The Blademaster is a build inspired by a character from a fantasy story of mine, a former small town blacksmith turned drifter and contract killer, who seeks out strong opponents. He is a master of several blade types including, at least in my story, the rapier, the katana, the elven longsword, and the dagger. In addition, he has skills with meditative(kind of like chi) and restorative magicks, and is dangerous in hand to hand combat. The whole thing has somewhat of a Japanese and French combined feel. I will do my best to translate this character from my story's universe into Skyrim. DISCLAIMER: This build requires Dragonborn to be brought to its full potential, and it is not as necessary, but highly recommended to have Dawnguard as well. I present to you:
"The best techniques are passed on by the survivors."
―Gaiden Shinji, Blademaster
The Blademaster, a man of intense physical and mental fortitude, is unparalleled in the art of swordsmanship. He is a master of mid and close range combat, who can dominate the battlefield through many different stances. This leaves you with many options of how to approach combat. A quest to find worthy opponents leads you down many different paths and on many journeys in Skyrim. Through a mix of one and two handed combat with alteration and restoration, this build is fast-paced and deadly, with the threat of no armor rating keeping you on your toes. This build offers a lot of variety and choice, allowing you to choose between several types of combat and setting your own story for how the Blademaster follows the path of his prophecy. Show Skyrim what the Blademaster is truly capable of.
"A man of many blades,
So the legends have foretold,
Will reap the souls of many
With steel as cold as ice.
Blood as red as vampire's eyes
Spilled in the snow
By the dragon of many fangs
Against a worthy foe."
The Blademaster was prophesied as a man of great skill and power who would cause great bloodshed as he searched for a worthy opponent against whom to test the limits of his strength. The Blademaster believes himself not to be the Dragonborn, but this 'dragon of many fangs', and he searches yet for his counterpart in this prophecy.
"My name is Loren. I grew up in a small village in Cyrodil, the name of which would mean nothing to anyone. I was taught to use a blade before I could speak, not saying my first words until the age of eight. I never had anything important to say. A Redguard man, whose identity was unkown to me, other than an unsubstantiated claim that he was a descendant of Gaiden Shinji, chose me as the one to pass his skills onto. He told me I had true promise and that something great awaited me and my yet to be awakened skill. While I learned the blacksmith trade from my father, I trained with this man in the art of swordplay every Loredas and Sundas, when he made his way into the village. He taught me the principles of swordmanship, the teachings of Gaiden Shinjim and the skills to wield any type of blade. For ten years, from the age of six to sixteen, I trained with this man. I never bested him once. I grew frustrated, until a sly Imperial man came into town and told me there was a way my talent could bring me to victory. I ran away from home and he took me to a Dark Brotherhood sanctuary. I was quickly accepted in as an assassin with my knowledge and skill. I was uneasy at first, going against the principles my master had taught me, but I soon grew to enjoy the assassin's trade. Being able to win against my mark was better than constant failure against my master. Five yeras later, during one assignment, I found a certain book in my mark's library that I felt strangely drawn to. Inside, there was a prophecy about a fearsome swordmaster, who searches fro his worthy counterpart. I knew then that this must have been why my master chose me. I was this prophesied hero, and I had yet to unlock my full potential. I left the Cyrodil brotherhood to journey across Tamriel and complete this prophecy, once again taking up my swordsman mentality that I had abandoned. Now, I have gone to Skyrim in search of this foe. I am ready for whatever journey lies ahead."
Race: Any human race will do, as the racial power is not important in this build (Redguard, however, is a good choice due to Adrenaline Rush).
Stats: 0/1/2 (This character is a glass cannon. Stamina takes precedence over health for the build's emphasis on speed.)
Stone: Warrior, then Lord or Lady, your choice.
Major Skills: One-Handed, Two-Handed, Block
Minor Skills: Alteration, Restoration, Sneak, Smithing
Weapons: Two Blades Swords, Silver Sword, Elven Greatsword, Elven Dagger
Gear: Footwraps, Cultist Robes, Shrouded Hand Wraps, Amulet of Talos, Novice Hood
Spells: Fast Healing, Stoneflesh
Shouts: Elemental Fury, Cyclone, Slow Time, Become Ethereal, Dragon Aspect, Disarm, Marked For Death, Dragonrend
Abilities: Foce Without Effort, Seeker of Might
Essential Quests: Main Questline, Dark Brotherhood Questline, Main Dragonborn Questline, Dawnguard Questline, Summoning Karstaag
Perkspread
Skills:
One Handed: The most crucial skill in this build, used in every combat stance but one. It is your main source of damage and utilizes dual wielding, single weapon, and assassination techniques. Dealing the most damage possible as quickly as possible is the key, thus the full five point in Arsman and both Dual Flurry perks.
Two-Handed: The secondary combat skill of the build. It can be used for crowd control with the Sweep perk or as a combat opener with Great Critical Charge, utilizing the superior damage over one-handed to deal a lot of damage in a single hit.
Block: A swordsman could not be a master if he only knew how to use his blade defensively. Though it is lightly perked, it is a very important skill in the technique and swordplay so characteristic of the build. Quick Reflexes is especially important for avoiding those more powerful attacks. Remember, you have no armor.
Alteration: An important skill for the overall feel of the build and for making it the character it's supposed to be. The Blademaster has gone through intense training and has learned ways to take more blows and deal with more pain than most men through certain techniques(Flesh Spells).
Restoration: In addition to blocking out pain, The Blademaster recuperates quickly. He has techniques to heal injuries and restore his energy quickly. Respite is important due to the need for a lot of stamina, and, as you don't have much magicka, Regeneration allows you to get more bang for your buck.
Sneak: The Blademaster isn't only an open combat fighter, but also a contract assassin. Through past experience he knows that, no matter how great your skill, being outnumbered in all out fight is not ideal if it can be avoided. Assassin's Blade is perfect for thinning out the enemies' ranks and evening the odds.
Smithing: Any good swordsman knows that blade upkeep is important, and, as a former blacksmith, he knows how to keep his blades pristine and sharp. You'll only be using to improve your weapons the farthest you can with your little amount of skill.
Fighting Stances:
Kenjutsu
Dual wielded blades swords make for a flurry of steel. It is the fastest stance of this build and wholly embodies the glass cannon aspect. Kenjutsu is centered on strings of dual power attacks. Being only offensive, it leaves you open to attack, making this the perfect stance for slow and weak enemies who will either be too slow to react or will deal insignificant damage. Flesh spells are of great help with this stance and shouts make for an excellent tertiary weapon. It is best for archers, mages, and spelllswords. I found myself simply rushing towards them, ignoring the arrows and spells, then cutting them apart. Against dragons, this, in conjunction with Marked for Death and Dragonrend, worked to devastating effect.
Escrime*
The silver sword is used both offensively and defensively in this stance. Attacking and blocking are equally important, placing emphasis on technique and timing, attacking quickly when your opponent's guard is open. The open hand can be used for quickly casting a healing or flesh spell and switching back to an open hand for blocking. This stance is good for all manner of enemy when faced only one or two at a time, but especially useful for shielded opponents or those who dual wield. I found this to be my favorite stance.
Ala Mazza**
This stance is a rougher stance that employs less finesse than the others. Wielding the elven greatsword in combination with the Sweep perk can be useful for crowd control when faced with groups of opponents. It is similar to Escrime, though more useful for two-handed weapon wielding enemies as it allows you to match their attack range or for powerful enemies that you would rather stay of the range of. A combination of blocks and power attacks can keep the enemy staggered. A special use for this stance is for taking out powerful opponents by charging in with a power attack, making use of Great Critical Charge or taking out groups of enemies with the Sweep perk and sideways power attacks. Elemental Fury can be of great help in counteracting the slower speed. I found myself using this against a lot of Draugr, since they often wield two-handed weapons. It let me kill them midswing, where if I had to get in closer with a shorter blade, I would've taken a big hit.
Hidden Fang
This stance is perfect for stealthily thinning out the enemies' ranks and evening the odds. Mostly used indoors in mines, caves and such, any torches should first be removed to cast the room into shadow. Assassin's Blade is essential in this stance and the sneak damage is doubled by the Shrouded Hand Wraps, allowing you to take out most enemies covertly. In the Thalmor Embassy, I quickly realized how awesome it felt to one-hit a bunch of elves with this. By then I had already gotten Assassin's Blade and the Shrouded Hand Wraps, so the Thalmor never knew what hit them. I didn't use this very often, but when I did find that I needed it, it helped a lot.
*Escrime is French for fencing.
**Ala Mazza is a fencing term for a less formal, rough type of duel
Integrating two-handed and one-handed worked better than I expected. The transitioning was rather smooth. One fine example of this(Divines, I wish I had a video clip) was in the Castle Volkihar Ruins, or Undercroft myabe. There is that room with several skeletons at a table and they get upp when you enter the room. There were: two archers, one spellsword, one single wielder, and one two-handed. I went in and killed the two-hander with my greatsword in one hit with just enough to switch to my silver sword, turn around, and block a hit from the two with swords, then beat the down. I had Stoneflesh gping, so I survived the arrows from the archers. I sprinted at one after switching to dual blades swords, then sprinted at him and cut him to pieces. I jumped over the dining table and did the same to his friend across the room and still had half myhealth left, all while Serana was lazing behind because I ran so far ahead. Needless, to say, I felt like a badass.
The Blademaster in the Kenjutsu stance.
Techniques:
Ryō Fang Whirl: Kenjutsu + Dragon Aspect + Cyclone + Dual Power Attack
Taking the form of a dragon, The Blademaster sends the enemy into the air with a whirlwind and slashes them to ribbons when they come back down.
Camineering: Escrime + Quick Reflexes + Slow Time + Ala Mazza + Standing Power Attack
Blocking in the Escrime stance during a power attack, then slowing time further with the Slow Time shout allows you to step back from the enemy and switch to the Ala Mazza stance. From there, release a strong power attack on your opponent with the elven greatsword.
Disarming Camineer/Disarming Thrust: Escrime + Block + Disarm + Kenjutsu or Left-Handed Escrime + Disarm + Standing Power Attack
Two simple techniques involving disarming your opponent(s). The first is another camineer, or stance switching technique. Counter the opponent's attack with a block followed by Disarm. Next, switch to Kenjutsu to cut them apart. The second is a left handed thrusting technique. Using the silver sword in the left hand, Disarm the opponent and use the left-handed power attack to thrust through them.
Ninth Parry: Low Health + Block + Become Ethereal + Retreat +Eternal Spirit
When your health is low and you are close to death, block an attack, if not in the Kenjutsu stance, to create an opening, then use Become Ethereal to retreat and recuperate. If in the Kenjutsu stance, simply use Become Ethereal and retreat.
Coup de Grace: Escrime + Downed Opponent + Elven Dagger
In fencing, a wounded duelist is killed by mercifully with a dagger to end their suffering. When fighting in the Escrime stance, an opponent on their knees should be killed with a quick strike with the elven dagger.
"You are my last challenge. Only you can send me to Sovngarde with honor. Make your preparations. When you are ready, come find me at my last vigil."
―Ebony Warrior
The Blademaster's main reason for being in Skyrim is to find the foe he is prophesied to fight. He is concerned with little else than this search. Neither hero nor villain, he aligns himself with others only to get access to strong foes. He seeks to fight powerful enemies such as Miraak, Alduin, Karstaag, and Lord Harkon in hopes of fulfilling this prophecy. How the Blademaster goes about taking out these enemies is up to you as you create the story of the path he takes, choosing who to face when. You control the character's campaign. However, the true opponent is the Ebony Warrior. Once you have become strong enough, the Ebony Warrior will challenge you to send him to Sovngarde. Make your preparations, meet him at Last Vigil and, by the prophecy, spill his blood in the snow. (Keep his loot as a trophy.)(I realize Level 81 builds are not a good idea, so this part is optional, it's jut very fitting)
A drifter by nature, a contract assassin by trade, and a master swordsman by lifestyle. These are the three main aspects of the Blademaster.
The Drifter- Coming from a small town, he has always had a distaste for city life, and never had much an eye for wealth, besides what he needs to get by. He is much more a loner, avoiding entering cities-or using carriages for that matter- except to get supplies or for important events, and he never stays long. Aligning himself with certain groups is only ever as a means to get to the opponents he seeks, and he travels with a companion only when necessary. If he can, the Blademaster prefers to trade with the Khajiit caravans, with whom he has formed somewhat of a friendship. In short, don't worry too much about gold or loot, unless it is a trophy from a powerful enemy. Go into cities as little as possible and avoid using carriages. Try to trade with Khajiit caravans.
The Contract Assassin- The Blademaster works with the Dark Brotherhood as one of their greatest assassins. They are secretive and secluded the same as he is. They and the Khajiit caravans are some of the only people he would actually choose to be around. His past mistakes led him to the brotherhood. Now, he is bound to that life, his fatal flaw. He enjoys it, though he prefers the more noble art of swordsmanship and feels guilty about what he does. He completes his contracts when needed, then goes about his life. In short, don't get too attached to the Brotherhood, simply do your work and go, spreading out the questline throughout the gameplay experience.
The Master Swordsman- As previously established, the Blademaster is extremely dangerous; however, he takes sportsmanship in his swordplay very seriously. He would never kill an opponent who comes into battle unarmed (disarming an opponent is not the same) and would never attack an innocent bystander or civilian. As shown by the Coup de Grace, he is merciful. As such, he tends to avoid starting enemies who are far weaker than he, but will not hesitate to kill these weak opponents when they initiate combat. With the utmost respect for his fellow swordsman, obliging to give the Old Orc a noble death, should he be encountered, and he does not toy with his enemies in battle, but takes them all seriously. In short, attempt to avoid starting combat with very weak or unarmed opponents and do not kill innocents. Take all of your enemies seriously to give them noble deaths.
Dual Sheath Redux- A nice touch for the Kenjutsu stance, that will allow you to see both katanas on your character.
Enhanced Enemy AI- The perfect mod for such a combat oriented build. It makes enemies in the game have a better AI, providing more challenging, yet more rewarding, combat.
- Any 2 identical swords can be used for Kenjutsu until you gain access to the Blades Sword. I recommend moving through the main quest up until Sky Haven Temple rather quickly to get the swords.
- A silver sword can be collected early in game by simply going to any Silver Hand base. You can easily get one by going to Driftshade Refuge, not too far out of Dawnstar. I chose the silver sword because it seemed like the best weapon to represent a rapier, as it a rather ornate, thin, straight blade.
- Any greatsword or dagger will do until you can smith or find the elven versions.
- The Ebony Warrior will not ask for a battle until you reach level 80, so you have to make your skills legendary to keep leveling.
Check out my other build(s):
The Blademaster is a build inspired by a character from a fantasy story of mine, a former small town blacksmith turned drifter and contract killer, who seeks out strong opponents. He is a master of several blade types including, at least in my story, the rapier, the katana, the elven longsword, and the dagger. In addition, he has skills with meditative(kind of like chi) and restorative magicks, and is dangerous in hand to hand combat. The whole thing has somewhat of a Japanese and French combined feel. I will do my best to translate this character from my story's universe into Skyrim. DISCLAIMER: This build requires Dragonborn to be brought to its full potential, and it is not as necessary, but highly recommended to have Dawnguard as well. I present to you:
"The best techniques are passed on by the survivors."
―Gaiden Shinji, Blademaster
The Blademaster, a man of intense physical and mental fortitude, is unparalleled in the art of swordsmanship. He is a master of mid and close range combat, who can dominate the battlefield through many different stances. This leaves you with many options of how to approach combat. A quest to find worthy opponents leads you down many different paths and on many journeys in Skyrim. Through a mix of one and two handed combat with alteration and restoration, this build is fast-paced and deadly, with the threat of no armor rating keeping you on your toes. This build offers a lot of variety and choice, allowing you to choose between several types of combat and setting your own story for how the Blademaster follows the path of his prophecy. Show Skyrim what the Blademaster is truly capable of.
"A man of many blades,
So the legends have foretold,
Will reap the souls of many
With steel as cold as ice.
Blood as red as vampire's eyes
Spilled in the snow
By the dragon of many fangs
Against a worthy foe."
The Blademaster was prophesied as a man of great skill and power who would cause great bloodshed as he searched for a worthy opponent against whom to test the limits of his strength. The Blademaster believes himself not to be the Dragonborn, but this 'dragon of many fangs', and he searches yet for his counterpart in this prophecy.
"My name is Loren. I grew up in a small village in Cyrodil, the name of which would mean nothing to anyone. I was taught to use a blade before I could speak, not saying my first words until the age of eight. I never had anything important to say. A Redguard man, whose identity was unkown to me, other than an unsubstantiated claim that he was a descendant of Gaiden Shinji, chose me as the one to pass his skills onto. He told me I had true promise and that something great awaited me and my yet to be awakened skill. While I learned the blacksmith trade from my father, I trained with this man in the art of swordplay every Loredas and Sundas, when he made his way into the village. He taught me the principles of swordmanship, the teachings of Gaiden Shinjim and the skills to wield any type of blade. For ten years, from the age of six to sixteen, I trained with this man. I never bested him once. I grew frustrated, until a sly Imperial man came into town and told me there was a way my talent could bring me to victory. I ran away from home and he took me to a Dark Brotherhood sanctuary. I was quickly accepted in as an assassin with my knowledge and skill. I was uneasy at first, going against the principles my master had taught me, but I soon grew to enjoy the assassin's trade. Being able to win against my mark was better than constant failure against my master. Five yeras later, during one assignment, I found a certain book in my mark's library that I felt strangely drawn to. Inside, there was a prophecy about a fearsome swordmaster, who searches fro his worthy counterpart. I knew then that this must have been why my master chose me. I was this prophesied hero, and I had yet to unlock my full potential. I left the Cyrodil brotherhood to journey across Tamriel and complete this prophecy, once again taking up my swordsman mentality that I had abandoned. Now, I have gone to Skyrim in search of this foe. I am ready for whatever journey lies ahead."
Race: Any human race will do, as the racial power is not important in this build (Redguard, however, is a good choice due to Adrenaline Rush).
Stats: 0/1/2 (This character is a glass cannon. Stamina takes precedence over health for the build's emphasis on speed.)
Stone: Warrior, then Lord or Lady, your choice.
Major Skills: One-Handed, Two-Handed, Block
Minor Skills: Alteration, Restoration, Sneak, Smithing
Weapons: Two Blades Swords, Silver Sword, Elven Greatsword, Elven Dagger
Gear: Footwraps, Cultist Robes, Shrouded Hand Wraps, Amulet of Talos, Novice Hood
Spells: Fast Healing, Stoneflesh
Shouts: Elemental Fury, Cyclone, Slow Time, Become Ethereal, Dragon Aspect, Disarm, Marked For Death, Dragonrend
Abilities: Foce Without Effort, Seeker of Might
Essential Quests: Main Questline, Dark Brotherhood Questline, Main Dragonborn Questline, Dawnguard Questline, Summoning Karstaag
Perkspread
Skills:
One Handed: The most crucial skill in this build, used in every combat stance but one. It is your main source of damage and utilizes dual wielding, single weapon, and assassination techniques. Dealing the most damage possible as quickly as possible is the key, thus the full five point in Arsman and both Dual Flurry perks.
Two-Handed: The secondary combat skill of the build. It can be used for crowd control with the Sweep perk or as a combat opener with Great Critical Charge, utilizing the superior damage over one-handed to deal a lot of damage in a single hit.
Block: A swordsman could not be a master if he only knew how to use his blade defensively. Though it is lightly perked, it is a very important skill in the technique and swordplay so characteristic of the build. Quick Reflexes is especially important for avoiding those more powerful attacks. Remember, you have no armor.
Alteration: An important skill for the overall feel of the build and for making it the character it's supposed to be. The Blademaster has gone through intense training and has learned ways to take more blows and deal with more pain than most men through certain techniques(Flesh Spells).
Restoration: In addition to blocking out pain, The Blademaster recuperates quickly. He has techniques to heal injuries and restore his energy quickly. Respite is important due to the need for a lot of stamina, and, as you don't have much magicka, Regeneration allows you to get more bang for your buck.
Sneak: The Blademaster isn't only an open combat fighter, but also a contract assassin. Through past experience he knows that, no matter how great your skill, being outnumbered in all out fight is not ideal if it can be avoided. Assassin's Blade is perfect for thinning out the enemies' ranks and evening the odds.
Smithing: Any good swordsman knows that blade upkeep is important, and, as a former blacksmith, he knows how to keep his blades pristine and sharp. You'll only be using to improve your weapons the farthest you can with your little amount of skill.
Fighting Stances:
Kenjutsu
Dual wielded blades swords make for a flurry of steel. It is the fastest stance of this build and wholly embodies the glass cannon aspect. Kenjutsu is centered on strings of dual power attacks. Being only offensive, it leaves you open to attack, making this the perfect stance for slow and weak enemies who will either be too slow to react or will deal insignificant damage. Flesh spells are of great help with this stance and shouts make for an excellent tertiary weapon. It is best for archers, mages, and spelllswords. I found myself simply rushing towards them, ignoring the arrows and spells, then cutting them apart. Against dragons, this, in conjunction with Marked for Death and Dragonrend, worked to devastating effect.
Escrime*
The silver sword is used both offensively and defensively in this stance. Attacking and blocking are equally important, placing emphasis on technique and timing, attacking quickly when your opponent's guard is open. The open hand can be used for quickly casting a healing or flesh spell and switching back to an open hand for blocking. This stance is good for all manner of enemy when faced only one or two at a time, but especially useful for shielded opponents or those who dual wield. I found this to be my favorite stance.
Ala Mazza**
This stance is a rougher stance that employs less finesse than the others. Wielding the elven greatsword in combination with the Sweep perk can be useful for crowd control when faced with groups of opponents. It is similar to Escrime, though more useful for two-handed weapon wielding enemies as it allows you to match their attack range or for powerful enemies that you would rather stay of the range of. A combination of blocks and power attacks can keep the enemy staggered. A special use for this stance is for taking out powerful opponents by charging in with a power attack, making use of Great Critical Charge or taking out groups of enemies with the Sweep perk and sideways power attacks. Elemental Fury can be of great help in counteracting the slower speed. I found myself using this against a lot of Draugr, since they often wield two-handed weapons. It let me kill them midswing, where if I had to get in closer with a shorter blade, I would've taken a big hit.
Hidden Fang
This stance is perfect for stealthily thinning out the enemies' ranks and evening the odds. Mostly used indoors in mines, caves and such, any torches should first be removed to cast the room into shadow. Assassin's Blade is essential in this stance and the sneak damage is doubled by the Shrouded Hand Wraps, allowing you to take out most enemies covertly. In the Thalmor Embassy, I quickly realized how awesome it felt to one-hit a bunch of elves with this. By then I had already gotten Assassin's Blade and the Shrouded Hand Wraps, so the Thalmor never knew what hit them. I didn't use this very often, but when I did find that I needed it, it helped a lot.
*Escrime is French for fencing.
**Ala Mazza is a fencing term for a less formal, rough type of duel
Integrating two-handed and one-handed worked better than I expected. The transitioning was rather smooth. One fine example of this(Divines, I wish I had a video clip) was in the Castle Volkihar Ruins, or Undercroft myabe. There is that room with several skeletons at a table and they get upp when you enter the room. There were: two archers, one spellsword, one single wielder, and one two-handed. I went in and killed the two-hander with my greatsword in one hit with just enough to switch to my silver sword, turn around, and block a hit from the two with swords, then beat the down. I had Stoneflesh gping, so I survived the arrows from the archers. I sprinted at one after switching to dual blades swords, then sprinted at him and cut him to pieces. I jumped over the dining table and did the same to his friend across the room and still had half myhealth left, all while Serana was lazing behind because I ran so far ahead. Needless, to say, I felt like a badass.
The Blademaster in the Kenjutsu stance.
Techniques:
Ryō Fang Whirl: Kenjutsu + Dragon Aspect + Cyclone + Dual Power Attack
Taking the form of a dragon, The Blademaster sends the enemy into the air with a whirlwind and slashes them to ribbons when they come back down.
Camineering: Escrime + Quick Reflexes + Slow Time + Ala Mazza + Standing Power Attack
Blocking in the Escrime stance during a power attack, then slowing time further with the Slow Time shout allows you to step back from the enemy and switch to the Ala Mazza stance. From there, release a strong power attack on your opponent with the elven greatsword.
Disarming Camineer/Disarming Thrust: Escrime + Block + Disarm + Kenjutsu or Left-Handed Escrime + Disarm + Standing Power Attack
Two simple techniques involving disarming your opponent(s). The first is another camineer, or stance switching technique. Counter the opponent's attack with a block followed by Disarm. Next, switch to Kenjutsu to cut them apart. The second is a left handed thrusting technique. Using the silver sword in the left hand, Disarm the opponent and use the left-handed power attack to thrust through them.
Ninth Parry: Low Health + Block + Become Ethereal + Retreat +Eternal Spirit
When your health is low and you are close to death, block an attack, if not in the Kenjutsu stance, to create an opening, then use Become Ethereal to retreat and recuperate. If in the Kenjutsu stance, simply use Become Ethereal and retreat.
Coup de Grace: Escrime + Downed Opponent + Elven Dagger
In fencing, a wounded duelist is killed by mercifully with a dagger to end their suffering. When fighting in the Escrime stance, an opponent on their knees should be killed with a quick strike with the elven dagger.
"You are my last challenge. Only you can send me to Sovngarde with honor. Make your preparations. When you are ready, come find me at my last vigil."
―Ebony Warrior
The Blademaster's main reason for being in Skyrim is to find the foe he is prophesied to fight. He is concerned with little else than this search. Neither hero nor villain, he aligns himself with others only to get access to strong foes. He seeks to fight powerful enemies such as Miraak, Alduin, Karstaag, and Lord Harkon in hopes of fulfilling this prophecy. How the Blademaster goes about taking out these enemies is up to you as you create the story of the path he takes, choosing who to face when. You control the character's campaign. However, the true opponent is the Ebony Warrior. Once you have become strong enough, the Ebony Warrior will challenge you to send him to Sovngarde. Make your preparations, meet him at Last Vigil and, by the prophecy, spill his blood in the snow. (Keep his loot as a trophy.)(I realize Level 81 builds are not a good idea, so this part is optional, it's jut very fitting)
A drifter by nature, a contract assassin by trade, and a master swordsman by lifestyle. These are the three main aspects of the Blademaster.
The Drifter- Coming from a small town, he has always had a distaste for city life, and never had much an eye for wealth, besides what he needs to get by. He is much more a loner, avoiding entering cities-or using carriages for that matter- except to get supplies or for important events, and he never stays long. Aligning himself with certain groups is only ever as a means to get to the opponents he seeks, and he travels with a companion only when necessary. If he can, the Blademaster prefers to trade with the Khajiit caravans, with whom he has formed somewhat of a friendship. In short, don't worry too much about gold or loot, unless it is a trophy from a powerful enemy. Go into cities as little as possible and avoid using carriages. Try to trade with Khajiit caravans.
The Contract Assassin- The Blademaster works with the Dark Brotherhood as one of their greatest assassins. They are secretive and secluded the same as he is. They and the Khajiit caravans are some of the only people he would actually choose to be around. His past mistakes led him to the brotherhood. Now, he is bound to that life, his fatal flaw. He enjoys it, though he prefers the more noble art of swordsmanship and feels guilty about what he does. He completes his contracts when needed, then goes about his life. In short, don't get too attached to the Brotherhood, simply do your work and go, spreading out the questline throughout the gameplay experience.
The Master Swordsman- As previously established, the Blademaster is extremely dangerous; however, he takes sportsmanship in his swordplay very seriously. He would never kill an opponent who comes into battle unarmed (disarming an opponent is not the same) and would never attack an innocent bystander or civilian. As shown by the Coup de Grace, he is merciful. As such, he tends to avoid starting enemies who are far weaker than he, but will not hesitate to kill these weak opponents when they initiate combat. With the utmost respect for his fellow swordsman, obliging to give the Old Orc a noble death, should he be encountered, and he does not toy with his enemies in battle, but takes them all seriously. In short, attempt to avoid starting combat with very weak or unarmed opponents and do not kill innocents. Take all of your enemies seriously to give them noble deaths.
Dual Sheath Redux- A nice touch for the Kenjutsu stance, that will allow you to see both katanas on your character.
Enhanced Enemy AI- The perfect mod for such a combat oriented build. It makes enemies in the game have a better AI, providing more challenging, yet more rewarding, combat.
- Any 2 identical swords can be used for Kenjutsu until you gain access to the Blades Sword. I recommend moving through the main quest up until Sky Haven Temple rather quickly to get the swords.
- A silver sword can be collected early in game by simply going to any Silver Hand base. You can easily get one by going to Driftshade Refuge, not too far out of Dawnstar. I chose the silver sword because it seemed like the best weapon to represent a rapier, as it a rather ornate, thin, straight blade.
- Any greatsword or dagger will do until you can smith or find the elven versions.
- The Ebony Warrior will not ask for a battle until you reach level 80, so you have to make your skills legendary to keep leveling.
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