Murk Stalker
Nord - Bow - Light - Heavy - Archer
Background
Murk Stalkers seek out and destroy dangerous creatures who lurk where others cannot see. With this objective they train to see beyond and hunt the terrors that hide in fog and blizzards, daring to go where no one else would.
Weapons
Hunting Bow then a Nordic Bow. The bow is enchanted with Paralyze and the unique enchantment of Huntsman’s Prowess, which is only found on the Poacher’s Axe at Halted Steam Camp to the North of Whiterun, and deals extra damage to animals.
Armor
Any heavy armor at the start of the game. The final gear is a Nordic Circlet Fur Armor, Nordic Carved Boots and Nordic Carved Gauntlets. Kyne’s Token is also used.
The Nordic Circlet can be bought from many vendors.
Fur Armor cannot be crafted so bandits are usually a good source.
The Boots and Gauntlets can be made once you have the Advanced Armors perk.
Kyne’s Token is acquired by completing a quest given by Froki at his hut located to the South East of Ivarsted.
Spells
Alteration for Detect Life and Pralysis Rune. Conjure Familiar from Conjuration, Restoration for heals.
Standing Stones.
The Lord Stone for 50 armor rating and 25% magic resistance.
Shrines
Use a shrine of Kynareth for 25 extra stamina.
Shouts
Aura Whisper (Life - Seak - Hunt)
Location: Northwind Summit, Valthume, Volunruud
Similar to the Detect Life spell but with a bigger range and also includes undead, daedra and dwemer automatons.
Whirlwind Sprint (Whirlwind - Fury - Tempest)
Location: Dead Men’s Respite, Volskygge, High Hrothgar (The Way of the Voice)
Use to reach otherwise inaccessible places and to quickly evade attacks or catch up with fleeing enemies.
Character Creation
Female Nord
Nords fit this build well due to the cold temperatures of Skyim but they come last based on boosted skills. Breton, High Elf and Imperial come out top with 25/35. I still went with Nord though.
Pick female as the sex for your character as there are more male humanoids than females to fight in Skyrim so the 10% damage bonus against the opposite sex from Agent of Dibella gets more use.
Attribute Distribution
Distribute attributes at a ratio of 0 / 2 / 1. At level 59 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (215) | 490 (605) | 290 |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Nords are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration | 5 | Archery | 14 | Alchemy | 11 |
| Conjuration | 1 | Block +5 | 0 | Light Armor +5 | 0 |
| Destruction | 0 | Heavy Armor | 8 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting | 8 | One-handed +5 | 0 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion | 0 | Smithing +5 | 3 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration | 8 | Two-handed +10 | 0 | Speech +5 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | Total | 25 | Total | 11 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 5
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Magic Resistance 1/3
Stability
Conjuration 1
Novice Conjuration
Enchanting 8
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Warrior Skills
Archery 14
Overdraw 5/5
Eagle Eye
Steady Hand 2/2
Power Shot
Quick Shot
Critical Shot 1/3
Hunter's Discipline
Ranger
Bullseye
Heavy Armor 8
Juggernaut 5/5
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioning
Smithing 3
Steel Smithing
Elven Smithing
Advanced Armor
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 11
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Poisoner
Concentrated Poison
Green Thumb
Snakeblood
Spells
Alteration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight | Novice | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds |
| Detect Life | Adept | Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra, can be seen through walls |
| Paralysis Rune | Adept | Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them for 8 seconds |
| Waterbreathing | Adept | Can breathe under water for 60 seconds. Stand in water and cast to level Alteration. |
From the Bow of Shadows quest that you get from the steward in Dragonsreach you can get the Detect Life spell book at the stables once you have read the ledger in Acradia's Cauldron. Cast this in the market during the day to level Alteration.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Apprentice | Summons a familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. |
Conjure Familiar is used to distract enemies and slow then getting to you.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flames | Novice | A gout of fire inflicting a base damage of 8 points of fire damage per second. |
Every race starts with this spell but it's not needed for this build.
Restoration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Healing | Novice | Heals the caster 10 points per second |
| Fast Healing | Apprentice | Heals caster by 50 points |
| Close Wounds | Adept | Heals caster by 100 points |
| Grand Healing | Expert | Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs, machines or undead |
Restoration is used for emergency healing in combat and to replenish Stamina, which should be more common.
Enchantments
The effects listed below are based upon 100 Enchanting skill, all the enchanting perks in the build and with a set of enchanted crafting gear. Read my guide on making crafting gear if you are not familiar with it.
Summary of combined effects
Attacks with bows do 80% more damage. Weapon uses no charges. Alteration spells cost no magicka to cast. Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast. Health and Magicka are increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 10% faster Wearer is miffled and moves silently Damage from animals is reduced by 10% Grants 69% resistance to fire Resist 37% of all magical effects.| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Alteration | Alteration spells cost 46% less to cast |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast | |
| Body | Fortify Alteration and Magicka Regen | Alteration spells cost 28% less to cast. Magicka regenerates 10% faster. |
| Fortify Health | Increases your Health by 115 points | |
| Feet | Muffle | Wearer is muffled and moves silently |
| Resist Frost | Grants 69% frost resistance | |
| Hands | Fortify Archery | Bows do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Magicka | Increases your Magicka by 115 points | |
| Kyne's Token | Fortify Archery | Bows do 5% more damage |
| Kyne's Blessing | Damage from animals is reduced by 10% | |
| Ring | Fortify Alteration | Alteration spells cost 46% less to cast |
| Resist Magic | Grants 37% resistance to all magic | |
| Bow | Paralyze | Chance to Paralyze the target for 13 seconds |
| Huntman’s Prowess | 13 points of extra damage to animals. |
With the Sallowed Regent Black Book the magnitude of all enchantments can be increased. Please note that Black Books can only be used on Solstheim.
The magnitude of the enchantments can be further increased by equipping 4 pieces of Azhidal's gear.
Alchemy
All the details for the potions and poisons are based on having all the listed alchemy perks, Alchemy at 100 and a set of crafting gear.Potion of Fortify Health
| Ingredients | Blue Mountain Flower & Wheat | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Health | Health increases by 170 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | 266 points of health restored | |
You can get all the Blue Mountain Flowers you need in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.
Potion of Fortify Archery
| Ingredients | Canis Root & Juniper Berries | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Archery | Bows do 170% more damage for 60 seconds |
Canis Root are found in the swamps opposite Solitude lumbermill but are also found in rocky areas in the Rift with at least 3 being between the Alchemists Hut and Ivarstead. 2 can be acquired for free in Whiterun from Arcadia by giving her the Frost Salts from Farengar. The secret lab at Goldenhills Plantation has one. Juniper Berries are numerous around Markarth.
Poison of Lingering Damage Health
| Ingredients | Imp Stool, Mora Tapinella & Nightshade | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Lingering Damage Health | Drains the target’s Health by 43 points per second for 10 seconds |
| Damage Health | Damages the target’s Health by 85 points | |
Take the Imp Stool in Arcadia’s Cauldron when you take the two Canis roots and then all the remaining Imp Stool you need are in Reachwater Rock to the South of Markarth. Mora Tapinella can be found on the route from Helgen to Whiterun. Nightshade can be found in Whiterun at the Halls of the Dead and in front of Arcadia’s Cauldron.
Potion of Fortify Enchanting
| Ingredients | Dreugh Wax/Stoneflower Petals & Snowberries | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Enchanting | 85% stronger for 30 seconds |
Dreugh Wax and Stoneflower Petals are only available from Khajiit caravans. Some travel between Whiterun and Markarth. Snowberries are abundant near Windhelm.
Potion of Fortify Smithing
| Ingredients | Dreugh Wax/Gold Kanet & Glowing Mushrooms | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Smithing | 213% stronger for 30 seconds |
Dreugh Wax and Gold Kanet are only available from Khajiit caravans. Some travel between Whiterun and Markarth. Glowing Mushrooms are in Falmer caves.
Farming
For more information on getting to and setting up your farm read my guide.
Ingredients Needed
4 x Blue Mountain Flower 6 x Canis Root 7 x Imp Stool 6 x Juniper Berries 9 x Mora Tapinella 9 x Nightshade 3 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
27 x Potions of Forify Health 54 x Potions of Fortify Archery 63 x Poisons of Lingering Damage HealthMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mora Tapinella (3) | 9 | 27 + 9 = 36 | 54 + 9 = 63 |
| Nightshade (3) | 9 | 27 + 9 = 36 | 54 + 9 = 63 |
| Canis Root (4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
| Wheat (4) | 3 | 12 + 3 = 15 | 24 + 3 = 27 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imp Stool (4) | 7 | 28 + 7 = 35 | 56 + 7 = 63 |
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 4 | 12 + 4 = 16 | 24 + 4 = 28 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Berries (4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |