What Should My Skyrim Character Be? A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re diving into the vast and enchanting world of Skyrim? That’s fantastic! But the first and perhaps most crucial step is deciding who your adventurer will be. The short answer? Your Skyrim character should be whatever you want it to be! The beauty of Skyrim lies in its flexibility; the game doesn’t force you down a single path. However, understanding the nuances of race, skills, and playstyles will drastically enhance your experience. Let’s break down the factors to consider.

Choosing Your Race: More Than Just Looks

Each race in Skyrim comes with unique starting abilities, bonuses, and racial skills. While the game’s freedom allows you to create any build with any race, some are more naturally suited to specific playstyles.

The Mighty Warriors

If you envision yourself wielding a massive two-handed weapon or soaking up damage in the front lines, consider these races:

• Nords: These hardy warriors are renowned for their skill with two-handed weapons and have a natural resistance to frost. Their Battle Cry ability can send enemies fleeing, a boon in early battles. They also gain extra starting gold from loot, making them very good for new players.
• Orcs: Orcs are the masters of melee combat, blessed with the Berserker ability, which drastically increases damage and reduces incoming damage for a short duration. Their inherent toughness makes them incredible tanks and formidable foes.

The Cunning Rogues

If stealth and subterfuge are your game, these races are your best bet:

• Khajiit: These cat-like folk have excellent sneak skills and a natural bonus to unarmed attacks. Their Night Eye ability grants improved visibility in dark places.
• Bosmer (Wood Elves): Agile and skilled with bows, Wood Elves have innate archery bonuses and resistance to disease. Their ability to command animals can be handy in certain situations.

The Powerful Mages

For those who wield the arcane arts, consider these races:

• High Elves (Altmer): Known for their inherent magical talent, High Elves possess a larger magicka pool and the Highborn ability, which rapidly regenerates magicka. This is incredibly powerful for sustained spellcasting.
• Bretons: With innate magic resistance, Bretons are exceptional mages who can also be surprisingly durable. This makes them ideal for mages who face dangers upfront.

The Jack-of-All-Trades

If you prefer a more balanced approach, or aren’t sure yet, these races offer flexibility:

• Imperials: Versatile and adaptable, Imperials have a knack for persuasion and gain additional gold from finding loot. This makes them a good choice for players who want to explore all aspects of the game.
• Dark Elves (Dunmer): Skilled in both magic and combat, Dark Elves offer a well-rounded approach. They have resistance to fire damage, making them hardy against fire-based attacks.

Beyond Race: Defining Your Playstyle

Once you’ve chosen your race, consider your preferred playstyle. Do you want to be a sneaky archer, a spell-slinging mage, or a hulking warrior? Maybe you prefer a blend of skills. Skyrim’s system allows you to build your character in countless ways. You can focus on:

• Melee Combat: Specializing in one-handed or two-handed weapons, blocking, and heavy armor.
• Ranged Combat: Archery is a viable and powerful option for those who prefer to attack from a distance.
• Stealth: Focusing on sneak and lockpicking skills, coupled with either ranged or melee attacks.
• Magic: Mastering various schools of magic such as destruction, restoration, conjuration, illusion, and alteration.
• Hybrid Builds: Combining various combat, stealth, and magic skills to create a versatile and adaptable character.

The Role of Skills and Perks

As you play, you’ll level up skills like one-handed, two-handed, archery, sneak, magic, and crafting. Every level allows you to choose a perk within a skill tree. This allows you to further refine your character. For example:

• A warrior might choose perks that increase damage with two-handed weapons and improve their armor rating.
• A mage might focus on perks that reduce spell costs and increase their spell potency.
• A stealth character might invest in perks that enhance sneaking, pickpocketing and lockpicking.

Choosing a Faction

Skyrim offers diverse factions to join, each with its own unique storyline, quests, and rewards.

• The Companions: A group of warriors for hire, ideal for players seeking honorable combat.
• The Thieves Guild: A haven for rogues, offering opportunities for stealth, larceny, and intrigue.
• The Dark Brotherhood: An organization of assassins, perfect for players seeking a darker path.
• The College of Winterhold: A school of magic for players interested in mastering the arcane arts.
• The Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks: The two factions battling for control of Skyrim, allowing the player to take part in a large scale war.

The beauty of Skyrim is that you are not locked into any particular path. You can join multiple factions, change your approach as you go, and ultimately define your character’s journey through your choices and actions.

It’s Your Story

Ultimately, the “best” character in Skyrim is the one you enjoy playing the most. Don’t be afraid to experiment, try different builds, and change your approach. The true magic of Skyrim lies in its freedom and its ability to allow you to create a character that is uniquely yours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does my chosen race significantly impact my gameplay?

While race provides starting bonuses, it doesn’t lock you into a specific playstyle. You can build a mage with any race. However, racial traits will give you a head start in certain areas.

2. Which race is the easiest for beginners in Skyrim?

Imperials are excellent beginners due to their passive that gets you extra gold, which can help with the game’s economy. Orcs are also good beginners because they can double their damage and defense in tough fights.

3. Which is the most powerful playable character in the Elder Scrolls series?

Many consider The Nerevarine (from Morrowind) to be the most powerful, given their ability to slay gods and access magic not available to other protagonists.

4. Is it possible to change my character’s appearance in Skyrim?

Yes, you can change your appearance by speaking with Galathil the Face Sculptor in Riften, at the Ragged Flagon.

5. What is the best gender to pick in Skyrim?

Gender is purely cosmetic. There is a small advantage with females with the Agent of Dibella perk. However, it is not significant enough to sway your decision. It comes down to looks and what you prefer.

6. What are the most important skills to level up in Skyrim?

Leveling up Enchanting, Alchemy, and Smithing early on is very beneficial as they provide powerful buffs and gear. Focus on the skills that complement your chosen playstyle.

7. What is the best armor type in Skyrim?

Light armor is highly recommended as it offers better mobility and stamina regeneration. Heavy armor is viable but may hinder stealth and movement.

8. What is the fastest way to get really powerful in Skyrim?

Using Shouts, fighting friendly powerful NPCs, stocking up on potions, getting the best equipment, and killing as much as possible early on is essential for becoming overpowered quickly.

9. Can I marry anyone in Skyrim?

You can marry a variety of characters in Skyrim, and some make better spouses than others. Jenassa is a popular choice, for example, because she doesn’t judge your actions.

10. Can I change my spouse’s outfit in Skyrim?

Yes, if they are a follower. You can take their clothes and give them new clothes while keeping at least one piece of their original gear on.

11. Is there a way to make Skyrim look better?

Install texture packs like Skyrim Realistic Overhaul to improve graphics without impacting performance.

12. Which is the best Illusion spell in Skyrim?

Mayhem is the best Illusion spell, as it makes enemies fight each other.

13. Does character size matter in Skyrim?

Yes, taller races move slightly faster than shorter races, but the difference is minimal.

14. Who is the strongest Dragonborn in Skyrim?

The Last Dragonborn (the player) is generally considered the most powerful, followed by Miraak.

15. Is it worth playing Skyrim Anniversary Edition?

Yes, the Anniversary Edition contains additional content and better graphics, making it the most comprehensive version of Skyrim available.