Houndmaster

Breton - Mace - Light - Warrior - Support

Background

You have honed your skills of the natural world, increasing both your survival skills and knowledge. While others may want the company of another warrior, as they search long lost dungeons for treasure, you have gained a trusty warhound as your companion.

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Weapons

Any one handed weapon at the start of the game. Then either buy a Steel Mace or craft one when you have the Steel Smithing perk.

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Armour

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 gather a set of Scaled Armor which can be acquired for free with 3 items from the mudcrab infested area to the south east of Gjukar’s Monument and the helmet from Lost Echo Cave, which is west from Solitude, North past Statue of Meridia and then west along the road.

The final gear is a Mage Hood, Dawnguard Light Armor (Brown), Stormcloak Officer Boots and Gauntlets.

The Mage Hood is not the regular Mage Hood that you can buy from Colette at the college of Winterhold that is the same colour as a Novice Hood but a version that exists in the game that is the same colour as an Apprentice hood. This was previously only available via console commands or mods before the Staff of Hasedoki Creation was released. It can be acquired by reading the Smuggler’s Trade Notes in the cave located on the Western Side of Whiterun. This then starts a quest that directs you towards an Orc looking to purchase the staff and he wears this rare mage hood, which can be looted from his corpse.

The Dawnguard Light Armor can be purchased from Gunmar at Fort Dawnguard once he and Sorine have been recruited into the Dawnguard. This is the second quest for the Dawnguard and it’s easier if you decide not to become a vampire. You can still get the item if you do become a vampire as you will be attacked by the Dawnguard in random encounters and the armour you want may be found on the attackers. Vampire does work with the build but you can only recruit one Death Hound from Castle Volkihar and they have a level cap of 25 if you play with the unofficial patch or 5 if you do not. Vigilance has a level cap of 50 and Barbas has a cap of 45, which makes them significantly more viable. You can still use Vigilance and Barbas on a vampire build but that doesn’t feel right to me.

The Stormcloak Officer boots and Gauntlets can be acquired at Forelhost from a Thalmor agent called Valmir claiming to be a captain for either the Stormcloaks or the Empire depending on who you sided with in Helgen. If you picked Ralof just attack him and take the items boots and gauntets. If you picked Hadvar then you need to clear Forelhost so that on exiting Valmir is wearing the Stormcloak Officer gear. It’s therefore better to side with Ralof in Helgen so you can clear Forelhost at your leisure rather than needing to do it for the build.

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Spells

Alteration, for utility spells. Illusion for Call to Arms to buff up the dog. Restoration for heals for both your character and the dog.

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Standing Stones

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

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Shrines

Use a Shrine of Talos for 20% cooldown on shouts.

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Shouts

Unrelenting Force (Force - Balance - Push)

Location: Just follow the main story quests

Use for a quick stagger on enemies.

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.

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Character Creation

Female Breton

I picked Breton for the build as I envisioned it as being a human build and with Bretons starting with the Conjure Familiar spell you can start the game with a canine companion before you get a non-magical one.

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Attribute Distribution

Distribute attributes at a ratio of 0 / 2 / 1. At level 60 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Magicka	Health	Stamina
100 (265)	500 (730)	290 (405)

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Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Bretons are marked in bold.

Mage		Warrior		Rogue
Alteration +5	6	Archery	0	Alchemy +5	11
Conjuration +10	0	Block	0	Light Armor	5
Destruction	0	Heavy Armor	0	Lockpicking	0
Enchanting	8	One-handed	10	Pickpocket	0
Illusion +5	8	Smithing	3	Sneak	0
Restoration +5	8	Two-handed	0	Speech +5	0
Total	30	Total	13	Total	16

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Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

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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.

Talk to the Steward in Dragonsreach to get a quest to investigate an assassination attemp on the Jarl. After reading the buiness ledger at Arcadia's Cauldron go the Whiterun Stables and on the body of a stablehand is a Detect Life spellbook. This can be used to level Alteration in a controlled manner.

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Conjuration

Spell	Level	Description
Conjure Familiar	Novice	Summons a Familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing.
Soul Trap	Apprentice	If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem.

Conjuring a Familiar to tank enemies for you may make the game easier at the start but it’s doesn’t really fit with the build. Bretons get this spell at the start of the game.

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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 needed in this build.

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Illusion

Spell	Level	Description
Courage	Novice	Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina.
Rally	Adept	Targets won't flee for 60 seconds and get extra health and stamina.
Call to Arms	Master	Targets have improved combat skills, health and stamina for 10 minutes.

Courage can be use to level Illusion and then later Rally. I just used Courage as Rally is know to cause game crashes if you spam it.

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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

Healing spells are used more in the early game but are used for out of combat heals in the end game.

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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 weapons do 75% more damage.
Illusion and Restoration spells costs 46% less to cast.
Health is increased by 230 points.
Magicka and Stamina are increased by 115 points.
Disease Resistance is increased by 144%.
Fire and Frost Resistance is increased by 69%
Magic Resistance is increased by 37%.

Item	Enchantment	Effect
Head	Fortify Illusion	Illusion spells cost 46% less to cast.
	Fortify Restoration	Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast.
Body	Fortify Health	Health is increased by 115 points.
	Resist Disease	Disease Resistance is increased by 144%.
Feet	Fortify Stamina	Stamina is increased by 115 points.
	Muffle	Wearer is muffled and moves silently.
Hands	Fortify Magicka	Magicka is increased by 115 points.
	Fortify One-handed	One-handed weapons do 75% more damage.
Amulet	Resist Fire	Fire Resistance is increased by 69%.
	Resist Magic	Magic Resistance is increased by 37%.
Ring	Fortify Health	Health is increased by 115 points.
	Resist Frost	Frost Resistance is increased by 69%.
Mace	-	-

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.

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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.

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Potion of Resist Shock

Ingredients	Blue Mountain Flower, Glowing Mushroom & Swamp Fungal Pod
Effects	Resist Shock	Shock Resistance is increased by 128% for 60 seconds
	Fortify Health	Health is increased by 170 points for 60 seconds
	Restore Health	Restores 266 points of Health

Blue Mountain Flowers can be found on the route from Helgen to Riverwood. The Glowing Mushrooms that you need are in the secret lab at the farm. Swamp Fungal Pod can be found in and around Morthal.

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Potion of Fortify Carry Weight

Ingredients	Mora Tapinella, Scaly Pholiota, & Steel-Blue Entoloma
Effects	Fortify Carry Weight	Carry 170 more weight for 300 seconds
	Regenerate Stamina	Stamina regenerates 213% faster for 300 seconds
	Fortify Illusion	170% stronger for 60 seconds
	Restore Magicka	Restores 266 points of magicka

Mora Tapinella are on the route from Helgen to Whiterun. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead and around Riften. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravan merchants.

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Poison of Paralysis

Ingredients	Canis Root & Imp Stool
Effects	Paralysis	Target is paralyzed for 43 seconds

Take the Frost Salts to Arcadia from Farengar in Whiterun and you can take 2 Canis Root from her displayed ingredients. There are several Canis Root on the opposite side of the river to Solitude lumbermill. They are also numerous in the Rift between Ivarstead and Riften and they are usually in rocky areas. An Imp Stool can be taken from the displayed ingredients in Acadia’s Cauldron. 2 are in Left hand Mine and another 6 are in Reachwater Rock near Markarth. The remainder are oitsed Reachcliff Cave, which is a little further soth east and then take the path southwards.

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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.

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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.

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Farming

For more information on getting to and setting up your farm read my guide.

Ingredients Needed

3 x Blue Mountain Flowers
10 x Canis Root
2 x Glowing Mushroom
10 x Imp Stool
6 x Mora Tapinella
4 x Scaly Pholiota
6 x Steel-Blue Entoloma
3 x Swamp Fungal Pod

Potions and Poisons Produced

21 x Potions of Resist Shock
42 x Potions of Fortify Carry Weight
90 x Poisons of Paralysis

Main Area (27)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Imp Stool (4)	10	40 + 10 = 50	80 + 10 = 90
Glowing Mushrooms (5)	2	10 + 2 = 12	20 + 2 = 22
Scaly Pholiota (5)	4	20 + 4 = 24	40 + 4 = 44
Canis Root	5	20 + 5 = 25	40 + 5 = 45
Steel-Blue Entoloma (3)	6	18 + 6 = 24	36 + 6 = 42

Side Area (11)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Mora Tapinella (3)	6	18 + 6 = 24	36 + 6 = 42
Canis Root	5	20 + 5 = 25	40 + 5 = 45

Planters (6)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Blue Mountain Flowers (3)	3	9 + 3 = 12	18 + 3 = 21
Swamp Fungal Pod (3)	3	9 + 3 = 12	18 + 3 = 21

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