by RootSec
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 Birth Sign 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.
Updated April 27, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim made leaps and bounds in making complex RPG systems accessible to the average person, whether they play games or not. In Skyrim, players can choose a Standing Stone blessing that grants the player a unique ability or bonus found nowhere else in the game, and this is one of the most memorable and defining mechanics of Bethesda’s game. Although each blessing has its use, some Standing Stones are certainly more beneficial than others.
13 The Atronach Stone
- Convert half of enemy spell damage into Magicka
- Regenerate Magicka half as fast
Choosing the Atronach Stone is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it lets the player convert half the damage of enemy spell attacks into Magicka, preventing damage. However, the blessing also makes the player’s Magicka regenerate 50% slower – this makes absorbing enemy spells a necessary means to the player’s spellcasting ends.
The blessing is balanced, somewhat, by a slight bonus to the player’s maximum Magicka, but ultimately this ability will lead to you taking more hits, when it’s usually best to take less. This blessing is situationally ideal for a spellcaster who expects to face other spellcasters, but it’s not great for 24/7 use on any character. The Atronach Stone is found in Eastmarch, East-by-Northeast of Darkwater Crossing.
12 The Apprentice Stone
- Regenerate Magicka twice as fast
- Receive double damage from enemy spells
Another double-edged sword, the Apprentice Stone is in many ways the polar opposite of the Atronach Stone. This Standing Stone lets the player regenerate Magicka twice as fast but also makes them twice as vulnerable to magic-based attacks. Instead of taking spells to the dome to regenerate Magicka, the player must dodge incoming spells to maximize this Stone’s potential.
This blessing is ideal for a spellcaster who is particularly sure of their ability to evade incoming attacks, but it is also very useful against non-Magicka-based enemies like bandits, raiders, and guards. The Apprentice Standing Stone can be found in a marsh in Hjaalmarch, directly North of Fort Snowhawk and just west of Morthal.
11 The Tower Stone
- Unlock an Expert-level lock, or lower
- Only usable once each day
Accepting the blessing of the Tower Stone grants the player the unique ability to unlock any Expert-level lock or below without having to go through the lockpicking minigame. This Standing Stone ability can only be used once each day though, and the player must either play long enough or wait long enough before being able to use it again.
This blessing is best-suited for players who don’t use the Lockpicking skill often, as it provides a definite way to unlock all but the toughest of locks. It’s a good choice for thief types, too, for its reliability. The Tower Stone can be found on a cliff roughly halfway between the cities of Dawnstar and Winterhold in the Reach – it can be seen from far away, so look up to the hills if you’re lost.
10 The Ritual Stone
- Resurrect dead NPCs within 75 feet for 200 seconds
- Only usable once each day
A player who chooses the blessing of the Ritual Stone will be given the daily power to mass resurrect the dead on a limited basis. Once per day, the player can reanimate all dead bodies around them in a 75-foot radius to fight for them for 200 seconds. The resurrected thralls will fight for the player and follow them until they collapse to the ground.
This Standing Stone is best used right at the end of a long, arduous dungeon, after fighting several high-power enemies before the final encounter. Use the power on your recently slain foes, and watch them turn against their former allies. The Ritual Standing Stone can be found just East of Whiterun, above the entrance to the troll-infested cave Graywinter Watch.
9 The Lord Stone
- Physical Defense increased by 25%
- Magical Resistance increased by 25%
The Lord Stone is a popular choice for front-line fighters as its blessing 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. However, 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 players who don’t want to waste valuable game time tracking down unique magical armor found throughout Skyrim. It’s simple, but it’s effectively the best way to increase your defense without picking up new gear. The Lord Stone can be found far to the Northeast of the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon on the summit of a mountain.
8 The Steed Stone
- Armor no longer encumbers the player at all
- 100-point increase in player carrying capacity
The Steed Stone grants players a few useful effects related to moving around the world efficiently. While under this Standing Stone’s blessing, the player won’t be encumbered by worn armor and will receive a 100 point boost to their total carrying capacity.
This blessing is ideal for virtually every playstyle but especially suited for players who partake in the economic side of the game. It lets you carry more trade goods, more crafting materials, and makes it far easier to bring huge dungeon hauls back to their homebase. The Steed Stone is located NorthWest of Solitude, near the Ironback Hideout.
7 The Lady Stone
- Regenerate Health 25% faster
- Regenerate Stamina 25% faster
The Lady Stone is a Standing Stone that improves the player’s ability to heal and regenerate stamina. Under this Standing Stone’s blessing, the player will get a 25% boost to their health and stamina regeneration – it’s a simple one, but quite effective for close-combat characters.
Warriors, thieves, and close-combat mages will all find this stone useful in maintaining constant heavy attacks and mitigating some of the repercussions of close combat. The Lady Standing Stone can be found on a small island in Lake Illnalta, located just North of Falkreath.
6 The Guardian Stones: The Warrior (The Warrior, The Mage, The Thief)
- All Warrior-related skills are learned 20% faster
- One-Handed, Two-Handed, Unarmed, and Block are included
Once the tutorial mission is complete, players are tasked with heading to Riverwood (and, eventually, Whiterun). But if a slight detour is made, or if the player follows Ralof, 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 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, Smithing, and Block. This Standing Stone blessing is ideal for those who intend to focus on physical combat or who wish to spec into a new close combat skill. The Guardian Stones are all located in a cluster on a stone outcropping just South West of Riverwood.
5 The Guardian Stones: The Thief Stone
- All Thief-related skills are learned 20% faster
- Pickpocket, Sneak, Lockpicking, Light Armor, Speech, Alchemy, and Archery are included
The Thief Stone is another Guardian Stone, this time with an emphasis on stealth-related skills – it increases the rate the player can learn Thief-related skills by 20%. These skills include Pickpocket, Sneak, Lockpicking, Light Armor, Speech, Alchemy, and Archery. The Thief Stone blessing is ideal for thieves, assassins, and rangers who wish to take things a little more stealthily.
The Thief Stone is also useful for characters looking to pick up alchemy, speech, or lockpicking, as these skills are all useful no matter what class the player plays. Alchemy especially is useful in harder difficulties, while speech and lockpicking can help you access previously inaccessible options in the world.
4 The Guardian Stones: The Mage Stone
- All Mage-related skills are learned 20% faster
- Enchanting, Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, and Restoration are included
The Mage Stone lets the player improve all magic skills 20% faster. These include Enchanting, Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, and Restoration. The Mage Stone blessing is ideal for spellcasters and magic-users, but it’s also useful for quickly leveling a new magic skill even for characters who haven’t touched the Mage-related skills in their playthrough.
While a player can only have one of the Guardian Stone blessings active at once, players who wish to increase all of their skills at once should consider heading to the Bards College in Solitude. There, you will encounter a series of miscellaneous tasks, and completing each one will grant a slight boost to every single skill.
3 The Shadow Stone
- Turn invisible for 60 seconds when using the granted ability
- Only usable once each day
Accepting the blessing of the Shadow Stone grants the player the ability to turn invisible for 60 seconds once per day. This Standing Stone blessing is especially useful if a player doesn’t have access to an invisibility spell, or can’t afford/craft a potion with the invisibility effect.
This blessing is best-suited for thieves and assassins who wish to remain unnoticed until the exact opportune moment. The Shadow Stone can come in quite handy during both the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood questlines multiple times, trivializing certain missions entirely. The Shadow Stone is found near Nightingale Hall, South of Riften.
2 The Serpent Stone
- Paralyze an enemy from a distance and deal damage to them
- Only usable once each day
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.
Taking the blessing of The Serpent Stone grants the player a once-a-day ranged spell that can be used to damage and paralyze an enemy from far away. Most paralyzation abilities require close range, making this ability particularly special. 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
- Gain a 15% increase in player ability to learn all skills
- Does not stack with Lover’s Comfort
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. What if the player wants that sweet bonus, but doesn’t want to engage with one of Skyrim‘s eligible bachelors or bachelorettes, though? 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 all the time. While the Guardian Stones allow a player to increase roughly a third of their skills 20% faster, increasing all skills is the better choice, even if it technically five percent slower for some skills. Unfortunately, the Lover Stone and Lover’s Comfort effects do not stack. The Lover Standing Stone can be found to the East of Markarth, just North of Kolskeggr Mine.
