Part of the enduring charm ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis the freedom players have in crafting their characters. There are plenty of ways toexperienceSkyrim, but one of the most rewarding is playing as an assassin. Fortunately, there is no shortage of mods available that make playing as a shadowy cutthroat even more enjoyable.
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If focusing on a stealthy build has become tiresome over the years, this collection of stellar mods will certainly spice things up a bit. Withthese nifty add-ons in one’s load order, it will be hard to go back to the familiar vanilla gameplay again.
Updated June 13, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of those rare games that manages to be timeless. Part of Skyrim’s enduring popularity is the game’s massive modding community, filled to the brim with talented and dedicated mod authors.
Players who can’t get enough of the Dark Brotherhood, and assassin gameplay in general, should definitely check out these mods. This list has been expanded with even more stellar add-ons that should spice up assassin gameplay quite a bit.
14Truly Deadly Poisons
InSkyrim, a true assassin should never be seen by his enemies. Fortunately,assassins have plenty of tools at their disposalto get the job done. The Alchemy skill, in particular, tends to be highly prioritized by stealthy builds due to the abundance of poisons that can be crafted. The vanilla game, however, can fall a bit short in this department, as poisons can often feel underpowered.
TheTruly Deadly Poisonsmod fixes this shortcoming. The mod, as the name suggests, vastly increases the potency ofSkyrim’s poisons, making them a significant force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Be warned, however, that this new potency goes both ways. Players that are poisoned will suffer much more damage, so stock up on plenty of potions!
13Complete Alchemy And Cooking Overhaul
Speaking of potions and poisons,Skyrim’s vanilla Alchemy system has undoubtedly become woefully boring for longtime players. Much like other aspects of the gameplay, several mods exist that seek to improve this aspect of the experience.
For that, players can’t go wrong withComplete Alchemy And Overhaul. The Alchemy system is reworked from the ground up with this mod. Along with the various tweaks, the mod also adds sixteen new alchemical effects and 100 unique ingredients. Any aspiring assassin looking to further hone their alchemical repertoire should give this mod a shot.
12Crime Overhaul
Obviously, being an assassin isn’t a legal, nine-to-five job. As with the Thieves Guild, theDark Brotherhood operates outside the bounds of the law. Luckily for the player,Skyrim’s guards are woefully inept. Getting away with murder isn’t nearly as hard as it sounds in the land of the Nords.
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Crime Overhaul, although a bit of an old mod now, adds a little more immersion for criminal builds like the assassin. Players won’t get away with their ill-gotten gains quite so easily with this mod, although experienced fans still won’t have too hard of a time. Accidental attacks on NPCs are also more forgiving when this mod is installed, so swing away with that sword!
11Alternate Start – Live Another Life
Skyrimwill always bring players back into the fold. Nevertheless, it’s not a stretch to imagine that many longtime players probably roll their eyes at the thought of having to complete the Helgen sequence for the umpteenth time.
Alternate Start - Live Another Lifeis one ofSkyrim’s most popular mods. Fans who like roleplaying as someone other than the legendary Dragonborn should check out this mod. Players intending on becoming assassins can even start right off the bat at the Dark Brotherhood’s doorstep. Don’t suffer through that wagon sequence ever again!
10Ordinator – Perks Of Skyrim
Perks play an important role in a character’s overall progression inSkyrim. They unlocknew abilities that aid the playerin defeating steadily tougher foes. However, when focusing on a pure assassin build, the standard Sneak tree leaves much to be desired.
EnterOrdinator — Perks of Skyrim. This particular mod adds a wealth of new perks for every skill tree in the game, which allows for more detailed roleplaying mechanics. The perk tree for the Sneak skill with Ordinator installed contains plenty of useful abilities for an assassin, making the overall build far more diverse and layered.
9Realistic AI Detection
The AI inSkyrim, especiallywhen sneaking is concerned, is comically underwhelming. It’s common for enemies to be blithely unaware of the player’s existence while only inches apart. When making an assassin build more feasible, the AI needs to be a little smarter to prevent the game from becomingtooeasy.
TheRealistic AI Detectionmod is a great place to start makingSkyrimmore challenging. Foes are upgraded with enhanced hearing capabilities and sharper lines of sight. They also won’t give up as easily if they suspect the player is in their vicinity. It’s definitely a must-have mod for stealthier playthroughs.
8Locational Damage
There are a lot of comical moments that can result fromSkyrim’s gameplay. Nothing beats watching one’s character get pierced through the eye with an arrow and seeing them shrug it off as if it were nothing. The same applies to enemies as well. For assassins wanting to pull off impressive sniper shots, this can be frustrating.
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Locational Damageis a handy mod that makes the game feel a tad more realistic. For example, a headshot will now deal more damage than a shot to the arm. Heavier weapons, such as warhammers, will cause foes to stagger more often due to the bulk of the item. All playstyles should benefit from this simple, yet practical mod.
7The Brotherhood Of Old
For assassin players, the Dark Brotherhood questline should be of obvious interest. Nevertheless, fans can conquer that particular quest line in a relatively short amount of time. Those who don’t want the story or assassinations to stop should check outThe Brotherhood of Old.
This mod adds 24 new quests for the Dark Brotherhood, which can be started after the conclusion of the original mission arc. AsSkyrim’s new Listener, the player character is tasked with strengthening the Dark Brotherhood’s position in the region, thereby rebuilding the weakened guild. With 8-12 hours of additional gameplay, there should be plenty to occupy an assassin’s time.
6The Brotherhood Is Dark
From an immersion standpoint, it’s a little odd that guilds inSkyrimdon’t really enforce their own strict rules. The worst players have to deal with is the paying of a fine. Furthermore, a player’s conduct while performing a mission doesn’t typically hold a lot of weight.
The Brotherhood is Darkmod adds a hardcore element to the proceedings. This mod actually requires the player to be an efficient assassin to make it in the Dark Brotherhood. Failing to execute contracts in a stealthy manner or disrespecting the guild too many times results in permanent expulsion. Talk about pressure!
5Skyrim Sewers 4
Although it’s certainly showing its age,Skyrimis still quite a large game. Mods that throw even more locations into the mix are common sights on places like Nexus. One interesting location mod that assassins may find intriguing isSkyrim Sewers 4.
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This mod, as its name suggests, incorporates a new sewer system underneath the existing cities of Solitude, Whiterun, and Windhelm. It can be a neat addition for assassin roleplayers, who can utilize the sewers for swift getaways or crafty infiltrations.
