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Character Build: Mzund, Paladin of the Dwarves

Tags: #Character Build Knight  #Character Build Warrior  #Character Build Battlemage  #Rank:Exemplar 
  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    (*MAJOR DAWNGUARD/DRAGONBORN SPOILERS*)

    Okay, before I start this, I want to point out two builds: first off, Sage's Technomancer is one of my favorite builds on here, and some of my work is based off his, or in the case of Sunder, it is exactly his. This isn't me being a thieving jerk, his idea of Sunder just seems the most accurate to me (For Skyrim).

    I would also like to point out Sean's build The Automation. These builds are very similar, and that is actually a complete coincidence, but if you would like to see a similar dwarven ranger-esque Automaton build, check his out, it is a very well made build!

    Anyway, onto the build! For this build, I wanted to try using a couple of things that were new/I just haven't used or thought about. These include The Aetherial Staff (I always just go for the crown), The Steadfast Dwarven Sphere follower, Destruction as a defensive magic rather than offensive, and finally, the one thing the build is based around: The Visage of Mzund. So now, I give you:


    MZUND: PALADIN OF THE DWARVES

    The Backstory:

    Many do not know the story of Mzund. A paladin amongst the Dwemer race, he was most widely known for being a protector of the Rouken Clan. He fought with them against Shalidor, and was the one to carry Spellbreaker into battle, he had found the final resting place of Volendrung, and he had guided the Dwemer to Stros M'kai. But how did this warrior know his way so well around these unknown lands? How was he able to find his way to Stros M'Kai with such ease, as a Dwemer who lived his whole life in Morrowind?

    Simple: Mzund was not one of the Dwemer.

    Mzund was a Redguard. Considered by the Dwemer to be "a voice of might", he was put into their ranks as a Paladin, and gladly helped them throughout his years. He was even granted a mighty blessing by the Dwemer: the chance to have his blood changed into the blood of the Dwemer Lord Karegnac. In time, he was known as a protector for all Dwarves, traveling to Skyrim to take care of Falmer uprisings, and even going to Solstheim, where he had two Dwemer Automatons built for him. He was at Fahlbtharz the Battle of Red Mountain broke out. With his helmet resting on the table next to him, he disappeared quietly, in his sleep, just like every other person with Dwarven Blood.

    Now, in 4E 201, a young Redguard has found one of the few books pertaining to Mzund and his conquests, and has set out to walk in the shadow of this once great Warrior.



    The Build:

    Race: Redguard

    Stone: Steed Stone at First, Then Lord

    Major Skills: One Handed, Archery, Heavy Armor, Block

    Minor Skills: Smithing, Enchanting, Destruction, Restoration

    Major Quests: Unfathomable Depths, Dawnguard (Dawnguard side), Ancient Technology, The Only Cure, The Cursed Tribe, Lost To The Ages, Kagrumez Trials, The Black Book Quests, Arniels Endeavor The Companions Questline (Mainly for fire breath, if you go through this cure lycanthropy)

    Major Shouts: Fire Breath, Become Ethereal, Bend Will, Dragon Aspect, Call Dragon, Cyclone, Elemental Fury

    Stat Spread: 1/2/2 until you reach 200 Stamina, then go 2/3/0


    Weapons Used:

    Mace of Mzund: Dwarven Mace (Fire Damage Soul Trap)

    Crossbow of Mzund: Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow (Fire Damage, Paralysis)

    Dwarven Mace (No Enchant) (For Elemental Fury)

    Keening*

    Sunder*: Dwarven Mace (Absorb Stamina, Damage Stamina)

    Aetherial Staff

    Dwarven Black Bow of Fate

    Bow of Mzund: Dwarven Bow (Fire Damage, Soul Trap)

    *Can only be used when Wraithguard is equipped

    My reasoning for not using Fiery Soul Trap on the Bow and Mace is this way, you can control both of the inputs for the two different enchantments, while on the Crossbow it isn't really needed.

    Perks Used (Level 75):

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

    Archery is one of the main attacking skills used on this build. It is meant to kill (or at least injure) your enemies before they even get to you. The best use of it is through your crossbow; however, you do have other long range weapons you may opt to use instead.

    One-Handed: Armsman (5/5), Fighting Stance, Bone Breaker (3/3), Critical Charge, Paralyzing Strike

    One Handed is for when your enemies are two close, or if you are in a close quarters environment (such as barrows or dwarves ruins). Your main weapon is a mace, but you are able to use Sunder and Keening eventually. Be warned, however. They are weapons that should only be used with Karagnecs armor.

    Heavy Armor: Juggernaut (5/5), Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning, Well Fitted, Tower of Strength, Matching Set, Reflect Blows

    Heavy armor is your protection for when Falmer and Automatons get too close. Dwarven armor in my opinion is the best looking heavy armor in the game, and It is the armor I use in almost all my heavy armor builds.

    Blocking: Shield Wall (1/5), Quick Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Elemental protection, Block Runner, Power Bash, Disarming Bash, Deadly Bash, Shield Charge

    Blocking is a skill normally seen on a sword and board build, and one that is essential to this character. This combined with destruction makes it near impossible for anybody to injure you greatly without taking damage themselves.

    Destruction: Novice - Expert Destruction, Augmented Flames (2/2), Intense Flames, Rune Master

    This is used defensively in the form of walls, runes, and cloaks, as well as offensively to power up your Fire Shout. THis is used at long ranges along with archery to make sure your enemy does not get close to you.

    Restoration: Novice - Adept Restoration, Respite, Ward Absorb, Regeneration, Recovery (2/2), Avoid Death

    Restoration is for when you need to heal yourself after a particularly tough fight. The perks will help you survive in case you almost die, and the Ward Absorb will allow you to regain magicka from your Ward Spells, which is helpful for when you need more defense on your side.

    Enchanting: Enchanter (5/5), Insightful Enchanter, Corpus Enchanter, Fire Enchanter, Extra Effect

    Enchanting is how you put the spells on your armor. It was the one bit of magic that the dwemer did believe in using, and it is what you will use to become Mzund in the modern day.

    Armor Used:

    Helmet: Visage of Mzund (+60 Stamina, Breath of Nchauk)
    Armor: Cuirass of Mzund: Dwarven Armor (Fortify Health Regen, Fortify Health)
    Boots: Boots of Mzund: Dwarven Boots (Fortify Carryweight, Fortify Stamina)
    Gloves: Gauntlets of Mzund: Dwarven Gauntlets (Fortify One Handed, Fortify Archery
    Necklace: Necklace of Mzund: Gold Necklace (Fortify Archery, Fortify One Handed)
    Ring: Ring of Mzund: Gold Sapphire Ring (Fortify Magicka, Fortify Magicka Regen)
    Shield: Spellbreaker OR Sheild of Mzund: Dwarven Shield (Fortify Block, Fortify Magicka Resist)

    Gameplay:

    When playing as the Dwarven Paladin, it is important to look the part. This means absolutely NO other Armor besides dwarves once you get to level 30 smithing. You may make other things in order to gain levels, but to use, nope. Dwarven only. (Dawnbreaker could be used since it looks dwarven, but I have seen nothing saying it was made by the dwarves, so I opted not to use it.) Also, the only houses you should own should be in Markarth and Raven Rock (Mzund lived on Solstheim, after all!)

    As for a follower, you're gonna want to use this guy. Yep, That is a dwarven sphere. You want to use him as a follower because it fits the RP, and thanks to Dragonborn, you can actually get one on Solstheim! All you need to do is go through the Kagrumez Trials after collecting 4 Kagrumez Gems (you get one near The Helm of Mzund). You can also get a dwarven spider, but I think that this guy is a bit more badass than the spider.

    If you notice, we also have two types of ranged attack: Archery and Destruction magic. This is deliberate, because DESTRUCTION IS TO BE USED DEFENSIVELY. This means, that the only spells that you should regularly cast are Fire Runes, Fire Walls, Fire Cloaks, and Whirlwind Cloaks (optional). This will help protect you and burn the hell out of whatever is attacking you; I used fire because of the dwarves and their tendency in Skyrim to own slaves and Falmer are weak to Fire.

    Finally, Paladins are known for only doing good; however, as a Dwemer Paladin, this is a bit different. The Dwemer were known for keeping forbidden knowledge, which means the Black Books as a Paladin? On this build that's fair game. The only Black Book quest I say you should definitely use is Dragonborn Flame and Mora's Boon, for the others do what works for you. Daedric Quests? As long as they have Dwemer artifacts as a reward, fair game, so basically The Only Cure and The Cursed Tribe (Discerning the Transmundane is okay, since you thought The Heart of Lorkhan was in the lockbox). Also, finishing Dawnguard is recommended; you are able to kill a rogue Falmer who did not join the Dwemer slaves and take his armor along with his gods bow and shield as a trophy!

    Lord Kagrenac's Armor:

    With the knowledge that you have gained and with help from Yagrum and The College of Winterhold, you are able to find the Tools Sunder, Keening, and Wraithguard, the three divine Tools used to work on the Heart of Lorkhan. Yagrum also helps you reconstruct the Armor that Kagrenac was likely wearing when he was working with the heart on the day the dwellers disappeared. This Armor allows you to use your powers as a mage more as an offensive tool; however, you are now also able to use the powers of Sunder and Keening without worrying about a near instant death. Note: When making the Cuirass, use a fortify enchanting potion you buy.

    Helmet: Lord Kagrenac's Visage: Dwarven Helmet (Fortify Destruction, Fortify Magicka Regen)

    Armor: Lord Kagrenac's Cuirass: Dwarven Armor (Fortify Destruction + Magicka Regen, Fortify Destruction)

    Boots: Lord Kagrenac's Boots:  Dwarven Boots (Fortify One Handed, Fortify Carry Weight)

    Necklace: Lord Kagrenac's Necklace: Gold Necklace (Fortify Destruction, Fortify One Handed)

    Gauntlets and Ring: Wraithguard (name both that)

       Ring: Gold Ring (Fortify Magicka Regen, Resist Magicka)

       Gauntlets: Dwarven Gauntlets (Fortify Block, Fortify Magicka)

    Special Moves:

    Paladins Fury: You are able to call upon your Redguard Ability and The Dragons to help you in battle. ( Dragon Aspect + Adrenaline Rush + Elemental Fury + Unenchanted Weapon)

    The Void: You Call upon the Dwemer to bring you halfway between Mundus and the realm they now dwell to help you safely harm your foes. (Fire Cloak + Fire Wall + Become Ethereal)

    Falmer Detractor: Keep the Falmer at Bay with a wall of flames and other traps! Quickly pick off the survivors. (Wall of Flames + Fire Runes + Crossbow of Mzund)

    The Dwemer Explosion: Using special darts, the Dwemer were able to create an explosion capable of injuring, paralyzing and Burning fleeing Falmer from the inside. (Crossbow of Mzund + Exploding Fire Bolts)

    Kagrenac's Fury: Use the Power of Wraithguard, Sunder, and Keening to decimate your foes! (Karagnec's Armor Set + Sunder + Keening + Adrenaline Rush)

    Automaton Army: Bring forth two automatons to help in the fight and unleash your fury in the form of scalding steam (Dwarven Sphere Follower + Aetherial Staff + Breath of Nchauk)

    Magic Absorb: Don't just block magic attacks cast by your enemies, but absorb them as well! (Spellbreaker + Ward Absorb)

    Well guys, that's actually all I got, I hope you guys enjoy it, and seriously check out the other two builds because both of them are some of my favorite builds on the site. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Also, it seems like on this site it isn't a dwarven build until at some point it uses this picture, so here ya go! 

    Anyone else notice the Pokeball in the middle of the dynamo core?

     

  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    Good detail of what is being used and couldn't help but laugh at the end comment/picture   +1

  • March 13, 2013

    idon't like being a 'kno-it-all' but i think its actually lord Kagrenac.

  • Member
    March 13, 2013
  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    You were right, I just read it wrong, changed it!

  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    I'm not into Dwarven tbh, but it's well presented, well written and a good read. +1

  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    Thanks man!

  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    Lol, the meta-humor is spot on! I like the build, but I have a few nit-picky things: -You should call the gauntlet's Wraithguard -100% fortify destruction enchantments will preserve the one time use enchantment on Keening, that would be good to

  • Member
    March 13, 2013

    My version of Wraithguard is on the Lord Kagrenac's Armor set. And I know, the Cuirass is double enchanted with fortify destruction/magicka regen and fortify destruction to make up for the lack of putting the enchantment on a ring!! I'll try to make that all clearer though! :)

  • March 13, 2013

    badass.