Deathbrand vs. Dragon: Which Armor Reigns Supreme in Skyrim?
Ultimately, whether Deathbrand armor is “better” than Dragon armor in Skyrim depends heavily on your character build, your smithing and enchanting skills, and your play style. In raw defensive stats, Dragonplate and Dragonscale armor, especially when fully upgraded, offer higher base armor ratings. However, the Deathbrand set boasts unique and powerful enchantments, providing significant bonuses to stamina, carrying capacity, water breathing, and weapon damage. For players who haven’t mastered smithing or enchanting, the Deathbrand’s pre-set enchantments often make it the superior choice, particularly in the early to mid-game. Skilled crafters, though, can potentially surpass Deathbrand’s capabilities by creating customized Dragon armor with tailored enchantments to suit specific combat roles.
Delving Deeper: A Comparative Analysis
To truly understand which armor is best for you, let’s break down the strengths and weaknesses of each:
Dragon Armor: The Scaled Behemoth
- Dragonplate Armor: Part of the heavy armor category, Dragonplate is renowned for its high armor rating. To craft Dragonplate armor, you need a high Smithing skill (level 100) and the Dragon Armor perk. It offers substantial protection against physical attacks, making it ideal for tank builds and characters who prefer to be on the front lines.
- Dragonscale Armor: Belonging to the light armor category, Dragonscale offers a respectable armor rating, albeit lower than Dragonplate. It’s lighter and less restrictive, allowing for greater mobility and stamina regeneration. Like Dragonplate, it requires a high Smithing skill (level 100) and the Dragon Armor perk to craft. Dragonscale is favored by stealth archers, assassins, and those who value agility in combat.
Deathbrand Armor: The Pirate’s Treasure
The Deathbrand armor is a unique set of light armor obtained through the “Deathbrand” quest in the Dragonborn DLC. Unlike Dragon armor, it cannot be crafted. Instead, you must locate individual pieces scattered throughout Solstheim. Its key features include:
- Acquisition: The armor is acquired piece by piece through a treasure hunt, making it accessible even at lower levels (though the quest itself is recommended for level 36+).
- Enchantments: Each piece comes with pre-set enchantments. When worn as a full set, these enchantments stack to provide powerful bonuses:
- Increased Stamina: Significantly boosts your stamina, allowing for more power attacks, sprinting, and overall combat endurance.
- Increased Carrying Capacity: Greatly increases your maximum carry weight, allowing you to haul more loot without becoming encumbered.
- Waterbreathing: Grants the ability to breathe underwater, opening up new exploration opportunities.
- Increased Weapon Damage: Boosts the damage of one-handed weapons when the full set is worn.
- Base Stats: While the armor rating of individual Deathbrand pieces is lower than fully upgraded Dragonscale, the combined benefits of the enchantments often outweigh the difference, especially for players who lack the skill to create equally powerful enchantments on Dragon armor.
The Verdict: When to Choose Which
- Choose Dragonplate if: You’re playing a heavy armor-focused character who prioritizes maximum physical protection and has a high Smithing skill.
- Choose Dragonscale if: You’re playing a light armor-focused character who values mobility and stamina and has a high Smithing skill.
- Choose Deathbrand if: You want a powerful and versatile light armor set with unique enchantments, especially if you lack advanced smithing and enchanting skills. Also it is amazing for exploration, looting and carrying weight management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the base armor ratings for Dragonplate, Dragonscale, and Deathbrand armor?
The base armor ratings vary depending on whether the pieces are improved or not:
- Dragonplate: Breastplate (46), Boots (19), Gauntlets (19), Helmet (24) Total (108)
- Dragonscale: Breastplate (37), Boots (15), Gauntlets (15), Helmet (18) Total (85)
- Deathbrand: The full set has an armor rating of 78.5 without tempering. This makes the Deathbrand light armor superior without spending points in Smithing.
2. Can Deathbrand armor be improved?
Yes, Deathbrand armor can be improved (tempered) at a grindstone with the Arcane Blacksmith perk. You need Stalhrim to improve it, which boosts its armor rating.
3. What level should I be to start the Deathbrand quest?
The Deathbrand quest is recommended for level 36 or higher, due to the enemies you will encounter.
4. Is Dragonbone armor better than Dragonplate?
Dragonbone armor is a heavier armor set added by the Dawnguard DLC. While aesthetically appealing, Dragonplate generally offers slightly better stats.
5. What skills are needed to craft Dragon armor?
You need level 100 Smithing and the Dragon Armor perk to craft both Dragonplate and Dragonscale armor.
6. Where can I find Dragon scales and bones?
Dragon scales and bones can be obtained by defeating dragons. They can be found in dragon lairs scattered throughout Skyrim, and you can also encounter dragons randomly in the wilderness.
7. What are the enchantments on the Deathbrand armor?
Each piece of Deathbrand armor has a unique enchantment that stacks when worn as a set:
- Helm: Increases underwater breathing.
- Armor: Increases stamina by 60 points.
- Gauntlets: Increases one-handed damage by 10%.
- Boots: Increases carry weight by 50 points.
8. Is there a light version of Daedric armor?
Yes, the Daedric Mail Armor is a light armor set added by a Creation Club DLC. It offers high protection for light armor users but requires the Creation Club content.
9. What is the armor cap in Skyrim?
The armor cap in Skyrim is 80% damage reduction, which can be reached with an armor rating of 567. Reaching the armor cap reduces incoming physical damage by 80%, making you significantly more resistant to attacks.
10. Which is rarer, Daedric or Dragon armor?
Daedric armor is generally considered rarer than Dragon armor. Daedra hearts, a key ingredient for crafting Daedric armor, are harder to come by than Dragon bones and scales.
11. Does wearing a full set of armor provide additional bonuses?
With the Deathbrand armor, wearing a full set unlocks the full potential of its enchantments, as the bonuses stack. For other armor sets, the primary benefit is the combined armor rating.
12. Can I enchant Dragon armor myself?
Yes, you can enchant Dragon armor with any enchantments you know by using an enchanting table. This allows for highly customized armor builds.
13. Are there any mods that improve Dragon or Deathbrand armor?
Yes, numerous mods exist that enhance both Dragon and Deathbrand armor. These mods can alter stats, add new enchantments, or change the appearance of the armor. Explore modding websites like Nexus Mods to find options that suit your preferences.
14. How does smithing skill affect the effectiveness of armor?
Smithing skill directly affects the degree to which you can improve armor at a grindstone or workbench. A higher skill allows you to achieve a greater improvement, significantly increasing the armor rating and overall effectiveness of your gear.
15. Where can I learn more about game mechanics and design?
There are numerous resources available online and in academic settings. For example, you can learn more about game mechanics and design, or other ways to improve games in general from the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.