The Crusader
Breton - Greatsword - Heavy - Barbarian
Background
Devoted knight, divine agent, instrument of vengeance, peerless fighting machine - the crusader is a warrior dedicated to a cause. Strengthened by absolute devotion to a principle, armoured by unshakable faith, and driven by their convictions, a crusader is a mighty weapon against injustice and malice.
This is based upon the Crusader class in Dungeons and Dragons where they can delay their death for a round and are very hard to kill in melee. I decided to replicate this by focusing on health regeneration.
Weapons
Steel Greatsword which is then replaced by Chrysamere. This weapon has some unique enchantments and it doesn’t use any charges. It can be found on a ghostly paladin by the word wall at Forelhost. Tempering it requires an Ebony Ingot and a Ruby. There’s 2 guaranteed Rubies at Orphan Rock if you have the quest from Danica Pure-Spring, at the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun, to get Nettlebane.
Armour
Steel Soldier Armor to start with and then replace this with Dawnguard Heavy Armor, Dawnguard Full Helmet, Iron Plate Gauntlets and Iron Plate Boots. This completes the look.
Spells
Heals from Restoration and also fire and forget spells such as Circle of Protection and Stendarr’s Aura.
Standing Stones
Use the Warrior Stone to help level Two-handed, Heavy Armor, Smithing and Block. When combat gets very easy switch to the Lord Stone for increased armor rating and magic resistance. When the Atronach perk is acquired switch to the Atronach Stone.
Shrines
Shrine of Stendarr for 10% extra blocking.
Shouts
Unrelenting Force (Force - Balance - Push)
Location: Just follow the main story quests.
Used as a quick stagger.
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 Breton
Orcs come out the highest for skill boosts in the build but a Crusader feels like it should be a Breton to me with their knightly orders.
You need to side with the Dawnguard in this build to get easier access to 2 armour pieces. You also need to get 3 quests deep to get Stendarr's Aura.
Attribute Distribution
Distribute attributes at a ratio of 0 / 2 / 1. At level 55 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (150) | 460 (575) | 280 (395) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Bretons are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration +5 | 6 | Archery | 0 | Alchemy +5 | 7 |
| Conjuration +10 | 0 | Block | 5 | Light Armor | 0 |
| Destruction | 0 | Heavy Armor | 6 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting | 8 | One-handed | 0 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion +5 | 0 | Smithing | 7 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +5 | 8 | Two-handed | 7 | Speech +5 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | Total | 25 | Total | 7 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 6
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Magic Resistance 1/3
Expert Alteration
Atronach
Enchanting 8
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Warrior Skills
Block 5
Shield Wall 1/5
Quick Reflexes
Power Bash
Deadly Bash
Disarming Bash
Heavy Armor 6
Juggernaut 1/5
Well Fitted
Tower of Strength
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioned
Smithing 7
Steel Smithing
Elven Smithing
Advanced Armors
Arcane Blacksmith
Dwarven Smithing
Orcish Smithing
Ebony Smithing
Two-handed 7
Barbarian 5/5
Champion's Stance
Devastating Blow
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Spells
Alteration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight | Novice | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds |
| 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 you can cast Waterbreathing when in water to level Alteration when you have enchanted gear.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Novice | ISummons 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.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flames | Novice | Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina |
You get Flames at the start of the game but never used it while playing.
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 to help you level Two-handed, Heavy Armor and Restoration slighlty as it turns passive animals agressive against you while also giving them more health so it take more swings to kill them and thefore you get more two-handed XP.
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 |
| Stendarr's Aura | Expert | 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 |
| Circle of Protection | Expert | Undead up to level 20 entering the circle will flee |
Circle of Protection can be used will spell absorption to level Restoration, Heavy Armor and Alteration with Waterbreathing
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
Two-handed attacks are 225% stronger. Weapon uses no charges. Restoration spells costs 46% less magicka. Health and Stamina are increased by 115 points. Health regenerates 171% faster Health regenerates 100% faster when in combat Magicka regenerates 115% faster Block 75% more damage. Resist 15% of fire damage.Resist 37% of all magical effects.
| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head |
Fortify Magicka Regen | Magicka Regenerates 115% faster |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Body | Fortify Healing Rate | Health regenerates 57% faster |
| Fortify Health | Increases your Health by 115 points | |
| Feet | Fortify Two-Handed | Two-handed attacks do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Stamina | Increases your Stamina by 115 points | |
| Hands | Fortify Two-Handed | Two-handed attacks do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Block | Block 75% more damage with your shield | |
| Amulet | Fortify Healing Rate | Health regenerates 57% faster |
| Resist Magic | Resist 37% of magical effects | |
| Ring | Fortify Healing Rate | Health regenerates 57% faster |
| Fortify Two-Handed | Two-handed attacks do 75% more damage | |
| Greatsword Chrysamere |
Resist Fire | Grants 15% resistance to fire |
| Absorb Magicka | Absorb 10 points of Magicka | |
| Fortified Combat Healting | Health Regenerates 100% faster when in combat |
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 is in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.
Potion of Regenerate Stamina
| Ingredients | Fly Amanita, Dragon’s Tongue, & Scaly Pholiota | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Two-handed | 170% stronger for 60 seconds |
| Resist Fire | 128% for 60 seconds | |
| Fortify Illusion | 170% stronger for 60 seconds | |
| Regenerate Stamina | 213% faster for 300 seconds | |
You can get Dragon’s Tongue from around the Inn at Kynesgrove, just to the south of Windhelm, and Fly Amanita are numerous in the mine there as well. Head back to Helgen and follow the path past the Stormcloak camp towards Ivarstead. You’ll start seeing Scaly Pholiota on fallen trees at the Alchemist’s Shack.
Potion of Resist Magic
| Ingredients | Bleeding Crown & Tundra Cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Resist Magic | Resist 43% of magic |
| Fortify Block | Blocking absorbs 170% more damage | |
3 Bleeding Crown Can be found outside Geirmund’s Hall on the island to the East of Ivarstead. Tundra Cotton can be found in and around Whiterun.
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
1 x Bleeding Crown 6 x Blue Mountain Flower 11 x Dragon's Tongue 11 x Fly Amanita 9 x Scaly Pholiota 1 x Tundra Cotton 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
24 x Potions of Forify Health 54 x Potions of Regenerate Stamina 4 x Potions of Resist MagicMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
| Fly Amanita (4) | 11 | 45 + 11 = 55 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
| Bleeding Crown (3) | 1 | 3 + 1 = 4 | 6 + 1 = 7 |
| Tundra Cotton (3) | 1 | 3 + 1 = 4 | 6 + 1 = 7 |
| Scaly Pholiota (5) | 9 | 45 + 9 = 54 | 90 + 9 = 99 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon's Tongue (4) | 11 | 45 + 11 = 55 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |