Highlights
- Go along with a Khajiit for +15 unarmed injury bonus. The Fists of Metal perk boosts injury with heavy gauntlets.
- Enchant gauntlets with Fortify Unarmed spell for additional punch. Improve to Daedric armour for max injury.
- Pair unarmed assaults with Destruction spells or protect for survival. Mods can improve unarmed fight enjoyable in Skyrim.
My quest to search out new methods to play Skyrim continues. I’ve beforehand written about taking part in as an NPC, a pure mage, an illusionist, and changing into a pacifist, however now it is time to let my fists do the speaking. I questioned if it was attainable to play by way of Bethesda’s RPG fully unarmed, denying myself entry to swords, arrows, and spells in favour of punching each enemy that crossed my path. I liked the concept of role-playing as a Dragonborn so impossibly sturdy they do not want any weapons. Their physique is their weapon.
Earlier Elder Scrolls video games, together with Oblivion, featured devoted hand-to-hand talent timber. As you superior by way of it you may disarm or quickly paralyse enemies, knock them on their ass, and even injury ghosts and wraiths along with your naked fists. However Skyrim, for causes Bethesda has by no means actually made clear, did not embrace one in any respect. This makes an unarmed construct much less viable, however it could possibly nonetheless be achieved—to some extent. You simply must get somewhat inventive.
First off, roll a Khajiit. Because of their claws, this cat-like race will get a +15 bonus to unarmed injury from the get-go, which is clearly very useful for a punching-focused character. Do not be fooled by their fluffy look, ‘trigger nobody in Tamriel hits tougher. Whereas Skyrim won’t help unarmed fight as deeply as earlier video games, it does characteristic a pleasant choice of theatrical, wrestling-inspired kill cam finishers, together with a chokeslam and a suplex.
Then it is time for the Fists of Metal perk, which you’ll be able to unlock by levelling up your Heavy Armour talent. This will increase the injury dealt by unarmed assaults whereas sporting heavy gauntlets considerably—and the impact additionally stacks with the Khajiit’s base racial bonus. Boosting this talent can also be helpful for the final survivability of an unarmed character. To degree it up extra shortly, full the Companions questline to get free coaching from Farkas.
The impact of Fists of Metal will increase for those who put on higher heavy armour with larger base stats. With this in thoughts, you may need to make investments time in growing your smithing expertise so you’ll be able to craft a go well with of Daedric armour—or simply use console instructions to conjure one up for those who do not care about dishonest. Enjoying as a Khajiit decked out within the best armour, you will deal some severe injury along with your fists—however there are a couple of methods to punch even tougher.
Gauntlets, gloves, and rings may be enchanted with a spell known as Fortify Unarmed, which (you guessed it) will increase the injury dealt by unarmed assaults. To be taught this enchantment, head to the Ratway beneath Riften, kill a burly thief named Gian the Fist, and loot his Gloves of the Pugilist. These fur gauntlets are the one merchandise in Skyrim enchanted with Fortify Unarmed, and as such they’re the one (legit) method to be taught the enchantment for your self.
Do all of this and you will have created a reasonably formidable unarmed character. However try to be conscious of the truth that, as your degree will increase, fights will get a lot tougher with simply your fists. Pairing unarmed assaults with Destruction spells, or a protect to guard your self and bash enemies away, will make an unarmed run much less irritating. You might also need to create an unarmed/healer hybrid, as detailed in this glorious information by Skyrim Guides.
It is an actual disgrace Skyrim would not characteristic a hand-to-hand talent tree, however you’ll be able to nonetheless discover pleasure in punching your means by way of the bandits and monsters of Tamriel’s frozen north for those who’re prepared to leap by way of a couple of hoops. There’s additionally a wealth of mods on the market that tweak, improve, and even fully overhaul the sport’s unarmed fight—nevertheless it’s simply as a lot enjoyable to experiment with the bottom recreation and see what you’ll be able to squeeze out of it.
