The perks alone make Sneak such a valuable skill to level for nearly every build in the game, though most stealth characters do end up relying on enchantments and potions a bit more than usual. However, the build wouldn't be where it is without the Sneak tree's Deadly Aim perk, which causes any sneak attack made with bows to deal three times as much damage.
The damage bonus players get when undetected is really what makes the stealth archer build work so well.
Players may as well be invisible once their Sneak skill reaches level 100 since they can eventually become silent even when walking or sprinting with the Silence perk. The higher the player's Sneak stat, the harder it becomes to detect them. The only situations where leveling Sneak may not payout is if someone's going for a heavy armor or two-handed build, though there are still ways to make stealth work. In Skyrim, the Sneak tree is almost a no-brainer to level. RELATED: The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - How to Build a Home Using the Hearthfire DLC 2. It's also got the only unarmed-focused perk in the game for those looking to punch dragons to death. Not only can heavy armor be enchanted to provide the same magical bonuses as most robes, but the Heavy Armor skill tree's perks help protect mages against things like staggering and physical damage. Not only does it give players a ridiculous armor score by the end of the game, but it's by far the better option with most builds.Ĭontrary to the usual outfit players see mages wearing in Skyrim, heavy armor is actually the far better pick for spellcasters. However, if a player doesn't plan to rely too much on stealth or speed during a playthrough, there's almost no reason not to level their Heavy Armor tree. The main downsides to using heavy armor include slower movement speed, higher stamina drain from sprinting, and a tougher time sneaking around. Heavy Armor is really only amazing if it's used with the right build.