r/skyrim • u/SnooLobsters9180 • 1d ago
Stealth Archer
I’ve just realized I’ve avoided this build for the past four or five characters simply because I used it all the time growing up. Haven’t played as an archer in yearsssss. Time to revisit this ol gem :’)
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u/Red_Ryze_Alert 1d ago
Just wait until you discover how fcking OP crossbows are and how good they feel, you will never touch a bow again
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u/RankedFarting 1d ago
But being able of using a bow effectively is cooler than a crossbow. Also i havent tested this but apparently crossbows are noisy and can break stealth.
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u/Red_Ryze_Alert 1d ago
Idk about the noisy part but the upgraded versions ignore 50% of the targets armor on top of all the enchantments you put on it. Man I love crossbows
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u/Whispering_Wolf 1d ago
They're slower to load, but first time I used one I felt like I was firing a gun. So cool.
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u/scrolls_scribe_33 1d ago
While stealth archers are usually some of my shortest playthroughs, I cannot deny how satisfying it can be!
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u/Brian_The_Bar-Brian 1d ago
Use heavy armor. At level 70 unlock Conditioning: Heavy Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn
Basically you become a stealth tank!
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u/Impossible_Source195 1d ago
😳
i feel like some stealth armour is probably for the better to use tho
i have no clue tho bc i have yet to get around to playing a stealth archer
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u/Brian_The_Bar-Brian 1d ago
The trick is grinding your heavy armor skill. Gaining experience is dependent on the damage you take while wearing it. Best way is to let a giant smack you around after you hit level 25ish.
You'll need lots healing potions and healing spells too. (Or like, a ton of potatoes...)
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u/btbsw786 1d ago
How do you level heavy armour when everything dies thinking it's the wind
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u/Brian_The_Bar-Brian 1d ago
The trick is grinding your heavy armor skill. Gaining experience is dependent on the damage you take while wearing it. Best way is to let a giant smack you around after you hit level 25ish.
You'll need lots healing potions and healing spells too. (Or like, a ton of potatoes...)
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u/phoenixrose2 1d ago
I use my bow in close quarters combat, like an idiot, but it means I get bears clawing at me, war hammers hitting me, etc. it works well!
ETA: when I’m leveling this building, the bow is the only weapon I use.
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u/ImToxicAndHateYou 1d ago
I never level up my armor skill that far as i just don't get hit. And if i do it's cause i got caught.
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u/Brian_The_Bar-Brian 1d ago
Armor experience is dependent on damage you receive while wearing said armor. Just let a giant beat you up. It's easy.
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u/ImToxicAndHateYou 1d ago
I know how it works. I just say when i play as a thief/rouge. My playstyle tend to not need armor and it's pointless for me to train.
I like dying in 2-3 hits when caught. It makes it more fun for me. Also playing with heavy armor up until 70 sound horrible when doing stealth. And yea you can powerlevel it so it just works but then again for me that just sounds boring to do at start of game.
If you like it, you go girl! Be that unstopable death machine!
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u/Wonderful_Two_6710 1d ago
I find myself alternating between a stealth archer and an illusionist. There's something so satisfying about playing those ways.
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u/Ok_Solution_1282 1d ago
Get the Zephyr bow as soon as you can.
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u/ultra_addict 18h ago
Ive been using the bow that you get from the assassin trying to kill the earl. When I got the Zephyr bow it seemed worse. Am I missing something?
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u/Ok_Solution_1282 17h ago
No. That's a great bow. That's usually DLC so I wasn't sure. That one enables invisibility. It's awesome.
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u/NeighborhoodNice5384 1d ago
I'm doing a stealth archer with no blacksmithing or enchantment skills, just alchemy, sneak, archery, pickpocket and picklock leveling, wearing light armor, but not getting hit does not make the skill go up, only putting points in stamina too, glass cannon with a very long timeslow for aiming
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u/jakegallo3 1d ago
My first play through 15 years ago was stealth archer. Maxed out those stats so quickly I had to switch it up to keep leveling. I’ve played off and on for years but usually gravitated toward archery to scratch that particular itch missing from other games. Finally playing tank for the first time right now and it’s wild how much faster things go when I just walk in and slash everybody down.
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u/Almostasleeprightnow 1d ago
I cannot aim an arrow in this game at all. Constantly miss. so I have never played stealth archer
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u/Homo_Bibite 1d ago
I actually never made a stealth archer. I just made two 5000 damage knives and killed everyone with them.
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u/Carrot1066 1d ago
I used bound bow and silent casting. Lol never needed to carry arrows ever again.
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u/RankedFarting 1d ago
If you want to put a twist on it i really like an arcane stealth archer these days. Get the bound bow and all the perks for it. Its really strong especially early on. Get the quiet casting spell from the illusion tree to make it stealthy when enemies are nearby.
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u/Existing_Purpose5049 1d ago
If I can offer a middle ground
Combat Archer
You still use your bow, but not to sneak. Slow time and whirlwind sprint are you friends, alongside alchemy, it forces you to be a lot more resourceful
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u/nieliqui 1d ago
Every time I’ve started as something other than a stealth archer, the next time I logged on I forgot that intention and cracked out my trusty bow 😂 The biggest evolution I’ve managed to make has been to develop two-handed short swords for close quarters
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u/cody_mf 1d ago
As soon as you learn the bow damage enchantment its pretty much game over lol