What is the Highest Base Damage One-Handed Weapon in Skyrim?
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The quest for the ultimate weapon in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a common one, and for those who favor the swiftness and versatility of one-handed combat, knowing the weapon with the highest base damage is paramount. The answer isn’t as simple as pointing to a single item, as there are nuances to consider, but let’s dive straight into it.
At the base level, without the influence of smithing enhancements, enchantments, or special effects, the Madness Sword boasts the highest base damage of any one-handed sword in the game. This unique blade, introduced through the Saints & Seducers Creation Club content, becomes craftable once you’ve completed the relevant questline. It narrowly edges out other top contenders with a base damage of 17, a figure that can only be achieved via crafting, and it’s important to note that the Madness Sword requires specific crafting materials.
While the Madness Sword has the absolute highest base damage, other swords come close and may be more readily available or have other beneficial qualities. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison and address some common misconceptions and queries.
Understanding Base Damage in Skyrim
Before we explore the contenders, it’s crucial to understand what base damage means in Skyrim. Base damage is the inherent damage a weapon inflicts before any modifications are applied. This includes smithing improvements, enchantments, or perk bonuses. Base damage serves as the foundation for the total damage output of a weapon.
Top Contenders for Highest One-Handed Base Damage
While the Madness Sword holds the top spot in base damage among one-handed swords, other weapons warrant consideration:
- Miraak’s Sword: Often cited for its high damage, Miraak’s Sword boasts a base damage of 16 when obtained at Level 60, making it a formidable contender in the base game content. Its ability to absorb health and stamina further enhances its usefulness.
- Daedric Sword: Without Creation Club content, the Daedric Sword is among the highest damage one-handed weapons at 14 base damage. Daedric weapons are powerful and can be improved to great effect.
- Dragonbone Sword: While the Dragonbone Sword only holds a base damage of 13, it’s crucial to understand that they can be crafted with very little smithing expertise, making it a great base level sword available with the Dawnguard DLC.
- Dragonbane: A unique katana with a lower base damage at 11, Dragonbane deals an additional 40 damage against Dragons and 10 shock damage to other enemies making its total damage versus dragons more than the Madness Sword.
The Impact of Smithing on Base Damage
It’s important to note that the base damage of these weapons can be drastically enhanced by the Smithing skill. With high smithing skill and appropriate perks, virtually any weapon can achieve incredible damage output. High smithing skills allow for tempering of weapons, adding far more damage to the weapon than what base damage implies.
Special Note About Unique Weapons
Many unique weapons have special enchantments that make them powerful, but the base damage of these special unique weapons is generally lower than that of craftable weapons. For example, Dawnbreaker has unique magic properties but has a lower base damage. This is not to say the unique weapons are inferior, just that they are not the best when looking for the highest base damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 common questions related to one-handed weapon damage in Skyrim, answered to provide further clarity:
1. Is base damage the only factor determining a weapon’s strength?
No. While base damage is foundational, other factors like **enchantments**, smithing **improvements**, and skill **perks** greatly impact a weapon's overall effectiveness.
2. Does leveling up One-Handed increase base damage?
Leveling up the One-Handed skill itself does not directly increase the base damage of weapons, but it does allow the use of **perks** within the tree to increase overall one-handed weapon damage.
3. Are swords, axes, or maces better for one-handed damage?
**Swords** are typically faster with lower damage, **maces** are slower with higher damage, and **axes** are in-between. Which weapon is "best" depends on your playstyle and preferences, as overall DPS (damage per second) tends to be similar in skilled hands.
4. How does dual-wielding affect one-handed damage?
Dual-wielding with the right perks and tactics can significantly increase damage output and DPS. However, dual-wielded hits are less powerful per swing than the same damage applied to a single two-handed weapon or the same one-handed weapon.
5. What is the strongest one-handed weapon in the base game (no DLC)?
The **Daedric Sword** generally stands out as one of the strongest in the base game, although it requires high levels in smithing and the correct perks to make, or loot from late game dungeons.
6. Does Dragonbane scale with level?
Yes, but only when the Dragonbane is located. Once you pick up Dragonbane it will no longer scale.
7. Does Dawnbreaker’s base damage level with you?
No. Dawnbreaker's base damage is fixed.
8. What about other one-handed weapon types?
While swords are the topic of this article, it is important to know the other one-handed weapon types. The Dragonbone War Axe has the highest base damage of any one-handed axe and the Dragonbone Mace has the highest base damage of any one-handed mace.
9. Which one-handed weapon is the fastest for leveling?
The **base damage of a weapon impacts experience gain** when leveling One-Handed. Using something like the **Daedric Dagger** and attacking a training dummy will level the skill quickly.
10. Does the weight of a one-handed weapon impact damage?
The weight of the weapon only impacts the carry weight of the user, not the damage of the weapon. The weight may impact the speed with which the user can swing or move depending on the total weight of their load.
11. How do I maximize one-handed damage with smithing?
Level up the smithing skill, acquire the **necessary perks**, and gather smithing materials to upgrade weapons and armor. Use fortify smithing gear, as well as smithing potions to maximize the output of a weapon.
12. What about unique swords, do any of them have a high base damage?
Unique swords like Windshear have very low base damage but high stagger capabilities, and the Nightingale Blade also has a low base damage in exchange for unique enchantments.
13. Is a Dragonbone weapon the best non-Creation Club weapon?
In terms of base damage, they are great without the Creation Club, though **Daedric gear is often more powerful** with the correct build. Dragonbone weapons are easier to acquire.
14. Do I need to use daggers to level One-Handed quickly?
Daggers, especially **Daedric daggers**, are often used because of their high damage-to-weight ratio and high base damage, which helps in skill leveling.
15. What happens to base damage when I use a grindstone?
Using a grindstone increases the *tempering* of a weapon, adding additional damage as a bonus to the base damage of a weapon.
Conclusion
While the Madness Sword takes the crown for the highest base damage among one-handed swords, there are various other powerful options within Skyrim. Understanding that base damage is only one piece of the puzzle is crucial. Combining it with smithing, enchantments, perks, and player skill is what truly determines a weapon’s overall effectiveness. Whether you prefer the high base damage of the Madness Sword, the utility of Miraak’s Sword, or the unique capabilities of weapons like Dragonbane, Skyrim offers a plethora of options for any aspiring one-handed warrior. The best one-handed weapon in Skyrim is the one you use most effectively.