Skyrim Necromancer: Choosing the Best Race for Your Undead Army
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The best race for a necromancer in Skyrim is arguably the Breton. While any race can become a powerful necromancer, the Breton’s inherent magic resistance (25%) and Dragonskin ability (absorbing 50% of magicka from spells for 60 seconds) provide unparalleled survivability. This allows a necromancer to focus on summoning and controlling the undead horde, rather than constantly worrying about personal defense. The Breton’s starting skill bonus of +10 in Conjuration further accelerates the necromancer’s core skill.
Diving Deep: Why Breton Dominates the Undead Arts
Let’s break down why the Breton’s natural talents translate into necromantic prowess. Necromancy, at its core, relies on Conjuration magic. You’re summoning and manipulating the deceased, channeling energy from Oblivion. This means your character will be a prime target for enemy mages slinging spells your way. A squishy necromancer is a dead necromancer (pun intended!), and the Breton’s magic resistance provides a vital safety net.
The Dragonskin ability, usable once per day, can turn the tide in a difficult battle. Absorb enemy spells, replenish your magicka, and unleash a wave of undead fury. This ability becomes even more potent when combined with perks and enchantments that further boost magic resistance or magicka regeneration.
Furthermore, the Breton’s early advantage in Conjuration translates to faster leveling of the skill. This means quicker access to more powerful summons, spells, and perks within the Conjuration tree. This is crucial for dominating the early game and establishing a powerful necromantic foundation.
Alternative Contenders: Other Races with Necromantic Potential
While Breton excels in pure survivability, other races offer unique advantages for a necromancer build:
-
High Elf (Altmer): The Altmer boasts the highest starting magicka pool (+50) and a +10 bonus to Illusion. This can be useful for calming enemies or making them fight each other, providing a tactical advantage to your undead army. Their Highborn ability, granting greatly increased magicka regeneration for a short time, allows for powerful bursts of necromantic energy.
-
Dark Elf (Dunmer): The Dunmer’s inherent fire resistance (50%) is invaluable against fire-based dragons and mages. Their racial power, Ancestor’s Wrath, deals fire damage to nearby enemies, which can be useful in close-quarters combat, although less aligned with the typical necromancer playstyle. They also get a +5 bonus to Illusion, Alteration and Conjuration
-
Orc: While seemingly unconventional, the Orc’s Berserker ability (doubling damage dealt and halving damage taken for 60 seconds) can turn a necromancer into a surprisingly effective front-line fighter. While not directly boosting necromantic abilities, survivability allows a character to level up those abilities and survive more encounters to find powerful items.
-
Imperial: The Imperial’s Voice of the Emperor ability (calming nearby people) can create opportunities to reanimate corpses without immediate aggro. Additionally, the Imperial’s increased chance to find extra gold is useful for acquiring necessary spell tomes and materials.
Building the Ultimate Necromancer: Skills, Perks, and Beyond
Choosing the right race is only the first step. To truly master necromancy in Skyrim, you need to focus on specific skills, perks, and equipment:
-
Conjuration: The heart of any necromancer build. Invest heavily in perks like Necromancy, Dark Souls, Twin Souls, and Atromancy. These perks enhance the power and duration of your summons and allow you to reanimate more powerful corpses.
-
Restoration: Essential for healing yourself and your undead minions (via the Necromantic Healing spell). The Necromage perk, especially when combined with vampirism, provides significant boosts to all spells and enchantments, including those affecting your summons.
-
Enchanting: Allows you to create powerful gear with enchantments that boost magicka, magicka regeneration, Conjuration skill, and magic resistance.
-
Alchemy: Useful for creating potions that enhance your magicka, health, and magic resistance, as well as poisons to weaken your enemies.
Remember to explore tombs and dungeons to uncover rare necromantic spells like Dead Thrall, which allows you to permanently reanimate a powerful corpse. Combining the Aetherial Crown with the Ritual Stone also provides the necromancer with the ability to raise an infinite army of undead to command.
The Vampire Lord Necromancer: An Unholy Alliance
Becoming a vampire, particularly a Vampire Lord, can significantly enhance a necromancer’s power. Vampirism grants several benefits:
-
Increased Magicka and Stamina: Allows for more frequent spellcasting and power attacks.
-
Resist Disease and Poison: Makes you less vulnerable to debilitating ailments.
-
Vampiric Drain: Provides a means of regaining health in combat.
However, vampirism also comes with drawbacks:
-
Weakness to Fire: Makes you vulnerable to fire-based attacks.
-
Reduced Health, Magicka, and Stamina in Sunlight: Limits your activities during the day.
The Necromage perk in the Restoration tree is crucial for a vampire necromancer. This perk increases the effectiveness of all spells and enchantments on undead, including yourself as a vampire. This creates a powerful synergy that boosts your magical abilities, defenses, and summon strength.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify race selection for necromancers in Skyrim:
1. Can any race become a good necromancer in Skyrim?
Yes, any race can effectively play as a necromancer. However, some races have inherent advantages that make them slightly better suited for the role, particularly in the early game.
2. Does race affect the power of my summoned undead?
No, the power of your summoned undead is primarily determined by your Conjuration skill, perks, and spells, not your race.
3. Is it essential to become a vampire to be a powerful necromancer?
No, vampirism is not essential, but it can significantly enhance a necromancer’s power, especially when combined with the Necromage perk. However, the drawbacks of vampirism (weakness to fire, sunlight penalties) should be considered.
4. How important is magic resistance for a necromancer?
Magic resistance is highly valuable for a necromancer, as it allows you to survive enemy spell attacks and focus on summoning and controlling your undead army.
5. What skills should I focus on besides Conjuration?
Restoration, Enchanting, and Alchemy are all valuable skills for a necromancer. Restoration allows you to heal yourself and your summons, Enchanting allows you to create powerful gear, and Alchemy allows you to craft helpful potions and poisons.
6. Is Illusion magic useful for a necromancer?
Illusion magic can be helpful for calming enemies or making them fight each other, providing a tactical advantage to your undead army. The Altmer gets a +10 to Illusion skill at the start of the game.
7. Should I focus on Magicka, Health, or Stamina?
Focus primarily on Magicka, as it’s essential for casting spells and summoning undead. A decent amount of Health is also important for survivability. Stamina is less crucial for a typical necromancer build, but it can be useful for power attacks and sprinting.
8. What are some essential perks for a necromancer?
Necromancy, Dark Souls, Twin Souls, Atromancy (Conjuration tree), and Necromage (Restoration tree if a vampire) are essential perks for a necromancer.
9. What are the best Standing Stones for a necromancer?
The Mage Stone is a good choice early on to boost your magic skills. Later, the Lord Stone (provides magic resistance and armor) or the Atronach Stone (provides magicka and spell absorption) are excellent choices for increasing survivability.
10. How can I deal with dragons as a necromancer?
Use ranged spells like Lightning Bolt or Fireball to damage dragons from a distance, and summon atronachs to distract them. Consider using Dragonrend to force dragons to land, making them easier to attack.
11. Is it worth investing in armor skills as a necromancer?
While not essential, Light Armor can provide some protection without hindering your spellcasting. Enchanting armor to increase magic resistance or magicka regeneration is a good strategy.
12. What are some good weapons for a necromancer?
A staff enchanted with fortify Magicka or Magicka regeneration is a good choice for a necromancer. A dagger for sneak attacks and poison application can also be useful.
13. How can I manage my undead army effectively?
Use commands to position your undead minions strategically. Consider using spells like Command Daedra to control summoned atronachs. Be mindful of the level of the corpses you reanimate, as weaker corpses will be less effective in combat.
14. Are there any unique necromancer-themed quests in Skyrim?
Yes, there are several quests related to necromancy, including the quest to obtain the Necromancer’s Amulet and the quest to join the College of Winterhold and learn more about the undead arts.
15. Can I learn more about the lore of necromancy in Skyrim?
Yes, you can find numerous books in Skyrim that delve into the lore of necromancy, including “The Black Arts On Trial”, “Darkest Darkness”, and “Liminal Bridges”. You can also explore locations such as necromancer lairs and ruins to uncover more about the history and practice of necromancy in Skyrim. Understanding game mechanics and the way they interact with players is a fundamental skill in both gaming and education, similar to the research conducted by the Games Learning Society. Find out more at GamesLearningSociety.org.