Summary
- Skyrim's shield assassin build is a viable and impressive alternative to the famous stealth archer build, even in unmodded gameplay.
- The shield assassin build utilizes a dagger and shield combination to deliver lethal sneak attacks and execute kill cams while blocking.
- The shield assassin build in Skyrim offers unique benefits, such as chain rolls, sneak kills from a block, and the ability to move at regular speed while blocking, making it worth exploring in at least one playthrough.
Though Skyrim is famous for its stealth archer build, one of its players managed to build a very enticing alternative: the shield assassin. Players have been making comparisons between Skyrim and Starfield ever since the latter launched, and curiously, the reevaluation has reflected rather glowingly on Skyrim, as well as on the immense legacy it established over the years. The main reasons why Skyrim has been so long-lived are twofold: the amount of crazy builds that the game shamelessly enables, and the unprecedented modding community that it nurtured.
As a result, Skyrim has a myriad of combat mods and overhauls that transform its gameplay entirely, catering to the latest trends or specific tastes of each individual player. However, the vast majority of fans prefers to play with the baseline combat mechanics established by Bethesda, choosing at most an animation update or an improved perk system to augment the experience. Fortunately, this shield assassin build is perfect for players in unmodded Skyrim.
The Shield Assassin Build is Viable in Vanilla Skyrim
For Geta92, it would seem that their shield assassin build is largely restricted to a vanilla Skyrim playthrough, which makes the discovery even more impressive. Stealth archers in Skyrim have long been considered second to none, as the combination of superior range and sneak attack multipliers meant that most enemies would be felled in one shot. That being said, shield assassin seems to be giving stealth archers a run for their money, as this Skyrim build lets players execute kill cams while blocking by triggering the Shadow Warrior perk from the Sneak skill tree.
The other benefits that come with the playstyle include chain rolls, getting sneak kills from a block, and even being able to move at regular speed while blocking. Pairing a dagger with the shield is the main reason why this build is so lethal, as daggers in Skyrim provide insane damage multipliers from sneak attacks. Their lack of noise and slashing speed also play a major role in enabling the build, as being able to follow up with a swift power attack makes taking on tougher opponents such as dragons a breeze.
The shield, on the other hand, allows the Dragonborn to sneak faster when blocking thanks to the Block Runner perk, and the even crazier part of the build is that sprinting while sneaking with a shield does not break stealth. Given that The Elder Scrolls 6 is in early development, it will take years before players are able to kick off a brand-new adventure in Tamriel, but creative builds such as the shield assassin make Skyrim worth at least one playthrough more.
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- Creation
- Expansions
- Skyrim: Dragonborn, Skyrim: Hearthfire, Skyrim: Dawnguard
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
