As the fifth chapter in The Elder Scrolls franchise, Skyrim made leaps and bounds in simplifying old-school RPG elements into a more easily accessible final product. This was clearly the right move, given how popular the series has remained (and how often it’s been ported).
One of the more drastic changes Skyrim made was in character creation. In previous Elder Scrolls games, the player selected a birthsign for their character; however, in Skyrim, they instead have the option of choosing a Standing Stone blessing. The obvious benefit is the ability to switch between the thirteen options whenever a player likes. But why do that? Because of the blessings, naturally.
Each Standing Stone (found scattered throughout Skyrim) grants the player a unique ability or bonus found nowhere else in the game. But which blessing is right for which player? Well, it depends on any given person’s playstyle. That said, in general, some blessings are certainly more beneficial than others.
11 The Atronach Stone
Selecting the blessing of the Atronach Stone is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows the player to absorb half of all spell attacks, converting them to Magicka rather than taking damage. On the other hand, this blessing also causes the player’s Magicka to regenerate 50% more slowly.
It is balanced out, somewhat, by a slight bonus to the player’s maximum Magicka. Really, this blessing is ideal for a spellcaster who expects to be facing mostly other spellcasters in combat. The Atronach Standing Stone can be found in the southernmost region of Eastmarch, among the hot springs. The site is East-by-Northeast of Darkwater Crossing.
10 The Apprentice Stone
Another double-edged sword, the Apprentice Standing Stone can also be seen as the polar opposite of the Atronach Stone. This blessing lets the player regenerate Magicka twice as fast, but it also makes them doubly weak to all incoming spell attacks.
This blessing is ideal for a spellcaster who is particularly sure of themselves and their ability to evade incoming lightning bolts and fireballs. It could also prove quite handy for a spellcaster planning to go up against bandits, raiders, and other non-magic-users.
The Apprentice Standing Stone can be found in a marsh in the Hjaalmarch area, directly North of Fort Snowhawk (which itself is West of Morthal).
9 The Tower Stone
Accepting the blessing of the Tower Stone grants a player a new daily power (that is, a unique spell that they can cast only once per day). This power will automatically unlock any lock of Expert level or lower (only Master-level locks would be unaffected).
This blessing is best-suited to thieves and anyone worried about running low on lockpicks. The Tower Standing Stone can be found on a snowy cliff roughly halfway between the cities of Dawnstar and Winterhold.
8 The Ritual Stone
A player who chooses the blessing of the Ritual Stone will soon find themselves able to resurrect the dead. Once per day, such a player can reanimate a dead body to fight for them for 200 seconds. The Thrall (as it’s called) will fight the player’s enemies and follow them until the time runs out and they collapse to the ground.
This blessing can be particularly helpful when fighting large groups of enemies. It should, however, be noted that using this power is considered Necromancy, and it is thus frowned upon by most citizens of Skyrim.
The Ritual Standing Stone can be found East of Whiterun, above the entrance to Graywinter Watch.
7 The Lord Stone
A popular choice for warriors, the Lord Stone increases a player’s defense in two major ways. Not only is the player’s physical defense increased, but they are also given a 25% Resist Magic effect.
With its ability to protect a player from both physical and magical attacks, the Lord Stone is an excellent choice for almost any playstyle. This is especially true for those who don’t necessarily want to spend their time in search of unique magical armor found throughout the game.
The Lord Standing Stone can be found East of Morthal and Northeast of the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon, down a winding road and up a steep mountain.
6 The Steed Stone
Finding the Steed Stone grants players a few particularly useful effects. First of all, players have their total carry weight increased by 100 points. Additionally, worn armor won’t reduce movement speed and will actually be completely weightless for as long as it’s worn.
This blessing is ideal for virtually any playstyle imaginable. It allows for unrestricted movement speed and lets the player carry far more goodies back to their homebase.
The Steed Standing Stone is located NorthWest of Solitude, near the Ironback Hideout.
5 The Lady Stone
Quite simply, the blessing of the Lady Stone helps players heal and recover more quickly. A player who selects this blessing will recover both their Health and their Stamina 25% faster.
While this blessing is clearly better-suited to a warrior than a spellcaster or thief, there’s no denying that being able to maximize one’s Stamina or Health is one of the loftiest player goals of the game.
The Lady Standing Stone can be found on a small island in Lake Illnalta, located just North of Falkreath.
4 The Guardian Stones (The Warrior, The Mage, The Thief)
Once the tutorial mission is complete, players find themselves tasked with heading to Riverwood (and, eventually, Whiterun). But if a slight detour is made, the player will find themselves in the presence of the Guardian Stones. These represent the Warrior, the Mage, and the Thief, and they provide new players with an opportunity to get a Standing Stone blessing right away.
The Warrior Stone lets the player improve all combat skills 20% faster. These include One-Handed, Two-Handed, Unarmed, and Block. This blessing is ideal for those who intend to focus on physical combat.
The Mage Stone lets the player improve all magic skills 20% faster. These include Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, and Restoration. This blessing is ideal for spellcasters and magic-users.
The Thief Stone lets the player improve all stealth skills 20% faster. These include Pickpocket, Sneak, Lockpicking, Light Armor, Speech, Alchemy, and Archery. This blessing is ideal for thieves, assassins, and anyone else who wishes to focus on stealth.
While a player can only have one of these blessings active at once, anyone seeking to increase all of their skills should consider heading to the Bards College in Solitude. Complete a series of miscellaneous tasks there and you’ll find yourself rewarded with a slight boost to every single skill.
The Guardian Stones are located on a stone outcropping by the roadside SouthWest of Riverwood.
3 The Shadow Stone
Accepting the blessing of the Shadow Stone grants the player the ability to turn invisible for an extended period of time once per day. This can be especially useful if a player doesn’t have access to an invisibility spell, or can’t afford a potion with a similar effect.
Best-suited to thieves and assassins, this blessing can come in quite handy during both the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood questlines.
The Shadow Standing Stone is found near Nightingale Hall, South of Riften.
2 The Serpent Stone
In Elder Scrolls lore, the Serpent is the most unique constellation in existence. Unlike all the others, the Serpent moves about the night’s sky as it hunts the other signs. Only the three Guardians are capable of protecting the others from the wrath of the Serpent.
It is also said that those individuals born under the sign of the Serpent will live the most unique and legendary lives of all. Some may become the greatest of heroes, while others will become the most feared of villains.
As a Standing Stone, the Serpent grants an ability that can be quite deadly in the wrong hands. A player who heeds the Serpent’s call gains a once-a-day ranged spell that they can use to both paralyze and damage an enemy from a distance (this is in contrast to other paralysis spells, which require close proximity to the target).
This ability can be used to get the jump on an unaware foe, to stop an aggressor and sneak away from a fight, or to temporarily disable a ranged attacker while the player deals with closer enemies.
The Standing Stone of the Serpent can be found on an icy island in the Sea of Ghosts. It is East of the College of Winterhold and Northeast of the Wreck of The Pride of Tel Vos.
1 The Lover Stone
One of the best benefits of marriage in Skyrim is the Lover’s Comfort effect. Sleeping in the same bed as a spouse grants the player this effect, which allows them to improve all skills 15% faster. But what if someone wants that sweet bonus but doesn’t want to rush into anything serious with one of Skyrim‘s eligible bachelors or bachelorettes?
That’s where the Lover Stone comes in.
Widely considered the best Standing Stone in the game, the Lover Stone grants the Lover’s Comfort effect full-time. It should be noted, however, that having the blessing of the Lover Standing Stone means that the player will not receive Lover’s Comfort from sleeping with their spouse. The two effects do not stack.
While the Guardian Stones allow a player to increase roughly 1/3rd of their skills 20% faster, there’s no denying that increasing all skills is the better choice, even if it’s only 15% faster.
Remember, a character in Skyrim only levels up once enough of their skills have increased. Thus a player who seeks out the Lover Standing Stone will find themselves leveling up (and getting those sweet, sweet Perks) at a much faster rate.
The Lover Standing Stone can be found to the East of Markarth, just North of Kolskeggr Mine.
![\"IT電腦補習](\"http://itteacheritfreelance.hk/test/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo2-2.png\"){kind=logo}
www.itsec.hk
www.itsec.vip
www.itseceu.uk
Leave a Reply