Overview
On your travels through Skyrim and Solstheim, you may be wondering whether you’re kitted out with the best equipment, or if there’s some fancy item that might further help your progress. With this in mind, we’ve constructed a few Top Ten lists of Inventory items you should really be checking out. These aren’t listed in any particular order, and the usefulness of the equipment in question is completely dependent on your style of play (don’t use arrows? Then the bows we list won’t be for you). Think of these lists as featuring some of the more entertaining, ability-imbuing items that you should try out. Your own lists may vary considerably.
Top 10 Inventory: Armor
Below is a fine selection of armor, chosen mainly for potency in different situations. A few offer additional bonuses if a full set is worn. As you can see, for the very best armor around, you’re going to need to become supremely competent in Smithing and Enchanting, and craft your own equipment.
10. Vampire Royal Armor (Light): Body
Enchantment: Magicka regenerates 125% faster.
Location: [DG.09] Castle Volkihar Ruins.
For the Battlemage with a penchant for the stylish (and blue-glowing) look of a Vampire’s most impressive armor, this helps recover magicka with increased haste.
9. Guild Master’s Armor (Light): Full Set
Enchantment: Carrying capacity increased by 50 points.
Location: Complete Thieves Guild Quest: Under New Management.
Carry off the look of a master thief along with the Guild Master’s Boots (better Pickpocketing), Gloves (better Lockpicking), and Hood (better prices). Stylish and sneaky!
8. Archmage’s Robes (Light): Body
Enchantment: All spells cost 15% less to cast, +50 magicka, and magicka regenerates 100% faster.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: The Eye of Magnus.
You won’t be happy with the armor rating (zero), but for true mages who utilize all schools of magic, there’s nothing better to wear into battle.
7. Ancient Shrouded Armor (Light): Full Set
Enchantment: Increases Poison Resistance by 100%.
Location: Complete Dark Brotherhood Quest: The Feeble Fortune.
For the assassin about town, wearing the Boots (Muffle), Cowl (better Archery) and Gloves (double Sneak damage) of the same type is an excellent reward.
6. Nightingale Armor (Light): Full Set
Enchantment: Increases your Stamina by 20, 30, or 40 points. Increases Frost Resistance by 15, 30, or 50%.
Location: During Thieves Guild Quest: Trinity Restored.
This leveled armor is most helpful to assassins; for additional boosts, wear a complete set of Nightingale Armor, along with Boots (Muffle), Gloves (better Lockpicking and One-Handed), and Hood (Illusion costs less magicka).
5. Deathbrand Armor (Light): Full Set
Enchantment: Increases your Stamina by 15 for each Deathbrand item you wear.
Location: Complete Solstheim Side Quest: Deathbrand.
Wear this as a set for better-than Daedric Armor, along with Boots (increased carry capacity), Gauntlets (better Dual-wielding), and Helm (Waterbreathing, +100 Armor when worn as a set).
4. Ahzidal’s Armor (Heavy): Full Set
Enchantment: Enemies who strike you with a melee attack have a small chance of being paralyzed.
Location: Complete Solstheim Side Quest: Unearthed.
Although rated the same as Steel Plate, there are some fine enchantments available if worn along with Ahzidal’s Boots (Waterwalking), Gauntlets (Wards), Helm (Conjuration and Rune), and Rings (Spells).
3. Miraak’s Robes (Light): Full Set
Enchantment: Absorb 15% of the magicka from Dragon Breath and spells. Chance on hit to spawn a tentacle explosion.
Location: Complete Dragonborn Main Quest: At the Summit of Apocrypha.
Another mage’s favorite when combined with Miraak’s Gloves and Boots, allowing your spell absorption to reach 25%. Don’t forget the bonus tentacle-writhing, too!
2. Dragonscale Armor (Light): Full Set
Enchantment: None. Armor 41, Weight 10.
Location: Randomly found, crafted, or bought.
If you’re using Light Armor, and you’re at the pinnacle of Smithing and Enchanting, the very best armor available to you is Dragonscale.
1. Daedric Armor (Heavy): Full Set
Enchantment: None. Armor 49, Weight 50.
Location: Randomly found, crafted, or bought.
If you’re using Heavy Armor, this is the stuff to aim for when creating the finest protection. Improve and augment it at the forge and arcane enchanter.
Top 10 Inventory: Spells
From the dozens of spells in each of the five schools of magic, it was difficult to pick two “best” spells. So the following showcases high-level casting: magic that has proved to be exceptionally handy during a variety of combat situations.
10. Dragonhide (Alteration)
Enchantment: Caster ignores 80% of all physical damage for 30 seconds.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Alteration Ritual Spell.
Casting dragonhide is a splendid way for a Battlemage to reach the epicenter of a mass battle, or to close in against a singular foe of great strength, before launching a devastating attack.
9. Mass Paralysis (Alteration)
Enchantment: All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 15 seconds.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Alteration Ritual Spell.
For fights with a multitude of foes that are gaining the upper hand, this is excellent as it allows you to flee or quickly dispatch enemies that succumb to this spell.
8. Dead Thrall (Conjuration)
Enchantment: Permanently reanimate a dead body to fight for you. Only works on people.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Conjuration Ritual Spell.
This effectively grants you another Follower, with equipment that you can give and upgrade as you please, as long as it’s the same type the enemy used while alive.
7. Storm Thrall (Conjuration)
Enchantment: Summons a Storm Atronach permanently.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Conjuration Ritual Spell.
Although you won’t be sneaking anywhere with a Storm Atronach by your side, having one to defend you, along with a Follower, grants you excellent protection.
6. Fire Storm (Destruction)
Enchantment: A 100-point fiery explosion centered on the caster. Does more damage to closer targets.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Destruction Ritual Spell.
If the action is getting a little too violent close to your location, fend off multiple foes at once with this, or defeat them after stopping them with Mass Paralysis.
5. Lightning Storm (Destruction)
Enchantment: Target takes 75 points of shock damage per second to health, and half that to magicka.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Destruction Ritual Spell.
Vicious pinpoint shocking can set foes on the defensive, and it’s even more problematic for enemy wizards. This isn’t for mass combat, but rather a devastating barrage against a troublesome foe.
4. Call to Arms (Illusion)
Enchantment: Targets have improved combat skills, health and stamina for 10 minutes.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Illusion Ritual Spell.
This is the spell to learn if you travel with Followers; the larger your entourage, the more helpful this spell is. Cast it on a Follower, a companion, and any thralls, for example.
3. Mayhem (Illusion)
Enchantment: Creatures and people up to level 25 will attack anyone nearby for 60 seconds.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Illusion Ritual Spell.
Creating complete madness around your person can be exceptionally entertaining, although you need to watch out for your own Followers and avoid collateral damage.
2. Bane of the Undead (Restoration)
Enchantment: Sets undead up to level 30 on fire and makes them flee for 30 seconds.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Restoration Ritual Spell.
If you’re exploring a barrow (or the Soul Cairn) and don’t wish to get bogged down fighting every Skeleton, Draugr, or other undead foe you meet, try this.
1. Guardian Circle (Restoration)
Enchantment: Undead up to level 35 entering the circle will flee. Caster heals 20 health per second inside it.
Location: Complete College of Winterhold Quest: Restoration Ritual Spell.
A twist on the Bane of the Undead; this doesn’t damage undead, but instead heals you (and your Followers if they’re close by). Choose depending on the situation.
Top 10 Inventory: Enchantments
It is worth taking the Extra Effect Perk (Enchanting) that allows two enchantments to be put onto the same item. Remember that enchantments can be disenchanted from items you pick up, and then re-enchanted into a piece of equipment you wish to use. The following shows sample weapons and armor with enchantments fused into them.
10. Paralyze (Weapon)
Enchantment: Chance to paralyze the target.
9. Soul Trap (Weapon)
Enchantment: If the target dies within [an allotted time], fills a soul gem.
8. Absorb (Weapon)
Enchantment: Absorbs [a set number] points of health.
7. Chaos (Weapon)
Enchantment: 50% chance for each element of fire, frost, and shock to do [a set number] points of damage.
6. Fortify Alchemy (Armor)
Enchantment: Created potions are [a set number]% more powerful.
5. Fortify Smithing (Armor)
Enchantment: Weapons and armor can be improved [a set number]% better.
4. Muffle (Armor)
Enchantment: Wearer is muffled and moves silently.
3. Fortify [Magic Skill] (Armor)
Enchantment: [Magic Spells] cost [a set number]% less to cast.
2. Fortify [Weapon Skill] (Armor)
Enchantment: [A Weapon Type] do [a set number]% more damage.
1. Fortify Stamina (Armor)
Enchantment: Stamina regenerates [a set number]% faster.
Top 10 Inventory: Potions
The sheer number of potions that you can create, outside of the usual ones that increase your health, stamina, or magicka, can be overwhelming. So each of the following potions has a benefit, whether monetary or otherwise.
10. The Five-Effect Potion
Ingredients: Bear Claws, Eye of Sabre Cat, Hanging Moss
Effects: Damage Magicka, Magicka Regen, Fortify Destruction, Health, Resist Shock
Although featuring both positive and negative effects, it’s possible to create potions with up to five effects. This is helpful when increasing your Alchemy Skill.
9. The Potion of Bartering
Ingredients: (Any two of the following) Butterfly Wing, Dragon’s Tongue, Hagraven Claw, Tundra Cotton
Effects: Fortify Barter
Just before you begin buying and selling with a merchant, why not take a swig of this concoction, and bring those prices down, and your selling profits up?
8. The Potion of Enchanting
Ingredients: (Any two of the following) Ancestor Moth Wing, Blue Butterfly Wing, Chaurus Hunter Antennae, Hagraven Claw, Snowberries, Spawn Ash, Spriggan Sap
Effects: Fortify Enchanting
If you’re headed to an arcane enchanter to create some potent enchantments to your armor or weapons, down this bottle and add a bonus to your imbuements.
7. The Potion of Invisibility
Ingredients: (Any two of the following) Ash Creep Cluster, Chaurus Eggs, Crimson Nirnroot, Ice Wraith Teeth, Luna Moth Wing, Nirnroot, Vampire Dust
Effects: Invisibility
For the sneaking expert infiltrating an unknown area, or the adventurer who wants to ensure they can flee from a dangerous situation easily, craft this potion.
6. The Potion of Smithing
Ingredients: (Any two of the following) Blisterwort, Glowing Mushroom, Sabre Cat Tooth, Spriggan Sap
Effects: Fortify Smithing
As you raise your Smithing skill , use this after wearing any enchanted items with a similar effect in order craft increasingly powerful and high-quality weapons and armor.
5. The Cure-All Potion
Ingredients: Blue Mountain Flower, Charred Skeever Hide, Mudcrab Chitin
Effects: Cure Disease, Resist Poison, Restore Health, Stamina
Remember that your cure potions don’t all need to have one single effect; this is particularly potent at removing multiple ailments with a single swig.
4. The Magicka-Related Potion
Ingredients: Jazbay Grapes, Moon Sugar, Red Mountain Flower
Effects: Fortify Magicka, Magicka Regen, Magicka Restore
For those casting magic, a constant headache is the depletion of your Magicka. Restore it, and keep it regenerating, with this heady concoction.
3. The Health-Related Potion
Ingredients: Blue Mountain Flower, Giant’s Toe, Imp Stool
Effects: Fortify Health (300 seconds), Restore Health
One of the first potions you’re likely to craft is one related to quickly restoring your health. This one is particularly potent, and most helpful in combat situations.
2. The Potent Poison
Ingredients: Butterfly Wing, Human Heart, Nightshade
Effects: Damage Magicka, Health, and Magicka Regen, Lingering Stamina Damage
If you’re after a poison to dip onto the end of your arrows or weapons, make it as deadly as this one; remember to turn the negative effects of ingredients to your advantage.
1. The Profitable Potion
Ingredients: Bear Claws, Giant’s Toe, Hanging Moss
Effects: Fortify Health, One-Handed, Damage Magicka Regen
You aren’t concerned about the effects of this potion; just the profit that can be made when you sell this to an apothecary merchant throughout the province.
Top 10 Inventory: Weapons
As with the Armor, the following list showcases a variety of weapons that you can employ during different types of battle depending on your chosen skills. As always, it is recommended that you smith and enchant your own weapons for the very best in one-handed, two-handed, or bow-based offense.
10. Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow (Archery)
Enchantment: Attacks with this crossbow ignore 50% of armor.
Location: Complete Dawnguard Side Quest: Ancient Technology.
Shiny and able to fire a variety of crafted quarrels that you can choose from, this is the best crossbow available and devastating at long range.
9. Windshear (One-Handed)
Enchantment: Bash attacks made with this weapon have a chance of knocking enemies down.
Location: During Dark Brotherhood Quest: Hail Sithis!
Windshear may not have the finest damage statistics (12), but it has a unique enchantment, able to sometimes paralyze and knock down a foe at close range.
8. Chillrend (One-Handed)
Enchantment: Target takes 30 points of frost damage. Chance to paralyze the target for 2 seconds.
Location: During Thieves Guild Quest: The Pursuit.
Frost damage and paralysis are available to those who wield this weapon, and although it can be upgraded, the weapon can’t be disenchanted.
7. Mace of Molag Bal (One-Handed)
Enchantment: Does 25 points of stamina damage. Does 25 points of magicka damage. If target dies within 3 seconds, fills a soul gem.
Location: Complete Daedric Quest: The House of Horrors.
Although this massive mace can sometimes obscure your vision, its heft and multiple enchantments make it exceptionally devastating; it is also upgradable.
6. Dragonbane (One-Handed)
Enchantment: [20, 25, 30, 35, or 40] points of extra damage to dragons, 10 points of shock damage to others.
Location: During Main Quest: Alduin’s Wall
Although the enchantment’s charge depletes quickly, if you bring this weapon with you when facing Dragons, you’re able to slay them much more proficiently.
5. Harkon’s Sword (One-Handed)
Enchantment: Absorbs 15 points of health, magicka, and stamina if wielded by a Vampire. Location: Complete Dawnguard Main Quest: Kindred Judgment.
Bring a collection of filled soul gems as the enchantment on this weapon is remarkably powerful—but only if you’ve chosen to live as a shunned vampire!
4. Auriel’s Bow (Archery)
Enchantment: 20 points of sun damage. Undead targets take triple damage.
Location: Complete Dawnguard Main Quest: Touching the Sky.
A swift notch and an impressive damage, this can be improved, as well as utilized with Sunhallowed or Bloodcursed Arrows. Swift, ranged death at your fingertips!
3. Bloodscythe (and Soulrender) (Dual-Wielding One-Handed)
Enchantment: When both weapons are wielded together, they absorb 15 health and magicka, and give a chance to weaken enemy armor and magical defenses.
Location: Complete Solstheim Side Quest: Deathbrand.
No shield? No problem; especially if you’re coming clad in a full set of Deathbrand armor, which increases the damage you cause still further. Collect the set!
2. Daedric Warhammer (Two-Handed)
Enchantment: None. Damage 27, Weight 31.
Location: Randomly found or bought.
This mighty weapon inflicts the most damage and offers the potential to stagger foes (at the expense of speed). The ultimate weapon for Two-Handed fighters.
1. Daedric Dagger (One-Handed)
Enchantment: None. Damage 11, Weight 6.
Location: Randomly found or bought.
As with the Warhammer, be sure to augment this weapon by improving and enchanting it. Assassins can further increase the damage by backstabbing.