After playing around with the console to max out my character mainly to test what the max level is, I discovered the max level is 81, meaning one can obtain 80 perks. Of course, I would rather do a legit play-through but I've been thinking of making an ideal Assassin build.

First off, I decided in the legit play-through to focus on just four skills and level them equally until I hit the maximum: One Handed, Stealth, Light Armor, and Illusion. However, part of me also wants to put some perks into Enchanting and Smithing with a dash of Restoration for the useful magicka regeneration and Avoid Death as I near the end-game. When exactly to put those levels into Enchanting and Smithing eludes me and is something I could use help with.

Here is the build I conjured up at level 81. Feel free to make suggestions, especially with how to allocate the stats and perks:

Race: Dunmer
Health: 500 (40 Stat Points)
Magicka: 300 (20 Stat Points)
Stamina: 300 (20 Stat Points)

I. Smithing
a. Steel
b. Dwarven
c. Elven
d. Orcish
e. Advanced Armors
f. Arcane Blacksmith
g. Glass
h. Ebony
i. Daedric
j. Dragon

II. One-Handed
a. Armsman 5
b. Fighting Stance
c. Dual Flurry 2
d. Bladesman 3
e. Savage Strike

III. Light Armor
a. Agile Defender 5
b. Custom Fit
c. Unhindered
d. Wind Walker
e. Matching Set
f. Deft Movement

IV. Sneak
a. Stealth 5
b. Backstab
c. Muffled Movement
d. Deadly Aim
e. Assassin’s Blade
f. Light Foot
g. Silent Roll
h. Silence
i. Shadow Warrior

V. Illusion
a. Novice Illusion
b. Illusion Dual Casting
c. Animage
d. Apprentice Illusion
e. Hypnotic Gaze
f. Quiet Casting
g. Expert Illusion
h. Master of the Mind
i. Master Illusion

VI. Restoration
a. Novice Restoration
b. Restoration Dual Casting
c. Regeneration
d. Respite
e. Recovery 2
f. Avoid Death

VII. Enchanting
a. Enchanter 5
b. Soul Squeezer
c. Soul Siphon
d. Insightful Enchanter
e. Corpus Enchanter
f. Extra Effect

Leftover Perks: 7

Alchemy is more useful than smiting for stealth class imo.
Also i would rather invest in archery than restoration cause it is very useful when there are multiple enemies close to each other.
You can take 1 out then crouch to hide and make them search and repeat.

I thought you stopped getting perks at level 50?

I agree on scraping Restoration and using the 7 perks from that tree combined with he free perks to focus on Alchemy. The thing is, I really don't want to give up Smithing. I like the freedom to upgrade weapons and armor to the maximum, though it's something to consider. Some of the Archery perks look lovely, but I had melee damage in mind for this build, with two Daedric Daggers and two Daedric Swords maxed out with Absorb Health enchantments and a full set of Dragonscale armor with One-Handed enchantments to maximize damage. Does anyone else agree I should forget Smithing and get Archery perks instead?


I thought so too, yet I was able to keep getting perks. Wonder why that is...

Max level is 81? Lol wtf

When I maxed out all of the skills in Skyrim for my character, I was level 81 and about halfway to level 82. Yeah, it's odd as hell.

Anyone else have build suggestions?

i think the max level is 70, not 80. i think bethesda confirmed this. You may have been able to hack yourself to 81, but naturally i dont think you can get that high

Looks like I reached the theoretical cap when one maxes out his skills via the console, and it seems I am most definitely not the first to confirm this. If it's possible to max out all skills (albeit VERY time consuming), it seems possible to achieve level 81 legitimately. I don't know to be honest.

Again, I ask for suggestions: keep Smithing or pour those points into Archery?

I'm really just tempted to keep smithing. Improving your own weapons and armor is just too good to pass up, especially when paired with Enchant.