Skyrim Perks Guide

New to the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim has completely changed the way players develop their character. Through the introduction of a new perks system, players now gain a new perk every time they advance to a new level. Rather than replacing the stats, it adds onto the old statistics system, now hidden behind the scenes. 

Every perk has skill requirements that you must meet before you can unlock it, so you'll gain access to better perks as you progress through the game.

Each time you level up, you will have the chance to affect real improvement onto your character—getting a shield perk might allow you to bash your enemies, for example. 

There are 280 perks in Skyrim spread across three different constellations, or trees—Warrior, Thief, Mage—all of which allow you to define your character as you please. These skills can be used in tandem so you can play as a spellsword, assassin, or warrior mage, and the like. 

Quick Selection: Warrior | Mage | Thief

Warrior

The Warrior - Archery

• Overdraw: Bows do 25% more damage.
• Eagle Eye: Pressing Block while aiming will zoom in your view
• Steady Hand: Zooming in with a bow slows time by 25% (2 ranks)
• Critical Shot: 10% chance of a critical hit that does extra damage (3 ranks)
• Power Shot: Arrows stagger all but the largest opponents 50% of the time.
• Hunter's Discipline: Recover twice as many arrows from dead bodies.
• Ranger: Able to move faster with a drawn bow.
• Quick Shot: Can draw a bow 30% faster.
• Bullseye: 15% chance of paralyzing the target for a few seconds.

The Warrior - Block

• Shield Wall: Blocking is 20% more effective. (5 ranks)
• Quick Reflexes: Time slows down if you are blocking during an enemy's power attack.
• Deflect Arrows: Arrows that hit the shield do no damage.
• Power Bash: Able to do a power bash.
• Elemental Protection: Blocking with a shield reduces incoming fire, frost, and shock damage by 50%.
• Deadly Bash: Bashing does five times more damage.
• Disarming Bash: Chance to disarm when power bashing.
• Block Runner: Able to move faster with a shield raised.
• Shield Charge: Sprinting with a shield raised knocks down most targets.

The Warrior - Heavy Armor

• Juggernaut: Increases armor rating for Heavy Armor by 20% (5 ranks)
• Fists of Steel: Unarmed attacks with Heavy Armor gauntlets do their armor rating in extra damage.
• Cushioned: Half fall damage if wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet.
• Well Fitted: 25% Armor bonus if wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet.
• Conditioning: Heavy Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn.
• Tower of Strength: 50% less stagger when wearing only Heavy Armor.
• Matching Set: Additional 25% Armor bonus if wearing a matched set of Heavy Armor
• Reflect Blows: 10% chance to reflect melee damage back to the enemy while wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet.

The Warrior - One Handed

• Armsman: One-Handed weapons do 20% more damage (5 ranks)
• Dual Flurry: Dual wielding attacks are 20% faster (2 ranks)
• Dual Savagery: Dual wielding power attacks do 50% more damage.
• Fighting Stance: Power attacks with one-handed weapons cost 25% less stamina.
• Hack and Slash: Attacks with war axes cause extra bleeding damage. (3 ranks)
• Bone Breaker: Attacks with macs ignore 25% of armor. (3 ranks)
• Bladesman: Attacks with swords have a 10% chance of doing critical damage. (3 ranks)
• Critical Charge: Can do a one-handed power attack while sprinting that does double critical damage.
• Savage Strike: Standing power attacks do 25% bonus damage with a chance to decapitate your enemies.
• Paralyzing Strike: Backwards power attack has a 25% chance to paralyze the target.

The Warrior - Two Handed

• Barbarian: Two-Handed weapons do 20% more damage (5 ranks)
• Champion's Stance: Power attacks iwth two-handed weapons cost 25% less stamina.
• Limbsplitter: Attacks with battle axes cause extra bleeding damage. (3 ranks)
• Deep Wounds: Attacks with greatswords have a 10% chance of doing critical damage. (3 ranks)
• Skullcrusher: Attacks with warhammers ignore 25% of armor. (3 ranks)
• Great Critical Charge: Can do a two-handed power attack while sprinting that does double critical damage.
• Devastating Blow: Standing power attacks do 25% bonus damage with a chance to decapitate your enemies.
• Sweep: Sideways power attacks with two-handed weapons hit all targets in front of you.
• Warmaster: Backwards power attack has a 25% chance to paralyze the target.

The Warrior - Smithing 

• Steel Smithing: Can create Steel armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Arcane Blacksmith: You can improve magical weapons and armor.
• Dwarven Smithing: Can create Dwarven armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Elven Smithing: Can create Elven armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Orcish Smithing: Can create Orcish armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Advanced Armors: Can create Scaled and Plate armor at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Glass Smithing: Can create Glass armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Daedric Smithing: Can create Daedric armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Ebony Smithing: Can create Ebony armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
• Dragon Smithing: Can create Dragon armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.

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