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Skyrim is a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it's an epic power fantasy. For others, it's an opportunity to lose oneself in a lush world wholly unlike our own... and an epic power fantasy. Let's face it – you're going to be fighting often in this game, and loudly, and sometimes it can get a bit rote as a result.

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The best remedy for repetition is a totally fresh approach. Two-handed weaponry can change the feel of combat significantly. It's a more brutal affair, slower but mightier. Check out our thoughts on how to build the best two-handed fighter in Skyrim.

Updated November 23, 2023, by Sean Murray: It's time to take your weapon in two hands and drive it through a dragon's skull! And to help you do that, we've updated this guide with improved formatting, more breakout tips, and additional links to other helpful Skyrim topics.

Choosing A Race

Skyrim Orc In Character Creation Screen
Skyrim Orc In Character Creation Screen

In tried-and-true Elder Scrolls tradition, the story kicks off before you have the chance to customize your character. As such, invariably, someone will ask you what you look like, despite them being able to see you as they do. It's cheeky, and the contrivance is explained away by making it less about visualizing you and more about a lack of proper documentation, but it's funny nonetheless.

The obvious example of this is deciding on a race just seconds before the Imperial soldiers elect to send you to the executioner. Generally, you can get by just fine in Skyrim with any preferred build via any race of your choosing. If you wish to make a magician out of a brutish Nord, so be it. Should you desire to turn a High Elf into some sort of barbarian, by all means, don't let us stop you.

That said, certain races are far better choices for each build than others, and in the case of two-handed weapon builds, Orcs and Nords are best. What this boils down to, as is the case with most race-based build decision-making, is racial bonuses.

It's worth noting that you get a serious advantage by playing a female character. There's a quest called The Heart of Dibella in Markarth that, once completed, will give a permanent 10 percent damage bonus against the opposite sex. Enemies are more likely to be male, so female characters will make better use of this bonus.

Nords Versus Orcs

Skyrim - Nord (left) and Orc (right)

Nords

Orcs

Special Abilities

Battle Cry (Target flees for 30 seconds)

Special Abilities

Berserker Rage (Take half damage and do double damage for 60 seconds (does not apply to spells))

Resist Frost (Your Nord Blood gives you 50% resistance to frost)

Starting Spells

Flames (Destruction)

Starting Spells

Flames (Destruction)

Healing (Restoration)

Healing (Restoration)

Skill Bonuses

+10 Two-Handed

Skill Bonuses

+10 Heavy Armor

+5 Block

+5 Block

+5 One-Handed

+5 Enchanting

+5 Smithing

+5 One-Handed

+5 Speech

+5 Smithing

+5 Light Armor

+5 Two-Handed

What makes Nords and Orcs our preference for two-handed builds, then? Check this out:

Nords have a ten-point skill bonus in Two-Handed. That's perfect for us, right? You can't get much more on the nose than this. Their five-point bonuses include Smithing, which is beneficial for crafting superior weaponry as your adventure continues.

Orcs are, if anything, an even better pick. Their Two-Handed bonus is a less significant five points, whereas Heavy Armor takes the ten-point lead; but their racial ability, Berserk, allows them to take half damage and double their damage output for 60 seconds once per day.

This is incredibly handy with any build when facing off against powerful threats like dungeon bosses, but since two-handed warriors lack shields for expert blocking ability, they're all about hitting hard physically. That makes them the ideal candidates for Berserk.

Neither race's trait is especially vital to determining your two-handed pick, as Nords have a 50 percent resistance to Frost damage, and Orcs can enter Orsimer strongholds without having to prove their worth to earn the chance. Still, both have their uses. (The Nord's is arguably more useful overall.)

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Choosing A Sign (Standing Stone)

Skyrim Activating The Warrior Guardian Stone
Skyrim Activating The Warrior Guardian Stone

You'll be gaining Two-Handed and Heavy Armor skills faster with the Warrior stone activated. This is by far the simplest thing to decide upon; there's no argument to be made for Thief or Mage here. If you'd like to build the skills those stones provide boosts toward, be our guest; there's no harm in having a claymore-wielding smooth talker and/or pro alchemist. But mostly, stick with Warrior.

However, once you start to get those skills to a really high level or even max them out, there are plenty of other signs to choose from out in the world! Check out these alternatives:

Sign

Buff

Standing Stone Location

The Lady

Regenerate Health and Stamina 25% faster

Found on an island in Lake Illinalta in Falkreath Hold, north of the city of Falkreath

The Serpent

Paralyze the target for 5 seconds and do 25 points of poison damage once per day

Found on an island in the Sea of Ghosts, east of the College of Winterhold

The Steed

Carry weight +100

Found west by northwest of Solitude in Haafingar Hold, north of the Statue of Meridia

Equipped armor has no weight and causes no movement penalty

The Tower

Unlock any expert level lock (or lower) once per day

Found on a mountain in Winterhold, equidistant between the cities of Winterhold and Dawnstar

The Lover

All skills increase 15% faster

Found directly east of Markarth and only a short distance north from Kolskeggr Mine

Skills, Perks, & Leveling Up

A screenshot of the menu when it is time to level up.

As you play Skyrim, you'll earn experience towards your level and progress towards your skills. While experience works like most other video games, skills don't. You actually need to use the skill to improve it.

For each level you earn with experience, you'll be able to do two things.

  1. Boost your stamina, magicka, or health
  2. Invest a perk in a skill tree

For this build, prioritize stamina, then choose health. Your method of battle is a very stamina-intensive one, so as a general rule of thumb, we recommend you raise your stamina thrice for every health upgrade until around level 20, at which point you can freely switch to a two-to-one ratio. Around level 40, go ahead and modify it to one-to-one to get your HP boosted admirably.

It might go without saying, but if you're playing a traditional Two-Handed build as this guide is based upon, there's no reason to ever raise magicka.

Skills & Perks

Skyrim Two Handed Skill In Skill Screen
Skyrim Two Handed Skill In Skill Screen

The entire build is named after the Two-Handed skill, so it stands to reason that you'll want to prioritize leveling this up before anything else. Power leveling every skill is easy, but the two-handed skill is especially simple; just whack away with whatever two-hander you want until you've got the weapon of your dreams.

With five points in the Barbarian perk, you'll be doing double damage. Since you're not going to be getting any boosts for stealth or headshots, it's imperative that you prioritize this perk right away. If you get your next perk point before your Two-Handed skill is leveled up enough, feel free to wait until you've got a few more skill points in before spending them.

Skullcrusher applies to adventurers looking to use warhammers. Ignoring 75 percent of an enemy's armor is huge; it reduces big and burly mercenaries into manageable opponents that feel more like smacking a sorcerer. This works against light armor as well, so rogues and warriors alike will go down much easier.

Players who prefer the swing of a sword should get the Limbsplitter upgrade instead. It will add a 20% critical hit chance to any greatsword, and these critical strikes are higher than the average critical hit, according to the tooltip. This is especially useful against bosses, as getting one huge hit in every five or so swings drastically hastens the demise of tanky opponents.

You're not going to be using much tact in your confrontations, the whole idea is to charge in haphazardly. Sweep will aggravate multiple enemies at once, and you'll happily utilize a power sweep to clear out the mobs en masse.

Skill

Key Perk

Details

Ranks

Required Skill Level

Two-Handed

Barbarian

Two-handed weapons do 20% more damage (+20% per additional rank)

5

0 (+20 per additional rank)

Champion's Stance

Power attacks with two-handed weapons cost 25% less stamina

1

20

Limbsplitter

Attacks with battleaxes cause extra bleeding damage (additional ranks raise the bleeding damage)

3

30 (+30 per additional rank)

Skull Crusher

Attacks with warhammers ignore 25% of armor (+25% per additional rank)

3

30 (+30 per additional rank)

Sweep

Sideways power attacks with two-handed weapons hit all targets in front of you

1

70

Resist the urge to level One-Handed, especially early on. Enemies scale (to a point) in Skyrim, and the earlier you are, the more noticeable that will be. There are level caps for virtually every type of foe, and some (like Giants) have a set level with no fluctuations, but for the most part, your opponents will be head-to-head with you in level until at least the mid-game. As such, leveling up skills you have no long-term interest in can be detrimental.

The choice between Heavy Armor and Light Armor is, to a point, a matter of taste. We recommend Heavy Armor, as this build is ultimately about smacking fiercely and having the vitality to endure all those counter-smacks.

Skill

Key Perk

Details

Ranks

Required Skill Level

Heavy Armor

Juggernaut

Increases armor rating for Heavy Armor by 20% (+20% per additional rank)

5

0 (+20 per additional rank)

Well Fitted

25% Armor bonus if wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet.

1

30

Tower of Strength

50% less stagger when wearing only Heavy Armor.

1

50

Conditioning

Heavy Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn.

1

70

Reflect Blows

10% chance to reflect melee damage back to the enemy while wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet.

1

100

The Block skill tree is primarily centered on the basis of playing a One-Handed build, as numerous perks concern shields, which you won't be using. That said, there are several useful perks that will work just fine with you blocking via your two-handed weapon, so consider investing.

Skill

Key Perk

Details

Ranks

Required Skill Level

Block

Shield Wall

Blocking is 20% more effective (+5% per additional rank)

5

0 (+20 per additional rank)

Quick Reflexes

Time slows down if you are blocking during an enemy's power attack

1

30

Block Runner

Able to move faster with a shield or weapon raised

1

70

Smithing is a must. This is the bread and butter of your advancements in damage-dealing. Other than the Arcane Blacksmith perk, which lets you improve magical weapons and armor, all the perks let you make/improve a new type of armor and weapons.

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Weapons: Greatsword, Warhammer, or Battleaxe?

Skyrim Wuuthrad with two handed ax

Greatsword

Warhammer

Battleaxe

Fast swing

Slow swing

Medium swing

Least damage

Most damage

Medium damage

When choosing between a warhammer, greatsword, or battleaxe, consider the speed of its swing and the amount of damage it can do with one swing! It may just come down to personal preference, but you should be informed going in.

Once you know what type you want, you can hunt down the ideal weapon.

The Longhammer

Weapon

Type

Weight

Base Damage

Bonus

The Longhammer

Warhammer

18

21

Swings 30% faster

There are two-handed weapons that have a higher base damage by a few points, but the Longhammer has been imbued to swing 30 percent faster. Factor in that it only weighs 18 units and this thing is a blur in battle. Don't be too confused, there is a generic weapon also called The Longhammer in the game, but you're looking for a unique, legendary variety. Check the Liar's Retreat cave, located northeast of Karthwasten.

Without revealing any spoilers, it's next to a body there. For more specific hints, we have a nice guide that details how to get the best weapons in the game.

Volendrung

Weapon

Type

Weight

Base Damage

Bonus

Volendrung

Warhammer

26

25

Absorbs 50 points of stamina

If you want more punch in your warhammer and don't mind a slow striker, we recommend the Volendrung. Though it doesn't swing as fast, it does absorb your opponent's stamina. This is a Daedric artifact, forged by the Dwemer, that also goes by the name "Hammer of Might."

You can only get it from Malacath himself as a reward for completing the quest The Cursed Tribe. We have a walkthrough of the quest if you need it here.

Wuuthrad

Weapon

Type

Weight

Base Damage

Bonus

Wuuthrad

Battleaxe

25

25

Especially deadly to elves

Wuuthrad's special ability is to do extra damage to any elves (Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, and Falmer). However, it's rather unique! For the other weapons listed here, their bonus is an enchantment. For Wuuthrad, this extra damage to elves isn't technically an enchantment, so you can add one yourself and get all the benefits of both.

This is the weapon wielded by the hero Ysgramor, and it can only be obtained by joining the Companions and working through their questline. The battleaxe is used as a quest item at one point, but you can then go back and pick it up again.

The Bloodskal Blade

Weapon

Type

Weight

Base Damage

Bonus

The Bloodskal Blade

Greatsword

16

21

Power attacks deal 30 damage in a wave

Requires the Dragonborn DLC.

For those looking to swing a sword, take a gander at the Bloodskal Blade, which weighs an incredible 16 units for equally quick swings. The damage wave from the power attacks is phenomenal against groups as it not only deals 30 damage in a wave but staggers everything except for bosses.

It's on the body of Gratian Caerellius during the quest called 'The Final Descent' in the appropriately named Bloodskal Barrow. Begin this quest in Raven Rock.

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Armor: Stalhrim or Daedric?

Skyrim split image featuring Steel Plate Armor to the left, Daedric Armor in the middle and Glass Armor to the right

Armor

Weight

Defense

Bonus

Daedric Armor

96

108

None

Stalhrim Armor

64

102

25% resistance against Frost

There isn't anything fancy about Daedric Armor, it's just the best armor in the game in terms of, well, armor. You'll be shrugging off even the largest haymakers. You can buy pieces of this set from the Dremora Merchant, kill revered and legendary dragons that have a high chance of dropping them, or hit level 49, after which enemies will drop these pieces regularly.

The Stalhrim Armor is only six points off of the Daedric Armor, but it's 42 units lighter, so those looking to keep some of their mobility will enjoy this as a benefit. Also, it has 25% resistance to Frost effects. This armor can be purchased (Baldor Iron-Shaper in Skaal Village and Glover Mallory in Raven Rock both sell it), and it can also be found. There is a light armor variant of this also called the Stalhrim Armor, so don't be fooled!

What about Madness Armor? Admittedly, its existence in your file eradicates our above recommendations. But it's only available through Anniversary Edition, or by purchasing the Creation Club content 'Saints and Seducers' individually.

If this applies to you, be on the lookout for Madness Ore in dungeon boss treasure chests. You can also purchase the relevant materials through Ri'sad, a Khajit merchant, following completion of the quest 'Balance of Power' in the 'Saints and Seducers' quest chain.

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Potions & Poisons

A featured image for Skyrim featuring all the unique potions in the game

Never underestimate the value of a good potion. If you have the time to harvest all those resources and/or the extra skill points to spare, Alchemy is a great place to invest them! You can build almost any potion or poison you can imagine through this system, so we thought we'd list a few beneficial effects and a few ingredients you could use to get them.

Effect

Ingredients

Damage Health

  • Crimson Nirnroot
  • Deathbell
  • Falmer Ear
  • Void Salts
  • River Betty
  • Red Mountain Flower

Damage Magicka

  • Human Heart
  • Butterfly Wing
  • Daedra Heart
  • Flow Dust
  • Hagraven Feathers
  • Chaurus Eggs

Resist Magic

  • Aster Bloom Core
  • Bleeding Crown
  • Chicken Egg
  • Crimson Nirnroot
  • Hawk's Egg
  • Lavender
  • Nirnroot
  • Tundra Cotton
  • Void Salts

Fortify Block

  • Bleeding Crown
  • Briar Heart
  • Honeycomb
  • Pearl
  • Tundra Cotton
  • Slaughterfish Scales

Fortify Health

  • Bear Claws
  • Blue Mountain Flower
  • Giant's Toe
  • Glowing Mushroom
  • Wheat
  • Hanging Moss

Fortify Heavy Armor

  • Ice Wraith Teeth
  • Sabre Cat Tooth
  • Slaughterfish Scales
  • White Cap
  • Thistle Branch

Fortify Stamina

  • Boar Tusk
  • Garlic
  • Chaurus Eggs
  • Large Antlers
  • Lavender
  • Torchbug Thorax

Restore Stamina

  • Bee
  • Bear Claws
  • Goldfish
  • Hawk Beak
  • Honeycomb
  • Pearl
  • Pine Thrush Egg
  • Small Pearl
  • Salmon Roe
  • Sabre Cat Tooth
  • Purple Mountain Flower

Regenerate Health

  • Garlic
  • Juniper Berries
  • Vampire Dust
  • Luna Moth Wing
  • Nordic Barnacle

Restore Health

  • Blisterwort
  • Blue Dartwing
  • Blue Mountain Flower
  • Daedra Heart
  • Imp Stool
  • Wheat
  • Spadefish

Slow

  • Deathbell
  • Large Antlers
  • Salt Pile
  • River Betty
  • Burnt Spriggan Wood
  • Bungler's Bane
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Followers

Skyrim - dragonborn and followers wearing shields on their backs

The followers that best benefit you are the ones who are quicker on their feet. Ideally, they also attack from far away, but that isn't essential. You should also consider whether you plan on committing a lot of crimes, because followers have different morality levels.

These are the ones we recommend:

Name

Class

Morality

Max Level

Aranea Ienith

Mage

Will commit any crime

30

Jenassa

Ranger

Will commit any crime

40

Aela the Huntress

Ranger

Will refuse to commit crimes, but will not report crimes you commit unless you steal from her

50

Ralis Sedarys

Rogue

Will refuse to commit crimes, but will not report crimes you commit unless you steal from him

60

Serana

Vampire

Will refuse to commit crimes, but will not report crimes you commit unless you steal from him

50

Valdimar

Sorcerer

Will commit any crime

50

Teldryn Sero

Spellsword

Will commit any crime

60

Have a blast charging headlong into danger, berserkers!

Next: Skyrim: Complete Guide And Walkthrough