most unique helms in the game and is a perfect fit for a Dragonborn warrior. This, of course, means that you'll need to pick up the quest 'The Jagged Crown' early in the Civil War questline, and either not turn the quest in after you receive the crown, or glitch the game to retain possession after finishing the quest. (While I link the Stormcloack version of the quest, this is equally available to the Imperial faction. It's just a better RP fit with the Stormcloaks.)
The main idea of the build is martial versatility. You won't be proficient with magic or subtlety, but you are a master of armor and weaponry. Your primary focus will be on Block and your weapon skills, using power bashes and power attacks to dominate the battlefield. Supplementing your martial prowess is your skill in Dragon Shouts, which more than makes up for your deficiency in the magic department.
From an RP standpoint, you are Ysmir, Dragon of the North, who saved Skyrim from the threat of Alduin and, as such, gained the respect of the people of Skyrim. Though Ulfric Stormcloak led the rebellion against the Empire, it was you who turned the tide of the rebellion, and now the population of Skyrim holds you in reverence as their High King. You'll spend much of your time clearing out dungeons filled with Draugr and remnants of the Dragon Priest cult, all the while learning new shouts to add to your Thu'um arsenal. With the Dragonborn DLC fast approaching, this is a perfect character to take into it, as the threat of another Dragonborn and the Dragon Cult of Atmora is something that the Dragonborn High King of Skyrim would be sure to investigate.
Because the build is so narrow, focusing solely on combat abilities (and a little bit of focus on Smithing), there is a lot of room for customization. The bulk of this build can be fully explored by level 50, giving you room with your perks to branch out into magic or sneaking such as you wish.
The Build
General Information
- Race: Nord
- Blessing: Blessing of Talos
- Stone(s): Lord/Lady (Either/Or. Ideally both, once you've completed 'Lost to the Ages'.)
- Major Skills: Two-Handed, Block, Heavy Armor, Smithing
- Minor Skills: One-Handed, Archery
- Stat Distribution: Magicka 0/Health 2/Stamina 3
- Weapon(s): Wuuthrad (for use with Elemental Fury), The Rueful Axe, Volendrung, and generally any weapon that excels at smashing face. Any one-handed weapon of preference for use with shields.
- Armor: The Jagged Crown, Aetherial Crown, Amulet of Talos, Dragonbone Plate, Shield of Ysgramor.
Recommended Perks (italicized represents optional perks)
- Two-Handed: Barbarian (5/5), Champion's Stance, Devastating Blow, Great Critical Charge, Sweep, Warmaster, Limbsplitter (3/3), Skull Crusher (3/3), Deep Wounds (3/3)
- Block: Shield Wall (1/5), Power Bash, Deadly Bash, Disarming Bash, Deflect Arrows, Elemental Protection, Block Runner, Shield Charge, Shield Wall (5/5)
- Heavy Armor: Juggernaut (5/5), Well Fitted, Tower of Strength, Matching Set, Reflect Blows, Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning
- Smithing: Steel Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Orcish Smithing, Ebony Smithing, Daedric Smithing, Dragon Smithing, Arcane Blacksmith
- One-Handed: Armsman (5/5), Fighting Stance, Savage Strike, Paralyzing Strike, Hack and Slash (3/3), Bone Breaker (3/3), Bladesman (3/3)
- Archery: Overdraw (1/5), Eagle Eye, Overdraw (5/5), Critical Shot (3/3), Power Shot, Quick Shot, Bull's Eye
Important Quests /Skills
- Quests
- The Jagged Crown is the most important quest for this build, in my opinion. Though it has no real effect on gameplay from a mechanical standpoint, it provides the appropriate aesthetic for the High King. Information on how to glitch this so that you can keep the crown but finish the questline (if you're into that sort of thing) can be found here. Also provided during this quest is one word to the shout Slow Time.
- The Companions questline provides access to two of the more lore-appropriate items for this build: Wuuthrad and The Shield of Ysgramor. I cured my lycanthropy as I felt it didn't have a place in the build, but if you want to be a werewolf go nuts. You also unlock one of the words for Fire Breath during the course of this questline.
- Lost to the Ages is an important quest as well, choosing the Aetherial Crown as your quest reward. The Aetherial Crown can be worn with the Jagged Crown, and the benefit of using two standing stones (in this case, combining the defensive bonuses of the Lord's stone with the Health and Stamina regen of the Lady Stone) is a major boon for any character. Substitute the Atronach Stone for the Lady stone if you wish to be more defensive. (Requires Dawnguard)
- The Main Quest is important for this character. As the Dragonborn, and a true son of Skyrim, it is important to you that Alduin is defeated. Also, completing the Main Quest grants you access to several very powerful shouts.
- Shouts
- Call of Valor
- Elemental Fury
- Slow Time (Partially quest-locked. Complete the Mage's Guild questline if you wish to unlock this shout's full potential.)
- Storm Call
- Fire Breath (Specialized during the Main Quest)
- Marked For Death (Partially quest locked. Gain access to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary outside Falkreath to unlock this shout's full potential.)
- Misc.
- Depending upon how purely you RP, it is (as always) worthwhile to invest in enchanting. If you do, one of the better enchants for your armor is Stamina Regeneration, since the build is based largely around power bashes and power attacks.
- Always have an unenchanted Two-Hander available for use with Elemental Fury, but if you swap to One-Hander and Shield, use an enchanted weapon as Elemental Fury isn't at it's best with Sword-and-Board.
- As this build doesn't take any points in Restoration or Alchemy, it's highly recommended to invest in health potions often.
- Since Stamina is very important to this build, consider doing some cooking for the amazing Vegetable Soup and the like.
- A lot of folks will see the recommended perks and be confused why some are there. I put the perks there for versatility with weapons and armor. These can be ignored if so desired.
Special Moves
- Ysmir's Fury (Two-Handed Power Bash + Backwards Two-Handed Power Attack + Elemental Fury): Your prowess with Two-Handed weapons allows you to break your opponent's defenses, causing them to fall to the ground in fear. You then pummel them with a series of quick, ferocious strikes.
- Flame Arc (Fire Breath + Sideways Two-Handed Power Attack): You Thu'um a blaze that engulfs your enemies, followed by a series of wide swings that decimate enemy groups (This is an AoE skill)
- Royal Charge (Slow Time + Two-Handed Sprinting Power Attack): The weight of your armor and weaponry cannot slow you. You charge into battle quicker than enemies can react, striking them down before they have a chance to mount a defense.
- Judgment of the High King (Battle Cry + Marked For Death): With Royal Authority, you decree Death for your enemy.
- Royal Authority (Call of Valor + Fortify Shout): Even Sovngarde recognizes your Sovereign Highness. At will, you can summon a subject from the halls of the glorified dead to attend to their King.
- Wrath of the High King (Battle Cry + Storm Call): The Ultimate Display of power. You Thu'um a Lightning Storm, and all who surround flee, terrified at the wrath of the Dragonborn.
Other
Thanks for taking the time to read the build. It's not as versatile as a lot of the other builds out there, and it's not as unique as some of the builds out there, but I think it is quite enjoyable, and has room for customization per individual preference. At some point, I'd like to pretty it up a bit with more pics and icons for the special moves, but alas I'm not great with image editing and I'm not great at finding artwork. Please leave feedback and let me know what you think!
Update: Added icons for abilities, removed light armor from the build per feedback.
