Surely this has been asked before but I can't find it.

Does your level determine your bound weapon's damage, or is it a flat rate?

Is it possible that I could be carrying a sword or battleaxe, found at lvl 16 or lower, that does more damage than my bound ones?

It's a flat rate.

Not unimproved but with 40 smithing and steel perk, you could make a better one.

As far as I'm aware the strength of your bound weapons is influenced by whatever stat the particular weapon would be influenced by under ordinary circumstances, so a bound sword is more effective with a higher one handed skill, a bound bow, archery etc.

There is a perk within the conjuration tree that improves the damage rating of your bound weapons, putting them up to the same stats as a Daedric weapon rather than Steel when summoned.

Bound weapons are relatively weak at higher stages without this perk.

Saweeet!! I have the conjuration perk AND the 1 & 2 handed perks.

I did something right for a change.

Yes, weapon skill does affect bound weapons but not conjuration skill or level - I guess both the question and my answer were a bit unclear.

Even with the perk, it's only like unimproved Daedric so an exquisite steel would be as good, skyforged steel would be better.

And much, much heavier. I'm quite happy with almost as good and light as a feather. BUT - my weapons skills won't rise if I'm ONLY using bound weapons... is that correct?

Just remember, the physical weapons you can enhance will always be able to have a higher damage output than your summoned weapons. Conjuration level does not affect their power, only how much magicka is needed to cast them.

It all depends on what you need, if you have fun summoning your weapons and can get by the tougher game segments without an enhanced weapon then it should be the right path to take. Just remember an actual Daedric weapon can be enhanced via smithing to hit harder than your summoned weapons ever will.



No, your weapon skills will increase when attacking with bound weapons. Weapon skill increases are now apparently based on damage dealt and my one-handed skill has increased while sporking enemies with a summoned sword. So even though you're using a bound weapon, the game still treats it as a regular weapon while its in your hands, susceptible to all the benefits regular weapons have available. (Excluding Smithing and Enchanting)

The base damage (as well as the improved damage with the "Mystic Binding" perk) for bound weapons is here: http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Bound_Weapon
Be sure to read the "Notes" section for important related info.

Holy crap - thank you, Slackjaw10!

Good idea. I forgot about the Amol prison bound bow; I've gotten it a few times but never used it.
So, let's see: Start as a Breton, get the bound bow book and the Atronach Stone (conveniently located near each other), wear the novice hood and you have 180 magicka. The bow will take about 190 magicka without the adept perk so one level into magicka and you can cast a bound bow.
A level 2 bound bow user - not bad.