Outside of 1v1's, Monks have a hard time trying to 'stagger lock' more than 2 opponents at a time, and so don't fare well if outnumbered. 7.5 Damage at 100 Hand to Hand is still like, Iron Dagger level damage, and is super low when you consider how even average Armour Rating in Morrowind reduces low amounts of damage quite easily. So how effective is Hand to Hand? 1v1, it's one of the strongest skills in the game due to the stagger, but it takes a long time to kill anything. I'm pretty sure my Monk hit 100 Hand to Hand around level 10 or so. This means that Hand to Hand skill levels up faster than just about any other skill in Morrowind, and can be levelled simply by running around the countryside punching creatures. Most monsters in Morrowind have many times more Fatigue than they do Health, and some are veritable 'Fist Sponges'.
Stagger in Morrowind is determined by the Damage dealt by weapons, which means that Hand to Hand staggers opponents a LOT for a physical weapon. Īt 100 Hand to Hand, the player should deal 50 Fatigue Damage per punch and 7.5 Health Damage per punch once knocked out. It also works by first damaging Fatigue and then Health, which means that as a fight goes on, opponents hit you less and become easier to hit. Unlike other weapons, Hand to Hand damage is solely reliant on Hand to Hand skill.
