Skyrim really raised the bar when it came to leveling and combat systems compared to its predecessor, giving players a ton of freedom to create their unique character builds. Rather than the old method of relying on major and minor skills for character leveling, Skyrim allows players to level up by improving any skill. Sounds great in theory, right? But in practice, players often find themselves gravitating towards a particular combat style due to its efficiency.
This prevalent combat strategy, known as the “Stealth Archer,” involves honing in on Archery and Stealth skills, while largely ignoring other areas like magic, heavy weaponry, armor, and alternative weapon sets. Sure, The Elder Scrolls 6 could keep this feature, but to really shine as an RPG offering diverse successful builds, it must steer clear of a pattern so commonly defaulted to that it’s become a meme. By understanding what makes the Stealth Archer so irresistible, The Elder Scrolls 6 can learn some invaluable lessons.
So, why is the Stealth Archer build so appealing in Skyrim? A significant factor involves the dragons in the game. Before players advance far enough in the story to engage them differently, taking them down with a bow from afar is the go-to method. Leveling up your archery skills and dragging those dragons down often means embracing stealth tactics, whether players intended it or not.
Moreover, bows in Skyrim are among the game’s best weapons, with bows like Auriel’s from the Dawnguard expansion holding immense power, appealing directly to players dabbling in archery. Arrows come with no inventory weight, and only rarely do players run out. The Stealth Archer is easy to manage, effective at any difficulty level, and its perks are unlocked early, making it an efficient and default choice even for those planning other character trajectories.
Once players find themselves sliding into the Stealth Archer groove, it becomes a challenge to break free from it. For The Elder Scrolls 6 to offer more viable builds, it needs to work its magic on other combat angles. While stealth and archery were definitely leveled up from Oblivion to Skyrim, magic didn’t get the same love—it was dumbed down to where it felt clumsy and hard to wield.
Another way for The Elder Scrolls 6 to prevent players from slipping into the Stealth Archer mode is to balance combat better and upgrade enemy AI. One perk of the Stealth Archer build is sliding through a dungeon without raising an alarm. Crafty enemies who notice they’re under fire and spot an assassin among them would force players to rethink their strategy and diversify into other skill trees, like various magic schools. Oblivion let players use magic even when holding a weapon in both hands—bringing this back in The Elder Scrolls 6 could entice more players to invest in magic, expanding build options significantly.
