Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Priest

Tags: #Character Build Crusader  #Character Build Elementalist  #Character Build Battlemage  #Rank:Mythic 
  • Member
    January 2, 2012

    This class is loosely based of the classic D&D Cleric. It was a bit of a post-release spinoff of my Heavily-Armored mage combined with wanting to try out maces. With that we get:

    The Priest

    The Priest is all about being able to dish out and take heavy damage at any range, against even the toughest of opponents. Magic allows him to bypass armor at a distance and heavy blows from his mace crush through the armor of even the heaviest foes. He can also heal both himself and allies, as well as use this restorative energy to defend against magical attacks and turn the foul undead. The Priest specialises in the elements of flame and lightning - flame to purge lesser enemies and lightning to take down more resistant ones. He is proficient in use of heavy armor and shields to protect himself. He's more focused on Magicka and Health, since his healing spells can restore Stamina and he uses his shield to stagger foes. During combat, the Priest will usually cast destruction spells in his right hand, keeping his shield handy in the left. Once they close to melee range, a quick bash gives him enough space to draw his mace before they've recovered.

    RP Notes: You could choose to be a priest of the Daedra (and take the Priestess of Azura as a companion), and use artifacts, of one or several of the Divines (Taking the Priest of Mara in Vaermina's quest as a companion) or, as I did, be a Dunmer priest of the Tribunal (indicated by the hand war paint). This would slightly determine what gear you would use. As a Daedric or Tribunal Priest you might even add conjuration to your skills.

    I used the Warrior Stone, but the Lover and Mage stones would be good at different points in your journey, or the Lord stone for extra durability. Key Shouts include Fire Breath, Marked for Death and Storm Call.

    Mounted combat is of use to the Priest, as a flame cloak cast before mounting will still burn enemies while mounted. Focusing on ride-by power attacks is ideal with a heavy-hitting weapon like a mace.

    Major Skills

    Destruction - Ranged combat and Cloak spells. Thus we'd be taking Augemented Flames and Lightning, as well as Novice - Expert (or even master) Destruction.

    One-Handed - Melee Combat. We're specialising in maces so we'd be taking Armsman, Bone Breaker and the power attack perks.

    Block - Main defense. Take basically everything except more ranks of Shield Wall and the power bashing perks

    Minor Skills

    Restoration - Healing, Wards and Turn Undead. Pretty standard stuff - Expert restoration, regeneration, respite, perhaps Avoid Death later on.

    Heavy Armor - For when an enemy slips past your shied. Just getting the Juggernaught ranks. I wear a hood since it looks cool, fits with the theme and adds that much-needed magicka bonus.

    Smithing - Pretty much a must for me on any character that uses armor and weapons. Heavy Armor side, and up to advanced armors on the light armor side if you want.

    Remas purges another Skeleton

     

    DLC Notes

    With the introduction of the Dawnguard and Dragonborn DLCs there's plenty of new content for the Priest. If you're playing a more traditional Priest of the Divines, Dawnguard gives you the option to drop Destruction completely and focus more heavily on Restoration (for sun spells) and One-Handed. The Dawnguard Rune Axe and Shield are fitting weapons for a Priest, as is the heavy armor.

    As for Dragonborn, an excellent new 'look' for a Priest of the Reclamations is Bonemold Guard Armor, Gauntlets and Boots along with the Temple Priest Hood - you can get it from killing Galdrus in the Raven Rock Temple - if you overhear some of his conversations, he is clearly not fully devoted to the Reclamations! With the perks saved in Smithing you can go spend those elsewhere - maybe Conjuration to make use of the Ash summon spells. Don't forget to use the blessings of the temple as well.

    Level 25 Build

    One-Handed: Armsman 4, Fighting Stance, Bone Breaker 2

    Heavy Armor: Juggernaught 3

    Block: Shield Wall 1, Deflect Arrows, Elemental Protection

    Smithing: Up to Advanced Armors and Orcish

    Destruction: Up to Adept Destruction, Augmented Flames

    Restoration: Novice and Apprentice Restoration, Regeneration

    Demonstration Video

  • January 3, 2012
    Pretty awesome, like one of the priest compaignons you can get in dawnstar.
  • Member
    January 3, 2012

    Thanks :D Reminded me to put the stuff in the RP notes about companions I forgot to do before!

  • January 3, 2012

    isnt this just a battlemage with a heavy investment in restoration? not to say the build isn't great :)

  • Member
    January 3, 2012

    Most Battlemages use a weapon in their right and a spell in their left. The Priest, however, always keeps a shield handy to deflect incoming blows and spells and swaps out mace and spell in his right hand. You could say he's more or less a Battlemage but has a greater focus on defense.

  • Member
    January 5, 2012

    Updated with level 25 build.

  • January 6, 2012

    LOVING the demonstration video! You must do this with your witch next! I also want to see your argonian "histing out" on some trolls!!

  • Member
    January 6, 2012

    Glad for some feedback, I was wondering how it would be recieved :D

    I've got plans for all my builds (minus enchanter and histmaster) but to show the TRUE POWER OF THE HIST I'll see how many frost trolls I can take on at once (My estimate is around 10 at level 20)

  • January 6, 2012

    LoL! Cant wait for that!

  • Member
    January 6, 2012

    Yeah dude, that was sweet. I loved that quest! Potema, I think it is? Underated. Don't hear much about it. It was alot longer than I thought. This encourages me to use block also. Haven't made a character yet doing so. I like how your "favorites" is at a minimal. I have a problem with cloggin it up too much with shit. You have a nice flow to you playing. Me? not so much! haha! I'm also known to forget about my scrolls and sit on them. That was a pretty epic battle at the end there! How you didn't die when casting that scroll; that was pretty hairy!

    Nice video man! Be cool to see each one of your characters in action like this.