Hey guys, after hitting level 40 on my mage I've started to get bored with the playstyle so I've decided to re-roll and do all the quests that I didn't do on my mage. I am going to be playing on master difficulty and I was looking for some advice on what you guys think is the most fun/versatile build to play as a melee character. I've seen how broken enchanting/smithing/alchemy can make a melee character so I'm going to shy away from doing any crafting besides maybe some low level enchanting. Dual wield seems fun but not having the ability to block or parry seems like it would take some of the fun out of the melee system. thoughts? ideas?

I am having a ton of fun with my two handed Orc, FWIW

For combat flexibility, 2h or 1h + shield (or just 1h) is superior to DW. DW will net more raw damage output (only with the DW boosting perks though), but has no defenses/CC (bash, power bash).

1h is the best for jousting since the animation is finished quickly and you can hop away before the enemy retaliates.

I'm loving Dual Wield, lotta cool animations

I go with 1h + Fast Healing in off-hand. It might not be the best combo ever, but at least I don't have to switch between spells constantly and ruin the battle experience.

Dual wielding is awesome...

Until you meet a high level humanoid enemy with a shield, then it's more like

I've been doing this and it's quite efficient and alot of fun too. And wards are nice off-hand spells when fighting dragons.
Who needs blocking when you can dodge, strike and heal.

sword and shield is the way to go

I might be crazy but I feel like 2H is easier to time (360). 1H and DW I feel like I'm mashing.

I am using magic/1h
Of course i cant block, whch is why i am boosting my heavy armor.
*shrugs*

Your perks point are better in the one handed tree as you can dual wield for more damage and then when you get to heavier encounters you can get your shield out. It is also proven that dualwield is far superior to 2h if you are onto powergaming. ( As the damage difference is not too big but quite noticable if you have the right enchantements.) Another plus for dualwield is that you have two weapons which means double enchants or even quadra if you skill enchantment. Furthermore, it is observable that dualwield has a quicker attack animation, in both, normal and power attack than 2h giving you more time for a dodge/movement.

One hand + magic/shield. I personally think that easily wins but that's what I'm doing anyway. I do agree with those saying the dual wielding has some awesome animations for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelOps1VIU8

nuff said

more fun too

why don't you just use like relentless shout and stagger them like I do =) problem solved lol

Two handers are the way to go. Massive damage plus AoE capability.


For real ultimate power, add in the three crafting skills to make you virtually invincible.

Well I play on the hardest difficulty, master or whatever, while dual wielding. I am only level 9 and there are points where it isn't feasible to even go toe-to-toe with some humanoids...its svcks. I am tempted to reroll two handers and also use some points in block. Or if I do dual wield, re roll sneaky assassin and use daggers for the awesome x15 dmg.

2H weapons!!! I love them. being able to charge at target then doing a double crit hit on him or taking off there heads with a swing. Also the side sweep!!! being able to hit multiple mobs at once. Little OP

Do some theorycrafting (calculations) and accept that dualwielding is better.

Anything just dont do the blacksmith, alchemist, enchant gear creation [censored], 1 shot blood dragons is kind bad.

You are right, I'm not disputing this, but it isn't even fun. I love the challenge of the difficulty, but right now it feels gimp and I miss being able to block. I play a barbarian type character anyways and I tell you that 2 hander feels more barbarianish then dual wield.

Sword and shield is so boring imo.

Currently I'm focusing on Dual Wielding seeing as there's no blocking a dragon's primary attack with a 2h, and with my high armour skill I survive more than long enough to make use of the raw damage output; plus, I'm a werewolf and their damage output is based on one handed skill IIRC.

That being said, seeing as I'm only really planning on investing in Heavy armour, smithing and one handed, I could probably spare a few perks and go for the 2handers as an auxillary weapon type for use against good humanoids. I can get dark brotherhood boots to muffle sound so I don't need to invest in sneak at all.

..plus, the dual wielding first-person view gets boring as hell after a while. I could do with a change.

Two handed is really, really good. Haven't tried the others but it has some very nice burst damage and the bash is just awsome, great for interupting powerattacks, breath attacks and channeled spells aswell as creating openers.
I would really recomend it if you want some varied gameplay with balanced defense and offense, bashing,blocking and timing powerattacks is alot of fun, not to mention satisfying when you one shot 3 people at once when you get sweep attack!

I got killed so many times ([censored] frost trolls) with my unarmored mage that I rerolled a sword and shield + heavy armor warrior.

Imo archery is pretty awesome in skyrim too... but for up close I like sword + shield or sword + spell.

2 handed all the way...as the whiterun guards say...god gave you 2 hands and you use them both for your weapon I respect that.