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Character Build: The Stronghold's Slayer

Tags: #Character Build Archer  #Character Build Scout  #Character Build Alchemist  #Race:Orsimer  #Rank:Exemplar 
  • Member
    March 9, 2013

    THE STRONGHOLD'S SLAYER

     (Dawnguard DLC Essential)

    This is my first build and constructive criticism is welcome!

    You are an orc vampire slayer who was born and raised in a stronghold, training all your life to become an orc warrior. But due to unforeseen circumstances, you became a slayer of the undead and honed your skills as a warrior to become the best slayer possible. You hunted abominations such as vampires, Draugr, Werewolves and also necromancers. And due to your skills, expertise and growing reputation, the dark forces of Tamriel had started to fear you.

     

     

    Intro

    Almost 10 years has passed since I rammed that stake through my brother’s heart. Almost 10 years chasing shadows, Scouring Tamriel and searching for that blood sucking abomination called Harkron. The so called Vampire lord, who drove me to take my own brother’s life. Just thinking about it nearly sends me into a beserker rage, making my blood boil and head fill with rage. All those years of delving into crypts, castles and dungeons slaying those abominations, searching for the one who broke into the stronghold and put his dirty fangs into my brother’s neck.

    Some people say it's a waste of time, but to me as a son of Malacath, I see it as almost 10 years of honing my skills and becoming the slayer I am today.

     

    About The Build

    The build is a no-nonsense in your face warrior/archer (without sneaking), using alchemy, restoration and certain weapons to maximise damage towards the undead. It uses a range of one-handed weapons such as swords, Daggers and war axes, plus he uses the crossbow and restorations undead spells.

    Strafing and timing is essential when using the crossbow and the use of poisons such as slow and paralysis help take out groups of enemies.

    The archery perks such as power shot, quick draw, steady hand and ranger combine well together so that you can move around and take out enemies while dodging their ranged attacks. Being able to move faster with a drawn bow, plus stagger and have a chance to paralyze your targets helps immensely.

    One handed weapons that are dual wielded can take down enemies who get close fairly quickly. And with restoration can be single wielded with an undead spell in the other hand.

    Beserker rage is the orcs special ability and is a really good power which makes you take less damage as well as doubling your own. It makes taking on multiple enemies a lot easier and can be a life-saver at times.

     

    Vampire related quests

    Dawnguard (all dawnguard), laid to rest, dark ancestor.

    Werewolf related quests

    ILL met by moonlight

    Necromancer related quests

    Ancestral worship, Ansilvund, The black star, Blood on the ice, The man who cried wolf.

    Other quests

    Orc stronghold quests, Destroy Dark Brotherhood (due to them housing werewolves and vampires), Lost relic (for Dawnguard Rune Axe), break of dawn (for Dawnbreaker), Dragon priests are undead also.

     

    Stones

    Lover stone for levelling, steed to carry extra potions or lady stone for faster stamina and health regeneration.

     

    Major Skills

    One handed, Archery, Alchemy and Light Armour.

    One handed is used mainly because of 2 certain weapons that do extra damage against the undead, they are Dawnbreaker and the Dawnguard Rune axe. It’s also faster than two handed and gives the option to use an undead spell in one hand while having a weapon in the other.

    (Armsman 5/5, Dual Flurry 1/2, Dual Savagery, Fighting Stance, Savage Strike, Hack and Slash 3/3)

    Archery is used for range attacks and to paralyze or slow multiple enemies before they get close to you. Plus the crossbow fits a vampire slayer for RP purposes.

    (Overdraw 5/5, Eagle Eye, Steady Hand 2/2, Critical Shot 1/3, Hunters Discipline, Power Shot, Ranger, Quick Shot, Bulls-eye)

    Light Armour has better mobility than heavy and helps you move around more swiftly and stamina regenerates faster in it.

    (Agile Defender 5/5, Custom Fit, Unhindered, Wind Walker, Matching Set) * only add matching set if wearing full Dawnguard armour.

    Alchemy complements the build with not just your restore potions or the use of poisons, but by using fortify potions and regeneration potions to keep magic, stamina and health recharging faster. Poisons such as slow and paralyze really help when dealing with multiple enemies. (Also used to boost your smithing to make weapons and armour stronger).

    (Alchemist 5/5, Physician, Benefactor, Poisoner, Concentrated Poison)

    Minor Skills

    Restoration and Smithing

    Restoration is mainly used for the undead spells that you get with the dawnguard dlc, but sometimes can be used in the offhand to heal while attacking with a weapon.

    (Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Regeneration, Necromage)

    Smithing is only really used to upgrade your weapons, armour and create the crossbow and bolts. 

    (Steel Smithing, Dwarven Smithing, Arcane Blacksmith, Elven Smithing, Advanced Armors)

    Perks Level 55

    Perk Calculator

    Stat Distribution

    1/1/1 until magic is on 150, and then just put evenly on stamina and health.

     

    Weapons

    Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow (fiery soul trap) - The crossbow is an amazing weapon and this version ignores 50% of armour. Enchanted with fiery soul trap adds an extra 10 fire damage and refills soul gems to charge your weapons.

    Dawnbreaker - This sword deals extra damage to undead and burns them, plus can cause an explosion. It's the first damage undead weapon I picked up at level 10.

    Dawnguard Rune Axe - This weapon is amazing against the undead, it charges up with every one of them you kill. It adds sun damage up to 100 and works well with the hack and slash one handed perks on vampires. It resets daily but if you start out most dungeons with it, by the end you have a boss killer in your hands after all the undead slain on the way.

    Vladr's Lucky Dagger- This dagger has a 25% chance to critical hit, but it also works with elemental fury. So I equip this in the left hand and use another weapon in the right hand, then I get the effects of elemental fury plus the chance of critical hits with dual wield attacks.

    Blade of Woe - This dagger is one of the strongest in game and absorbs 10 health on strike. I mainly use this as a combination with Vladr's dagger and elemental fury to help keep my health up, as well as damage the enemy quickly.

    Mehrune's Razor - This weapon has a chance to instantly kill (practically) everything in the game, very powerful effect to have and can be a life saver sometimes. 

     

    ARMOUR

    Full Dawnguard light armour

    OR

    Vampire royal armour, Vampire Gauntlets, Vampire Boots and shrouded cowl or krosis mask to get slight look of the first picture (except red cloak instead).

    Accessories

    Amulet of Talos or Marksman necklace and Ring of Wielding.

    Spells

    Sun fire, Vampire’s bane, Stendarr’s aura.

    Shouts

    Slow Time - Slowing down the world around you helps take out multiple foes with the crossbow as it has a slow reload time.

    Elemental Fury - Vladr's Lucky dagger isn't classed as enchanted. So when it's wielded in the left hand and having blade of woe in the right, you get the effects of elemental fury in a dual wield power attack and get the critical chance from Vladr's dagger plus absorbing health in the process.

    Marked for death - Powerful single enemies can be taken out even faster with this shout and combines well with beserker rage.

    Aura whisper - being able to see the undead in dark areas, is really helpful to the slayer.

    Unrelenting force - being able to push back enemies who are too close and stagger them temporarily, is a useful asset when using the crossbow.

    Whirlwind sprint -  sometimes you need a way out from being mobbed, and this comes in useful when getting outnumbered to create space between you and the enemies.

     

    I also made a few Garlic potion recipes to help with the slaying of vampires and add to the role-playing experience of the build.

    Garlic Potion recipes

    Regen Health + Fortify Marksman – Garlic, Juniper berries + Elves Ear.

    Regen Magic + Forify Restoration – Garlic, Salt pile + Cryodillic Spadetail.

    Resist Poison + Fortify Light Armour – Garlic, Beehive Husk Skeever Tail.

    Regen health + Invisibility – Garlic, Vampire Dust + Nirnroot.

    Regen health + Cure Disease + Resist Poison – Garlic, Vampire Dust + Charred Skeever hide.

    Fortify Stamina + Resist Magic – Garlic, Lavender + Tundra Cotton.

    Resist Poison + Restore Health – Garlic, Charred Skeever Hide + Blue Mountain Flower.

    Fortify Stamina + Restore Stamina + Resist Poison – Garlic, Torchbug Thorax + Mudcrab Chitin.

    Regen Magic + Restore Magic – Garlic, Moonsugar + Red Mountain Flower.

    Resist Poison + Resist Fire – Garlic, Mudcrab Chitin + Snowberries.

    Resist Poison + Resist Frost – Garlic, Thistle + Purple Mountain Flower.

     

     

     

     

  • Member
    March 9, 2013

    The Dawnguard Armor is put into the "Advanced Armors" perk, so if you wanna be able to make that better, I'd go the extra mile, per se and grab that as well. You don't need Hunters Discipline or Ranger, So I'd take those out and put those into smithing. I'd also take out one of the steady hands and bullseye and put those into critical shot, but that's just me Very strong looking build overall, love the use of alchemy instead of Enchanting! +1

  • March 9, 2013

    This is awesome. Liked the "Garlic potion recipes" section at the end. +1

  • Member
    March 9, 2013

    Thanks for the tip on the armour, I've added those skills to it ( now level 52 build). I find the ranger skill helps with strafing with a drawn crossbow personally and therefore I have to take hunter's discipline to get it.

  • March 9, 2013
    Garlic Protection! I really didn't imagine how many awesome/effective potions you could make with garlic and I love the idea, although I thought it was a Orc killer when I read the name. It was better that I expected +1
  • March 9, 2013
    The Vampire Royal Armor works with advanced too
  • Member
    March 9, 2013

    Now you mention it, it does sound like an orc killer lol. Think I'll rename it The Stronghold's Slayer !

  • Member
    March 9, 2013

    Garlic orc warrior... so Shrek? 

  • March 9, 2013

    Nice! I've been looking for a build like this for a while, one that has a backstory like this. Is it essential to take Light Armour? Because I think heavy armour would be just as good, but that's just me . +1 from me.

  • Member
    March 9, 2013

    I chose light armour mainly because I prefer it personally, and it helps with the stamina regen.  Archery's aiming can be a stamina drain as well as power attacks from one-handed. But heavy would give you more protection at the start, and with alchemy you can make potions that help with stamina regen anyway. I also think heavy would work when you get the perk that makes it so it doesn't slow you down. Both armours have their pros and cons but I think both would be viable.