Skyrim’s leveling and combat designs were greatly improved on its predecessor’s, and allowed for a large amount of freedom for players in terms of the kinds of builds they wanted to create for their characters. Rather than having major and minor skills, and having character leveling relying on those skills, player characters insteadlevel whenever any skill inSkyrimis improved. While this works in theory, in practice the gameplay encouraged a certain style of combat that players began defaulting to for a number of reasons.
This style of combat became known among players as the Stealth Archer, a strategy where the player specializes in Archery and Stealth skills, while almost entirely ignoring the other skill setsSkyrimoffers, including most magic, heavy weapons and armor, and all other weapons.The Elder Scrolls 6could include this, but to become an RPG with various functional builds, it needs to avoid this kind of build that’s so easily defaulted to that it becomes a meme. By looking at what makes the Stealth Archer so popular,The Elder Scrolls 6can avoid this mistake.
Behind the Popularity of the Stealth Archer in Skyrim
One of the reasons theStealth Archer has become so prolific inSkyrimis because of the dragons inSkyrim, as one of the easiest ways to force the airborne dragons from the sky before a certain point in the main storyline is by shooting at them through archery. Getting better at archery and fighting dragons meant using a bow more often, which also necessitated using stealth more. The Stealth Archer build often develops organically, rather than players actively choosing the build.
Another reason for the Stealth Archer build is that bows are some of the best weapons inSkyrim, withAuriel’s Bow fromDawnguardbeing incredibly powerful and only useful to archers. Arrows inSkyrimhave no carry weight, and rarely run out. The Stealth Archer build is easy to play, viable on any difficulty, and the skill tree perks are unlocked early in gameplay. Even if a player has plans to create a character with a different build, they often default to the Stealth Archer because of the build’s sheer efficiency, giving rise to the meme.
Avoiding the Stealth Archer in The Elder Scrolls 6
Once players are aware of the tendency to fall into the Stealth Archer build, it can become difficult to avoid playing it.The Elder Scrolls 6needs to make other builds more viable, and it can do so by improving its spellcasting and other combat systems. While the Stealth and Archery systems inSkyrimwere clearly improvements over their counterparts inOblivion,spellcasting did not get the same treatment inSkyrim, and was oversimplified to the point that it became clunky and difficult to use.
Another wayThe Elder Scrolls 6could remove the tendency to create the Stealth Archer is by properly balancing combat and improving enemy AI. One of the appeals of the Stealth Archer is the ease that this build can clear a dungeon without even alerting a single enemy.Smarter enemies inThe Elder Scrolls 6who realize they’re being shot, and who can detect an assassin in their midst, would force players to adapt to other builds. This would also force players to dip into other skill trees such as different magic schools.Oblivionallowed players to use magic while holding a weapon in both hands, which should make a return inThe Elder Scrolls 6, and encourage players to invest more in magic.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
WHERE TO PLAY
Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim celebrates 10 years of adventuring in stunning detail. The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content: the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus Creation Club content released on or prior to June 07, 2025.EPIC FANTASY REBORNSkyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLDPlay any type of character you’re able to imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAYChoose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.BATTLE DRAGONSBattle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
