Combat is one of the three skill groups in Skyrim (Magic and Stealth being the other two). The crafting skill for combat is Smithing. Of the other combat skills, three are offensive (Archery, One-handed, and Two-handed) while two are defensive (Block and Heavy Armor).
Combat Talents (known as Perks in Skyrim) are available for each skill and listed with each Talent Name, Rank, Cost, Description, Skill Level Required, and Talent Required. The Cost is the number of Character Points a character must spend to acquired the Talent if he meets the Skill Level and Talent prerequisites.
Talents with an ” * ” cannot be combined.
Ranked Talents must be acquired in order and effects are cumulative.
Archery
An archer is trained in the use of bows and arrows. The greater the skill, the more deadly the shot.
Hero Skill: Combat Skill Levels with Bows
Skill Cost: 3 character points per +1
Talent Cost: 4 character points each
Firing a bow requires 2 Half Phase actions: 1 to ready the bow (load an arrow) and 1 to fire.
Archers can benefit from the Brace maneuver, gaining +2 vs. Range Penalties but are easier to hit (DCV is Halved).
| Talent | Rank | Description | Skill | Talent Req. |
| Critical Shot | 1 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 15+ with bows | +3 | |
| Critical Shot | 2 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 14+ with bows | +6 | |
| Critical Shot | 3 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 13+ with bows | +9 | |
| Hunter’s Discipline | Recover arrows on 4+ rather than 6 (on 1d6) | +5 | Critical Shot | |
| Eagle Eye | +2 vs. Range with bows | +3 | ||
| Power Shot* | Arrows do Knockback | +5 | Eagle Eye | |
| Quick Shot | Character can Load/Fire a bow as a single Half Phase action | +7 | Power Shot | |
| Steady Hand* | 1 | Autofire 2 with bows | +4 | Eagle Eye |
| Steady Hand* | 2 | Autofire +1 with bows | +6 | |
| Paralyzing Shot* | Entangle 3d6, 3 PD/3 ED, Takes No Damage From Attacks (All Attacks, STR only to break out), Time Limit (One Phase), Arrow Must Do Damage | +10 |
Critical Shot effect is cumulative at the lowest Attack Roll target.
Block
The art of blocking an enemy’s blows with a shield or weapon. Blocking reduces the damage and staggering from physical attacks.
Talent Cost: 3 character points each.
Heavy Armor
Those trained to use Heavy Armor make more efficient use of Iron, Steel, Dwarven, Orcish, Ebony, and Daedric armors.
Talent Cost: 4 character points each.
One-Handed
The art of combat using one-handed weapons, such as daggers, swords, maces, and war axes. Those trained in this skill deliver deadlier blows.
Hero Skill: Combat Skill Levels with One-handed Weapons
Skill Cost: 5 character points per +1
Talent Cost: 4 character points each
| Talent | Rank | Description | Skill | Talent Req. |
| Bladesman | 1 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 15+ with blades | +3 | |
| Bladesman | 2 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 14+ with blades | +6 | |
| Bladesman | 3 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 13+ with blades | +9 | |
| Bonebreaker | 1 | AP with maces | +3 | |
| Bonebreaker | 2 | +AP with maces | +6 | |
| Bonebreaker | 3 | +AP with maces | +9 | |
| Dual Flurry* | 1 | Autofire 2 with one-handed weapons | +3 | |
| Dual Flurry* | 2 | Autofire +1 with one-handed weapons | +5 | |
| Dual Savagery | +1d6 Damage when making a Power Attack with two weapons | +7 | Dual Flurry | |
| Fighting Stance | Power Attacks cost 1/2 Stamina with one-handed weapons | +2 | ||
| Critical Charge | +1 OCV and +2d6 Damage during Move Throughs | +5 | Fighting Stance | |
| Savage Strike* | +1d6 Damage during Power Attack while not moving; decapitates target if killed | +5 | Fighting Stance | |
| Paralyzing Strike* | Entangle 3d6, 3 PD/3 ED, Takes No Damage From Attacks (All Attacks, STR only to break out), Time Limit (One Phase), Weapon Must Do Damage | +10 | Critical Strike or Savage Strike | |
| Hack and Slash | 1 | 1/2d6 Damage every 3 Segments for 6 Segments, Ignores Damage Reduction, Weapon Must Do Damage | +3 | |
| Hack and Slash | 2 | 1d6 Damage every 3 Segments for 6 Segments, Ignores Damage Reduction, Weapon Must Do Damage | +6 | |
| Hack and Slash | 3 | 2d6 Damage every 3 Segments for 6 Segments, Ignores Damage Reduction, Weapon Must Do Damage | +9 |
Bladesmen effect is cumulative at the lowest Attack Roll target.
Smithing
The art of creating weapons and armor from raw materials, or improving non-magical weapons and armor.
Hero Skill: Smithing
Skill Cost: 3 character points per +1
Smithing Talents
Talent Cost: 2 character points each
|
Prerequisite | Skill Req. | |
| Steel Smithing | None | +0 | |
| Dwarven Smithing | Steel Smithing | +3 | |
| Elven Smithing | Steel Smithing | +3 | |
| Orcish Smithing | Dwarven Smithing | +5 | |
| Advanced Armors | Elven Smithing | +5 | |
| Arcane Blacksmith | Steel Smithing | +6 | |
| Glass Smithing | Advanced Armors | +7 | |
| Ebony Smithing | Orcish Smithing | +8 | |
| Daedric Smithing | Ebony Smithing | +9 | |
| Dragon Armor | Daedric Smithing or Glass Smithing | +10 |
Armor Types
| Name | Value | Type | DEF | Mass | Notes |
| Fur Armor | 50 | Light | 2 | 3 | -1/1d6 Interaction in civilized areas |
| Hide Armor | 50 | Light | 1 | 2.5 | |
| Studded Armor | 75 | Light | 2 | 3 | |
| Leather Armor | 125 | Light | 3 | 3 | |
| Elven Armor | 225 | Light | 4 | 2 | |
| Scaled Armor | 350 | Light | 5 | 3 | |
| Scaled Horn Armor† | 350 | Light | 5 | 3 | |
| Elven Gilded Armor | 550 | Light | 6 | 2 | |
| Glass Armor | 900 | Light | 7 | 3.5 | |
| Dragonscale Armor | 1500 | Light | 8 | 5 | |
| Iron Armor | 125 | Heavy | 4 | 14 | |
| Banded Iron Armor | 200 | Heavy | 5 | 16 | |
| Steel Armor | 275 | Heavy | 6 | 16 | |
| Dwarven Armor | 400 | Heavy | 7 | 22 | |
| Steel Plate Armor | 625 | Heavy | 8 | 18 | |
| Orcish Armor | 1000 | Heavy | 8H | 16 | |
| Ebony Armor | 1500 | Heavy | 9 | 18 | Stealth +4 (muffled sound and shadowy/smoky appearance), Drain 1d6 STUN 1m radius plus Drain 1pip BODY 1m radius (Trigger, when target 0 STUN) |
| Dragonplate Armor | 2125 | Heavy | 10H | 20 | |
| Daedric Armor | 3200 | Heavy | 11H | 24 |
DEF = Resistant Protection for both PD and ED; “H” indicates that the DEF is Hardened
Item Quality
| Skill | Required | ||||
| Quality | Value | w/o Adder | w/ Adder | Armor | Weapon |
| Fine | 1.15x | +0 | +0 | Mass -20% | STR-2 (WT -10%) |
| Superior | 1.3x | +3 | +3 | DEF +1 | DMG +1 |
| Exquisite | 1.5x | +6 | +4 | Hardened | Armor Piercing |
| Flawless | 1.65x | +10 | +6 | DEF +1 | DMG +1 |
| Epic | 1.82x | +13 | +7 | DCV +1 | OCV +1 |
| Legendary | 2.0x | +17 | +9 | DEF +1 | DMG +1 |
Skill Required = skill level required to craft; w/o Adder means the character does not have the required Adder appropriate for the specific material.
Two-handed
The art of combat using two-handed weapons, such as greatswords, battle axes, and warhammers. Those trained in this skill deliver deadlier blows.
Hero Skill: Combat Skill Levels with One-handed Weapons
Skill Cost: 5 character points per +1
Talent Cost: 4 character points each.
| Talent | Rank | Description | Skill | Talent Req. |
| Deep Wounds | 1 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 15+ with greatswords | +3 | |
| Deep Wounds | 2 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 14+ with greatswords | +6 | |
| Deep Wounds | 3 | +1d6 Damage on Attack Roll of 13+ with greatswords | +9 | |
| Skullcrusher | 1 | AP with warhammers | +3 | |
| Skullcrusher | 2 | +AP with warhammers | +6 | |
| Skullcrusher | 3 | +AP with warhammers | +9 | |
| Dual Flurry | 1 | Autofire 2 with one-handed weapons | +3 | |
| Dual Flurry | 2 | Autofire 3 with one-handed weapons | +5 | |
| Sweep* | Area Effect (all targets in front of character within 1m) with two-handed weapons during Power Attack | +7 | Dual Flurry | |
| Champion’s Stance | Power Attacks cost 1/2 Stamina with two-handed weapons | +2 | ||
| Great Critical Charge | +1 OCV and +2d6 Damage during Move Throughs | +5 | Champion’s Stance | |
| Devastating Blow* | +1d6 Damage during Power Attack while not moving; decapitates target if killed | +5 | Champion’s Stance | |
| Warmaster* | Entangle 3d6, 3 PD/3 ED, Takes No Damage From Attacks (All Attacks, STR only to break out), Time Limit (One Phase), Weapon Must Do Damage | +10 | Great Critical Charge or Devastating Blow | |
| Limbsplitter | 1 | 1/2d6 Damage every 3 Segments for 6 Segments, Ignores Damage Reduction, Battleaxe Must Do Damage | +3 | |
| Limbsplitter | 2 | +1/2d6 Damage every 3 Segments for 6 Segments, Ignores Damage Reduction, Battleaxe Must Do Damage | +6 | |
| Limbsplitter | 3 | +1d6 Damage every 3 Segments for 6 Segments, Ignores Damage Reduction, Battleaxe Must Do Damage | +9 |
Deep Wounds effect is cumulative at the lowest Attack Roll target.