Does using bare hands increase 1-hand or 2-hand skill level, and do those weapon skills apply to bare hands?

Question

I was wondering if by attacking bare handed, you increase your 1-hand (or 2-hands) weapon skill mastery. Also, do that weapon's branch perks apply to unarmed attacks?

Since there are items like armored gloves and skills like Iron Fists that boost unarmed combat, I thought the developers wanted you to take interest in that option (since Khajit as example, deal even more damage thanks to claws), and that fighting unarmed would affect at least the 1-hand skill increase.

Yet, I never ever saw my weapon (nor 1- nor 2-handed) skill bars increase while fighting unarmed.

And by the way, do the Khajiits's +15 claw bonus mean that every one-hand weapon below damage 15 is useless? (Aside for reach, magical bonuses, and any one-hand skill you bought of course.)

What about Skills? Does, as an example, "Backstab" skill bonus apply just to any 1-hand weapons, or to barehand too? Can I, say, do a stealthy instant kill from behind when unarmed? Like breaking the neck maybe?

And do other Skills like Paralyzing Strike, Bladesman, Bonebraker apply to barehands as well?

Answer 1

I was wondering if by attacking bare handed, you increase your 1-hand (or 2-hands) weapon skill mastery.

I played through the start of the game unarmed (Khajit), and never increased my one-handed or two-handed skills.

[...]do the Khajiits's +15 claw bonus mean that every one-hand weapon below damage 15 is useless?

If only comparing pure damage, yes.

Does, as example "Backstab" skill bonus apply just to any 1-hand weapons, or to barehand too?

The sneak perk Backstab applies to one-handed weapons, which bare-handed is not.

Can I, say, do a stealthy istant kill from behind when unarmed? Like breaking the neck maybe?

You can sneak attack while unarmed (and with a two-handed weapon) for extra damage. If you do enough damage to kill the opponent in one shot, you may be treated to a special animation. IIRC, there's an unarmed neck snap one.

Answer 2

In Skyrim, Unarmed combat is not tied to any skill. The damages don't get better with skill level, only some perks and equipment can give you more hand-to-hand damages.

You can have more details about improving your fist damages in this question.

Answer 3

Khajiits actually have a base damage of 10 (alongside argonians) whereas every other race only has a base damage of 4. Unlike argonians, the khajiit get a bonus 12 (not 15 like the game states) unarmed damage, giving them a base damage of 22. This makes unarmed combat for khajiit very useful early game as it has higher damage than many weapons.

Answer 4

You know that if you level up one-handed you unarmed levels up as well. Like with duel fighting, get that perk and you'll hit faster. You are using one hand at a time so should it be a one-handed weapon? But "if" you have a PC not an Xbox you can now download a "Monk Mod". Which fixes all of that. Upgrades unarmed and unarmored (for protection), also there are claw like weapons for unarmed weapons. Having one equipped just like a sword will allow you to block, have to and you can just rage face one them xD It's worth it and a lot of fun.