Two-Handed Titans on Legendary Skyrim: A Viable Path to Victory?
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Yes, two-handed weapons are absolutely viable on Legendary difficulty in Skyrim, but be prepared for a challenging and strategic playstyle. Legendary difficulty amps up the challenge significantly, requiring careful planning, optimized builds, and a deep understanding of game mechanics. While one-handed builds might offer faster attack speeds, the sheer power of two-handed weapons, combined with strategic gameplay, can carve a path to victory even against the toughest foes. This article delves into the intricacies of making a two-handed build work on Legendary, exploring races, skills, strategies, and answering your burning questions.
The Legendary Challenge: What You’re Up Against
Legendary difficulty is not for the faint of heart. It fundamentally alters the balance of combat. You deal 25% of your normal damage, while enemies inflict a whopping 300%. This means every swing, every block, and every potion matters. Enemies become damage sponges, and even low-level bandits can pose a serious threat. To thrive, you’ll need to maximize your damage output, survivability, and tactical awareness.
Forging Your Two-Handed Legend
Success with a two-handed build on Legendary hinges on several key elements:
Race Selection: Nords and Orcs Reign Supreme
While you can technically make any race work, some are naturally better suited for the two-handed playstyle. Nords offer a +10 bonus to Two-Handed skill, providing a head start. Their Battle Cry power is also beneficial for stunning enemies during tough encounters. Orcs, however, are often considered the top choice due to their Berserker rage ability. This dramatically increases damage dealt and reduces damage taken for a short period, turning you into a whirlwind of destruction.
Skills: The Core of Your Power
- Two-Handed: This is your bread and butter. Focus on perks that increase damage (like Barbarian), critical hit chance (like Champion’s Stance), and stamina management (like Devastating Blow).
- Heavy Armor: Provides essential protection to withstand the increased damage. Focus on perks that increase armor rating (like Juggernaut) and improve stamina regeneration while wearing heavy armor (Conditioning).
- Smithing: Crucial for improving your weapons and armor. The ability to craft and enhance your gear is vital for maximizing damage output and defense.
- Enchanting: Allows you to imbue your weapons and armor with powerful enchantments, further boosting your damage, resistances, and sustain.
- Alchemy: Essential for crafting powerful potions that heal, restore stamina, and provide temporary boosts to your stats.
Weapon and Armor Choices: Forging the Ultimate Arsenal
Early on, focus on upgrading your gear as frequently as possible. Steel weapons and armor are a good starting point, gradually progressing to Elven, Orcish, Ebony, Daedric, or Dragonplate. Unique weapons like Volendrung and Wuuthrad offer powerful enchantments and are worth pursuing. The Bloodskal Blade can also be a strong contender. Enchant your weapons with damage enchantments like fire, frost, or shock to exploit enemy weaknesses. Fortify Health and Resist Magic enchants on your armor will dramatically improve your survivability.
Combat Tactics: The Art of the Swing
Two-handed combat on Legendary requires a more deliberate approach. You can’t simply swing wildly and expect to win.
- Power Attacks: Utilize power attacks strategically. They deal significantly more damage and can stagger enemies, creating openings for follow-up attacks.
- Stamina Management: Monitor your stamina closely. Running out of stamina leaves you vulnerable. Use Vegetable Soup for constant stamina regeneration!
- Blocking: While two-handed weapons can’t block as effectively as shields, blocking is still crucial for mitigating incoming damage.
- Movement: Employ strategic movement to avoid enemy attacks and position yourself for optimal strikes. Use terrain to your advantage.
- Shouts: Shouts like Unrelenting Force and Become Ethereal can provide valuable crowd control or temporary invulnerability.
- Followers: Consider bringing a follower to help tank damage and provide additional support.
Leveling Skills: Making Skills Legendary
Once you reach skill level 100 in a particular skill, you can reset the skill and turn it into a Legendary skill. This will reset your skill to 15, refund the perk points you invested in that tree and allow you to continue to level that skill further. This is useful to continue leveling your character by increasing your level and increasing health, magicka, or stamina.
The Viability Verdict: Rewarding, But Demanding
Playing a two-handed build on Legendary Skyrim is a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. It demands a strategic approach, meticulous planning, and a deep understanding of game mechanics. It’s not the easiest path, but the feeling of crushing your enemies with devastating power attacks is incredibly satisfying. If you’re up for the challenge, a two-handed warrior can indeed become a legendary force in Skyrim.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What race is best for a two-handed build on Legendary?
While any race can work, Orcs and Nords are generally considered the best due to their racial bonuses. Orcs have the Berserker rage ability and Nords have a +10 bonus to Two-Handed weapons.
2. Is it worth making Two-Handed Legendary?
Yes, especially on Legendary difficulty. Resetting your Two-Handed skill using the Legendary system allows you to continue leveling up your character and gaining perk points, making you even stronger.
3. What is the highest damage two-handed weapon in Skyrim?
Several two-handed weapons are good contenders, including Volendrung, Wuuthrad, and the Daedric Battleaxe. Remember that enchantments play a significant role in overall damage output.
4. Is loot better on Legendary difficulty?
No, the quality of loot is not directly affected by difficulty. However, because enemies have more health, you level up combat skills faster.
5. Do skills level slower on Legendary difficulty?
Not necessarily. Combat skills level faster because enemies have more health, giving you more opportunities to use those skills. Skills like Sneak and Speech may level slightly slower.
6. What is the best armor for a two-handed build on Legendary?
Daedric or Dragonplate armor are generally considered the best, offering the highest armor rating. Enchant them with Fortify Health and Resist Magic enchantments for added survivability.
7. What are some essential perks for a two-handed build?
Important perks include Barbarian, Champion’s Stance, Devastating Blow, Juggernaut, and perks that enhance your chosen weapon type (e.g., Limbsplitter for axes).
8. How important is Smithing for a two-handed build on Legendary?
Extremely important. Smithing allows you to improve your weapons and armor, significantly boosting your damage and defense. It is recommended to level it up.
9. What enchantments are most useful for a two-handed build?
On weapons: Fire Damage, Frost Damage, Shock Damage, Absorb Health, Paralyze. On armor: Fortify Health, Resist Magic, Fortify Stamina, Fortify Two-Handed.
10. Is a follower necessary for a two-handed build on Legendary?
While not strictly necessary, a follower can provide valuable support by drawing enemy aggro and dealing additional damage. Choose a tanky follower who can wear heavy armor.
11. How can I manage stamina effectively in combat?
Use Vegetable Soup for constant stamina regeneration. Invest in stamina-related perks and enchantments. Avoid over-encumbrance, as it drains stamina.
12. Are shouts useful for a two-handed build?
Yes, shouts like Unrelenting Force (for crowd control) and Become Ethereal (for temporary invulnerability) can be invaluable in tough situations.
13. What is the most OP build in Skyrim?
While opinions vary, the Stealth Archer is often cited as the most overpowered build due to its ability to one-shot enemies from stealth.
14. Is it harder to level up on Legendary Skyrim?
Skills may be difficult to level early on. Skills will level easier with time and when you use them to engage enemies in combat.
15. What is the point of making a skill Legendary in Skyrim?
The main benefit is that it allows you to continue leveling your character and gaining perk points, even after reaching level 100 in your core skills. This makes you even more powerful over time.