Weapons

All materials of weapons have a unique trait associated with them that might influence your choice of weapon more than just the “bigger number better” mentality of normal gameplay. Weapons also have a trait based on their type, such as sword, axe, etc.

Weapon Type Traits

• Swords and greatswords require less stamina to power attack. (20% and 15% respectively)

• War axes and battleaxes  deal more damage to staggered, unconscious, or incapacitated targets. (15% and 20% respectively)

• Maces and Warhammers deal more damage with power attacks to blocking targets. (35% and 45% respectively)

• Heavy bows have a 15% chance to deal a critical hit.

• Light bows have a 25% greater chance to recover shot arrows.

• Quarterstaffs and battlestaff deal 18% more damage when hitting the enemy with the tip of the weapon.

• Daggers deal 16% more damage when striking targets from behind.

Material Weapon Traits 

Amber weapons can penetrate 5% of enemies' armor. 

Draugr weapons deal 20% more damage when wielded by an undead. 

Daedric weapons do 50% more damage to daedra. 

Dark weapons are slightly slower compared to similar weapons made of other materials. 

Dragonbone - 25% armor penetration (separate multiplier from armor penetration)

Dwarven weapons are extremely heavy yet require 10% less stamina to use due to their expert design. 

Ebony - more damage scaling with player armor rating (normal weapon damage x (1 + (armor rating x 0.00015)). Only applies to regular attacks, not power attacks.

Elven weapon enchantments drain 20% less charges per use. 

Falmer weapons can apply an extra poison application per poison applied. 

Glass - 10% stronger power attacks

Golden weapons are slightly faster compared to similar weapons made of other materials. 

Iron weapons require 20% less stamina to swing. 

Imperial weapons are designed for warfare and can easily strike through multiple targets at once. 

Madness weapons can penetrate 10% of enemies' armor. 

Nord hero weapons deal 50% more damage to dragons. 

Nordic weapons increase spell and shout strength by 7%.

Orcish weapons decrease stamina cost of power attacks by 15%. 

Silver weapons and ammunition do bonus damage to undead. 

Stalhrim weapons are more receptive to being enchanted. 

Steel weapons' structural integrity allows for 10% longer reach than other weapons. 

Wooden weapons require 30% less stamina to swing. 

Holding a staff now grants a "Staff Channeling" effect. The effect and its magnitude depends on the spell your staff casts, as well as the level of the spell. For example, a staff of fireballs will typically have a stronger effect than a staff of firesparks. For most staffs, they reduce the cost of spells of the same type. Staffs with unique effects are listed below.

• Aetherial Staff - Conjuration spells cost 15% less. Magicka regenerates 250% faster.

• Daedric Staff of Abyssal Invocation - Increases your summon limit by 1.

• Daedric Staff of Infernal Flames - Magicka regenerates 500% faster.

• Daedric Staff of Oblivion's Veil - Increases chance to absorb magicka from hostile spells by 15%. Blocking absorbs 50% more damage. Magicka increases by 50. Stamina increases by 50.

• Daedric Staff of the Souldrinker - Magicka recovers by 5 per second.

• Daedric Staff of Torn Heavens - Magicka increases by 150.

• Forsworn staffs - Increases the strength or duration of most spells by 5%.

• Staffs of walls or runes - Increases strength or duration of most spells (magnitude varies according to quality).

• Halldir's Blessing - Magicka regenerates 150% faster. Magicka increased by 50.

• Hevnoraak's Staff - Alteration spells cost 15% less. Magicka recovers by 2 per second.

• Melka's Staff - +50 Magicka, +50% Magicka regeneration.

• Nahkriin's Staff - Destruction spells cost 15% less. Increases strength or duration of most spells by 15%.

• Rahgot's Staff - Magicka regenerates 150% faster. Most spells last 15% longer. Magicka recovers by 1 per second.

• Sanguine Rose - All spells cost 15% less to cast.

• Skull of Corruption - Illusion spells cost 15% less, Illusion skill increased by 15, +50 Magicka.

• Spider Control Rod - Magicka regenerates 200% faster.

• Staff of Arcane Authority - Illusion skill increased by 10. Magicka increases by 25.

• Staff of Hag's Wrath - Conjuration and Destruction spells cost 10% less. Increases strength or duration of most spells by 10%.

• Staff of Jyrik Gaulderson - Magicka regenerates 75% faster. Magicka increases by 25.

• Staff of Magnus - Most spells last 10% longer. Magicka increases by 100.

• Staff of Ruunvald - Illusion spells cost 10% less. Magicka regenerates 75% faster. Magicka increases by 50.

• Staff of Tandil - Illusion spells cost 15% less. Magicka increases by 40.

• Wabbajack - Alteration spells cost 15% less. Magicka increases by 40. Spells are cast 15% faster. 

In-game, arrows and bolts just look like they have different damage values. Behind the scenes, they also have armor penetration, described below. 

Note: silver-lined arrows and bolts count for two tiers higher than their base material. These are required to reach the highest level of penetration at Tiers 8 and 9, as otherwise there is no base material with that kind of penetration.