Thundermaul
Orc - Warhammer - Clothing - Heavy - Barbarian - Battlemage
Background
Thundermauls are sorcerers who inflict destructive rampages wherever they wander. They call upon the power of the storms or engage in spectacular acts or violence, which they crave.
Weapons
Any Warhammer and then a Madness Warhammer for the final weapon. You can craft this once you have completed the Saints and Seducers creation.
Armor
Any heavy armour along the way to getting the final gear. I had both Dwarven and Ebony in my playthrough. The final gear is Adept Robes of Destruction, Adept Hood, Madness Boots, Madness Gauntlets. This gives you 69% damage reduction, where the cap is 80%, with 5 ranks of Juggernaut, 100 in the Heavy Armor skill and a Fortify Heavy Armor enchantment of 46 points. An additional 12% can be added with Ebonyflesh for a cost of 102 Magicka with the Expert Alteration perk and 100 in the Alteration skill.
The Robes and Hood can be purchased from Faralda at the College of Winterhold. Other lecturers may also sell the Adept Hood.
The Madness Boots and Gauntlets can be crafted with the Ebony Smithing perk, 5 Madness Ingots, 2 Ebony Ingots, 4 leather strips. Another 5 are needed to craft the Madness Warhammer and then another 3 to improve them on a workbench or grindstone. This means you need 26 Madness Ore. To unlock the ability to craft the Madness item the following has been done.
Kill Thoron at the end of the Saints and Seducers quest chain. Read the Note on Amber and Madness Ore Kill Evethra and read her journalThe quest chain can be started by talking to Ri’Saad who travels between Whiterun and Markarth and once completed all Khajiit caravans have a chance to sell Madness Ore.
Spells
Destruction for the shock spells and Restoration for heals, which importantly refill your stamina.
Standing Stones
The Lord Stone for 50 armour and 25% magic resistance in the early stages of the build but the Atronach Stone once the Atronach perk is acquired.
Shrines
Use a Shrine of Talos for the 20% reduction to shout cooldowns.
Shouts
Call Storm (Storm - Wrath - Lightning)
Location: Forelhost, High Gate Ruins, Skuldafn Temple (The World-Eater’s Eyrie).
Summons a storm that does lightning bolt damage in an area. Only works outside.
Unrelenting Force (Force - Balance - Push)
Location: Just follow the main story quests
Staggers 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.
Character Creation
Female Orc
Imperial and Orc come out top here with 25/35 skill boots. I went for Orc as they have the bigger increase in combat stats at the start with +5 Heavy Armor and +5 Two-handed while also boosting two crafting skills by +5 instead of just the one.
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. Dwemer Automatons are all classed as male.
Attribute Distribution
Place attribute points at 0 / 2 / 1. At level 61 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (200) | 500 | 300 (415) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Orcs are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration | 8 | Archery | 0 | Alchemy | 7 |
| Conjuration | 0 | Block +5 | 0 | Light Armor | 0 |
| Destruction | 4 | Heavy Armor +10 | 8 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting +5 | 11 | One-handed +5 | 0 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion | 0 | Smithing +5 | 4 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration | 8 | Two-handed +5 | 10 | Speech | 0 |
| Total | 31 | Total | 22 | Total | 7 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 8
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Expert Alteration
Magic Resistance 3/3
Atronach
Destruction 4
Novice Illusion
Augmented Shock 2/2
Disintegrate
Enchanting 11
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Fire Enchanter
Frost Enchanter
Shock Enchanter
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Warrior Skills
Heavy Armor 8
Juggernaut 5/5
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioning
Smithing 4
Steel Smithing
Dwarven Smithing
Orcish Smithing
Ebony Smithing
Two-handed 10
Barbarian 5/5
Champion's Stance
Devastating Blow
Skull Crusher 3/3
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 |
| 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. Cast this spell in the market to level Alteration.
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. |
| Sparks | Novice | Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to Health and Magicka per second. |
| Lightning Bolt | Apprentice | A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka. |
| Chain Lightning | Adept | Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magicka, then leaps to a new target. |
| Lightning Cloak | Adept | For 60 seconds nearby opponents take 8 points of shock damage and half magicka damage. |
| Thunderbolt | Expert | A Thunderbolt that does 60 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka. |
| Unbounded Storms | Expert | Targets in melee range take 40 shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. Random lightning strikes deal an additional 30 damage |
| Lightning Storm | Master | Lightning Storm Master Target takes 75 points of shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. |
Unbounded Storm was used to level Destruction and before this I just played as a warrior.
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.
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 |
| Grand Healing | Expert | Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs, machines or undead |
With the Respite perk healing spells are a great source of Stamina.
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 weapons do 150% more damage Weapon uses no charges. Destruction spells cost no magicka Restoration spells costs 46% less magicka Magicka is increased by 50 points. Stamina is increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 100% faster. Heavy Armor skill is increased by 46 points. Resist 37% of all magic.| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Adept Hood | Fortify Magicka | Magicka is increased by 50 points |
| Adept Robes of Destruction | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 17% less | Fortify Magicka Regen | Magicka regenerates 100% faster |
| Feet | Fortify Two-handed | Two-handed attacks do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Stamina | Increases stamina by 115. | |
| Hands | Fortify Two-handed | Two-handed attacks do 75% more damage |
| Fortify Heavy Armor | Heavt Armor skill is increased by 46 points | |
| Amulet | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Resist Magic | Grants 37% resistance to all magic | |
| Ring | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Warhammer | Shock Damage | Target takes 85 points of shock damage, and half as much Magicka damage |
| Absorb Health | Absorb 37 points of Health |
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 | 140 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | 266 points restored | |
All of the ingredients can be found in or around Whiterun.
Potion of Regenerate Stamina
| Ingredients | Fly Amanita, Dragon's Tongue & Scaly Pholiota | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Two-handed | 170% more damage for 60 seconds |
| Resist Fire | 128% for 60 seconds | |
| Fortify Illusion | 170% stronger for 60 seconds | |
| Regenerate Stamina | 213% faster for 300 seconds | |
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. Scaly Pholiota are numerous to the south of Ivarstead. Heading from Helgen towards Ivarstead they start appearing near the Alchemists Hut.
Potion of Fortify Destruction
| Ingredients | Glowing Mushroom, Snowberries & Steel-Blue Entoloma | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Destruction | 213% more damage for 60 seconds |
| Resist Frost | 128% for 60 seconds | |
| Resist Shock | 128% for 60 seconds | |
All the glowing mushrooms you need are at the farm. Snowberries are from around Windhelm. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravans
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
5 x Blue Mountain Flower 6 x Dragon's Tongue 6 x Fly Amanita 5 x Glowing Mushrooms 5 x Scaly Pholiota 6 x Snowberries 7 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 4 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
20 x Potions of Forify Health 30 x Potions of Regenerate Stamina 28 x Potions of Fortify DestructionMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly Amanita (4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
| Scaly Pholiota (5) | 5 | 25 + 5 = 30 | 50 + 5 = 55 |
| Glowing Mushrooms (5) | 5 | 25 + 5 = 30 | 50 + 5 = 55 |
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 7 | 21 + 7 = 28 | 42 + 7 = 49 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowberries(4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 5 | 15 + 5 = 20 | 30 + 5 = 35 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon's Tongue (4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |