Muffle combined with the Nightingale gear and Muffled Movement in Sneak allows for completely silent movement. I prefer to avoid above Adept rank - a dual-cast spell from a lower tier increases its magnitude by 220%, including bonuses from effect and enemy specific perks, meaning that even a lowly Fury spell, when dual cast, can affect many enemies in Skyrim.
Illusion: The Illusion school of magic is a great asset to any rogue - it can cause distractions, turn enemies against each other, and improve stealth capabilities.
Key perks are Backstab and up to Silent Roll. Sneaking through an ancient ruin, stealing valuables from a wealthy citizen's home, or delivering sudden strikes from the shadows on interlopers into the Twilight Sepulcher - all of these are within the Swordsman's area of expertise. Sneak: As a Nightingale, the Swordsman is a master of stealth. Key perks here are pretty much everything except the axe, mace and dual wielding perks - with Critical Charge being very important! These weapons allow him to strike with an excellent balance between speed, reach, and damage. One-Handed: As the name suggests, the Nightingale Swordsman is a master of one-handed blades. As a close-quarters fighter in light armor, any armor bonus is welcome. Stats: I recommend leveling 1/ 2/ 2 until you reach 180 base Magicka, then level 0/ 3/ 2 from then onwards. Khajiit, Dunmer and Argonians can also make serviceable Swordsmen with their skill boosts. Orcs, with their Berserker Rage ability, are an excellent race for any melee build.
Redguards' skill boosts and daily power synergise well with the build. Race: I chose to play as an Altmer, as their +50 magicka boost and +10 Illusion boost, along with the starting Fury spell, meant it was easier to get my Swordsman started. Smithing helps the Swordsman improve his weapons and armor, increasing their effectiveness.
#Nightingale blade how to
Like many close combat fighters he knows how to parry with a blade and can use lighter armors to protect himself from blows. He is also a expert sneak and illusionist, often causing misdirection and landing a devastating surprise attack before entering the fray. While many other rogues around Tamriel count the bow and dagger amongst their closest friends, the Swordsman uses a single one-handed blade with unmatched skill.
#Nightingale blade full
In exchange for their services, Nightingales are granted an impressive array of powers and equipment from Nocturnal to use as they see fit - and the Swordsman utilizes many Nocturnal's gifts to their full potential. A secretive order selected from the elite of the Thieves Guild bound to the Mistress of Shadows, Nocturnal, the Nightingales are charged with defending the Twilight Sepulcher, the Temple of Nocturnal, against any threats. This build came from several converging ideas - the lack of quality Nightingale builds in the group, few assassin-type builds with a truly thrilling playstyle, wanting to explore further in a few concepts touched upon in other builds, and the fact that I have not seen a single build using a one-handed weapon and nothing in the offhand! This guy's potential only grew throughout my playthrough as I discovered new combos, and even though I didn't think using a single one-handed weapon would be viable on Master without healing or Alchemy, it very much is! Note that Thieves Guild spoilers will follow read at your own risk.