ok im not sure if this is a glitch in my game or if it is something that was done on purpose but either way i would like to know whats up with the forsworn briarhearts. first off i am level 51 and my overall armor rating is 226. anyways ive noticed that a forsworn briarheart can one hit kill me at level 51 when at the same level it takes 2-3 bites from an elder dragon to kill me. can anyone tell me if this is a glitch and how to fix it? its kind of annoying having to watch my back everytime i go near any forsworn because of the possibility there might be a briarheart.... thanks!

Briarhearts aren't glitched, they are simply crazy over powered. I use archery mainly so I've never had the misfortune of being hit by one. Something I found fun though was that if you pickpocket the Briarheart from them, they will instantly die.

Ellesar
lvl 81
Wood Elf

i too am an archer, however i have been in a melee fight with briarhearts, and ive been clobbered pretty good by them, however, they never killed me with one shot....so im thinking you have an issue,...or ur not using a shield

How are you level 51 and only have an armor rating in the 200s? What type of armor do you wear?

I think they're supposed to be really strong as they are basically undead Forsworn resurrected by Hagravens. Just ice form or paralyse them and smack them to bits with your melee.

It's not a glitch. This actually how they arte designed.

And I frickin' HATE them. >

Yes. They frequently 'finish' you on a decent amount of energy. Not one-shot. But a couple of blows then a finisher.

You just have to avoid melee combat with them. And if you have a summon available to you, use that to keep them busy while you and/or your companion hit him from behind.

They dont one hit me but they defenitly three hit me and almost always with a finishing move......always they are really hadr and if you run into places like http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Dead_Crone_Rock when you may face in dependance of your approach more than one at a time ....OOOOHHH!!!!! boy frustrating thats the only word i have ...last time i went there being a mage i had to lower my difficulty ....didnt know the pickpoket thing ill try it nice info...

Forsworn BriarHearts = most dangerous enemy in the game at high LV.

I play on adept and they kill my LV 50 + "Warrior" with 2-3 hits
400 HP / 490 Armor (+ 100 hidden armorrating, equals 70% dmg reduction)
They attack way faster than a ancient dragon and also do more DMG per hit.

Yeah, those briar hearts are very tough. I guess it is because they dual wield weapons with either axes or swords, and attack at high speed. Thus, they can really do a lot of damage in a short space of time. While they are tough, I think the Falmer and especially the Chaurus Reaper are also particularly strong/overpowered. I play on 'Master' difficulty setting as a Breton mage with light armour, and frequently have to turn down the difficulty to get past a group of Falmer/Chaurus (everything else I can cope with, but the falmer just seem to be far stronger than anything else). Thankfully, Summoning a Demora Lord can make short work of a group of falmer. But, prior to getting the Demora Lord spell, I was constantly getting killed.

The Falmer when you get to higher levels use poison as well as being fast, and it seems to be on every single hit rather than the one hit you get to use it on. With that group on the "Blindsighted" Quest I found it better to let the noisy Karliah and Brynjolf get pounded while I sneak past the group avoiding combat altogether. Those two are essential at that time and can't die so.... tough noogies for them. I decided on this tactic after getting pwned by two falmer shadowwhatevers on that quest. I'm only on "adept" with dragonscale (legendary) all the way around. I'd have been better off with the Ancient Dark Brotherhood armor because of the poison. I didn't upgrade Archery because I svck at Call of Duty.

Also if you're going to melee briarhearts it might not hurt to use vampiric blades. At least you heal yourself when you hit. They are stupid fast.

It seems like the shouts are there to try and strategically get past some of these tougher enemies, being that your normal skills wouldnt be enough. I can see using slow time and ice form to bring them down somewhat easier as well as race specific powers

I am 50 something and I make briarhearts my plaything...I'm wearing daedric armor with a daerdric war hammer though, along with various enchantments.

Yes "abusing" smithing and enchanting... OP there is your solution ..

But back to the topic... yes they are supposed to be overpowered. Archery, in combination with shouts, magic (both destruction and conjuration..) and melee (shield !!) will most of the times do the trick..