Skyrim Perks

Perks are a feature introduced in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Every time a level is gained, a point is granted to spend on a perk. However, points do not need to be used immediately; they can be saved for use later if the Dragonborn does not have the Skill Level required to have that perk. Most perks will have certain requirements before they can be chosen—for instance, perks after the first point in Shield Wall require a Block level of 20 or higher. High-end perks, such as Shield Charge, require a Block level of 100. Skill prerequisites aside, most perks for a given skill depend upon a previously obtained perk. The exception being the starting perk, that must be obtained first in order to obtain any other perks for that skill. The skills of Destruction, Restoration, Alteration, Heavy Armor, Sneak, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, and Speech all have a perk dependency structure that is similar to a rooted tree. Hence the term, perk tree. Some perks in a tree cannot be obtained by looping around another path, after reaching the end of the tree. An example of this is on the Smithing tree. The Daedric Smithing perk, which comes before the Dragon Armor perk, cannot be obtained from the left side of the tree, despite the Dragon Armor perk being visibly joined to the Glass Armor perk. Perks are detailed on the individual skill pages, along with their requirements.

Perk limit

There are 251 perks in the game. Originally, there was a level cap of 81, which meant a maximum of 80 perks could be acquired. As of patch 1.9, this limit has been lifted with the addition of Legendary Skills. This addition grants the ability to level up past 81 by resetting skills trees back to level 15. Doing this gives back perk points spent on the skill to use on other locked perks while also letting the Dragonborn level up and upgrade their health, magicka, or stamina indefinitely. One can have all two-hundred and fifty-one perks by level 252.

Perk points refund

With the addition of Dragonborn add-on, and after completing the quest "At the Summit of Apocrypha" the player is granted the option to refund all the perks points in any Skill tree at the cost of one Dragon Soul. The perks are returned and can be spent elsewhere. This can be done to each skill tree as many times as liked so long as the player has Dragon Souls to spend. The player can return to the area any time they want by reading the Black Book: Waking Dreams anywhere on Solstheim.

The Mage

Illusion

Novice Illusion
- Cast Novice level Illusion spells for half magicka.
Illusion Dual Casting
- Dual casting an Illusion spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.
Animage
- Illusion spells now work on higher level animals (+8 levels).

Conjuration

Novice Conjuration
- Cast Novice level Conjuration spells for half magicka
Conjuration Dual Casting
- Dual casting a Conjuration spell overcharges the effects into a longer lasting version
Mystic Binding
- Bound weapons do more damage

Destruction

Novice Destruction
- Cast Novice level Destruction spells for half magicka
Destruction Dual Casting
- Dual casting a Destruction spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version
Apprentice Destruction
- Cast Apprentice level Destruction spells for half magicka

Restoration

Novice Restoration
- Cast Novice level Restoration spells for half magicka
Restoration Dual Casting
- Dual casting a Restoration spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version
Regeneration
- Healing spells cure 50% more

Alteration

Novice Alteration
- Cast Novice level Alteration spells for half magicka
Alteration Dual Casting
- Dual casting a Alteration spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version
Apprentice Alteration
- Cast Apprentice level Alteration spells for half magicka

Enchanting

Enchanter
- New enchantments are 20/40/60/80/100% stronger (+20% per rank)
Fire Enchanter
- Fire enchantments on weapons and armor are 25% stronger
Soul Squeezer
- Soul gems provide extra magicka for recharging

The Warrior

Smithing

Steel Smithing
- Can create steel armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.
Arcane Blacksmith
- Magical weapons and armor can now be improved.
Elven Smithing
- Can create Elven armor and weapons at forges, and improve them twice as much.

Heavy Armor

Juggernaut
- Increases armor rating for Heavy Armor by 20% (+20% per additional rank)
Fists of Steel
- Unarmed attacks with Heavy Armor gauntlets do their base armor rating in extra damage. Sneak attack bonus is two times the damage. Khajiit and Argonians gain bonus unarmed damage from their claws, which stacks with this perk. Gloves of the Pugilist provides the Fortify Unarmed enchantment for further damage.
Well Fitted
- 25% armor bonus if wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet

Block

Shield Wall
- Blocking is 20% more effective (+5% per additional rank)
Deflect Arrows
- Arrows that hit the shield do no damage
Quick Reflexes
- Time slows down if you are blocking during an enemy's power attack

Two-Handed

Barbarian
- Two-Handed weapons do 20% more damage (+20% per additional rank)
Champion's Stance
- Power attacks with two-handed weapons cost 25% less stamina
Limbsplitter
- Attacks with battle axes cause extra bleeding damage (Additional ranks raise the bleeding damage)

One-Handed

Armsman
- One-handed weapons do 20% more damage (+20% per additional rank)
Fighting Stance
- Power attacks with one-handed weapons cost 25% less stamina
Hack and Slash
- Attacks with war axes cause extra bleeding damage (additional ranks raise the bleeding damage)

Archery

Overdraw
- Bows do 20% more damage (+20% per additional rank)
Eagle Eye
- Pressing Block while aiming will zoom in your view
Critical Shot
- 10% chance of a critical hit that does extra damage (+5% chance and +25% critical damage per additional rank)

The Thief

Light Armor

Agile Defender
- Increase armor rating for Light Armor by 20% (+20% per additional rank)
Custom Fit
- 25% armor bonus if wearing all Light Armor: head, chest, hands, feet
Unhindered
- Light Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn

Sneak

Stealth
- You are 20% harder to detect when sneaking (+5% per additional rank, max 40% with 5/5)
Muffled Movement
- Noise from armor is reduced by 50%
Backstab
- Sneak attacks with one-handed weapons now do six times damage. This bonus stacks with the Shrouded Gloves enchantment, giving 12 times normal damage. It can also apply to the Berserker Rage power, offering 12 times normal damage, or 24 times normal damage with both Shrouded Gloves and the race power active.

Lockpicking

Novice Locks
- Novice locks are much easier to pick
Quick Hands
- Able to pick locks without being noticed
Wax Key
- Automatically gives you a copy of a picked lock's key if it has one

Pickpocket

Light Fingers
- Pickpocketing bonus of 20%. Item weight and value reduce pickpocketing odds (+20% per additional rank)
Night Thief
- +25% chance to pickpocket if the target is asleep
Poisoned
- Silently harm enemies by placing poisons in their pockets

Speech

Haggling
- Buying and selling prices are 10% better (+5% per additional rank)
Allure
- 10% better prices with the opposite sex
Bribery
- Can bribe guards to ignore crimes

Alchemy

Alchemist
- Potions and poisons are 20% / 40% / 60% / 80% / 100% stronger.
Physician
- Potions you mix that restore health or stamina are 25% more powerful.
Poisoner
- Poisons you mix are 25% more effective.