Shadow Marauder

Dark Elf - Greatsword - Light - Heavy - Assassin - Barbarian

Background

A Shadow Marauder is a stealth mounted combatant who excels in causing havoc and chaos when hunting their prey. They relish in terror and uncertainty when attacking from the shadows.

Weapons

Any two-handed weapon at the start of the game.

The final weapon is a an Ebony Greatsword enchanted with both Fear and Frost Damage. This will make enemies run but very slowly so you can catch them.

Armor

Use Light Armor at the start of the game and craft a set of leather scout armor as soon as you can. Orcish Scaled is a good option when you have Smithing at 50 and Orcish Smithing as this can be crafted without completing a quest providing you have the perk and the materials.

The final gear is Dark Seducers Helmet, Boots and Gauntlets and Ebony mail.

Talk to Ri-Saad, the Khajiit merchant that travels between Whiterun and Markarth, about bandit attacks and follow the quests and you will encounter some bandits wearing the armour you need.

The Ebony Mail is gained at the end of the Boethiah’s Glory quest, which is started by either Reading Boethiah’s Proving once level 30 or above or by going to the Sacellum of Boethiah near Windhelm.

Spells

Alteration for utility spells. Illusion for Invisibility spells. Restoration for heals.

Standing Stones

Use the Steed Stone to reduce armour weight to nothing as well as providing 100 extra carrying capacity.

Shrines

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

Shouts

Character Creation

Female Dark Elf

Dark Elf start with a 35/35 skill point boost and with the build not being too dependent on Magicka end game I decided to go with Dark Elf for the 50% Fire Resistance.

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.

Join the Dark Brotherhood by talking to Aventus Arentino in Windhelm as this gets you Shadowmere which fist the look of a Shadow Marauder’s steed.

Attribute Distribution

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

Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Dark Elves are marked in bold.

Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

Spells

Alteration

From the Bow of Shadows quest that you get from the steward in Dragonsreach you can get the Detect Life spell book at the stables once you have read the ledger in Acradia's Cauldron. Cast this in the market during the day to level Alteration.

Conjuration

Use Soul Trap to fill soul gems and as a quick way to level Conjuration.

Destruction

Destruction only needs to be taken to 60 and this can be done with training from Faralda at the College of Winterhold. Alternatively you can go to Hobs Fall Cave and acquire the Unbounded Freexing or Storms spell books and then fast travel while casting them.

Illusion

Courage can be used to level Illusion.

Restoration

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.

The Frost Damage is lowered two notches to the left to make Fear the dominant enchantment and Illusion determine charge usage.

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

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 Carry Weight

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.

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)

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