Arcane Archer
High Elf - Bow - Clothing - Light - Archer - Conjurer
Background
An Arcane Archer studies a unique elven method of archery that weaves magic into attacks to produce supernatural effects. Arcane Archers are some of their most elite warriors among the elves. They stand watch over the fringes of elven domains, keeping a keen eye out for trespassers and using magic-infused arrows to defeat monsters and invaders before they can reach elven settlements.
Weapons
Hunting bow as soon as you can and then a bound bow. When an Elven Bow starts doing more damage when improved on a grindstone then switch to that. The Bow is enchanted with both Frost and Shock damage. The bound quiver spell is used for arrows as befitting an Arcane Archer.
Armor
The Leather Scout set should be crafted as soon as you can, as it’s the best armour that uses just leather and it doesn’t require any smithing perks. Then progress to Elven when you are able. When your gear is ready to be enchanted the armour in body slot is swapped for college robes for a more mage appearance.
Spells
Alteration for some utility spells, Conjuration for Atronachs and later thralls. Restoration for out of combat heals.
Standing Stones
The Lord Stone for the 25% magic resistance and 50 armour rating as this reduces the level requirement for the build from 62 down to 60.
Shrines
Use a shrine of Talos for the 20% shout cooldown reduction.
Shouts
Slow Time (Time - Sand - Eternity)
Location: Hag’s End, Korvanjund (The Jagged Crown), Labyrinthian (The Staff of Magnus).
Slows time down for you a bit and everyone else a lot. Can be used to get multiple shots in quickly.
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 High Elf
Breton, Dark Elf and High Elf all get the same number of skill points boosted in the build, which is 25. However, I picked High Elf for the more magic orientation and also to use the Elven Armor, which for a Breton is less viable unless you start considering them as Half-Elves.
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 / 3 / 1. At level 61 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (265) | 550 | 250 (365) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for High Elves are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration +5 | 5 | Archery | 10 | Alchemy | 7 |
| Conjuration +5 | 10 | Block | 0 | Light Armor | 5 |
| Destruction +5 | 5 | Heavy Armor | 0 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting +5 | 11 | One-handed | 0 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion +10 | 0 | Smithing | 2 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +5 | 5 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech | 0 |
| Total | 36 | Total | 12 | Total | 12 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 5
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Magic Resistance 1/3
Adept Alteration
Stablity
Destruction 5
Novice Destruction
Augmented Frost 2/2
Augmented Shock 2/2
Conjuration 10
Novice Conjuration
Apprentice Conjuration
Adept Conjuration
Expert Conjuration
Master Conjuration
Mystic Binding
Summoner 1/2
Atromancy
Elemental Potency
Twin Souls
Enchanting 11
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Fire Enchanter
Frost Enchanter
Shock Enchanter
Restoration 5
Novice Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Warrior Skills
Archery 10
Overdraw 5/5
Eagle Eye
Steady Hand 2/2
Power Shot
Quick Shot
Smithing 2
Steel Smithing
Elven Smithing
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Light Armor 5
Agile Defender 5/5
Spells
Alteration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight | Novice | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds |
| Transmute | Adept | Transmute one piece of unrefined Iron Ore to Silver, or Silver Ore to Gold, if the caster is carrying any |
| 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. |
Get training from Dravynea at Kynesgrove to get Alteration to 50 and with Adept Alteration you can cast Waterbreathing when in water to level Alteration.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Novice | Summons a familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing |
| Flame Atronach | Apprentice | Summons a Flame Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing |
| Soul Trap | Apprentice | If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem |
| Bound Bow | Adept | Creates a mgical bow for 120 seconds. Sheathe it to dispel |
| Bound Quiver | Adept | Creates a magic quiver for 120 seconds |
| Flame Thrall | Master | Summons a Flame Atronach permanently |
| Frost Thrall | Master | Summons a Frost Atronach permanently |
| Storm Thrall | Master | Summons a Storm Atronach permanently |
Use Soul Trap to fill soul gems and level conjuration quickly. Taking novice conjuration early helps as you can use the Familiar to distract enemies while you damage them with your arrows.
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
Bows do 150% more damage. Weapon uses no charges. Destruction spells cost no Magicka. Conjuration and Restoration spells cost 46% less Magicka. Stamina and Magicka are increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 115% faster Resist 37% of all magical effects 86% resistance to fire| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Archery | Bows do 75% more damage | |
| Body | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Magicka Regen | Magicka Regnerates 115% faster | |
| Feet | Fortify Stamina | Stamina is increased by 115 points |
| Resist Fire | Grants 86% resistance to fire | |
| Hands | Fortify Magicka | Magicka is increased by 115 points |
| Fortify Archery | Bows do 75% more damage | |
| Amulet | Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Resist Magic | Resist 37% of magical effects | |
| Ring | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Bow | Frost Damage | Target takes 128 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina |
| Shock Damage | Target takes 128 points of shock damage, and half as much to Magicka 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 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 | 213% 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
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 9 x Glowing Mushrooms 11 x Snowberries 13 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
24 x Potions of Forify Health 52 x Potions of Fortify DestructionMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 13 | 39 + 13 = 52 | 78 + 13 = 91 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
| Glowing Mushrooms (5) | 9 | 45 + 9 = 54 | 90 + 9 = 99 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowberries (4) | 11 | 44 + 11 = 55 | 88 + 11 = 99 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |