So, the base cost of the bound sword is 9 and with the mystic binding perk the base damage becomes 14. With the associated perks in the 1H tree it doubles its damage to 28, and with enchanted gear I can double that damage again to 56.

At end game this is incredibly low and almsot worthless. Also I feel that I must be misunderstanding some of the math as I've seen people reportidly doing hundreds of damage with a bound weapon.

Is it that with every perk I place in the 1H tree it increases the damage by the current stat? Ie with a bound sword if I place one perk into the tree and it's base damage is 14 it will then increase to 17 (20% increase yields a 2.8 damage increase). When I place another point into 1H skill tree for damage it will again be increase by 20% but of which value? 14 or 17?

My main reason for asking is that If I can't make conjured 1H swords AT LEAST do 90 damage at end game a piece I wont even bother with them as I intend to use them at end game.

I mean, my warrior with Alchemy and Blacksmithing is already doing 90 damage with a dragonbone mace and he only has 3 points in the 1H and has no enchanted gear to increase damage. (That's also without a potion buff too)

Thanks for reading, replying, etc.

I had a character that dual wielded bound swords. I don't know the math behind it, but he would tear through enemies ridiculously easy. Alduin lasted all of like 20 seconds. Granted, this also includes the damage bonus from dual wielding perks. With tempered and enchanted weapons, it just seems unfair.

The skill of the weapon conjured determines the attack damage. So, yes, get your 1H up and you will do better.

Bound weapons are not improved, but should be the most powerful of base weapons. So, there is a point in the game where improved weapons will be better than anything else in the game. The main reason to use Bound weapons is Role or you want to have as little "fixed" carry weight as possible. Bound weapons weigh nothing so they don't encumber you.

Also, as you can see, it can increase the challenge of combat, which some people complain is absent at the higher levels of the game.

Did some calculations and experimenting.

1. Bound Sword: 9 damage
2. Bound Sword + Mystic Binding perk (becomes Mystic Sword): 14 damage
3. Mystic Sword + 100 One-Handed skill (damage bonus of +.5% per level): 21 damage
4. Mystic Sword + 100 One-Handed skill + 5/5 Armsman perk (+100%): 42 damage
5. Mystic Sword + 100 One-Handed skill + 5/5 Armsman + 4x 40% (+160% total) One-Handed enchantments: 109.2 damage
6. Mystic Sword + 100 One-Handed skill + 5/5 Armsman + 4x 47% (custom enchanments using Alchemy and Enchanting loop)(+188% total): 120.96 damage

As you can see, Bound Sword can get some serious damage going for it, but it takes quite a bit if work. However, Smithing can make weapons that do even more damage due to the tempering bonus getting added in before the skill bonuses are factored in, basically it changes #2 and is typically a greater bonus than 5 damage.

Fortify One-Handed enchantments can be put on gloves, boots, rings, and necklaces.

Bound Sword is perhaps best in early game. Bound Sword is like getting a weightless Dwarven sword at level 1 and getting a Daedric Sword at level 5, or as soon as you can get Mystic Binding perk. This is awesome, I say. Bound Sword is also the best sword for leveling up One-Handed skill. But if your goal is high damage weapon in late game, you want a nice real weapon which you can smith and enchant.

But Bound weapon build is feasible. 50 damage at level 80 is fine. Most of your fights are going to be easy anyway even at high level. Yes you do kill your enemy slower, but it's not a problem. As long as you have enough armor and health and can heal yourself at a sustainable pace, you are fine.

I have been leveling up warrior skills on my mage character. I have zero perks in one-handed and I'm doing only 21 damage per hit. My Bound Battleaxe does 31 damage and my Bound Bow does 67 damage. If the enemy is very meaty, or if I'm getting tired of long battles, I just use the Marked for Death shout. I have killed numerous Reverend and Legendary Dragons with Bound weapons + Marked of Death shout.

Bandit Marauders have around 500 health
Giants have 600 health
Draugr Deathlords have 1000 health
Ancient Dragons have 3000 health
Legendary Dragons have 4000 health.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they faster than normal wepaons and therefore use less stamina or is that my imagination?