What to Expect After Reaching Level 100 in Skyrim: Skills, Completion, and Armor Tips

Skyrim: Level 100 and Beyond – So You Think You’ve Conquered Tamriel? Think Again.

Ah, Skyrim. The land of dragons, draugr, and decadent sweet rolls. You’ve spent hours roaming its snowy peaks, exploring its dusty dungeons, and maybe you’ve reached that level 100 in a skill or two. Congrats, Dragonborn. You’ve moved from ‘Novice’ to… reality. Your journey is far from over. Hitting level 100 in Skyrim is more of a cheeky nudge from Bethesda, saying, “You thought you were done? Bless your heart.”

Reaching Level 100 in Skills: The Gateway to Godhood (Almost)

Let’s discuss that triple-digit milestone in skills. You’ve swung your sword, brewed potions that mimic swamp water, or maybe you just enjoy picking locks. Finally, that number beside your skill reads ‘100’. Confetti cannons, right? Not really. Skyrim’s idea of celebration is more… existential.

What Happens at 100? The Legendary Transformation

After maxing a skill at 100, the game gives you a choice. You can make that skill… Legendary. Sounds epic, huh? Like unlocking a superpower. In a way, you do. But Skyrim’s sense of ‘epic’ is brutally pragmatic.

Legendary Skills: The Great Reset Button of Power

Making a skill Legendary means Skyrim says, “Okay, you’ve mastered this. Now, do it again.” It’s the ultimate form of skill-based Groundhog Day, with more dragons. Here’s what going Legendary means:

• Skill Reset to Level 15: Yes, all that grinding, those hours spent crafting iron daggers, drop to 15. It’s like the game pats you on the head and says, “Good job. Now start over.” It’s not so bad. Okay, maybe a little. But bear with me.
• Perk Points Refunded: Here’s the silver lining. All those perk points in the now-legendary skill tree? Poof! They are refunded and ready to be redistributed like gold in a dragon attack (minus the flames, please). This is the genius of the Legendary system. It’s not just about grinding; it’s about character evolution.

So, why reset a skill you’ve worked hard on? Madness? Maybe. But there is method in that madness.

Level Cap and Progression: The Infinite Staircase to Power (Kind Of)

Forget what you knew about level caps in Skyrim. In the old days (pre-version 1.9 update), there was a level cap. A solid wall that said, “Nope, that’s it. No more strength.” Thankfully, those days ended.

No More Level Ceilings: The Open Sky of Progression

In its infinite wisdom (or maybe to appease power-seeking players), Skyrim removed the level cap. Hallelujah! This means you can theoretically level up… forever? Almost.

The “Legendary” System: Your Leveling Treadmill to Glory

The “Legendary” system is the key to this endless progression. It allows skills to reset to 15, but crucially, it lets you level them again. Each time a skill levels up, it contributes to your overall level. By making skills Legendary, you unlock continuous leveling, theoretically, forever.

• Indefinite Leveling: Embrace the Grind (If You Dare): The level system is ingeniously designed for constant skill development with this Legendary mechanic. Want to see how far you can go? Skyrim is your oyster, albeit a grindy one.
• Perk Point Bonanza: Become a Perk Point Powerhouse: You remember those refunded perk points? Leveling again means you earn more perk points. This is the real magic. You can swoop these points into other skills, essentially becoming a jack-of-all-trades, master of… well, more than before. Wanna be a stealthy archer who dabbles in heavy armor? Go Legendary and grow your perk point empire.

Theoretical Maximum Level: A Number Too Big to Care About

For the very obsessed among you, there is a theoretical maximum level in Skyrim. Brace yourselves… it’s 65,535. Yes, really. Reaching this level through normal gameplay is as likely as spotting a polite mudcrab. It’s statistically possible, but practically, you’d need to commit your life—possibly your descendants’—to achieve it. So, while there’s a ceiling, Skyrim’s leveling is effectively limitless. Focus on enjoying your journey, not chasing a number that’s more theoretical than real.

Achieving 100% Completion: The Everest of Gaming To-Do Lists

You’ve conquered level 100 skills. But have you truly conquered Skyrim? Ah, completionists. You unique, slightly crazy beings. For you, level 100 is just a step toward unadulterated 100% completion. But what does that mean in a vast game like Skyrim?

Time Investment: Prepare for a Skyrim Sabbatical

Let’s be honest. A true 100% run of Skyrim is no weekend project. We’re talking serious commitment. Consider it a part-time job, but instead of a paycheck, you’ll feel immense satisfaction. Estimates vary, but a realistic timeframe for 100% completion, including all quests and reaching a decent level (say, 50), could easily hit 500 hours or more. Yes, five hundred hours. That’s roughly 20 days of nonstop Skyrim play. Stock up on snacks and inform your loved ones.

Elements of 100% Completion: The Checklist of Dragonborn Domination

Breaking down the 100% completion challenge is complex. Here’s a list of components of the ultimate Skyrim checklist:

• All Quests: The Quest for Quests: This is big. Skyrim is packed with quests. Main quests, side quests, faction quests, Daedric quests, radiant quests that multiply like gremlins… Completing every quest is monumental. Estimates for quest completion range from 150 to over 300 hours. Bring snacks.
• Reaching Level 50: Achievement Unlocked (Eventually): For achievement hunters, reaching level 50 is key. It’s required for certain achievements and serves as a benchmark of your Skyrim journey. Focusing on achievements likely takes about 70 hours to hit level 50 and earn those digital badges.

Additional Completionist Goals: Beyond the Basics (Into the Obsessive)

But wait, there’s more! For dedicated completionists, simply doing all quests and reaching level 50 is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a wealth of optional goals waiting. Consider these ‘extra credit’ assignments:

• Become Thane of All Holds: The Jarl Whisperer: Charm every Jarl in Skyrim and become Thane of every hold. It’s like collecting political badges, but with responsibilities and less catchy music.
• Own All City Houses: Real Estate Mogul of Skyrim: Become a property tycoon. Buy every house in key cities. Decorate them lavishly, but likely never visit them again since you’re busy saving the world. Still, owning them counts.
• Stewards for All Hearthfire Homes: Delegate Like a Dragonborn CEO:If you’ve embraced the Hearthfire DLC and built homes, you need stewards for each. Who has time to manage estates when dragons are out there? Exactly.
• the idea.
• The Adopted Family Saga: Heartwarming (and Time-Consuming) Domesticity: Adopt a boy and a girl from the streets. Skip the orphanage for more street cred. Shower them with gifts. Get them a pet. Let them have virtual childhoods while you fight ancient evils. This takes time to find all those gifts.
• Werewolf Cure and Back Again: Lycanthropic Limbo: Embrace your beast side, become a werewolf, howl at the moon, maybe eat a bandit or two. Cure yourself with a Hagraven head for completion’s sake. Experience both sides of the lycanthropy coin. It’s part of the complete experience, right?

Achieving 100% completion in Skyrim is a marathon. It shows dedication, patience, and a love for virtual checklists. For those craving digital domination, it’s the ultimate goal. Remember to blink and step outside for fresh air. Tamriel will still be there when you return.

Leveling Skills Quickly: The Art of the Grind (and Some Sneaky Tricks)

Let’s be honest. Leveling skills in Skyrim feels like watching stubborn paint dry. But aspiring level-maxers, fear not! There are ways to expedite this process. Turn the slow crawl into a brisk jog. Here are methods for quick skill ascension:

Destruction: Unleash the Storm (and Your Inner Spell-Spammer)

Want your Destruction skill to burn brightly? Here’s the scorched-earth approach:

• “Unbound Storm” Fast Travel Frenzy: Dust off that “Unbound Storm” spell you picked up in Hob’s Fall Cave. Here’s a cheesy but effective trick: cast “Unbound Storm” while fast-traveling. The spell continues to deal damage during fast travel, racking up experience. Fast travel between Whiterun and Riften a few times, and watch your Destruction skill skyrocket.
• Horseback Spell Spamming (or Essential Enemy Exploitation): Find a sturdy horse (preferably one you don’t like) or an essential enemy. Then, spam your strongest Destruction spells at them. They won’t mind too much, and your skill will rise. Just maybe apologize to the horse afterward.
• -25% Destruction Cost Enchantment Stacking: For the true spell-spammer, enchanting is your friend. Enchant four pieces of armor with -25% Destruction cost. This reduces the spell cost by 100%. You’ve achieved infinite spellcasting. Go forth and incinerate everything responsibly.

Smithing: Crafting Your Way to the Top (One Iron Dagger at a Time… Or Not)

Smithing feels like a slow burn, but the right approach can forge you to level 100 quickly:

• Crafting Items (Duh, But Smart Crafting Matters): Yes, crafting items levels up Smithing. Groundbreaking. Focus on high-value items that yield excellent experience compared to their cost. Jewelry and high-value armor pieces are efficient. There’s charm in leveling Smithing by causing an iron dagger glut.

Alchemy: Potion Brewing Bonanza (Even the Useless Ones Count)

Alchemy is simple: brew any potions. Even useless ones. The game rewards you for the act, not the potion’s effectiveness. Grab every ingredient and start mixing. Experiment with combinations, discover recipes, and watch your Alchemy skill bubble to 100.

Enchanting: The Magic of Imbuing (Even Simple Enchantments Help)

Enchanting levels by… enchanting items. Again, revolutionary. Basic enchantments on simple items count. Grab petty soul gems and iron daggers and enchant away. Banish Daedra, turn undead, fortify health – whatever floats your boat. Each enchantment moves you closer to level 100.

Lockpicking: Embrace Your Inner Burglar (and Those Sweet, Sweet Tumblers)

Lockpicking levels by… picking locks. The more locks you pick, the faster your skill rises. Tougher locks yield more experience. Attempt to open every lock you see, even novice-level chests. Failure is part of the process, and even broken lockpicks contribute to experience. It’s tough love from the skill tree.

Sneak: Shadowy Shenanigans (and Backstabbing for Fun and Profit)

Sneak levels by… sneaking and performing sneak attacks. Find a secluded spot with unsuspecting NPCs. Crouch, enter sneak mode, and practice stealth. Backstabbing unsuspecting enemies is a fun way to level up Sneak, and it’s also cathartic.

Illusion and Alteration: Mind Games and Reality Warping (Repeatedly)

Illusion and Alteration spells level by… repeatedly casting. Spells like “Muffle” (Illusion) and “Detect Life” (Alteration) are excellent for this. “Muffle” makes footsteps silent, and you can spam it while running. “Detect Life” reveals creatures nearby. Cheap to cast, these spells provide steady skill experience.

Guardian Stones: The Buffs That Keep on Buffing

Don’t forget the Guardian Stones! Located near Riverwood, they offer buffs, including a 20% (or 30% with the Lover Stone) increase for skill progression. The Warrior Stone boosts combat skills, Mage Stone boosts magic skills, Thief Stone boosts stealth skills. Activating them accelerates progress. It’s Skyrim’s way of saying, “Here, have a boost. Now get back to grinding.”

Leveling skills quickly in Skyrim blends strategic choices and repetitive actions. That’s the beauty of RPGs. Embrace the grind and try new methods, and you’ll soon gaze upon glorious triple-digit skill numbers.

Best Armor: Dressing for Success (and Dragon Encounters)

In Skyrim, armor isn’t just about fashion. It’s about survival. It’s about standing toe-to-toe with dragons and dodging bandit arrows. What armor reigns supreme in the Nords’ land? Let’s break down the best for heavy and light armor fans.

Heavy Armor: The Tank’s Wardrobe (Immovable and Impressive)

If you prefer tanking damage and laughing in danger’s face, heavy armor is your companion. Here are the top contenders:

• Daedric Armor: The Classic King of Heavy: Daedric armor evokes power and darkness. It boasts the highest base armor rating among heavy sets in the game. If you want protection, Daedric is your go-to. It’s also intimidating, which can help with chatty bandits.
• Dragonplate Armor: Dragon-Forged Defense: Dragonplate armor rivals Daedric in effectiveness. It offers excellent armor rating and is lighter than Daedric. If you value mobility, this could be your choice.
• Dragonplate offers protection. It has a good weight. Wearing it lets you boast about dragons. That’s a perfect conversation starter.
• Ebony Armor: Stylish Protection: Ebony armor serves as a reliable option. It balances armor rating, weight, and looks. It is less protective than Daedric or Dragonplate. However, it is lighter and may appeal more to some. This armor base allows for enchanting, making it customizable for your style.

Light Armor: Agility and Evasion:

If you prefer agility, light armor fits you. It relies on stealth and dodging over brute force. Here are key options in this category:

• Dragonscale Armor: Lightweight Defense: Like Dragonplate, Dragonscale armor is top-tier light armor. It has the highest rating for light sets. Its weight provides surprising resilience. If you want maximum protection with light armor agility, Dragonscale is your best choice.
• Stalhrim Armor: Frosty and Strong: Stalhrim armor came with the Dragonborn DLC. It’s excellent for light armor users. It balances armor rating and weight well. Frost enchantments are 25% stronger on this armor. Essential for frost-focused builds, it looks cool, too.
• Nightingale Armor: Stealth and Utility: Nightingale armor focuses on utility over raw armor rating. Its unique enchantments boost stealth, stamina, and illusion magic. Perfect for stealth users, particularly thieves or assassins, it offers style and function.

Enhancement: Smithing and Enchanting – Armor Power Couple

No matter your armor choice, enhancement powers improve it greatly. Smithing and Enchanting can elevate any armor to a godly status.

• Smithing: Sharpen Your Gear: Smithing allows improvement of your armor rating significantly. Tempering at a grindstone or workbench boosts even mid-tier sets greatly. Do not underestimate good tempering.
• Enchanting: Add Magical Mayhem: Enchanting allows magic properties on armor. You can gain resistances or enhance attributes. Smart enchantments can tailor your set against specific threats or boost your strengths. A well-enchanted set is more than just protection; it’s filled with offensive and defensive options.

Armor Rating Cap: Diminishing Returns

Remember, armor rating has a cap in Skyrim. Reaching about 567 gives you 80% physical damage reduction, the maximum. Beyond that, returns diminish significantly. Focusing solely on armor ratings may not be wise. Explore other defense strategies like magic resistance or damage avoidance. Often, lightest sets that reach caps with smart enchantments provide the best versatility.

Choosing the best armor in Skyrim hinges on your personal preferences. Heavy armor suits tanky warriors; light armor supports agile rogues. Always remember Smithing and Enchanting boosts to elevate your set to legendary status. Go forth, Dragonborn, and prepare (and dress) for victory in encounters.

Best Race: Your Skyrim Starter Pack

When you enter Skyrim, one of your first choices is race. While the game allows flexibility in character creation, racial bonuses offer advantages that nudge towards playstyles. Let’s examine the best races and suitable builds:

Breton: Magic Resistance Marvels

• Strengths: Magic Shielding: Bretons come with 25% magic resistance. In a land full of spells and dragons, this resistance is invaluable. It’s like having a built-in magical shield.
• Good For: Versatile Play: Bretons excel at various builds. Their magic resistance suits them against magical enemies, benefiting any class. They shine in builds that struggle against magic, like warriors or stealth roles.

Orc: Berserker Fury Unleashed

• Strengths: Berserker Rage: Orcs have the “Berserker Rage” ability. Once daily, it doubles their damage and halves incoming damage for a limited time. This can change difficult fights.
• Good For: Warrior Builds: Orcs suit melee-focused warrior builds. Berserker Rage makes them damage dealers, fierce in close combat. If you wish to smash enemies without remorse, Orc is ideal.

Altmer (High Elf): Magicka Masters

• Strengths: Overflowing Magicka: Altmer gain +50 bonus to Magicka at the start. This helps them in spellcasting extensive builds early on.
• Good For: Mages and Spellcasters: They are perfect for pure mage builds due to their bonus Magicka. If you want to dominate with spells, choose Altmer.

Nord: Frost Resistance and Power

• Strengths: Frost Immunity: Nords have a 50% resistance to frost damage. This is useful in a land full of frost magic and dragons.
• Good For: Warrior Builds in Cold Environments: Nords excel as warriors against frost-based foes in chilling climates. Their resistance and combat abilities benefit melee skills greatly.

Dunmer (Dark Elf): Fire Resistance and Versatility

• Strengths: Fireproof (Halfway): Dunmer gain 50% fire resistance. This helps against fire magic and dragons significantly.
• Good For: Spellswords: Dunmer are perfect as spellswords, combining magic and combat skills well. Their fire resistance aids defense while excelling in combat and magic.

Argonian: Underwater Explorers

• Strengths: Amphibious Traits: Argonians breathe underwater. This helps greatly with exploration in water-rich areas. They have Histskin ability for health regen and natural disease resistance.
• Good For: Stealth Characters and Explorers: They fit stealth roles well and enjoy underwater exploration. Their abilities aid stealth tactics, especially in disease-heavy dungeons.

Khajiit: Stealthy Felines

• Strengths: Night Vision: Khajiit have “Night Eye” for dark visibility. Their claws enhance unarmed attacks. They are agile and stealthy by nature.
• Good For: Stealth Builds: Khajiit suit stealth builds greatly, especially unarmed combat. Night Eye helps in dark areas while their claws aid early game combat. If you desire to be a stealthy feline assassin, Khajiit is your pick.