The Last Blade
Imperial - Sword - Clothing - Heavy - Warrior
Background
To he who finds this, know that I, Acilius Bolar, last of the Blades to survive the attack on Cloud Ruler Temple, took refuge here in this ancient sanctuary. The Thalmor have come for me but they shall not desecrate this place. I go forth to meet my death with honor. If you are worthy take up my blade and do the same.
The build has been inspired by the writ from Acilius Bolar and and also the Samurai class in Dungeons and Dragons, albeit a single handed build instead of a dual wield. Fear spells are being used to represent the staredown and mass staredown.
Weapons
Any sword at the start of the game and then Bolar’s Oathblade from Bloated Man’s Grotto.
Armor
Make a set of Steel Soldier Armor as soon as you have the Steel Smithing Perk. Then a full set of blades armor and a Necromancer's Hood as the final gear.
A full set of blades gear can be found in Riften Ratway as part of the Dawnfang/Duskfang creation.
The Necromancer’s Hood drops from, oddly enough, Necromancers. I usually find the hood on a Necromancer in Hobs Fall Cave when I go there for the Restoration skill book.
Spells
Alteration for utility spells. Illusion for Fear spells. Restoration for heals and rapid stamina regeneration.
Standing Stones
The Atronach Stone once the Atronach perk has been acquired.
Shrines
Shrine of Talos for faster shout cooldown.
Shouts
Dismay (Fear - Run - Terror)
Location: Dead Crone Rock, Lost Tongue Overlook, Shalidor’s Maze
Causes enemies up to level 24 to flee for 30 seconds. Quick to activate over say using Hysteria.
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 Imperial
Imperials get a 30/35 skill boost and while Orcs get the same Imperials feel like a better choice.
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 0 / 2 / 1. At level 62 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (150) | 510 (625) | 300 (415) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Imperials are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration | 8 | Archery | 0 | Alchemy | 7 |
| Conjuration | 0 | Block +5 | 8 | Light Armor | 0 |
| Destruction +5 | 0 | Heavy Armor +5 | 8 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting +5 | 8 | One-handed +5 | 8 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion | 0 | Smithing | 2 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +10 | 8 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech | 4 |
| Total | 24 | Total | 26 | Total | 11 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 8
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Expert Alyeration
Magic Resistance 3/3
Atronach
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
Block 8
Shield Wall 1/5
Deflect Arrows
Elemental Protection
Block Runner
Power Bash
Deadly Bash
Disarming Bash
Quick Reflexes
Heavy Armor 8
Juggernaut 5/5
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioning
One-handed 8
Armsman 5/5
Fighting Stance
Savage Strike
Critical Charge
Smithing 2
Steel Smithing
Arcane Blacksmith
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Speech 4
Haggling 1/5
Bribery
Persuasion
Intimidation
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. |
| Telekinesis | Adept | Can pull an object to you from distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it. |
| Waterbreathing | Adept | Can breathe under water for 60 seconds. Stand in water and cast to level Alteration. |
The Detect Life spellbook can be obtained in Whiterun by taking to the Steward in Dragonsreach and following the quest to the Stables. Cast this spell in the market to level Alteration.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Trap | Apprentice | If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem. |
Used to fill soul gems for enchanting.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flames | Novice | A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage. |
Destruction is not used in this build.
Illusion
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Courage | Novice | Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina. |
| Fear | Apprentice | Creatures and people up to level 9 flee from combat for 30 seconds. |
| Rout | Expert | Creatures and people up to level 20 flee from combat for 30 seconds. |
| Hysteria | Master | Creatures and people up to level 25 flee from combat for 60 seconds. |
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 |
| 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 spells are used out of combat and as a means to quickly restore stamina.
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
One-handed weapons do 225% more damage. Weapon uses no charges. Illusion spells cost no magicka. Restoration spells cost 46% less magicka. Health and Stamina are increased by 115 points. Block 75% more damage with your shield Heavy Armor skill is improved by 46 points. Resist 37% of all magical effects.| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Illusion | Illusion spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Body | Fortify Illusion | Illusion spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Health | Health is increased by 115 points | |
| Feet | Fortify Stamina | Stamina is increased by 115 points |
| Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage | |
| Hands | Fortify Block | Block 75% more damage with your shield |
| Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage | |
| Amulet | Resist Magic | Resist 37% of magical effects |
| Fortify Heavy Armor | Increases Heavy Armor skill by 46 points | |
| Ring | Fortify Illusion | Illusion spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage | |
| Bolar's Oathblade | Fear | Creatures and people up to level 12 flee from combat for 30 seconds |
| Damage Stamina | Does 25 stamina damage |
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 | 170 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | 266 points restored | |
You can get all the Blue Mountain Flowers you need is in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.
Potion of Regenerate Stamina
| Ingredients | Mora Tapinella & Scaly Pholiota | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Regenerate Stamina | Stamina regenerates 213% faster for 300 seconds |
| Fortify Illusion | Illusion spellls are 170% stronger for 60 seconds | |
Mora Tapinella are on the route from Helgen to Whiterun. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead and around Riften.
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
11 x Blue Mountain Flower 14 x Mora Tapinella 10 x Scaly Pholiota 9 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
44 x Potions of Forify Health 56 x Potions of Regenerate StaminaMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaly Pholiota (5) | 4 | 20 + 4 = 24 | 40 + 4 = 44 |
| Mora Tapinella (3) | 14 | 42 + 14 = 56 | 84 + 14 = 98 |
| Wheat (4) | 9 | 36 + 9 = 45 | 72 + 9 = 81 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 11 | 33 + 11 = 44 | 66 + 11 = 77 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaly Pholiota (5) | 6 | 30 + 6 = 36 | 60 + 6 = 66 |