Paladin of Molag Bal
by helenascrolls & chrisdiokno
"I am the face of pain! The souls of the damned are my weapons! You will know eons of suffering!"
Required Mods: Ordinator & Apocalypse (Enai)
Recommended Mods: Imperious, Andromeda, Triumvirate, Wintersun, & Summermyst (Enai)
Heartbreaker-A classic killmove mod, that not only allows you to rip out the hearts of any opponent, ala Illdari Sarothil, but also the ability to kill essential NPCs.
Phenderix Magic
&
4thUnknown's Daedric Armor-A really well done Daedric Armor replacer mod that makes it look more like a really well done update to the classic Morrowind design, IMO one of the best the series has ever had.
or
Molag Bal armor (there are a few, choose one you like)
Introduction
The Paladin of Molag Bal is an unholy spin on the divine warrior archetype. This antipaladin follows the evil tenets of their vampiric god with righteous conviction, swearing an Oath of Conquest or an Oath of Valor.
Deity: Molag Bal
“Slay people who stand in your way. Trap souls in my name. Live as a vampire and never seek a cure.”
- Follower - Eye of the Storm: Absorbs X Magicka and Stamina per second (based on favor with Molag Bal) from nearby enemies in combat.
- Devotee - Dragged to Oblivion: Activate a person in combat to banish them to Coldharbour. Pray to request the items. Costs 15% favor.
The Daedric Prince whose sphere is the domination and enslavement of mortals. His ultimate desire is to harvest the souls of all mortals, bringing them within his sway by spreading seeds of strife and discord in the mortal realms. To this end, he obsessively collects soul gems, and has even dragged pieces of Nirn into his realm to satisfy his insatiable desire for conquest. The more souls he collects, the more he wants.
He also takes great pleasure in the suffering of mortals, and often has them tortured for his amusement. The Prince has a penchant for necromancy, often employing the use of the risen dead and forcing his followers to serve beyond the grave. He is capable of preserving live mortals far beyond their normal lifespan to prolong their suffering.
Oath of Conquest by Chris Those who follow the path of Conquest are often those bloody-handed enough to dive face-first into Hell. At the behest of a lord or other patron, they will seek to wage total war, slaughtering all that can be reached by their weapons and spellcraft, till none are left and their flesh and armor are soaked in gore and the screams of the conquered echo through the Void. Race: Altmer or Orsimer A: Height + Highborn racial granting +25%Magicka regen, +50 Magicka, & bonuses to most Skills. Altmer was my final choice. O: Berserker Rage (increased damage, but increased damage taken) & Skill bonuses to Heavy Armor, Enchanting, and One-Handed. Orc is a strong 2nd option. Either way you shall be a vampire... Imperious:
Stats: 90H/115M/95S + 1/2/2 (Perk Health to 250 then stop) Standing Stone: Warrior & The Mage -> Ritual Basic Stones for leveling, followed by The Ritual for that classic “raise mass amount of undead in an area” daily power. Skills: one handed, destruction, illusion, enchanting, conjuration, speech | Oath of Valor by Helena Although paladins of all faiths are the quintessential holy warriors, few feel the call of the battlefield more than those that have pledged themselves to the valor of their god; not only in oath but in faith itself. Because of this, these paladins wade into battle, dishonoring their enemies and sending souls to their lord in inglorious combat. Race: Imperial Boons in all Skills except Conjuration & Strong Defense + Support makes Imperial the perfect choice. Imperious:
Stats: 100H/100M/100S + 2/2/1 Standing Stone: Mage & Warrior (1-20) -> Lover (20-35) -> Ritual (35+) Basic Stones for leveling, then Lover for resurrection & random enchanted items, switch to Ritual when you no longer need those. Skills: heavy armor, one handed, restoration, conjuration, block, enchanting |
Oath of Valor
Spells:
Level 1 Spells: Healing, Lesser Ward, Bone Spirit, Bound Sword, Conjure Avenging Wraith, Azure Reconstruction
Level 5 Spells: Fast Healing, Circle of Strength, Lamb of Mara, Slay Living, Welling Blood, Soul Trap, Turn Lesser Undead, Reanimate Lesser Corpse
Level 15 Spells: Circle of the Moons, Heal Undead, Repel Lesser Undead, Sealed Resolve, Power of the Master
Level 25 Spells: Close Wounds, Circle of Protection, Aura of Vigor, Blood Boil, Decompose, Resurgence, Turn Greater Undead, Conjure Dremora Pit Fighter, Daedric Crescent, Banish Daedra, Conjure Death Hound
Level 40 Spells: Grand Healing, Aura of Thorns, Oathbound Guardian, Command Daedra, Conjure Gargoyle
Level 50 Spells: (King’s Heart, Mass Immortality, Shield of Awe)
Key Mechanics:
Timed Block: Block 1 second before an enemy’s attack lands for a tougher block and a stronger counterattack.
Molag Bal's Smite: Every 8th hit with your sword will be a Smite, proccing massive damage from perks.
Healing: Heal Self or Ally through an upgrading line of spells. Essential function.
Auras: Empower allies and debilitate enemies within your Aura.
Circles: Summon Circles at your feet that heal and strengthen allies and drain and weaken enemies that stand within.
Marks: Mark enemies with spells like Lamb of Mara, Soul Trap, & Welling Blood, to debuff, lifesteal, & more!
Rallying Standard: Daily power, places a banner at your location. Allies near the banner are buffed. Automatically place one when you raise your hands, so I had to stop drawing my sword before entering rooms.
Undead Army: Reanimate corpses, collect 11 types of bone to create permanent skeleton soldiers, summon vengeful spirits with the ritual stone.
Reanimated Corpse
Avenging Wraith
Skeleton Warrior & Skeleton Mage
Dremora Pit Fighter
Dire Death Hound & Gargoyle Brute (Phenderix)
Oathbound Guardian
Vampirism: Modded vampirism requires balancing feeding with thirsting, trading social acceptance for ultimate power. The exact balance you draw depends on the powers you wish to wield. Vampirism was lore-necessary, but there is no wrong way to use or reserve your abilities.
Equipment
Crafting
This build does not rely heavily on crafting, but as a general philosophy I craft on most characters, even if it’s uninvested. You reap as much as you sow from this, but it’s up to you how far you want to go.
Enchanting
Enchanting is the primary crafting skill of this Paladin, yet I went only halfway through the crafting branch of this skills’ tree. Which enchantments you use should be guided by your current in-game situation. You may need Resist Fire if you’re starting the main quest or you might prefer to Fortify Power Attacks or Siphon Magicka at later levels.
Smithing
Smithing is secondary for this Paladin, but I did invest a few perks when I could spare them. Even basic smithing makes a noticeable stat boost, especially for a full set of heavy armor. Good for extra coin and levels, allows you to acquire Ebony & Daedric gear a little sooner if you invest. The Molag Bal armor mod I used required Daedric Smithing to craft, but you could reward yourself with that for acquiring a full set of Daedric (a legitimate exchange) or even completing a questline, if you don't want to level this skill!
Alchemy
Alchemy could safely be neglected altogether, but I like to brew magicka & stamina potions, if nothing else. Completely uninvested.
Items
Swords: I generally used the best sword I could find, unless it offended the aesthetic of the build. You might look for the Pale Blade, the Blades Sword, or an Ebony or Daedric blade. Your final weapon will depend on whether or not you chose to craft.
Harkon's Sword
8 Base DMG
Absorbs 15 points each of Health, Magicka, & Stamina when wielded by a vampire.
Ideal tank item, low damage & self-heals, & lore-fitting for Molag Bal's Champion. No crafting required.
Blade of Coldharbour (Ebony Sword w/Twin Summermyst Enchantments)
13 Base DMG
Killstreak: Deals 25 magic damage, multiplied by 4 on the next hit after this kills a target.
Death's Door: Reduces targets with 35% or less remaining Health to 1 point of Health.
Lethal goon deleter
Shields: I rocked an Imperial shield for the longest because Dwarven was not cute. Versatile slot, you could use the Dawnguard Shield, Targe of the Blooded, Auriel's Shield, even a Daedric shield. I recommend settling with one of these:
Dawnguard Rune Shield
27 Base Armor
+10 Bash damage against vampires, and sustained blocking creates a minor sun shield doing 10 points of damage while draining the wielder's stamina.
Beautiful item with useful built-in enchantments.
Shield of Molag Bal (Ebony Shield w/Summermyst Enchants)
32 Base Armor
Cheat Death: Take 25% less damage from attacks when your Health falls below 25%
- Siphon Health: Absorbs Health based on level from enemies within 20 feet.
- Immortality in shield form.
Armor: I went with the darkest and the heaviest armor I could get my hands on.
Dragonplate Helmet of Extreme Conjuring
22 Base Armor
Conjuration spells & enchantments cost 24% less.
Powerful profile, heavy defense, & cheaper conjures.
Ebony Mail
45 Base Armor
You move more quietly and enemies that stay too close take poison damage.
Ebony armor is acceptable, but I chose to mock Boethia and utilize her artifact. Helps with aggressive guards and villagers.
Daedric Gauntlets of Extreme Wielding
18 Base Armor
One-handed attacks do 38% more damage.
Daedric Boots of the Firewalker
18 Base Armor
+77% Fire Resistance.
Negate fire weakness.
Roleplay & Quests:
Molag Bal’s Tenets of the Valorous
Dishonor. Crush your enemies’ spirits. All war is based on deception. Desecrate your enemies’ shrines and defile their corpses - strike fear into the hearts of men.
Valor. Sing up glorious praise to your Prince through valorous combat. One should never flee from a confrontation. Better to perish with courage and valor than to flee in cowardice.
Leadership. You are the hammer that meets out the will of Molag Bal. Take charge of the allies he has given you. Offer aid and protection in combat. Never turn away someone in need. Act with kindness above all.
The Greater Evil. When faced with a confrontation of multiple evils, always choose to commit the greater among them. Your efforts are best exerted where they may do the most harm and bring about the most change.
The Paladin’s Path
Companions: Starting the main quest was difficult at first with vampiric fire weakness, so you may consider training with the Companions, up until you discover what they really are…
Mage’s College: You can complete this at any point, as the primary aim is Master Restoration, but sooner may be better.
Main: This build does not make extensive use of shouts and fire dragons are lethal early on, so you may wish to let this play background to your duties in the Imperial Legion.
Imperials: The perfect training for a Paladin of Valor, relatively easy quests with worthwhile loot to carry you into the mid-game.
House of Horrors: You may have your encounter with Molag Bal at any point, whether you choose to jump straight in, or roleplay character growth, but this Oath prefers a sword over the Mace of Molag Bal, which I used as a flavorful follower weapon.
The Black Star: Useful for enchanting.
The Taste of Death: Namira's Ring is a fun & viable item to pick up, especially if you can Equip-Multiple-Rings.
Dawnguard: The defining arc of the Paladin of Molag Bal. This is where everything comes together and the Paladin's Valor reaches its climax. I slotted Harkon's Sword for my final weapon.
Dragonborn: Optional and I recommend doing these last on Legendary, for the challenge.
Oath of Conquest
Equipment
Daedric Face of Conquest - Ebony Plate Helmet (Fortify Illusion & Destruction)
The Ebony Mail
Claws of the Reaver - Ebony Plate Gauntlets (Fortify One-Handed & Fortify Unarmed)
Warstrider Greaves - Ebony Plate Boots (Fortify Stamina Regen & Stamina)
Amulet of Bal-Silver Sapphire Necklace w/ Fortify Conjuration and Restoration
Ahzidal’s Ring of Necromancy
Daedric/Ebony Staff of War
Mace of Molag Bal
Gameplay
Gameplay as the Path of Conquest is simple, yet very, very fun. It focused around something I’ve personally rarely done in my over a decade of playing Skyrim. That is being a complete murderhobo. Simply put, respawning and permanently essential NPCs, you will end up killing damn near everyone.
Simply put, the Path of Conquest is a necromantic battlemage whose sole goal is to bring forth Coldharbour into Nirn in a sort of Pseudo-Planesmeld. Prior to getting the Mace of Molag Bal, I rocked any mace I could get my hands on. As for the staff? Well, if you don’t have the Staves creation, then what I would recommend is the Staff of Fireballs you can knab from Krosis up at Shearpoint, or Vokun from High Gate Ruins.
When engaging in combat, you’ll want to use Frost Magic for that nice double punch of Damage Stamina and Slow on melee foes, especially heavier hitting ones like Marauders and Chiefs. As for mages, then you’ll want to use Shock Magic to swiftly drain their reserves, leaving their more often than not fleshy selves open to being smashed in by your mace.
A similar solution will be used to deal with any pesky dragons, even if you have Dragonrend. You see, Shouts are considered a form of magic. Ergo they run off of Magicka, at least for dragons. So, by pelting a dragon with bolts of Shock Magicka, depending on the type of dragon, you’ll eventually drain enough of their Magicka, forcing them to land hours before you pick up Dragonrend.
Now, on the subject of Necromancy, they were quite a fair amount of help, especially once you grab the Ritual Stone. However, as this character is not a squishy summoner, the resurrected foes will be extra hands doing lighter work, especially when dealing with tougher foes. Rather than standing back and letting your moany boys do all the work, you’ll want to dive in and get swinging and spell slinging right alongside them.
Primary quests will be all three Main Quests of the base game, Dragonborn, and Dawnguard (Siding with the Volkihar of course), The Dark Brotherhood, The Black Star, the House of Horrors, and surprisingly for some, Boethiah’s Calling. Now, why would a follower of Bal do the quest? Simple, not only do you get to kill an entire cabal of Boethiah’s worshippers, but you get to kill her former Champion, and what’s more fitting than a follower of Bal corrupting a relic of Boethiah?
Now, with this build, I basically went around, after completing the primary quests, killing as many people as I could. If you have a mod that allows you to kill essential NPCs, use it. Otherwise, you can roleplay that respawning enemies ala Bandits and Guards, or essential ones are selected to be slaves in Bal’s new empire starting from Skyrim.
Special Moves
Soulburst-Channeling the powers of Balian necromancy, the Path of Conquest summons forth an army of sthe undead, before launching them forth, as they burst in a spray of sleet.
(Ritual Stone+Ahzidal’s Ring of Necromancy+Unrelenting Force)
Storm of Souls-Utilizing powers stolen from the halls of Apocrypha, the Paladin of Conquest becomes a living storm.
(Found/Bought Potion of Destruction+Secret of Arcana+Unbounded Storms).
Roleplay
- Never run away from a fight, for to do so is cowardice unbefitting a conqueror.
- Whenever you have the option to settle a solution with violence, always choose violence.
- Pray often at the shrine to Molag Bal either in Castle Volkihar, or in the Abandoned House in Markarth.
- Kill any priests of Arkay, or Vigilants of Stendarr, you come across, and trap their souls as an offering to Molag Bal.
Molag Bal's Tenets of the Conqueror
Douse the Flame of Hope. It is not enough to merely defeat an enemy in battle. Your victory must be so overwhelming that your enemies’ will to fight is shattered forever. A blade can end a life. Fear can end an empire.
Rule with an Iron Fist. Once you have conquered, tolerate no dissent. Your word is law. Those who obey it shall be favored. Those who defy it shall be punished as an example to all who might follow.
Strength Above All. You shall rule until a stronger one arises. Then you must grow mightier and meet the challenge, or fall to your own ruin.
Replies
I like it! Deathknights are always awesome. Also nice execution of 2 builds in one post. Very inspiring. I'm guessing these paladins require no companionship in their path to domination, but who would you say would make good companions from RP and battle mechanics perspective?
Thanks! On the contrary, the paladin of Valor leads a team-focused playstyle with tons of summons & party buffs, a companion makes a fine addition & I recommend Serana for the humanoid companion & death hounds for the animal companion!