Backup Skills For A Stealth Archer

[tvxtvx]

I'm playing as a High Elf stealth archer.
I'm level 32 and this is my build: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#82826
Up to now I invested all my points in health and stamina. I am at ~300 health, ~200 stamina and 150 magica (because of the racial).

• Is the ratio here ok?

I'm having lots of fun so far. The only thing I really have trouble with are boss enemies, frost dragons and to a lesser extent large groups - basically anything I can't finish with a few shots. I hate playing with followers, so I'm looking for a backup skills to handle these encounters.

What would you recommend?

I was thinking about using conjuration and illusion, but I'm a bit worried about the combination of conjuration and stealth.

• Is that a viable combination? (Stealth + Conjuration + Illusion)
• If I want to use illusion is is true that I have to pick every perk and double cast it to work with higher level enemies?
• Should I invest some points into magic, or is 150 enough?

Another thing I was think about is going one handed + blocking + illusion, because one handed combat has nice synergies with sneak.

• Would that work against tough encounters or am I better of letting an astronach tank for me?
• What is a good way to level these skills?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Rayven]

When you get Ranger and Quick Shot, you're going to really elevate your character. I think the ratio is fine. Do you find yourself using the zoom a lot? If so, you definitely want to be judicious with your stamina.

Also, I see nothing in your build concerning armor. How are you approaching that?

 

[tvxtvx]

When you get Ranger and Quick Shot, you're going to really elevate your character. I think the ratio is fine. Do you find yourself using the zoom a lot? If so, you definitely want to be judicious with your stamina.

Also, I see nothing in your build concerning armor. How are you approaching that?

Thank you for your reply.

I use zoom a lot, because I'm playing with my xbox and aiming is kind of hard there. I will definitely take quick shot, but I read different opinions about ranger and the right side of the tree. Is ranger really worth taking all those perks?

I'm currently using the heavy armor I smithed myself and some random stuff with bow enchantments I bought from vendors. I have not invested any perks into any armor class, because I read somewhere it is not really recommend for an archer, because it is hard to level it when you never get hit.

What is your opinion about the backup skill topic?

 

[Necromis]

I have a mystic archer sneak, so my build does have conjuration in it, but NOT for conjuring thralls/familiars, just for the mystic bow. I did also up my illusion skill to get the silent casting perk. My suggestion. Start doing illusion, and yes up the perks that allow you to cast it on higher level enemies/animals and the silent cast perk. I have not found myself needing the dual cast perk or using it. I have also been raising my one-handed as of late with some backstab kills, 30X damage with the DB gloves makes it so so nice.

Anywho, with the illusion spell of fury and silent cast you can hide in a corner and fury the enemies until there is one or two left and they have very little health, and then hit them with your bow. The trick with the boss is to hit from one location and when he starts looking for you move 10 meters or so away and wait till he is not looking for you again, head back to the space you shot from and hit him again then back to your hiding spot, rinse and repeat till he is dead.

 

[Rayven]

Well, I'd be reluctant myself to add magic emphasis. Once my archery gets going, I have little use for magic skills. The first character I made was originally going to be an archer mage. The armor skills do become largely useless as you level up because if you've got the stealth, you don't get hit. But I found armor skills invaluable for the earlier phase of my characters.

I'll let some other folks chime in too on the value of the archery perks. For me, I found draw speed and firing speed absolutely essential to later survival. Strafing ability was also essential.

I do not play with any certain strict build in mind so I know my thoughts on this are not the most 'efficiency-minded'. Generally speaking, I would only choose one school of magic if you were going to add it at all. I do believe there is a silent casting perk, is there not? It would seem to me that perhaps conjuration and silent casting would potentially be a nice addition to a stealth archer. I'd be interested to hear from folks who have played aspects of this much more than myself, however.

 

[Gemini Sierra]

I've got me an archer/ranger whatever you want to call it now. I primarily focused on archery and sneak like you.
I was looking at your perks... in archery... I would definitely put some into "critical shot" and "quick draw". Hunter's Discipline isn't all that great, I swear I rarely get more than one arrow back, sometimes more depending on how many I've used on the bugger, but, that perk is needed to get Ranger. That's handy to have so you can move guicker with a shot ready. Especially if you have a follower who likes to get in the way.
I think my sneak skills are exactly like what you have. So no change there.
Smithing, now that one I've haven't gone beyond Arcane BlackSmith because really, you don't need to make armor because you can find so much everywhere. I only go that far so I can improve items that I have found.
As for other perks, I have a few in one-handed because sometimes you get in a spot and you just need to swing at things. I think I have a few in Armsman, Fighting Stance and Bladesman.
since I've stopped taking my follower, I have two things to help there. One is the Sanguine (sp?) Staff, and the other is conjuration spells for frost/flame atro's. The reason for this is that sometimes I'll find an area where I get overwhelmed and so I'll go back in and toss an Atro in and let them aggro and then pick off the enemies one at a time. The Sanguine Staff actually tosses out a Demora (sp?) which is pretty badass.
I've also take to using a conjoured sword. came in handy a few times when I realized I somehow stashed the one I had or went into a place where I could take weapons. this is also leading me to think I want to Conjured bow and the Mystic perks.
Alchemy, I've put a few point in the Alchemist and up to poisoner so I can make better poisons.
Light Armor, I've got a few in Agile Defender and Custom Fit. I keep thinking I'm going to put on in unhindered too but the RP side of me says no... but realisticly, if you've trained in the armor, at some point it might just seem like regular clothes and not bother you... at least that's what I'm telling myself
Other perks, Enchanting, just a few poionts into Enchanter so I can tweak some of the bows I've found until I find one similar and better.
I think I have also gone with Destruction and Restoration, but only to the point of going up the chain of novice, apprentice... etc

As for your ration, I have gone 2:2:1 (Stamina:Health:Magicka). Getting the stamina up for two reasons, the zooming, and the running. You might get in a situation where you start to get overwhelmed and you best option is to run away and maybe drag one or two enemies with you to pick off out of the mobs.
Mostly though the higher stamina is for the zoom.

that's about it for now.

 

[Necromis]

Rayven, I agree with you on armour for armour's sake is pretty much pointless for a sneak. However, the DB shrouded armour is great for the other perks it has, such as the muffle, increased bow and backstab damage. I would strongly recommend it for any sneak character even over nightengale.

 

[Gemini Sierra]

I don't know I've found some circlets and bracers that do better than the DB armor. Also, the Nightengale boots have muffle too. Also, you can find boots that have muffle on them and disenchant them to enchant boots that you like. For this reason, I will stick with light armor gear and put points into the perks I mentioned earlier. I'll take all the extra protection I can get and still stay sneaky.

 

[ColdBlooded87]

I guess I'm just strange. I'm pretty new to these games, Skyrim is my first of the Elder Scrolls series. I sort of just "wing it". I didn't choose just one thing to base my character on, such as being a stealth archer for example. I am kind of all over the place. I have high One Handed skills with a few perks chosen, as well as 100 archer with all perks filled. I also have a few perks chosen in the Destruction magic, along with random other perks in light armor, sneaking, lockpicking, blacksmith (only to improve magical items) etc. I don't think it's smart (in my opinion) just to focus on one or two things for perks. But like I said, I'm all over the place when it comes to perks, and I'm happy with my character, and can't think of anything differently to do if I make a new one.

On a side note, I never use my Illusion. I guess I would if I had to, but I'm in love with the Sanguine Rose, which lets me create my own Demora Mykanz (may be spelled wrong). The dude is tough and helps immensely. I'd take him over any Atronach or familiar to conjure up. If I don't want my follower, or they can't go in a certain area, he's my backup buddy. Basically the only "magical" perks I have I spent on Destruction. But it's nice watching people burn to death with my fireballs

I have I think 260 health, 300 magicka, and 270 Stamina. I don't find myself dying too easily, only on large groups or tougher bosses. Which is good, who'd want an easy fight all the time? Without challenge it would get boring.

Not sure if this helped you at all, but sometimes it's helpful (and neat) to see what other people do. I guess to answer your original question in my opinion... I'd say stay away from conjuration, and go with one handed. Get some armor perks so hits aren't so damaging. Even being an archer, there are times you will get surrounded and smacked around, so I don't think armor is useless. Plus, the one handed goes amazing with stealth. Very easy to sneak up and kill folks instantly, plus with some sneak perks you can get up to like 15x damage I think.

 

[Necromis]

well I agree you can get all the perks of the DB armour in other random pieces. I just personally feel you can't be the ability to get it all in one place as early in the game as you can. Plus it protects you decently at lower levels and it is light armour.

 

[Gemini Sierra]

I've never gotten to the DB quest line until I was at least in my upper 20 levels or higher and by then I found other stuff that works the same or better.

 

[Necromis]

Ah, I can understand that. I have gotten it as early as level 5-7. Mind you not on my first run thru, but my second sneak run thru.

 

[Phobos]

With enough potions you dont need to worry about the strength of your armor. I have two points in my light armor skill tree and thats because i have always used my sneak and archery skills to pick off as many enemies as i can. Poisons come in handy as well.

My next character i am going to start by using the bound bow instead of using some other bow just to level conjuration and archery at the same time. I currently carry around two different glass bows. One with paralyze/frost and another with soul trap/fire. To eliminate the second bow i am going to level conjuration so i can use that bow for when i need souls.

 

[Sab'r Hu'ter]

umm just to throw in my 2sense try using alchemy. use poisons of slow or something of that sort i can give you a list also slow potions sell for alot and are easy to make (river+deathbell very common in apothecary merchants) poisons are much better than trying to expand i also second the zoom thing. i found myself zooming alot and died alot because of no stamina.