There are a few different types of melee combat in Skyrim; however, two-handed weapons deal the most damage in a single hit when compared to one-handed weapons and shields. Two-handed weapons consist of warhammers, greatswords, and battleaxes; each of these weapon types has distinct advantages and disadvantages.
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If you want to create a two-handed warrior, then you should learn about the different perks in the two-handed skill tree and which perks are best for each individual weapon type, such as greatswords. These are the best perks for two-handed weapons that you can unlock in Skyrim, and which of them you should unlock first.
Devastating Blow
If you unlock the Devastating Blow perk, then your standing power attacks with two-handed weapons will deal 25 percent more damage and even give you a chance to decapitate enemies that are at low health. The main focus of this perk is the first effect; since standing power attacks already deal quite a bit of damage, that extra 25 percent makes them even more powerful.
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However, the Devastating Blow perk isn't particularly useful since it only focuses on one type of power attack, and two-handed users often prefer basic attacks to power attacks since power attacks take so long to perform.
Limbsplitter
Battle axes are a weapon type in Skyrim, and the Limbsplitter perk helps Warriors that use these axes by granting extra bleed damage dealt while using a battle axe. There are three stages of this perk, and each of them allows you to deal more bleed damage when you hit an enemy.
Unfortunately, battle axes aren't quite as worthwhile as greatswords and warhammers because the individual perks of the other two weapon types are stronger. Regardless, if you prefer to use battle axes, then Limbsplitter is a very useful perk.
Deep Wounds
Deep Wounds adds a 10% chance for you to deal critical damage when you attack with a greatsword, and the other two stages of this perk increase your chance of dealing critical damage by 5 percent each. Critical damage allows you to deal a bonus when you hit an enemy, which is why you want to deal as much critical damage as possible during combat.
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Greatswords are a good option as a weapon type since there are tons of unique swords in Skyrim, and a few of them are relatively easy to obtain. Overall, you should unlock the Deep Wounds perk if you use greatswords so that you can become as powerful as possible.
Great Critical Charge
Great Critical Charge adds a new power attack for two-handed weapons to your arsenal; it adds the ability to perform a power attack while sprinting, which makes it the only way to sprint while attacking with a two-handed weapon.
Although this perk isn't necessarily essential for creating a strong build, it makes playing as a warrior a lot more fun and gives you versatility in terms of your combat moves. You should unlock the Great Critical Charge perk if you want some more variety for your play style.
Skull Crusher
Skull Crusher is the strongest weapon type specific perk in the two-handed skill tree. This perk allows you to ignore 25 percent of the enemy's armor rating while attacking them, and it stacks twice for another 50 percent at tier 3.
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Warhammers are the only weapon type that benefits from the Skull Crusher perk; however, since this weapon type is the strongest two-handed weapon, the Skull Crusher perk is one of the most powerful combat perks in Skyrim. If you use warhammers at all, then you should set a perk point aside for Skull Crusher.
Champion's Stance
Power attacks are powerful; however, they require a lot of stamina to perform, particularly during the early stages of Skyrim. However, the Champion Stance perk can help you with this issue by decreasing the stamina requirement for two-handed power attacks by 25 percent.
A 25 percent reduction in the stamina requirement makes power attacks easy to perform, especially at a higher level since your character will have more stamina. Any player that uses two-handed weapons can benefit greatly from the Champion's Stance perk, which is why it's a necessity for a warrior build.
Barbarian
Regardless of which type of weapon you choose to use in the two-handed category, you will need the Barbarian perk to deal a decent amount of damage. This perk increases your two-handed damage by 20 percent with each tier, and there are a total of 5 tiers for this perk.
If you're creating a two-handed build of any type, then you should keep the barbarian perk on your radar at all times so that you can unlock each tier as you progress through Skyrim.
Sweep
Similar to other perks in the two-handed skill tree, Sweep focuses on enhancing your power attacks. Sweep allows you to hit every enemy in front of you with a sideways power attack, which means that you can potentially defeat multiple enemies with a single hit if you have this perk unlocked.
Outside of magical spells, there aren't many ways to hit multiple enemies at once with melee damage, which is why sweep is such a powerful perk and why you should unlock it as early as possible.
Warmaster
Continuing with the trend of power attack perks in the two-handed skill tree, Warmaster grants you the ability to paralyze an enemy with a power attack. Paralyzing an enemy makes them fall to the ground, where they will then have to take a few seconds to pick themselves back up. A paralyzing attack gives you the chance to hit your enemies a few times, defeating them before they can regain their balance.
Warmaster is the final perk in the two-handed skill tree which means that you will have to use two-handed weapons for a while before you can unlock it; however, it's completely worth it because it grants you a 25 percent chance to paralyze an enemy with a backward power attack, which is an incredibly high chance.
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