Warden

Wood Elf - Waraxe - Light - Conjurer - Spellsword - Warrior

Background

Wardens are mighty and powerful defenders of the natural world, fighting to preserve the untamed wilderness. They draw their extraordinary toughness from the wild itself. They can feel the strength of the earth beneath their feet, the vitality of the air in their lungs, and the fury of the blazing sun overhead.

Weapons

A Dawnguard War Axe as soon as you can from Fort Dawnguard. Then get progressively better War Axes as you gain smithing perks. Buy a Stalhrim War Axe from Grover Mallory at Raven Rock on Solstheim when you can. Buying gets you it quicker than following the quest chain to unlock the ability to craft Stalhrim gear.

Once you have the Ancient Nord Pickaxe from Gracian head north along the western coastline of Solstheim until you get to Northshre Landing. Clear out the Mudcrabs and then head to the iceberg a little to the north east. Once on the Iceberg use command animal to make the 2 Horkers friendly and then you can mine 6 Stalhrim. That’s 6 potential upgrades of your Stalhrim War Axe.

Armor

Torturer’s Hood, Elven Hunter Armor, Dawnguard Light Boots and Dawnguard Light Gauntlets. I started out by crafting a set of leather scout armor as soon as I could.

The Torturer’s Hood is picked up from the Torturer in Helgen. The quest for the Elven Hunter Armor can be acquired by reading the journal in Falkreath Barracks. The Dawnguard boots and Gauntlets can be taken for free from Fort Dawnguard.

Spells

Alteration for paralysis rune and utility spells. Conjuration for Pride of Hirstaang. Restoration for heals.

Standing Stones

The Lord Stone for the extra 50 armor rating and 25% magic resistance.

Shrines

Use a Shrine of Talos for the 20% reduction to shout cooldowns. A Shrine of Kynareth is better for roleplay but not as useful.

Shouts

Character Creation

Female Wood Elf

A Wood Elf seems to be a good match for the for the build based on the theme and it’s always nice to play one away from the usual trope of an archer. I did plan this build as a Nord and being a Skaal but that would have been a little too close to my Skaal Windcaller build so switched it to Wood Elf.

Attribute Distribution

Place attribute points at 0/3/1. At level 61 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Wood Elves are marked in bold.

Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

Spells

Alteration

I got trainining in Alteration to 50 from Dravynea at Kynegrove to the south of Windhelm. At that point I took the Adept Alteration perk which reduced the magicka cost of Detect Life by 50%. 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

Soul Trap is used to level Conjuration and also fill soul gems. Conjure Familiar helps to tank enemies in the early game. Taking Novice Conjuration early makes this spell cheaper to cast.

Destruction

I used Unbounded Freezing to level Destruction once the warrior skills had been levelled. The spell can be found in Hobs Fall Cave and can be cast and then use fast travel to level Destruction very quickly.

Illusion

Courage can be used to level illusion but it's not needed.

Restoration

You can start using better healing spells as the cost reduction perks are acquired but I pretty much just used Healing and Fast Healing before getting enchanted gear and then Grand Healing thereafter.

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.

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

All of the ingredients can be found in or around Whiterun.

Potion of Fortify Destruction

Head to the North East of Whiterun and gather 2 Glowing Mushrooms in the entrance of Shimmermist Cave. The remaining 7 are in the secret lab at the farm. Snowberries are around Windhelm Stables and the local farms. Alternatively go back to Helgen and take the path Eastwards to Ivarstead. Steel-Blue Entoloma are available from Khajiit caravans. Remember to buy, quicksave, attack and quickload to reset the vendor until you have all 13 Steel-Blue Entoloma.

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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