Should I Wear Robes or Armor in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide

The age-old question for any aspiring Dragonborn mage or warrior in Skyrim: robes or armor? The answer, as with many things in the Elder Scrolls, isn’t straightforward. It depends entirely on your playstyle, character build, and desired strengths. Ultimately, neither option is definitively superior; rather, each offers distinct advantages and trade-offs that cater to different approaches within the game.

The short answer: if you prioritize magical prowess, faster magicka regeneration, and stealth, robes are a strong option. However, if you want raw defensive power, resilience against physical damage, and to become a tank, then you should choose armor. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.

Understanding Robes in Skyrim

Robes are considered clothing, not armor, within Skyrim’s mechanics. This has crucial implications.

Advantages of Wearing Robes

• Magicka Regeneration: The primary benefit of robes is their inherent boost to magicka regeneration, typically around 75%. This is crucial for spellcasters, allowing them to cast more frequently and sustain spells for longer durations. This advantage alone makes them extremely useful for characters focused on magic.
• Stealth Bonuses: Robes are completely silent, making sneaking significantly easier compared to the clanking of metal armor. This is a huge advantage for stealth-focused mages and hybrid builds.
• Alteration Magic Synergy: If you’re a mage who utilizes the Alteration skill tree, specifically the Mage Armor perk, then spells like Stoneflesh, Ironflesh, Ebonyflesh, and Dragonhide become significantly more powerful when not wearing any armor. This means your mage character can become as defensive as an armored warrior if using the alteration skill.
• No Armor Skill Leveling: If you’re not wearing armor, you don’t need to invest in armor skills like Light or Heavy Armor. This allows you to concentrate on your chosen magicka and combat skills instead of having to divert perk points to those armor trees.
• Enchantment Potential: Robes and other pieces of clothing can be enchanted with powerful effects, such as increased magicka, decreased spell costs, or boosts to certain skills. This allows for heavy customization.

Disadvantages of Wearing Robes

• No Natural Armor Rating: Robes offer no natural protection against physical damage. You’ll be much more vulnerable to attacks if not prepared. You are going to take a lot more damage compared to a character wearing armor.
• Reliance on Magic or Skill: Without armor, you’re reliant on spells like Alteration’s “flesh” spells or other means of mitigation to survive in combat. This can be a significant problem at lower levels before you gain access to powerful spells or abilities.

Understanding Armor in Skyrim

Armor, categorized into Light and Heavy armor, provides direct physical protection.

Advantages of Wearing Armor

• High Physical Defense: The primary benefit is the armor rating itself. Light armor offers a balance of mobility and defense, while heavy armor is all about tanking. These armor types can increase your survivability significantly, especially in combat.
• Perk Synergies: Both Light and Heavy Armor skills have their own perk trees, which can further enhance defense, reduce weight, and offer other benefits such as increased stamina regen or mobility while wearing armor.
• Enchantment Potential: Like robes, armor can be enchanted, allowing you to tailor your gear for specific situations, or your character’s needs.
• Variety: There’s a massive variety of armor sets in Skyrim, each with unique looks and stats.

Disadvantages of Wearing Armor

• Reduced Magicka Regeneration: Wearing armor does not affect magicka regeneration directly, but the use of armor means you are likely not wearing robes, which significantly reduce the rate of magicka regeneration.
• Noise and Reduced Stealth: Both Light and Heavy armor types can create more noise, making it much more difficult to sneak compared to robes, especially for Heavy Armor.
• Skill Point Investment: Leveling armor skills requires you to invest skill points in those respective skill trees, which means allocating resources away from other skill trees. This might not be an issue for characters that also want to use armor, but can be a hinderance if your character is more magic focused.

The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

• Mage Builds: If your primary focus is casting spells, robes are likely the better choice. The increased magicka regen, quiet movement, and Alteration spell synergy are incredibly beneficial. However, you will need to rely on the Alteration skill tree for defense.
• Warrior Builds: If your main focus is melee or ranged combat, armor is generally the better choice. The damage reduction and perk bonuses are invaluable.
• Hybrid Builds: For a hybrid character that combines magic and combat, it’s less clear. You may consider starting in armor and transitioning to robes later in the game as your magical ability increases, or if your chosen gameplay utilizes an alternative for defense such as the alteration school of magic. You may also find a balance between light armor and robes depending on your needs for the character.

The best choice is the one that best supports your chosen playstyle and character build. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do Robes Count as Armor in Skyrim?

No, robes are considered clothing and do not contribute to your Light or Heavy Armor skill.

2. Does Wearing Armor Affect Magic in Skyrim?

No, wearing armor does not affect your magic damage or spell effectiveness. However, it does reduce the rate at which you regenerate magicka if not wearing robes.

3. What is the Fastest Way to Level Up the Light Armor Skill?

The fastest way to level Light Armor is to take consistent damage while wearing it. This can be done by engaging in combat, particularly with multiple enemies.

4. What is the Fastest Way to Level Up the Heavy Armor Skill?

The quickest way to level Heavy Armor is the same as with Light Armor; take damage while wearing it. Deliberately engaging in combat with multiple enemies is a great way to level it up faster.

5. Are There Any Robes With Built-in Armor Rating?

No, there are no robes with a natural armor rating. However, you can enchant robes with armor rating effects or you can use alteration spells to supplement your defense.

6. Does Wearing Robes Slow You Down?

No, wearing robes will not slow you down at all. In fact, they are completely silent, unlike armor, which allows you to move stealthily.

7. What is the Best Armor Set in Skyrim?

This is subjective, but the Daedric Armor is considered to have the highest base armor rating, although other sets like Dragonplate Armor are also incredibly powerful. Other sets like the Nightingale Armor are also considered some of the best in the game.

8. What is the Best Mage Armor in Skyrim?

For mages, the Archmage Robes, particularly when coupled with powerful enchantments, are one of the best options. Combined with spells that increase your defense it is a strong choice.

9. Can I Improve the Armor Rating of Robes?

You can not increase the base armor rating of robes because they have none. However, you can enchant robes with “Fortify [Armor Skill]” effects which will give the player a hidden armor rating bonus. The Alteration school of magic is a great way to improve defense for mages who do not wear armor.

10. Does the Weight of Armor Affect Magic?

No, the weight of armor does not directly affect magic. However, heavy armor does slow you down and is far more noisy.

11. Is it Worth Using Both Light and Heavy Armor?

It is not necessary to use both Light and Heavy Armor on the same character. It’s more efficient to focus on one to maximize your perks and bonuses, and to prevent skill points from becoming too spread out.

12. Are There Any Unique Benefits to Wearing a Full Set of Armor?

No, there aren’t any unique bonuses in Skyrim for wearing a full set of a specific armor type, besides certain unique armor sets which grant specific bonuses. However, a full set of armor will provide you with the maximum protection the set can provide.

13. Can You Enchant Armor for Increased Magicka?

Yes, you can enchant armor pieces with effects such as “Fortify Magicka,” “Fortify Magicka Regeneration,” or “Reduce Spell Cost” to make it better suited to a mage character build.

14. Can I Make My Wife Wear Robes?

Yes, if your wife is a follower you can give them robes by taking their clothes off and then giving them the robes you want to wear. Make sure to keep at least one of their initial gear pieces on.

15. Does Armor Rating Have a Cap in Skyrim?

Yes, the maximum damage reduction from armor is capped at 80%. This can be reached with an armor rating of approximately 542.

By weighing the pros and cons outlined above, you’ll be well-equipped to make the right choice between robes and armor for your Skyrim adventures, and find the best gear suited to your Dragonborn.