Ever wanted to swing a greatsword the size of a door and send bandits flying across the room? The two-handed warrior is Skyrim’s purest power fantasy. It’s slower than other styles, but every hit lands like a thunderclap.
Here’s the catch: most newcomers level this build the hard way. Here’s the step-by-step to set it up smartly, from your race to your very first perk (even if you’ve never touched a warrior before).
Two-Handed Warrior Build Overview
Two-handed weapons change the feel of combat. As one popular build guide puts it, it’s a more brutal affair, slower but mightier. You trade a shield for raw damage.
Worth noting: with no shield, you can’t rely on blocking to survive tough fights. This build is all about hitting hard and ending fights fast.
- Playstyle: Heavy, slow swings and power attacks (hold the attack button) that stagger and flatten enemies.
- Best Races: Nords and Orcs. Racial bonuses favor warriors, and Nords start with a head start in Two-Handed.
- Core Skills: Two-Handed, Heavy Armor, Smithing, and Block for the occasional emergency.
- Secondary Skills: Enchanting and Alteration, if you want extra damage and protection.
- Weakness: Ranged enemies and mages, since your slow swings need you to close the distance.
Lore-wise, Nords are Skyrim’s native warriors, raised on battle cries and cold. Choosing one fits the fantasy as well as the stats.
Step-by-Step Build Guide
Follow these steps in order and you’ll level faster and hit harder with less effort. The data speaks for itself: smart leveling beats rushing perks every time.
- Step 1: Pick a Nord or Orc at character creation. Nords get a Two-Handed head start and frost resistance, while Orcs get Berserker Rage, which lets you take far less damage for a short time.
- Step 2: Escape Helgen, then head for the Guardian Stones near Riverwood. Activate the Warrior Stone to level Two-Handed, Heavy Armor, and Block faster.
- Step 3: Grab any two-handed weapon you can find. A greatsword, battleaxe, or warhammer all work, and your first one doesn’t need to be fancy.
- Step 4: Hold off on Two-Handed perks, at least for a while. It sounds crazy, but there’s a good reason (see below).
- Step 5: Put your early perks into Heavy Armor and Smithing instead, so you survive longer and can improve your gear.
- Step 6: Once Two-Handed is well on its way, start buying the damage perks listed in the table below.
- Step 7: Swap Guardian Stones as you go. Use the Mage Stone while leveling Enchanting and the Warrior Stone for Smithing and combat skills.
(If you’re new to this: Guardian Stones are standing stones that give a permanent bonus, but you can only have one active at a time. You can switch whenever you like.)
Why You Should Delay Your Perks
Your Two-Handed skill grows as you deal damage with two-handed weapons, but only base damage counts. Perks, enchantments, and smithing upgrades make you kill faster, but they don’t give you more experience per hit.
Say your greatsword has 20 base damage and you upgrade it to hit for 200. You’ll kill a draugr in one blow, but you only earn the experience of a 20-damage hit. Weaker hits mean longer fights, and longer fights mean more swings and faster leveling.
Level up the slow way first, then spend your perks once Two-Handed is where you want it.
Rewards and Benefits: The Perks Worth Taking
Once you start spending perks, these are the ones that matter most. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Perk | What It Does | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Adds 20% damage per rank, up to 100% at 5 ranks | All two-handed weapons |
| Champion’s Stance | Power attacks cost less stamina | Long fights |
| Devastating Blow | Standing power attacks deal bonus damage and can decapitate | Finishing enemies |
| Deep Wounds | Greatswords gain extra critical chance | Greatsword users |
| Skullcrusher | Warhammers ignore part of an enemy’s armor | Armored enemies |
| Limbsplitter | Battleaxes cause extra bleeding damage | Battleaxe users |
Start with Barbarian, since it improves everything you do. Then pick the weapon-specific perk that fits your favorite weapon.
Pro Tips
- Sleep for Bonus XP: Switch to the right Guardian Stone, then sleep in an inn or house before you train. The rested bonus boosts skill growth, so you level faster.
- Mind Your Stamina: Power attacks drain it quickly. (Pro tip: back off and breathe between swings, and a stamina potion can save a fight.)
- Try Light Armor for Mobility: Some players pair a two-hander with light armor or clothing. Add Alteration spells like Stoneflesh for protection and you stay mobile without losing much defense.
- Level Smithing Early: Improving your weapon and armor is the easiest way to scale your damage as enemies get tougher.
- Boss Fights: Against dragons and dungeon bosses, you can’t hide behind a shield. Use potions, dodge back, and hit hard when they stagger.
- Mod Option: If you play with mods, Vokrii’s Ocato’s Preparation perk can automatically cast your best armor spell when combat starts, with no Magicka cost.
Why This Build Matters
Skyrim can feel repetitive when you use the same combat style for hundreds of hours. A two-handed warrior feels completely different, with every swing carrying real weight.
It’s also a great build for beginners. You get simple controls, big damage, and a clear path from your first rusty greatsword to a fully upgraded weapon.
Lore-wise, there’s no better way to play the Dragonborn as a heroic warrior in the tradition of Nord legends. So which weapon will you swing: greatsword, battleaxe, or warhammer? Tell us your pick in the comments!
