The skill system in Skyrim works by granting a perk point at every level, which can be put into any skill of the player’s choice. This choice is permanent, so one must be careful when constructing their character.
Well, sort of. While it is true that you should be careful with what you pick, as every choice matters—especially with the perk system—whether you have made mistakes along the way, made choices that do not fit your character, or simply want to try a new class, this article will show you how to “respec.”
How Much Can I Respec?
Unfortunately, for some of you, the respec system has its limitations. You will need the Dragonborn DLC; if you have the special edition or a later version, it is included by default. You must then complete the entire main quest of the DLC, and you will be given the option to respec your perks in Skyrim.
The “respec” is not free; however, you will need to pay one dragon soul per perk tree for a reset. The respec only applies to your perks; all points put into Health, Stamina, or Magicka cannot be reset, so you are stuck with these choices.
The best way for a complete reset of your character is to just start a new save. There are also some mods you can download. For example, Ish’s Respec Mod allows you to craft a potion that does the exact same thing as the DLC, but it is a bit more convenient. This mod is nice if you are not planning on playing through Dragonborn.
Ordinator, another popular perk mod has a respec system of its own, so if you are using Ordinator already, you are in luck. Bringing five Daedra hearts to a cooking pot will allow you to craft a Scroll of Legends, which allows you to respec all of your perks in Skyrim.
Related Guide: What is the Max Level in Skyrim?
A Soft Respec
There is also a way to soft-respec your perk tree, and that is to make it Legendary. Making a perk tree legendary means that all your perks will be reset and perk points given back to you. The perk tree will be reset to the minimum amount of points after you do so.
This is a great way to respect in Skyrim, as it is completely free. The only problem is that it might be a bit inconvenient, as you need to level up a perk tree to 100 to make it Legendary, especially if you do not want to continue using the skill in question.
Summary of How to Respec Your Character in Skyrim
In summary, respecing in Skyrim allows players to reset their character’s perks and try out new builds, but it has some limitations. To respec, you need the Dragonborn DLC, and you must complete its main questline. Respecing costs one dragon soul per perk tree, and it doesn’t affect Health, Stamina, or Magicka attributes.
For a complete character reset, starting a new save or using mods like Ish’s Respec Mod and Ordinator is recommended. Alternatively, a soft respec in Skyrim can be achieved by making a skill tree Legendary, which resets the perks and returns the points but requires leveling up the skill tree to 100 first.
For more information on how to do cool stuff in this great RPG, check out our guide on how to get rid of your vampirism and go back to normal in Skyrim.
