Bone Shaman

Argonian - Vampire - Staff - Light - Conjurer - Mage

Background

Rattle my bones as I cross the floor and the bones in your grave will rattle no more.

The Bone Shaman is a necromancer that specialises in the conjuring of Skeletons, whilst making use of paralysis rune and poison rune because skeletons are immune to both of these effects.

Weapons

Dreugh Staff of Thunderbolt as a backup weapon for automatons. Make sure you have a few soul gems to recharge it in dungeons. You need to have the Thunderbolt spell and 4 Heartstones to make this at a staff enchanter. I used the one at Bloodchill Manor.

Armor

Any light armor along the way to getting Bloodworm Helmet, Forsworn Armor, Forsworn Gauntlets and Forsworn Boots

The Bloodworm Helmet is located in Gallows Hall which can be found at Mara's Eye Pond to the South West of Windhelm.

Spells

Alteration for Paralysis Rune which your minions are immunity to. Conjuration for skeleton minions. Destruction for the Absorb spells against undead and for use at the start of the game. Restoration for out of combat heals, to heal your undead minions and for poison rune which is an area of effect damaging spell that your does no damage to your minions.

Standing Stones

The Atronach Stone for 50% spell absorption, 50 Magicka but -50% Magicka regeneration.

Shrines

Use a shrine of Talos for the 20% shout cooldown reduction.

Shouts

Character Creation

Female Argonian Vampire

Breton, Dark Elf and High Elf are all equal at 25/35 skills boosted. I ignored all of this and went Argonian as I thought it would be a change from the Norm as well as I think they look good in Forsworn gear.

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.

Side with the Vampires in the Dawnguard DLC content as that gets you access to the Heal Undead spell.

Finish the Wolf Queen Awakened quest which is gained by talking to Falk Firebeard in the Blue Palace in Solitude. This will get a courier to give you a quest that gets you a Bonewolf pet as this makes spells and weapons 25% more effective against undead. This buffs up your healing on your undead conjures.

In Gallows hall at the Mara’s Eye Pond, make a permanent Mistman follower. The Wrathman is a better option but it’s a Draugr and not a Skeleton, whereas the other options are all Skeletons. I went for a Boneman for some ranged support to help with dragons, which was Bone Meal + Greater Soul Gem + Frost Salts. You can also pick up the Necromantic Healing spell book here. You are provided with enough materials in the Bone Forge to make it immediately

Attribute Distribution

Distribute attributes at a ratio of 1/1/0. At level 58 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Argonians are marked in bold.

Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

Spells

Alteration

I talked to the Steward in Dragonsreach to get the In The Shadows quest, which once you have read the business ledger from Arcadia's Cauldron places a dead body in the stables with the Detect Life spell. Casting this in Whiterun market during the day levels Alteration reasonably quickly.

Paralysis Rune can be puchased from Tolfdir at the College of Winterhold or Saarthal if you have completed the First Lesson Quest, once you have Alteration at level 40 or higher.

Conjuration

Use Soul Trap to fill soul gems and level conjuration quickly. Get to the College of Winterhold early so you can buy the Skeleton Minion spell from Phinis Gestor. All the other spells used unlock at various levels in conjuration and player level. The Conjuration Ritual quest is not needed to get the Bone Colossus spellbook.

Destruction

Gte Chosking Grasp from Farengar as soon as you get to Dragonsreach. It's your main damaging spell in the early levels. Laster on once you have enchanted gear and Poison Rune the Absorb Health spells are used only on undead. Thunderbolt is needed to make the Staff but you can use this as a spell against Automatons as they are immune to both poison and absorb effects.

Illusion

Courage can be used to level illusion by casting it at an NPC.

Restoration

Healing spells from Restoration and also the main damaging spell against humanoids and creatures which is Poison Rune and it can be bought from Tel Mithryn on Solstheim. Poison Runes stacks so cast it often and quickly as it will very quickly build up speed in damaging an enemy. It is however no where near as quick as Destruction damage sources but it does not do anay damage to your minions so it is safe to use while they are swarming an enemy.

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.

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

Potion of Fortify Health

Creep Cluster are numerous near Kynesgrove to the South of Windhelm. There are 7 Glowing Mushrooms in the secret lab at the farm so at Whiterun head to the North East and get the last one from just inside the entrance of Shimmermist Cave. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravan merchants.

Potion of Fortify Carry Weight

Fly Amanita and Dragon's Tongue can be found at Kynesgrove, which is just to the south of Windhelm. Fly Amanita are numerous in the mine. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead. There's a path to Ivarstead through the mountains from Helgen.

Potion of Fortify Destruction

All the Glowing Mushrooms you need are in the secret lab at the farm. All the Nightshade you need are by the Halls of the Dead in Whiterun.

Potion of Fortify Enchanting

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

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.

Main Area (27)

Side Area (11)

Planters (6)

Comments