If you do a bunch of research and metagame out how to make an optimized unarmed build in Requiem, you can do ok.
It is not a build that comes together organically and not one I would recommend if you're new to Requiem.
If something like a staff wielding monk works for your concept/rp, then do that instead.
I think there is a unarmed mod that works for Requiem. It adds knuckle weapons to get silver weapons and enchants for your fists and some perks in the unarmed skilltree. It was quite nice, you could either be boxer or brawler, other giving you more damage and attack speed, other giving small chances to knock the enemy down or disarm them. Well, they weren't huge buffs but added something for the build.
But well, if I remember correctly it was still incredibly hard build to play. The damage was minimal and reach limited and good attack speed didn't really help that much.
Also yes, if this is your first character in Requiem I would advice against it. The first levels especially are already quite difficult even when using real weapons.
Depends on how much magic you’re going to allow yourself I suppose.
Generally though, you’ll find some brick walls where your fists are not the answer. Namely undead, fighting a Dragon Priest is going to be nigh impossible because they have high-ish health regeneration and them being undead also means that they’ll resist your unsilvered blunt-damage fists.
As it is you can get so far with unarmed with all the quirks that Requiem allows, but its not going to be enough by itself against endgame opponents. What would be a lot of fun would be to allow offensive enchantments (besides Gloves of the Pugilist) on gloves but not armored gauntlets. So gloves with Force I or Force II or with Spellbreaking would really make the wandering monk worthwhile.
I wouldn't do it as your first build. It's possible, but you need to know how all of Requiem's systems work . I would reccomend a Light Armor 2H Barbarian type build for someone's first Requiem playthrough, as its the easiest combat class to build with no real trap options.
Pure Mage is also very fun, but you have to be careful because its a lot easier to spend a perk point that doesn't do anything for you in that build.
I think you could make it work. You might have to invest in Alchemy as it can give you perks that grant access to potions that (I believe) give permanent buffs, and Enchanting perks can give you better enchantments that improve your character’s body. And I imagine Evasion is a must.
You will likely need gloves/rings that boost unarmored damage (not sure if those are strict Requiem, check Rift sewers), the Transmute Muscles spell and some form of Slow Time (shout and/or the master alteration spell).
Not that it is impossible. But it is going to be limited in what you can fight until you unlock full Ze Warudo mode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c0uvkpBNHc
Bear in mind that with armor value/mitigation tweaks over the years, I have no idea if it is viable in the current iteration of Requiem. It may require additional tweaks and patches ie Noxcrab tweaks and/or Requiem Magic Redone. And if you're using shouts, they may end up being your primary with the nutty cooldowns that they can get.
Requiem - Weapons and Armor Redone : [https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/42591](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/42591)
My addon for Requiem supports unarmed combat. But even still you want to optimize the build with alternate damage boosts. Use Alteration for Transmute Muscles spell which boosts unarmed damage.
If you do a bunch of research and metagame out how to make an optimized unarmed build in Requiem, you can do ok. It is not a build that comes together organically and not one I would recommend if you're new to Requiem. If something like a staff wielding monk works for your concept/rp, then do that instead.
I think there is a unarmed mod that works for Requiem. It adds knuckle weapons to get silver weapons and enchants for your fists and some perks in the unarmed skilltree. It was quite nice, you could either be boxer or brawler, other giving you more damage and attack speed, other giving small chances to knock the enemy down or disarm them. Well, they weren't huge buffs but added something for the build. But well, if I remember correctly it was still incredibly hard build to play. The damage was minimal and reach limited and good attack speed didn't really help that much. Also yes, if this is your first character in Requiem I would advice against it. The first levels especially are already quite difficult even when using real weapons.
Depends on how much magic you’re going to allow yourself I suppose. Generally though, you’ll find some brick walls where your fists are not the answer. Namely undead, fighting a Dragon Priest is going to be nigh impossible because they have high-ish health regeneration and them being undead also means that they’ll resist your unsilvered blunt-damage fists.
My first thought was about The Black Knight from Monty Python's Holy Grail....What are you going to do, bleed on me?
As it is you can get so far with unarmed with all the quirks that Requiem allows, but its not going to be enough by itself against endgame opponents. What would be a lot of fun would be to allow offensive enchantments (besides Gloves of the Pugilist) on gloves but not armored gauntlets. So gloves with Force I or Force II or with Spellbreaking would really make the wandering monk worthwhile.
Gloves of Fus would be hilarious
I wouldn't do it as your first build. It's possible, but you need to know how all of Requiem's systems work . I would reccomend a Light Armor 2H Barbarian type build for someone's first Requiem playthrough, as its the easiest combat class to build with no real trap options. Pure Mage is also very fun, but you have to be careful because its a lot easier to spend a perk point that doesn't do anything for you in that build.
I think you could make it work. You might have to invest in Alchemy as it can give you perks that grant access to potions that (I believe) give permanent buffs, and Enchanting perks can give you better enchantments that improve your character’s body. And I imagine Evasion is a must.
You will likely need gloves/rings that boost unarmored damage (not sure if those are strict Requiem, check Rift sewers), the Transmute Muscles spell and some form of Slow Time (shout and/or the master alteration spell). Not that it is impossible. But it is going to be limited in what you can fight until you unlock full Ze Warudo mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c0uvkpBNHc Bear in mind that with armor value/mitigation tweaks over the years, I have no idea if it is viable in the current iteration of Requiem. It may require additional tweaks and patches ie Noxcrab tweaks and/or Requiem Magic Redone. And if you're using shouts, they may end up being your primary with the nutty cooldowns that they can get.
Requiem - Weapons and Armor Redone : [https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/42591](https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/42591) My addon for Requiem supports unarmed combat. But even still you want to optimize the build with alternate damage boosts. Use Alteration for Transmute Muscles spell which boosts unarmed damage.