Shaman
Breton - Staff - Sword - Heavy - Conjurer - Spellsword - Warrior
Background
Shamans are intermediaries between the world of the living and the realm of spirits - the vast multitude of living beings that infuse the world with a divine essence. The shaman offers prayers, sacrifices and services to the spirits, and in return gains the favour of patron spirits who bestow spells and other magical abilities upon them.
Weapons
An Orcish Sword and Eye of Melka from Blind Cliff Cave in the Reach.
Armor
Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw, Orcish Plate Armour, Boots and Gauntlets. The helm is available from a tower near Arcwind Point if you continue up the hill past the word wall.
Spells
Destruction for fire spells before getting a staff. Restoration for heals. Alteration for some utility spells.
Standing Stones
Use the Lord Stone for the armour and magic resistance.
Shrines
Use a shrine of Talos for the 20% shout cooldown reduction.
Shouts
Animal Allegiance (Animal - Allegiance - Pack)
Location: Angarvunde, Ancient’s Ascent, Ysgrammor’s Tomb (Companions quest chain)
Used to get assistance from local animals in combat.
Call Storm (Storm – Wrath - Lightning)
Location: Forelhost, High Gate Ruins, Skuldafn Temple (The World-Eater’s Eyrie)
Summons a storm that does lightning bolt damage in an area. Only works outside.
Unrelenting Force (Force - Balance - Push)
Location: Just follow the main story quests
Staggers enemies but it's replaced by Cyclone.
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 Breton
Breton get a boost in 5 skills used in the build. The 25% resistance to magic means that the cap can be reached with 1 less perk point and without using an enchantment. The boost to conjuration and starting with the conjure familiar spell means you can have an ally to tank for you as soon as your bindings are removed in Helgen.
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. All Dwemer Automatons count as Male.
Attribute Distribution
Distribute attributes at a ratio of 1/2/0. At level 59 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 300 (415) | 480 | 100 (170) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Bretons are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration +5 | 4 | Archery | 0 | Alchemy +5 | 11 |
| Conjuration +10 | 3 | Block | 0 | Light Armor | 0 |
| Destruction | 3 | Heavy Armor | 6 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting | 9 | One-handed | 7 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion +5 | 0 | Smithing | 4 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +5 | 9 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech +5 | 2 |
| Total | 28 | Total | 17 | Total | 13 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 4
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Magic Resistance 2/3
Conjuration 3
Novice Conjuration
Summoner 2/2
Destruction 3
Novice Destruction
Augmented Flames 2/2
Enchanting 9
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Fire Enchanter
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Necromage
Warrior Skills
Heavy Armor 6
Juggernaut 1/5
Well Fitted
Tower of Strength
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioned
One-handed
Armsman 5/5
Fighting Stance
Savage Strike
Smithing 4
Steel Smithing
Dwarven Smithing
Orcish Smithing
Arcane Blacksmith
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 11
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Poisoner
Concentrated Poison
Green Thumb
Snake Blood
Speech 2
Haggling 1/5
Alure
Spells
Alteration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight | Novice | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds |
Get training from Dravynea at Kynesgrove to get Alteration to 50.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Novice | Summons a familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing |
| Soul Trap | Apprentice | If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem |
| Pride of Hirstaang | Expert | Summons a Bear for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. Resist 50% of frost damage for 60 seconds. Health regenerates 50% faster for 60 seconds. |
Used Soul Trap to fill soul gems for enchanting. Summon the bear to help distract the enemy when they are numerous.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unbounded Storms | Expert | Targets in melee range take 40 shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. Random lightning strikes deal an additional 30 damage |
Unbounded Storms is purely used as a means to speed the levelling of Destruction by casting and using fast travel.
Illusion
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Courage | Novice | Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina. |
Courage can be used to level illusion by casting it at an NPC.
Restoration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Healing | Novice | Heals the caster 10 points per second |
| Healing Hands | Apprentice | Heals the target 10 points per second, but not undead, atronachs, or machines |
| 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 |
Just the healing spells from restoration.
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
Sword and staff use no charges. One-handed weapons do 150% more damage. Destruction spells costs no Magicka. Conjuration spells cost 92% less Magicka. Magicka is increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 115% faster Stamina is increased by 70 points. Stamina regenerates 20% faster 69% resistance to fire| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw |
Fortify Stamina Regen | Stamina regenerates 20% faster |
| Fortify Stamina | Stamina is increased by 70 points | |
| Body | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Magicka Regen | Magicka regenerates 115% faster | |
| Feet | Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage |
| Resist Fire | Grants 69% resistance to fire | |
| Hands | Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Magicka | Magicka is increased by 115 points | |
| Amulet | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Ring | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Sword | Fire Damage | Burns the target for 85 points. Targets on fire take extra damage |
| Absorb Health | Absorb 55 points of health |
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, Lavender & Wheat | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Health | 170 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | 266 points restored | |
| Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells last 213% longer | |
You can get all the Blue Mountain Flowers and Lavender you need in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.
Potion of Fortify Destruction
| Ingredients | Glowing Mushroom, Snowberries & Steel-Blue Entoloma | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Destruction | 170% more damage for 60 seconds |
| Resist Frost | 128% for 60 seconds | |
| Resist Shock | 128% for 60 seconds | |
All the glowing mushrooms you need are at the farm. Snowberries are from around Windhelm. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravans
Poison of Paralysis
| Ingredients | Canis Root & Imp Stool | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Restore Magcika | Target is paralyzed for 43 seconds |
Canis Root is found on the opposite side of the river to Solitude. Imp Stool are in Reachwater Rock near Markarth.
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
6 x Blue Mountain Flower 3 x Canis Root 6 x Glowing Mushroom 3 x Imp Stool 6 x Lavender 7 x Snowberries 8 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
42 x Potions of Forify Health 56 x Potions of Fortify Destruction28 x Poisons of Paralysis
Main Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 8 | 24 + 8 = 32 | 48 + 8 = 56 |
| Glowing Mushrooms (5) | 6 | 30 + 6 = 36 | 60 + 6 = 66 |
| Snowberries (4) | 7 | 28 + 7 = 35 | 56 + 7 = 64 |
| Imp Stool (4) | 3 | 12 + 4 = 16 | 24 + 4 = 28 |
| Canis Root (4) | 3 | 12 + 4 = 16 | 24 + 4 = 28 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs | Lavender (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |
|---|