Hand to Hand - A True Unarmed Combat Skill

⭐ ⭐ (781 endorsements) 📥 26,151 downloads 📌 vv1.7x 📅 1/5/2013
⚪ Last updated 2013

By Alex Ducey · Skills and Leveling

⬇ Download Mod Source: Nexus Mods ↗ 📅 Updated: 1/12/2013 📅 Created: 1/5/2013
⚠️ Install Order · 4 steps
1🛠️ SKSE — Skyrim Script Extender Download ↗
2🔧 USLEEP — Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch Download ↗
3🖥️ SkyUI — SkyUI (MCM framework) Download ↗
4📦 SKSE Find it →

Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.

🔍 Analysis

  • 👍 3.0% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
  • 🏆 #4 of 26 Skills and Leveling mods in this game by downloads

📋 About This Mod

SKSE Required - http://skse.silverlock.org/ If you are familiar with my mod Unhindered, this works somewhat similarly to the compatibility version. Merely by hitting people while Unarmed, you will gain experience towards the next rank equal to what it would be in One-Handed. The formula for how much experience is required per level is also the same as One-Handed. The formula for unarmed damage is (((0. 3 Skill rank) + Gauntlet Base Armor Rating +Bonuses to Unarmed Damage from Enchantments) (0. 20 * Pugilism Rank)) + Weapon Enchantments . Khajiit and Argonians no longer have a racial advantage in Unarmed outside of the Khajiit\'s 10 rank initial bonus to the Unarmed skill. Note that I in no way edited the races, this is still 100% compatible with race altering mods. Khajiit do however begin with a rank of 25 in Unarmed, The other \'warrior\' races (Redguard, Orc, Imperial, Nord) have a starting rank of 20. All other races begin at 15. HERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: You will get at the beginning of the game or when you load the mod 300 copies of a weightless weapon called Unarmed. (You can store some copies for later use in a chest somewhere, or keep them on you) Many perks simply cannot work properly unless you have this weapon equipped, including the one allowing you to gain experience in Hand to Hand. This is due to a weakness of the game engine, wherein truly Unarmed strikes do not trigger various scripted events and perks as normal weapons do. For this reason I have made Unarmed, an invisible weightless weapon that uses your Unarmed damage as its damage and in no way alters the appearance of your fists. If you do not get your copies of this weapon, type: -help unarmed into the console. It will bring up one weapon form, should be something ending in 1899. Now type in player.additem TheFormNumberEndingIn1899 X where x is the number of copies you want. The other HUGE advantage of having these is that your fists are now perfectly enchantable. Also, you can add it to your quick items list making it easier to switch to Unarmed combat. By using a 0 mana spell you will start the game with called Check Unarmed Stats, you can do just that and it will tell you your current rank and how far you are towards your next rank. There is also a spell that summons a big ball of light that if talked to will grant you perks (should you have perk points to spend, otherwise the spell does nothing) according to the following tree: Pugilist: 5 ranks, each granting a 20% bonus to unarmed damage leads to the following two perks (Skill rank 15, 20, 40, 60, 80 required) Brawler - Unarmed power attacks deal 25% more damage per rank (2 ranks) (Skill Rank 30, 50 required) Pressure Points - Unarmed attacks ignore 20% of armor per rank (2 ranks) (Skill Rank 30, 50 required) Brawler leads to Float Like A Butterfly - 3 ranks of 20% reduction in Unarmed power attack stamina cost (Skill Rank 45, 65, 75 required) Butterfly leads to: Paralyzi

🤖 AI-enhanced — based on mod data

Adds a new Unarmed skill with its own perk tree to Skyrim, leveling like any other skill. Requires SKSE. A classic mod from 2013 with 781 endorsements and 26,151 downloads, offering a dedicated path for unarmed combat enthusiasts.

✨ Key Features

Adds a new Unarmed skill to the game.
Includes a dedicated perk tree for unarmed combat.
Levels the character as any other skill would.
Requires SKSE (Skyrim Script Extender).

📊 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

  • Community favorite with 781 endorsements and over 26k downloads.
  • Fills a real gap—unarmed builds get a proper skill tree instead of relying on modded perks.
  • Simple concept that integrates with vanilla leveling, so it feels like part of the game.

⚠️ Cons

  • Last updated in 2013—likely outdated for modern Skyrim versions, may need patches.
  • Requires SKSE, which adds an extra setup step and potential compatibility issues.
🎯 Is This For You?
For Skyrim players who love punch-cat builds or want a legitimate unarmed playthrough without relying on heavy overhaul mods. If you're a purist who wants a simple, vanilla-friendly addition to the skill system, this is for you. Skip if you're on the latest Skyrim version and don't want to troubleshoot old mods.
📦 Install:Medium· 5-10 minutes

💡 Beginner Tips

  • Make sure SKSE is installed and launched via the SKSE loader, not the default launcher, or the mod won't work.
  • Check the mod's compatibility with your Skyrim version—since it's from 2013, you may need to use a compatibility patch or downgrade.
  • Use a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 to keep track of the files and avoid overwriting other mods.

📊 Mod Details

Game
Skyrim LE Mods
Author
Alex Ducey
Version
v1.7x
Downloads
26,151
Endorsements
781
Category
Skills and Leveling
Created
1/5/2013
Updated
1/12/2013

🔧 How to Install Skyrim LE Mods

Download from Nexus.

📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim LE →

Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.

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