Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: Link

Tags: #Character Build Spellsword  #Character Build Mage Armor  #Character Build Hero  #Race:Bosmer  #Rank:Mythic 
  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    The hero of time. The chosen one. The hero in green. He is called many things, but always he is the same. A brave young warrior, chosen by the gods, to rid the land of evil and corruption.

    Hello, all! I've been hanging around on this site for a while now, and after much studying, brainstorming and playtesting, I have decided to upload my first build. Like many people out there, I am a HUGE fan of the Legend of Zelda series (who the heck wouldn’t be?), and I thought to myself, “how fun would it be to play Link in Skyrim?” It turned out much easier and much more fun than I ever expected. I’ve had a blast creating this build, and it is my hope that you all enjoy it as well. Without further ado, I present to you:

     

    Link

    The Build

    Race: Wood Elf

    Stone: The Warrior >> The Lord. Use the Warrior at first for quick leveling. Then switch the Lord for extra magic resistance.

    Stats: 1:3:

    Recommended Quests: Main Quest, The Companions (up to joining the Circle), The Break of Dawn, The Black Star, thane quests

    Clothing: That's right. Clothing, not armor. In order to get the best look, we're going completely unarmored.

    You can purchase a light green tunic that looks very "Linkish" at the Radiant Raimant in Solitude for very little gold. It even has the brown sword belt and everything! Be aware that there are two kinds -- one with a hood and one without. Go for the hooded one for best appearance, as there aren't really any hats in Skyrim that can compare to Link's hat.

    You can also purchase some brown boots and gloves at the same store to complete Link's look. 

     

    Skills

    Major Skills:

    One-Handed: Everyone knows that Link is a master swordsman. The blade is his primary weapon, in conjunction with his shield. Key perks include Armsman 5/5, Fighting Stance, Bladesman 3/3, Savage Strike, Critical Charge and Paralyzing Strike.

    Block: Link is a sword-and-board fighter, using sword and shield together. He uses this skill not only to block dangerous attacks but to bash and disarm as well. I recommend going up the left side of the tree, getting perks such as Deflect Arrows and Elemental Protection.

    Alteration: You'll need this for added protection since you won't be wearing any armor. Aim to get Mage Armor as soon as possible. Magic Resistance and Stability are massively helpful as well.

    Alchemy: Link's main source of healing has always been potions, so you'll be learning to make your own. Poisons can also aid you in taking down tough enemies, especially at earlier levels. Perks: Alchemist 3/5, Physician, Benefactor, Poisoner.

    Minor Skills:

    Archery: In addition to being a great swordsman, Link is also a highly skilled archer. Use this to open up combat from a distance, and to soften up your enemies before closing to melee range. Perks include Overdraw 5/5, Eagle Eye, Power Shot and Quick Shot.

    Smithing: Used mainly to craft your own arrows, and to temper your sword, shield and bow. It can also help you get those Glass items sooner (see Equipment below). Perks: Steel-Glass Smithing, Arcane Blacksmith.

    Enchanting (optional): Use this if you want to custom-make your own Master Sword. I recommend getting Extra Effect for best results.

     

    Level 58 Perk Spread: Click Here

    Equipment:

    Link has three iconic pieces of equipment in his arsenal: the Master Sword, the Hylian Shield, and the Hero's Bow. You have a few options as to how you can get/create these items in Skyrim, which I outline below...

    The Master Sword

    Also known as the “blade of evil’s bane,” the Master Sword is Link’s mightiest weapon. It is a legendary sword, said to be passed down by the gods themselves to destroy evil. Naturally a perfect fit for this weapon would be Dawnbreaker, which you can obtain via Meridia’s quest “The Break of Dawn.” This sword has a unique enchantment that not only causes fire damage, but also has a chance of casting Bane of Undead as well, which will send enemies like Draugr scattering. It’s an awesome sword, arguably one of the best in the game, and I highly recommend it. The only problem is, it doesn’t really look the part.

    If you want something that looks a little more like the Master Sword, you have another option: craft a Glass sword and enchant it with Fire Damage and Turn Undead. I believe the Glass sword is the best match to the Master Sword in terms of design. And if you enchant it, you can also custom name it “Master Sword” too! Bear in mind though that this route will require a high skill in Enchanting.

    If you're unsure, you can also always go the route I did: get Dawnbreaker and use that until you can craft your own Master Sword. 

     

     

    The Hylian Shield

    Unfortunately, there isn't a single shield in Skyrim that looks even remotely like the Hylian Shield. The closest match I could find was the Glass shield – the designs on it look similar to the insignia on the Hylian, and the overall shape is almost the same. Plus, with a Glass sword, Glass bow and Glass shield, you’ll be able to create and improve all your gear with the Glass smithing perk, and you’ll have a nice corresponding look.

     

    The Hero's Bow

    For starters, you can use a Hunting Bow, which is easily obtainable, and looks pretty similar to Link’s bow. Later on, you can switch to a Glass bow. I recommend using iron arrows, as they look the best with Link’s overall look.

     

     

    Gameplay

    Play Link like you would any heroic character. Travel the land, helping people wherever you go. Become thane of several holds. Slay foul monsters such as dragons, trolls, and Draugr, who would seek to do harm in the world. Destroy bandit hideouts, clear out dungeons, and basically cleanse the land of Skyrim from evil. Avoid stealing and harming innocent people.

    In combat, always try to shoot your enemy with a few arrows first, going into sneak mode if necessary to cause extra damage. Then cast a flesh spell such as Oakflesh, Ironflesh, etc. and switch to your sword and shield. Remember that you're wearing no armor, so if an enemy does hit you, it can cause some pretty heavy damage, especially in the beginning. Until your level is a little higher, use poitons and poisons to your advantage when facing tough enemies such as trolls and bandit chiefs. I found Paralysis poisons to be especially helpful with these guys. Simply shoot them with a poisoned arrow and then wail away with your sword once they're down. You can make Paralysis posion using Canis Root, Imp Stool and Swamp Fungal Pod.

    Here is a quick list of other potions/poisons that I regularly used along with some ingredients used to make them:

    Ravage Health: Cyrodilic Spadetail, Giant Lichen, Jazbay Grapes

    Lingering Damage Health: Imp Stool, Mora Tapinella, Orange Dartwing, Slaughterfish Scales, Slaughterfish Eggs

    Slow: Large Antlers, Salt Pile, River Betty

    Fortify Marksman: Elves Ear, Spider Egg, Canis Root, Juniper Berries

    Fortify One-Handed: Bear Claws, Canis Root, Hanging Moss, Hawk Feathers, Rock Warbler Egg

    Fortify Block: Bleeding Crown, Briar Heart, Honeycomb, Slaughterfish Scales, Tundra Cotton

    Fortify Alteration: Grass Pod, River Betty, Spriggan Sap

    Restore Health: Blue Mountain Flower, Wheat, Butterfly Wing, Charred Skeever Hide, Blisterwort, Imp Stoop, Swamp Fungal Pod

    A Hearthfire house can be extremely helpful with this build, especially if you equip it with a Greenhouse and an Alchemy Lab. I highly recommend Windstad Manor -- it's located in the marshes of Hjaalmarch, where you can find almost all the ingredients you need growing right outside your front door. Not to mention the fish hatchery, where you can have a constant supply of River Betty, Slaughterfish and Cyrodilic Spadetail!

     

    Other Notes:

    Last but not least, don't forget Epona, Link's loyal horse! I highly recommend getting Frost. He is a palomino horse with very good stats that you can obtain for free by completing the quest Promises to Keep in Riften. Taking this quest may seem slightly out of character for Link, since you’ll effectively be stealing the horse, but I think it’s worth it in the long run. Frost has much better health than normal horses, and about the same amount of stamina as Shadowmere. If you don’t want to get him though, you can always buy a palomino horse in Solitude.

     

    And there you have it, folks! Thank you for reading! Being that it's my first build, I'm sure it's far from perfect, so any feedback/advice is appreciated. In the meantime...

     

    May the Triforce be with you. ;)

     

     

  • November 14, 2013

    Chillrend ----> Master Sword?

    Just looking at your main image at the top and thought maybe the 'Fine Armguards' could be a good fit as well...

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    Neat idea, but a level 62 spread is pretty darn high. Anything you can cut?

    Also, I suggest for the RP that you yell "Haaaaaaaa ... HAA!" when you fight.

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    Not sure about 'good' but it's the best Link build I've seen....quite well presented...

    Ah, who am I kidding, Link's fucking awesome. +1

    Had Ocarina of Time on the N64, played that shit EVERY WAKING MOMENT for years.

  • November 14, 2013

    I actually really like it and I've never played any of the Zelda games (I grew up in the Nintendo vs Sega era and firmly believed that Sonic the Hedgehog was a god and could beat the shit out of Mario any day of the week).

    It's just a cute little build! Crossovers like this are really hard to pull off but this one did very well! +1

    This is going to sound terrible to some people but I think it's actually the best wood elf build I've ever seen posted...

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    I was more of a pokemon guy, but getting Link into Skyrim and the way you do it is awesome. The presentation was great for a first build. Nice job.

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    Really? I've seen much better Bosmer builds...Henson's for a start!

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    Looking at your perk spread, I think you could cut the entire right side of the Block tree (including Shield Charge) to lower the level, especially if you are trying to be authentic. Assuming you are going for Ocarina Link (which seems to be implied by the equipment), I don't recall that game having any bash moves.

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    I instantly like this build not only for the theme (The game of my childhood was Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker), but also because it does the crossover very well and it has great presentation. All in all, great job! +1. Another great part is since you use alchemy, it would be easy to make potions to buff skills you do not use so one can use other Zela "relic weapons" (skull hammer,etc). 

  • Member
    November 14, 2013

    Gildergreen to Deku Tree mod where are you?! :P