So, I've tried a number of different character types. I'm thinking of starting a dual-wielding daggers sneak assassin type. It looks like with the sneak perk to do 15x damage, dual wielding perks, plus maybe alchemy and/or enchanting bonuses to one handed damage, you could, eventually, at high levels, do something on the order of 100x damage with a sneak dual-daggers attack. Is that right?

Is it possible to sneak up on dragons? Are there any types of enemies that it is impossible to sneak up on, even at high levels?

Now, the following skill trees can all help with such a character - smithing (higher damage daggers, good armer protection even if you have no/few perks in armor), enchanting (skill enchantments, elemental damage on weapons), alchemy (restoration potions, skill enchantment potions, poisons on weapons), illusion (make sneaking easier, paralyze, etc), one handed.

Now, as far as damage goes, it occurs to me that stacking every possible damage enhancement (including poisons/damage enh might be A) Overkill (congrats, you just did 2000 damage to an enemy with 1000 health. Yay), and in the early game, might leave you with a bit too little damage mitigation/recovery? Although, a good offense is a pretty good defense, but until you can really sneak well, there's a good chance that some greatsword wielding nord or draugr death lord will one-hit kill you before you can apply your mega damage.

So, I'm trying to decide between all the options.

I'm kind of thinking about perking:

*Early concentration in smithing (both armor and weapons will be better)
*Wear light armor (easier to sneak)
*Sneak
*One handed
*alchemy with a focus on poisons (just feels more assassiny to me, and also give me access to some healing)
*Illusion (for muffle, etc)

Is that spreading Perks too thin? Alchemy tends to need a lot of perks - at least if you're not going to cheat and go lookup potion recipes on the web instead of actually taking the perks that allow you to identify effects by taste).

I'm thinking of putting basically no points into armor skill (if I'm doing it right, I shouldn't need too much defense, and the smithed armor should give me some survivability combined with alchemy). Eventually, if I get to high levels and start to have some free perks, I'm thinking pickpocketting and speech. Also, with regards to smithing, I'm not sure how high to perk it up - all the way up the light-armor tree, or just part way up, and save perks for other skills)?

As for stats at level up, I'm thinking no magicka, and a 2:1 ratio of health and stamina (that is, level health twice for each level of stamina). I mean, since you can use power attacks if you have even a *tiny* amount of stamina, stamina doesn't seem that important, and potions can give me stamina whenever I need it - but carry weight to haul loot is kind of nice.

Final question - can you poison both blades for tough enemies? I think you can only apply poison to your right-hand weapon, but if you switch hands, will it retain the poison, so that you can then poison the other weapon?

The fortify one hand enchants do not work for daggers, so you cannot combine them with the dagger backstab bonus. The most you can do with the enchant is boost your 6x with a sword/axe/mace. If you really want high damage dagger attacks you are better to perk out smithing than enchant.



Yes, especially if you catch them napping. A dual wield sneak dagger attack with the backstab bonus and some moderately well smithed daggers will dispatch them easily in one hit. Once I had one wake up, start to fly off and then drop from the sky dead.

Enemies with a high sneak skill (notably certain NPCs) are hard to sneak up on, but not impossible. Some of the most difficult enemies in the game, like Dwarven Master Centurians and Draughr Deathlords are relatively easy to sneak up on.

A good sneak character can be so OP as to make the game boring because you can sneak up on everything too easily and kill everything with sneak attacks once you get your sneak to 100 and get shadow warrior perk. Even before you get that perk, it is still easy to sneak up on stuff with a moderately high sneak and some muffle.


If you do a lot of experimenting you can identify effects without cheating. It only takes 8 perks to get the strongest potions and poisons in the game (5 into alchemist, plus physicial, poisoner and benefactor). On the other hand, perking two crafting skills can be very OP, especially for a sneak character.


If you just want to carry more, you can get the steed stone or put three perks into pickpocket for Extra Pockets. Some of the other pickpocket perks are fun for a sneak character, like slipping them poison or taking equipped weapons and items.


Yes, but you have to unequip the weapon after you poison it and transfer it to the other hand. Then equip a new weapon in your right hand to poison it.

I Would


Join The Companions
Wear Heavy Armor
Have Two Handed Weapons
Use Loud Shouts
Sprint around Dungeons

You can become very powerful as a sneaky assassin.

Just remember to use that power wisely and understand that once you reach the upper echelons of this role, none will stand in your way, at least for very long.