

The Companions are all about Skyforge Steel, battleaxes, heavy armor, and other combat skills. For further proof of this bias, consider the weapons and armor that the guilds in question gift to the player upon joining: Once initiated, The Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild gives the Dragonborn unique sets of light armor. Rather than joining the Thieves Guild and working from the shadows, this archetype is better suited to joining the honorable Companions or fighting off vampires with the Dawnguard. Heavy Armor, by comparison, is considered a Fighter Skill, and should therefore be considered alongside a more martial approach to the game. Players who tend towards thievery, archery, assassinations, and stealth should favor Light Armor, as its uses and perks better synergize with approaches of this ilk. This is a good indicator of its intended uses. Categorically speaking, Light Armor falls under the game’s Rogue Skills. Unless the player is a mage, the main question comes down to Light Armor versus Heavy Armor. There are three choices given to the player in terms of defensive gear: Light Armor, Heavy Armor, or various robes or clothing. Leveling Skyrim’s Heavy Armor Skill Tree Has Pros And Cons While an extra seven points of protection isn’t enough to stop Skyrim’s Giants from knocking players into the sky, Heavy Armor will prevent it earlier in the game than Light Armor can. Seven points might seem negligible, but when the player has a small health pool it can mean the difference in surviving an unexpected encounter.


By comparison, a full set of (heavy) Iron Armor has a rating of 65. Without taking any perks or crafting skills into account, a full set of (light) Leather Armor grants an armor rating of 58. Survival is least assured early in the game, so that’s when the higher rating of heavy armor is crucial. At lower levels a Sabre Cat can kill an unarmored player in just a few quick hits - particularly if they get the drop on the player. A prime example is when the player is up against Skyrim’s more dangerous animals, like the Cave Bear or Sabre Cat. The advantages of wearing Heavy Armor are most tangible in the early game. In the mid-late game, and with enough perks, both armor types can reach the same threshold. Light Armor favors mobility and stealth, but Heavy Armor is all about defense and tanking. Related: What Skyrim Survival Mode Changes (& Why It's Great) There’s nothing more depressing than seeing the Dragonborn get beheaded by a Forsworn Briarheart. Having a low armor rating in Skyrim is dangerous, and leaves players vulnerable to instant death blows from dragons and other high-level opponents. Skyrim is a harsh world, and oftentimes the best insurance policy is to put on the thickest plate mail and the most durable shield that gold can buy.

Heavy Armor in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has similar advantages to Light Armor, but there are some key differences that give it its own pros and cons.
