The Veteran
Imperial - Sword - Clothing - Heavy - Warrior
Background
As a grizzled veteran of the Empire, you find yourself in the wrong place at the time as you make your way to a wedding in Solitude. The return of Alduin not only threatens Skyrim but the whole of the Empire and you feel compelled to follow your oath and do what you can to keep it safe.
Weapons
An Imperial Steel Sword, which you can get in Helgen if you pick Ralof. This is your weapon for the entire game.
Armor
Get a full of Heavy Imperial Armor by following Ralof into the keep at Helgen. The final gear is a circlet, blue Fine Clothes and Imperial Dragon Boots and Gauntlets.
The Fine Clothes can be bought from Radiant Raiment in Solitude.
When in Whiterun go to the Drunken Huntsman inn and read the note on the counter. Then wearing your full Imperial Armor go to Castle Dour in Solitude and request to become the Imperial Champion. Collect the full set of Imperial Dragon Armor and you are good to go wearing that while levelling skills. Arcane Blacksmith at 60 Smithing allows you to temper the set.
Spells
Alteration for utility spells. Restoration for heals.
Standing Stones
The Atronach Stone once the Atronach perk has been acquired for 50% spell absorption, 50 Magicka but -50% magicka regeneration.
Shrines
Use a Shrine of Talos for 20% faster shout cooldown.
Shouts
Unrelenting Force (Force - Balance - Push)
Location: Just follow the main story quests.
Can be used to stagger enemies but never needed it as the sabre does this.
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 come out with a 30/35 skill boost
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 / 3 / 2. At level 61 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (265) | 460 (575) | 340 |
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 | 12 | Light Armor | 0 |
| Destruction +5 | 0 | Heavy Armor +5 | 8 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting +5 | 8 | One-handed +5 | 7 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion | 0 | Smithing | 2 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +10 | 8 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech | 0 |
| Total | 24 | Total | 29 | Total | 7 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 8
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Expert Alteration
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 12
Shield Wall 5/5
Deflect Arrows
Elemental Protection
Block Runner
Power Bash
Deadly Bash
Quick Reflexes
Disarming Bash
Heavy Armor 8
Juggernaut 5/5
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioning
One-handed 7
Armsman 5/5
Fighting Stance
Savage Strike
Smithing 2
Steel Smithing
Arcane Blacksmith
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
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. |
Illusion is not used in 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 spells are used as a means to quickly restore both health and 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 attacks do 160% more damage. Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast. Health and Magicka are increased by 115 points. Health regenerates 10% faster. Heavy Armor skill is increased by 46 points. Block 75% more damage with your shield. Resist 20% of fire damage. Resist 37% of all magical effects.| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Magicka | Magicka is increased by 115 points. |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast. | |
| Body | Fortify Health | Health is increased by 115 points. |
| Fortify Heavy Armor | Heavy Armor skill is increased by 46 points. | |
| Imperial Dragon Boots | Health Regeneration | Health regenerates 10% faster. |
| Resist Fire | Grants 20% resistance to fire. | |
| Imperial Dragon Gauntlets | Fortify Melee | Increases melee damage by 10%. |
| Amulet | Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage. |
| Resist Magic | Resist 37% of magical effects | |
| Ring | Fortify Block | Block 75% more damage with your shield |
| Fortify One-handed | One-handed weapons do 75% more damage | |
| Sword | - | - |
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 is increased by 170 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | Restores 266 points of Health | |
You can get all the Blue and Purple Mountain Flowers you need on the way to and in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.
Potion of Resist Frost
| Ingredients | Steel-Blue Entoloma, Thistle Branch & White Cap | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Resist Frost | Resists 128% of frost damage for 60 seconds |
| Fortify Heavy Armor | Increases Heavy Armor skill by 85 points for 60 seconds | |
| Restore Magicka | Restores 266 points of Magicka | |
Steel-Blue Entoloma can be bought from Khajiit merchants. Quick save, attack and quick load to refresh their inventory until you have enough. Thistle Branch can be found on the journey from Helgen to Whiterun. All 6 White Cap can be found in Reachwater Rock.
Potion of Fortify Block
| Ingredients | Bleeding Crown, Dragon's Tongue & Tundra Cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Block | Blocking absorbs 170% more damage for 60 seconds |
| Resist Magic | Resists 43% of magic for 60 seconds | |
| Fortify Barter | You haggle for 43% better prices for 30 seconds | |
All 6 Bleeding Crown can be found in Reachwater Rock. There’s 3 Dragon’s Tongue outside Arcadia’s Cauldron in Whilerun and they are numerous in Solitude or at Kynesgrove to the south of Windhelm. Tundra Cotton can be found in Whiterun and the surrounding areas.
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 Bleeding Crown 6 x Blue Mountain Flower 5 x Dragon's Tongue 5 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 6 x Tundra Cotton 6 x Thistle Branch 5 x Wheat6 x White Cap
Potions and Poisons Produced
24 x Potions of Forify Health 18 x Potions of Resist Frost 24 x Potions of Forify BlockMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bleeding Crown (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |
| Dragon's Tongue (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 5 | 15 + 5 = 20 | 30 + 5 = 35 |
| Thistle Branch (3) | 5 | 15 + 5 = 20 | 30 + 5 = 35 |
| White Cap (2) | 6 | 12 + 6 = 18 | 24 + 6 = 30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tundra Cotton (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |