If you've played 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim at least once before, no doubt you've heard the phrase: "Skyrim for the Nords!" at least once. It's generally believed that the Dragonborn is canonically a Nord, but Skyrim boasts the opportunity to choose for yourself the type of person your Dragonborn is - Nord or no Nord.

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When it comes to building a Nord, there is a multitude of paths you can follow, but the theme remains the same: heavy-hitting, frost-resistant killing machines. With their immense strength, exceptional height, and simple accessibility, they are the easiest race to start with for new players and boast very few, if any, flaws. With a Nord, you simply can't go wrong.

Basic Information About Nords

Nord Sitting Alone In Dungeon

The Nord is a straightforward and heavy-hitting race that specializes in tanking hits and dealing them back twofold. Their primary builds revolve around fast, aggressive gameplay and with starting stats that give you an edge in creating effective armor from day one, a natural path for the Nord is to go down any melee combat route with durable armor and high blocking.

There are two special abilities every Nord starts with:

  • Passive/Racial Ability: Resist Frost - 50 percent Frost Resistance
  • Active/Racial Power: Battle Cry - Targets flee for 30 seconds

Both the Nord's racial ability and power are incredibly useful, with the ability being a tad more niche but nonetheless helpful. With Frost Resistance, Nords have an advantage against enemies like ice wraiths, about a third of mages, and areas with frost traps like those at Lost Tongue Overlook.

Additionally, Battle Cry can cause targets that might prove too much of a challenge to flee, allowing you critical time to either heal or run away. This c🔯ombination of relative applicabi💧lity with no drawbacks makes the Nord a solid, rounded race.

Roleplaying

Nord One Blind Eye Punching With Bare Fist

The Nords are a tough race acclimated to the harsh climate of Skyrim. As such, you can imagine their culture and personalities are centered around being hard as nails and facing challenges and hardships head-on. Of course, you don't have to be a jarhead warrior like Uthgerd, as loyal as Aela, or as lacking in intelligence as Farkas, but whatever Nord you play, they'd likely have an unbreakable spirit and undeterred tenacity. Follow through on your goals, follow quests to the end, and don't turn down a challenge just because it seems hard.

General Mod Recommendations

Laerke Nord Female Elis Breezehome Serana Overhaul Modded

Like with any build based on race, the mod Imperious - Races of Skyrim is a solid choice. It adds a unique stat spread and four unique abilities for al✃l races to further distinguish between them, create improvements for diversified gameplay, and make♔ it harder for races to blend together in the late game.

Similarly, Wintersun is always a popular addition (especially since the introduction of Anniversary Edition) due to the introduction of a complex religious system. With the ability to now devote oneself to your deity of choice and gain unique boons based on your deity and the favor you gain through worship, you'll be able to craft for yourself a truly unique experience for your character.

Additionally, given the focus on having weapons rather than magic - the Nord race being a very physically-oriented path - you'll likely enjoy the aesthetic addition of hothtrooper44's Immersive Weapons and Immersive Armors. Both overhaul the existing vanilla weapons and armors for better texturing and add additional lore-friendly sets that, arguably, should have been vanilla assets.

The Viking

Viking In Snow With Axe and Shield of Ysgramor

True to the Nord's real-world inspirations, the Viking build nods to their Nordic roots and capitalizes on the traits that make them a strong option from the race menu to Sovngarde. With a one-handed axe, a shield, and the determination to keep striking enemies until they stop moving, they're an uncomplicated and natural progression for the Nord race.

It's simple, it's easy, and in the wise words of Tom Howard: "It just works."

Perks

One Handed Perk Tree Armsman Full Skills

For the Viking, you won't have any interest in magic. As such, you'll want an even 50/50 spread for your Health and Stamina. Health should be the first priority, letting you take blows without immediately perishing, and ad🌼dಞ Stamina as needed to perform shield bashes and power attacks (as well as increase your Carry Weight).

Perks for the Viking capitalize on what the Nord alread𝔍y has going for him/her with some slight additions:

One-Handed

Follow the center branch to Savage Strike and then all of the Hack and Slash perks.

Block

Block should be invested in fully, taking especially Elemental Protection to get full resistance to Frost magic when shielded and Deflect Arrows to protect ag🔥ainst projectiles when r🌜ushing into combat.

Smithing

Get every perk up to Advanced Heavy Armor.

Heavy Armor

Take all the Heavy Armor perks except Matching Set unless you always 𝓰plan ﷽to wear a full set of matching gear.

Alchemy

Take all skills up to Benefactor, only going up to Snakeblood if you have the leftover points or are having issues with Poison﷽.

Speech

Invest in the right-hand perk tree if you'd like to have a silver-tongued Viking.

As for your choice of Standing Stone, start with the Warrior Stone to increase your skills until they've reached at least half progression is recommended. Follow it up with the always-useful Atronarch Stone for the remainder of the game to get spell absorption, allowing you to absorb 50 percent of spells and resist the remain♌ing🍸 damage by another 50 percent.

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Equipment

Viking Nord Running Through Snow In Windhelm

Just like the skills and perks, the Viking's gear is practical and straightforward. To fit the aesthetic, it's recommended to put on Stormcloak heavy armor and temper it. As your shield will be doing a lot of the work, you shouldn't need any higher equipment, but for higher difficulties and players who are struggling to stay alive, taking things up to Ebony or even Dragonbone heavy armor is also a good choice (but make s꧂ure to invest in the right Smithing perks).

For weapons, the highest available one-handed war axe will suffice well enough, but for those who want an enchanted weapon, the Ancient Nord War Axe, Okin, is a reliable weapon to wield with its frost enchantment that deals damage to both the Health and Stamina of your enemies. Paired with the Shield of Ysgramor to even further strengthen spell resista♛nce to seventy percent after the fifty percent spell absorption, the Viking can be a formidable opponent - especially to 🍒mages.

For enchanted accessories, picking up anything along the way that strengthens blocking, heightens one-handed damage, or increases your Stamina regen is useful.

Fighting Style

Viking Nord Fighting Wolf In Snow.

Fighting with the Viking is as easy as running in with your shield at the ready and slashing at any enemy that gets in your way. Make sure to use ample shield bashing to stun enemies and power attack when the opportunity presents itself. Using shouts like Unrelenting Force for crowd control is also useful, letting you spread out enemies that might try to otherwise crowd around you. If you don't have an enchantment on your weapon already, the Elemental Fury shout can also increase your damage and attack speed - handy for boss fights at the end of dungeons.

Mod Recommendations

Nord Sitting On Throne Viking Modded Palace of Windhelm

For the Viking, not only is hothtrooper44's Immersive Weapons and Immersive Armors recommended (see above section) but also the Guards Armor Replacer for access to a wide as✅so🍸rtment of finely detailed weapons and armors that fit this build.

Complete Crafting Overhaul is recommended for any build that does a lot of smithing, granting a more immersive experience and easier time collecting materials should you choose to engage with the ultra-customizable options in the configuration menu. Paired with Immersive Jewelry, the two will serve to truly oveꦕrhaul your smithing experience.

Barbarian

Barbarian Heavy Power Strike Downward Against Dead Foe

Although the Barbarian resembles the Viking in some aspects, the Barbarian is far more brutal and reckless than its nobler counterpart. Preferring to destroy enemies with large weapons and completely ignore threats to themself, the Barbarian is a high-damage build that rushes headlong into combat and doesn't even stop to ask questions - ever. They're a deadly adversary with a time limit on how long they'll be able to hold out before bleeding to death. When it comes down to it, it's always the Barbarian or the enemy... and it's usually the enemy.

Perks

Basic Smithing Perk Smithing Skill Tree

With no magic interest at all, just like the Viking, you'll want to go for a 60/40 Health and Stamina build. Health is definitely the priority here as you'll be taking lots of damage and with this playstyle and your light armor won't be able to absorb all of it. The rest should be in Stamina to allow you to keep swinging and keeping up with the normally fast-paced combat.

For perks, you'll want to follow these trees:

Two-Handed

Take all of the middle branch and then all of Skullcrusher. These should vastly increase your damage, ignore armor, and have a chance to decapitate your enemieꦦs.

Block

Take Quick Reflexes and all of the right line from Shield Wall to Disarming Bash.

Smithing

Follow on the left side to Dragon Armor.

Light Armor

Complete except for Matching Set unle𓃲ss you are dead set on having a matching set.

For your Standing Stone, start with the Warrior Stone and then later use the Lord's Stone for general resistance and armor rating bonuses.

Equipment

Barbarian Gear Fur Armor Dragonbone Warhammer Running

Using any barbarian fur armor works best for the immersion in this build, but Dragonscale armor is the best armor statswise for the Barbarian. Whichever you choose, mixing and matching can work well as you smith and temper pieces while adventuring. The priority here is less on the type of armor and more on how high you can get your armor rating to increase through your Smithing talents.

For your weapon, go for the Dragonbone Warhammer and forge it as high as you can get. You can try using the well-known Restoration-Smithing glitch to increase your 🐼damage to extraordinary p𒉰roportions.

As the barbarian is not very skilled when it comes to Enchanting, you'll have to rely on picking up enchanted items as you go along. Make sure to either carry the Amulet of Talos or the Amulet of Stendarr to either increase your shout potential or increase your blocking percentage. Focusing on equipment that boosts your total Health or deals more Two-Handed damage will be of the greatest benefit to you.

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Fighting Style

Barbarian Fighting Style Against Stormcloak Soldier

The fighting style of the Barbarian is even simpler than the Viking. It features dashing power strikes when entering combat with enemies and hitting enemies around you as fast as possible to kill them before they kill you. Sweep, the perk, helps with crowd control, but if you find yourself becoming overwhelmed, you can either push them back with Unrelenting Force📖 or increase your attack speed through Elemeꦺntal Fury.

Is this a particularly broken or revolutionary build? No. But is it one of the most fun to play? Absolutely.

If you find yourself wanting to delve even deeper into the reckless and powerful theme and also enjoy a bit of healing while you play, you can also become a cannibalistic werewolf, using the Ring of Bloodlust, and dive nose-first into enemy hordes.

Mod Recommendations

Barbarian Fur Armor Dragonbone Warhammer Modded

For the Barbarian, one of the most pleasing mods to add has to be the Badass Traveler Pack. It's an animation overhaul for character using two-handed weapons and definitely gives the right kind of intimidating presence to your unhinged Nord. It can pair with the Badass Get-Up mod to not only give you that vibe while standing but also while get🐟ting back up from a stagger.

If you're wanting to go the intimidation route and really feel your impact on the world around you, Skyrim Reputation takes all of your choices and actions throughout the game into account and sets up relationships between you and NPCs. Make them your friends, your enemies, or the scared peasantry that scatters at the sight of you. It's a piece of immersive worldbuilding that really makes this✨ build have impact on the world ༒around you.

Cryomancer

Cryomancer Casting Frost Cloak Freeze

Unlike the first two, this Nord build branches out into the magical sphere and utilizes all his strengths and attributes to their fullest potential. The Cryomancer is the intelligent, merciless type that skewers enemies with icy blasts in order to slow them down and close the distance for a final, brutal strike. Whether your enemies fall to your magic or your axe, they won't have the ability to properly fight back, let alone flee.

Perks

Destruction Perk Tree Novice Skill

For this build, you'll want a 50/30/20 (Health/Magicka/Stamina) spread for your stats. This allows you to tank blows and use consistent Frost magic while having enough Stamina to power attack and carry your heavy gear. Naturally, you may want to invest more in a 1:1 ratio for Health and Magicka, in the beginning, to help you off the ground, but having some points into Stamina will benefit you in the long run.

For your perks, invest in these trees:

Destruction

Take everything in the center of Destruction, invest in the Frost branch up to Deep Freeze, and then take the right branch up to Impact.

One-Handed

Take all perks in the center of One-Handed and all of Hack and Slash.

Heavy Armor

Invest in every perk on the left branch and all perks on the right up to Tower of Strength - as you shouldn't be hit often and likely won't have a matching set.

Smithing

Include Arcane Blacksmith and take the right tree to Ebony Smithing in order to be able to🔥 craft and temper St🍃alhrim (which also means completing the Dragonborn DLC).

Enchanting

Take the left branch up to Frost Enchanter and the middle up to Extra Effect.

For a Standing Stone, you'll want to start with the Mage Stone to increase your Destruction quickly at the start, change to the Lovers' Stone for general skill progression, and then finish with the Lord Stone for general utility.

Equipment And SpellsCryomancer Gear Stalhrim Armor Nordic Axe

Fitting for their background, the Cryomancer deals with Stalhrim heavy armor that they've forged themselves. Tempered to the highest degree and enchanted with fortifications for destruction and increased Two-handed damage, they're a moving tank capable of dealing high amounts of damage while taking very little.

For a weapon, using a Stalhrim battleaxe or a similar Ebony weapon with a frost enchantment and a paralysis effect will allow for the Cryomancer to slow, if not completely freeze, their opponent while dealing serious damage. In the other hand, spells wil🥀l be equip🌊ped to deal even more damage when the opportunity presents itself.

When it comes to spells, the following should be known:

  • Frost Cloak
  • Icy Spear
  • Freeze
  • Ice Storm

All accessories like jewelry should have similar destruction and two-handed improvements like the armor set. Additional Health points or regeneration can be helpful, especially with large groups, but given the nature of the build, you shouldn't be needing healing very often; all problems should be able to be solved 𓄧with a quick potioꦍn.

The only way to learn the spell Freeze, however, is by equipping Ahzidal's Ring Of Arcana. If you prefer to use Icy Spe🍃ar, this riꦉng is not necessary.

Fighting Style

Cryomancer Fighting Style Icy Wind On Wolf

The primary strategy for this build is to equip a Frost Cloak and approach enemies by using ranged options like Freeze or Icy Spear in order to slow them down. Should your enemy still be alive by the time you reach them, finish them with a few well-powered strikes of your battleaxe.

Your Frost Cloak should help with slowing enemies surrounding you and beginning to chip away at their health while you're busy with someone else. The greatest concern here is dealing with ranged projectiles from mages and archers - primarily archers - so prioritize running toward them from the start to eliminate them from the playing field before they become an issue. Keep potions on hand for healing or invest in having regeneration enchantments on your accessories.

It is not recommended to use Blizzard, the Master Frost spell, and therefore not listed above due to its extremely slow casting time. It does deal significant damage, but you'll also likely take damage yourself while attempting to cast it.

Mod Recommendations

Cryomancer Casting Icy Spear Modded Stalhrim Armor

For a build that loves Frost magic, you'll likely want a few more unique options to cast as the spell pool is quite limited in the vanilla. Spell mods like the infamous Apocalypse - Magic of Skyrim mod are highly recommended for those wanting more spell options. Additionally, Frozen Electrocuted Combustion is a unique visual overhaul of bodies that were killed through Destruction spells. When it comes to Frost magic, corpses can be frozen solid or even encased in ice upon death.

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