SkyrimVSE:Combat

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This page describes in detail how combat works in Skyrim Very Special Edition. It includes information about skill progression, a list of all weapons, spells, and shouts in the game, and text used when attacking and killing enemies with them.

There are three skills: Arms, Magic, and Shout.

Skills

Each Skill gains 1 XP each time it is used in Combat. After a certain number of uses, the Skill advances to the next level.

Skill Level	XP to Next Level
1	1
2	1
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	6
8	7
9	8
10	9
11	9
12	10
13	12
14	11
15	13
16	14
17	14
18	15
19	16
20	17
21	18
22	19

Arms

"Your skill with arms has increased to Level <Level>."

When you level up the Arms skill, after defeating an enemy, you loot a new melee weapon from them. None of these descriptors have any effect on your attacks. The Weapon will sometimes not have an Enchantment. Your attack descriptions will match the weapon type you have equipped. As an example, you may see "Your Dagger pierces the Adoring Fan."

• "You ignore the useless junk in the <Enemy>'s inventory and find a <Quality> <Material> <Type> <Enchantment>. Oooh, shiny!"
• "You loot the <Enemy>'s remains, find a <Quality> <Material> <Type> <Enchantment>, and cast aside your old weapon."

Weapons

• Battleaxe

Attack: "chops", "hacks", "rends"

Kill: "cleaves", "decapitates", "terminates"

• Dagger

Attack: "cuts", "pierces", "slashes", "slices", "stabs"

Kill: "eviscerates", "pierces the chest of", "slices into"

• Greatsword

Attack: "carves", "cleaves", "slashes", "strikes"

Kill: "brutally slashes", "decapitates", "viciously cleaves"

• Mace

Attack: "bashes", "pounds", "pummels", "sunders"

Kill: "thoroughly pounds", "utterly crushes"

• Sword

Attack: "carves", "pierces", "slashes", "strikes"

Kill: "cuts deeply into", "digs into", "impales"

• War Axe

Attack: "chops", "hacks", "rends", "slashes"

Kill: "slashes deeply into", "viciously rends"

Descriptors

Qualities	Materials	Enchantments
Epic Fine Flawless Legendary Superior	Iron Steel Orcish Dwarven	of Arcing of Burning of Embers of Flames of Scorching of Shocks of Thunderbolts

Weapon Progression

The arms level is the earliest observed level where the specified weapon may be acquired. At most one weapon is acquired per level.

Arms Level	Weapon
1	Dagger
3	Flawless Iron Battleaxe
3	Superior Iron Greatsword
6	Legendary Iron Dagger of Sparks
6	Legendary Iron War Axe
7	Legendary Iron Battleaxe of Embers
7	Legendary Iron Greatsword of Sparks
10	Fine Steel Sword
10	Steel Greatsword
10	Steel Sword
11	Fine Steel War Axe
11	Superior Steel Sword
11	Superior Steel War Axe
13	Flawless Steel Dagger
13	Flawless Steel Mace
15	Legendary Steel Dagger
16	Legendary Steel Greatsword of Embers
17	Legendary Steel Mace of Burning
17	Legendary Steel Sword of Arcing
17	Legendary Steel War Axe of Burning
18	Legendary Steel Battleaxe of Shocks
18	Legendary Steel Dagger of Scorching
19	Fine Orcish Battleaxe
19	Orcish Battleaxe
19	Orcish Sword
20	Fine Orcish Dagger
20	Fine Orcish Mace
20	Superior Orcish Dagger
21	Superior Orcish Battleaxe
21	Superior Orcish Mace
22	Epic Orcish Battleaxe
22	Epic Orcish War Axe
24	Legendary Orcish Mace
24	Legendary Orcish War Axe of Arcing
25	Legendary Orcish Battleaxe of Burning
25	Legendary Orcish Dagger of Arcing
26	Legendary Orcish Battleaxe of Scorching
26	Legendary Orcish Mace of Thunderbolts
27	Legendary Orcish Greatsword of Thunderbolts
28	Dwarven Greatsword
28	Dwarven Sword
29	Fine Dwarven Sword
30	Superior Dwarven Dagger
31	Flawless Dwarven Battleaxe
31	Flawless Dwarven Mace
33	Legendary Dwarven Dagger
33	Legendary Dwarven Sword
34	Legendary Dwarven Battleaxe of Arcing
34	Legendary Dwarven Dagger of Arcing
35	Legendary Dwarven Dagger of Shocks
36	Legendary Dwarven Battleaxe of Thunderbolts
36	Legendary Dwarven Mace of Thunderbolts
38	Fine Nordh War Axe
39	Superior Nordh Dagger
40	Flawless Nordh Sword
41	Epic Nordh Dagger
42	Legendary Nordh Sword of Shocks
43	Legendary Nordh Battleaxe of Shocks
43	Legendary Nordh Mace of Thunderbolts
45	Elven Sword
45	Legendary Nordh War Axe
46	Fine Elven Battleaxe
47	Fine Elven Greatsword
47	Superior Elven Dagger
50	Epic Elven Dagger
51	Legendary Elven Dagger
51	Legendary Elven Sword of Scorching
52	Legendary Elven Mace of Shocks
52	Legendary Elven Sword of Flames
57	Superior Glass War Axe
58	Epic Glass War Axe
59	Epic Glass Dagger
59	Legendary Glass War Axe
60	Legendary Glass Greatsword
62	Legendary Glass Dagger of Flames
62	Legendary Glass Sword of Flames
62	Legendary Glass War Axe of Flames
63	Legendary Glass Mace
63	Legendary Glass Sword
64	Fine Stalhrim Mace
64	Fine Stalhrim War Axe
65	Fine Stalhrim Greatsword
65	Superior Stalhrim Greatsword
66	Superior Stalhrim Dagger
66	Superior Stalhrim War Axe
67	Flawless Stalhrim Dagger
68	Epic Stalhrim Battleaxe
68	Legendary Stalhrim War Axe
69	Legendary Stalhrim Battleaxe
69	Legendary Stalhrim Dagger
70	Legendary Stalhrim Sword of Thunderbolts
71	Legendary Stalhrim Sword
72	Legendary Stalhrim Battleaxe of Storms
72	Legendary Stalhrim Dagger of Storms
73	Ebony Sword
73	Ebony War Axe
75	Flawless Ebony Dagger
75	Superior Ebony Greatsword
76	Epic Ebony Dagger
77	Epic Ebony War Axe
78	Legendary Ebony Dagger
78	Legendary Ebony Mace of Thunderbolts
79	Legendary Ebony Greatsword
80	Legendary Ebony War Axe
80	Legendary Ebony War Axe of the Inferno
81	Daedric Sword
81	Legendary Ebony War Axe of Storms
82	Daedric Greatsword
82	Fine Daedric Greatsword
83	Superior Daedric Dagger
85	Epic Daedric War Axe
85	Flawless Daedric Mace
86	Legendary Daedric Mace
87	Legendary Daedric Greatsword of Flames
89	Legendary Daedric Battleaxe of Storms
89	Legendary Daedric War Axe
90	Legendary Daedric Sword of Storms
92	Fine Dragonbone Dagger
92	Superior Dragonbone War Axe
93	Flawless Dragonbone Battleaxe
93	Flawless Dragonbone Dagger
94	Flawless Dragonbone Greatsword
95	Legendary Dragonbone War Axe
96	Legendary Dragonbone Battleaxe
97	Legendary Dragonbone Mace
98	Legendary Dragonbone Sword
99	UNDEFINED UNDEFINED UNDEFINED UNDEFINED UNDEFINED

Magic

"Your Magicka swells with arcane power. Your Magic Skill has increased to Level <Level>."

When you choose to use your Magic skill, you will randomly cast one of your known spells. As you level up, you add new spells to your spell list.

Spell Progression

The spell level is the earliest observed level where the specified spell is available.

Spell Level	Spell
1	Flames
2	Frostbite
3	Raised Zombie
4	Sparks
5	Conjured Familiar
10	Lightning Bolt
10	Firebolt
10	Ice Spike
15	Bound Sword
20	Lightning Rune
20	Frost Rune
20	Fire Rune
25	Bound Bow
30	Ice Storm
30	Fireball
30	Chain Lightning
45	Conjured Storm Atronach
50	Flame Cloak
50	Frost Cloak
50	Lightning Cloak
55	Whirlwind Cloak
60	Incinerate
60	Thunderbolt
60	Icy Spear
65	Flaming Familiar
70	Wall of Storms
75	Spectral Arrow
80	Fire Storm
80	Lightning Storm
80	Blizzard
99	Summoned Arniel's Shade

Shout

"Your Thu'um grows mighty! Your Shout Skill has increased to Level <Level>."

"Your Shout Skill has increased to Level <Level>. You now command <Shout>."

As you level, your Shouts level up, and you learn new Shouts. When using the Shout skill, you will randomly use one of the shouts you know at that level.

Unrelenting Force

Attack:

• "Unrelenting Force smashes into your foe."
• "Your mighty shout slams the <Enemy> into the dirt."
• "Your mighty Thu'um crashes into your foe."
• "Your Unrelenting Force throws the <Enemy> back, staggering it."
• "Your Unrelenting Force tosses the <Enemy> into the air. [he/she/it] crashes to the ground."

Kill:

• "The <Enemy> croaks one last breath, defeated. Your shout echoes all the way to Sovngarde."
• "The <Enemy> never gets back up. That's what you get for messing with the Dovahkiin."
• "The <Enemy> struggles to get up, briefly, then expires. Good riddance."

Fire Breath

Attack:

• "Fire Breath bellows from you, searing the <Enemy>."
• "Your Fire Breath burns the <Enemy>."
• "Your shout becomes fire, scorching the <Enemy>."

Kill:

• "[he/she/it] bursts into flames, then collapses defeated."
• "[he/she/it] crumbles into a smoldering pile. That takes care of that."
• "[he/she/it] just [sic] a pile of foul-smelling ash now."

Frost Breath

Attack:

• "Frost breath rushes forth towards the <Enemy>."
• "Your breath is an icy gale which cuts into the <Enemy>."
• "Your icy breath chills the <Enemy> to the bone."
• "Your shout is a frozen wind. It slams into the <Enemy>."

Kill:

• "[he/she/it]'s frozen solid, a threat no more."
• "sealing [him/her/it] in ice."
• "transforming [him/her/it] into a pillar of solid ice."
• "You freeze [him/her/it] solid with an expression of disappointment on [his/her/its] face for all eternity."

Cyclone

Attack:

• "A tornado of deadly wind rushes from you into the <Enemy>."
• "Your Cyclone throws the <Enemy> upwards."
• "Your voice is [sic] crashes into the <Enemy> like a cyclone."

Kill:

• "[he/she/it] thrashes in the wind and slams back to the ground, defeated."
• "Your might [sic] voice is so strong that the <Enemy> ragdolls forever."

Drain Vitality

Attack:

• "Drain Vitality saps the strength of the <Enemy>."
• "Your Drain Vitality sucks the very essence from your foe."
• "Your voice is a torrent of vicious magical energy. It collides with the <Enemy>."

Kill:

• "The malignant power of your Thu'um overwhelms [him/her/it]. [he/she/it] is no more."

Shout Progression

The shout level is the level at which the specified shout is learned. When using the Shout skill, you will randomly use one of the shouts you know.

Shout Level	Shout
1	Fus!
3	Fus Roh!
6	Fus Roh Dah!
8	Yol!
10	Yol Toor!
13	Yol Toor Shul!
15	Fo!
17	Fo Krah!
20	Fo Krah Diin!
22	Ven!
24	Ven Gaar!
27	Ven Gaar Nos!
29	Gaan!
31	Gaan Lah!
34	Gaan Lah Haas!
36	Strun!
38	Strun Bah!
41	Strun Bah Qo!
43	Ri!
45	Ri Vaaz!
48	Ri Vaaz Zoll!
50	Od!
60	Od Ah!
70	Od Ah Viing!
80	Hun!
90	Hun Kaal!
99	Hun Kaal Zoor!

Flee

These are the messages that appear when you attempt to flee. You cannot flee from a boss battle.

Success

If you succeed, you move on to choosing the next path.

• "The mighty dragonborn manages to scamper off successfully."
• "The mighty dragonborn runs from his fight. You won't be relaying this tale to the bards any time soon."
• "You flee successfully. All's well that ends well, you suppose."
• "You make your escape and live to fight another day."
• "You make your escape, unscathed."
• "You scamper off with your tail between your legs. No need to mention this to anyone."
• "You successfully turn tail and run away with your dignity intact. Mostly intact."

Failure

If your attempt fails, you receive damage.

• "As you turn to make your escape, you trip over a rock. The <Enemy> attacks before you can make your escape."
• "Skyrim's chosen one runs away, but the <Enemy> attacks before you can make your escape."
• "The mighty Dovahkiin turns tail and runs, but the <Enemy> attacks before you can make your escape."
• "You attempt a tactical retreat, but the <Enemy> attacks before you can make your escape."
• "Your clean getaway leaves much to be desired. The <Enemy> attacks before you can make your escape."
• "Your clumsy attempt to escape fails. The <Enemy> attacks before you can make your escape."

Boss

Although you cannot flee from a boss, you do not take any damage for trying the option.

• "No true hero of Skyrim would flee in the face of a boss battle."
• "There is no turning back now. You must face this final threat."
• "You consider fleeing, then remember that you are Dovahkiin. And that you really want that quest reward."