Pyre Watch
Redguard - Crossbow - Light - Archer
Background
IThe Pyre Watch are a Redguard order dedicated to Tuwhacca. They are charged with guarding the ash remains of the werewolf and vampire army in Bangkorai from necromancers wishing to use the remains for their nefarious purposes.
Weapons
A Longbow as soon as you can in Helgen and then upgrade this to a Hunting Bow.
The final weapon is a Silver Crossbow that can be bought from the Fletcher in Solitude. This does bonus damage to both Vampires and Werewolves so is perfect for the build. It benefits from the Steel Smithing perk. Remember to updrade it to an Enhanced version at a forge so that it ignores 50% of armor. Make sure you join the Dawnguard to get access to more bolts and the ability to craft them in abundance. Exploding Fire Bolts are a good option against Vampires.
Armor
Craft a set or Leather Scout Armor as soon as you can.
The final gear is a Redguard Hood, Haafingar Guard Armor, Pentius Oculatus Boots and Bracers.
The Redguard Hood and Penitus Oculatus Boots and Gauntlets can be acquired during a quest started by reading the journal in Castle Dour, Solitude.
The Haafingar Guard Armor can be found by reading the journal in Four Shields Tavern in Dragon Bridge and then following the quest.
Spells
Alteration for utility spells. Restoration for heals and spells against undead.
Standing Stones
The Atronach Stone for 50% spell absorption, 50 Magicka but -50% magicka regen.
Shrines
A Shrine of Arkay for 25 extra health. Arkay is the closest match to Tuwhacca.
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 very quick hits in.
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 Redguard
Redguard match the background for the build so they have been used regardless of skill points.
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 are considered male.
Join the Dawnguard and once Sorine is recruited ask her about how to make crossbows. This will allow you to craft bolts including the newer one’s such as Silver Bolts, which fit the build. To get Stendarr’s Aura you need to at least have found the attacked carriage and read the note in the The Prophet quest. Go back to Fort Dawnguard and talk to Sorine for a side quest to rescue Florentus who becomes a mage vendor in Fort Dawnguard once rescued.
The entire College of Winterhold quest chain also needs to be completed to gain access to the Master Restoration spells.
Attribute Distribution
Place attribute points at 0 / 2 / 1. At level 55 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (150) | 460 (690) | 280 (395) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Redguards are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration +5 | 8 | Archery +5 | 10 | Alchemy | 7 |
| Conjuration | 0 | Block +5 | 0 | Light Armor | 7 |
| Destruction +5 | 3 | Heavy Armor | 0 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting | 9 | One-handed +10 | 0 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion | 0 | Smithing +5 | 2 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration | 8 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech | 0 |
| Total | 28 | Total | 12 | Total | 14 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 8
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Expert Alteration
Magic Resistance 3/3
Atronach
Enchanting 9
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Fire Enchanter
Destruction 3
Novice Destruction
Augmented Flames 2/2
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Restoration Dual Casting
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Necromage
Warrior Skills
Archery 10
Overdraw 5/5
Eagle Eye
Steady Hand 2/2
Power Shot
Quick Shot
Smithing 2
Steel Smithing
Adrcane Blacksmith
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Light Armor 7
Agile Defender 5/5
Custom Fit
Unhindered
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 |
The Detect Life spellbook can be obtained in Whiterun by taking to the Steward in Dragonsreach and following the quest to the Stables.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Trap | Apprentice | If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem |
Soul Trap is used to level Conjuration and also fill soul gems.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flames | Novice | A gout of fire inflicting a base damage of 8 points of fire damage per second |
Unbounded Storms from Hobs Fall Cave was used to level Destruction but other than levelling Destruction no spells were used for anything else.
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 but it's not needed in the build.
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 |
| Stendarr's Aura | Adept | For 60 seconds, undead in melee range take 10 points sun damage per second. |
| Grand Healing | Expert | Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs, machines or undead |
| Guardian Circle | Master | Undead up to level 35 entering the circle will flee. Caster heals 20 health per second inside it |
Restoration spells are used out of combat and as a means to quickly restore stamina. Guardian Circle heals you 20 points per second for a minute so it's easy to keep your health topped up as long as you remain in the circle.
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
Bow attacks are 75% stronger Weapon uses no charges. Restoration spells cost nothing to cast. Health is increased by 230 points. Stamina is increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 10% faster Light Armor skill is increased by 46 points. Carrying capacity is increased by 69 points. Disease Resistance is increased by 144%. Fire Resistance is increased by 86% Magic Resistance is increased by 37%| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Archery | Bows do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast | |
| Body | Fortify Health | Increases Health by 115 points |
| Fortify Restoration and Magicka Regen | Restoration spells cost 28% less to cast. Magicka regenerates 10% faster | |
| Feet | Fortify Stamina | Increases Stamina by 115 points |
| Resist Fire | Fire Resistance is increased by 86% | |
| Hands | Fortify Carry Weight | Carrying capacity increased by 86 points |
| Fortify Light Armor | Light Armor skill is increased by 46 points | |
| Amulet | Resist Disease | Disease Resistance is increased by 144% |
| Resist Magic | Magic Resistance is increased by 37% | |
| Ring | Fortify Health | Health is increased by 115 points |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast | |
| Crossbow | Turn Undead | Undead up to level 69 flee for 30 seconds |
| Fire Damage | Burns the target for 85 points. Targets on fire take extra damage |
With the Sallow 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 | |
All of the ingredients can be found in or around Whiterun.
Potion of Regenerate Health
| Ingredients | Canis Root, Namira's Rot & Juniper Berry | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Regenerate Health | 213% for 300 seconds |
| Fortify Archery | 170% more damage for 60 seconds | |
A Canis Root is found in the Secret lab at Goldenhills Plantation and you can get 2 from Arcadia’s Cauldron for free if you give her the Frost Salts from Farengar. There’s another 4 on the opposite side of the river to Solitude Lumber Mill and then if you continue north with the river. There’s also several in between the Alchemist’s Hut and Ivarstead and you can get there by following the path from Helgen. Juniper Berries are around Markarth. There are 16 Namira’s Rot in the first cave in Hallfir’s Cairn to the south west of Falkreath.
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 10 x Canis Root 10 x Juniper Berries 13 x Namira's Rot 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
24 x Potions of Forify Health 50 x Potions of Regenerate HealthMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Berries (4) | 4 | 16 + 4 = 20 | 32 + 4 = 36 |
| Canis Root (4) | 10 | 40 + 10 = 50 | 80 + 10 = 90 |
| Namira's Rot (3) | 13 | 39 + 13 = 52 | 78 + 13 = 91 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Berries (4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |