Skyrim:Bandit

thumb|Bandits
Bandits are rogue lawbreakers living a life of plunder and are one of the most common enemy types in Skyrim. You will typically find them in camps, some of which are marked on your map, and some of which are unmarked. Of the marked locations, bandits often inhabit both the interiors and exteriors of fort-type and other structures.

Although most bandits will attack you on sight, some may attack only when you get too close. Still others will demand that you pay them and attack if you refuse. Bandits can be members of any race (except Altmer), and may be spellcasters, archers, one-handed melee fighters, or two-handed melee fighters. 

Bandit Types
 
While the stronger bandit types will not appear until after you've reached the levels shown, you will continue to meet low-level versions even at high levels. Boss-level bandits will always be at the highest possible level, and will normally be identified as "Bandit Chief". Bandits of each type may vary in the combat equipment and style they use.

Normal Bandits are generally fairly easy to kill, while Bandit Chiefs and Marauders are tougher. Unlike other Bandit Marauders, Bandit Marauder mages (bandits with the Bandit Wizard class) begin appearing at level 24.
 
 
One-Handed Melee
These bandits wield one-handed melee weapons and shields in battle. They carry one of the following weapons, depending on your level:
Mace: iron mace, steel mace, Orcish mace, Dwarven mace, Elven mace or Nordic mace 
Sword: iron sword, steel sword, orcish sword, Dwarven sword, Elven sword or Nordic sword 
War Axe: iron war axe, steel war axe, Orcish war axe, Dwarven war axe, Elven war axe or Nordic war axe 

All bandits also carry a random assortment of items, which include beverages, lockpicks, food, jewelry, gems, tools, ingots, and a small amount of gold.  Bandit Plunderers and Marauders carry more gold and may carry additional lockpicks.

Light Armor
thumb|A Bandit Maurader looking for trouble
In addition to the weapons listed above, these bandits wear a set of leveled light armor:
Cuirass: fur armor, hide armor, studded armor, leather armor, scaled armor, or scaled horn armor
Boots: fur shoes, hide boots, leather boots, or scaled boots
Gauntlets: 50% chance of fur bracers, hide bracers, leather bracers, or scaled bracers
Shield: 20% chance of a hide shield, iron shield, or elven shield


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|style="font-size:90%"|• Extra Damage 1.5
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|Bandit Outlaw 
|align=center|5
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|109
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• Champion's Stance  
• Fighting Stance
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|Bandit Thug
|align=center|9
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|238
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|107
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|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center|14  
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|25
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center |19
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|398
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|172
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center |25
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|489
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|246
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Heavy Armor
thumb|A Bandit Thug in full steel armor
These bandits wield one-handed melee weapons and shields in battle.  They carry the same weapons and miscellaneous items as their light armor counterparts, and wear a set of leveled heavy armor:
Cuirass: iron armor, steel armor, steel plate armor, or Nordic carved armor 
Boots: iron boots, steel cuffed boots, steel plate boots, or Nordic carved boots 
Gauntlets: 50% chance of iron gauntlets, steel Nordic gauntlets, steel Imperial gauntlets, steel plate gauntlets, or Nordic carved gauntlets 
Helmet: iron helmet, steel helmet, steel horned helmet, steel plate helmet, or Nordic carved helmet 
Shield: hide shield, iron shield, banded iron shield, or steel shield

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|35
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• Extra Damage 1.5
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|Bandit Outlaw
|align=center |5
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|109
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|86
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Champion's Stance 
• Fighting Stance
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|Bandit Thug
|align=center |9
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|238
|25
|107
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|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center |14
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|318
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|152
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center |19
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|398
|25
|172
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center |25
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|489
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|246
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Two-Handed Melee
thumb|A Bandit fighter wielding his fearsome greatsword
These bandits carry large, two-handed melee weapons into the fray. They wear the same leveled armor as their one-handed light armored counterparts (without the shield), and also carry one of the following weapons, depending on your level:
Battleaxe: iron battleaxe, steel battleaxe, Orcish battleaxe, Dwarven battleaxe, Elven battleaxe or Nordic battleaxe 
Greatsword: iron greatsword, steel greatsword, Orcish greatsword, Dwarven greatsword, Elven greatsword or Nordic greatsword 
Warhammer: iron warhammer, steel warhammer, Orcish warhammer, Dwarven warhammer, Elven warhammer or Nordic warhammer 

Two-handed melee bandits also carry a small amount of gold and have a chance to carry a few lockpicks. Bandit Plunderers and Marauders carry an orcish dagger and have no lockpicks.

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|style="font-size:90%"|• Extra Damage 1.5
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|Bandit Outlaw 
|align=center |5
|align=center|

|109
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|86
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Champion's Stance  
• Fighting Stance
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|Bandit Thug
|align=center|9
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|238
|25
|107
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|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center|14
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|318
|25
|152
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center|19
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|398
|25
|172
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center|25
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|489
|25
|246
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Archers
thumb|A Bandit Marauder drawing a deadly arrow
Archer bandits prefer to keep their distance, using a bow and arrows to attack. These bandits have the Bandit Archer class. They wear the same leveled armor as melee bandits, and also one of each of the following weapon types, depending on your level:
Bow: long bow, hunting bow, Imperial bow, Orcish bow, Dwarven bow, Elven bow or Nordic bow 
Arrows (20): iron arrow, steel arrow, Orcish arrow, Dwarven arrow, Elven arrow or Nordic arrow 
Dagger: iron dagger, steel dagger, Orcish dagger, Dwarven dagger, Elven dagger or Nordic dagger 

Archers carry the same miscellaneous loot as their one-handed counterparts, and also have a small chance of carrying additional arrows of any type (including glass, ebony, and Daedric). Archer Bandit Plunderers and Marauders carry more gold than those at lower levels.

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|35
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|style="font-size:90%"|• Extra Damage 1.5
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|Bandit Outlaw 
|align=center |5
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|109
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|86
|style="font-size:90%"|• None
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|Bandit Thug
|align=center |9
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|238
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|107
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Critical Shot  
• Custom Fit  
• Extra Damage 1.5
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|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center |14
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|318
|25
|122
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Critical Shot  
• Custom Fit  
• Extra Damage 2
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center |19
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|398
|25
|172
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Critical Shot  
• Custom Fit  
• Extra Damage 2  
• Fighting Stance  
• Power Shot
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center |25
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|489
|25
|246
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Mages
thumb|A bandit mage dual-wielding shock spells
Bandit mages rely primarily on spellcasting in battle.  They wear the following leveled armor:
Cuirass: fur armor
Boots: fur shoes, hide boots, leather boots, or scaled boots

Bandit and Bandit Outlaw mages carry an iron dagger, while Bandit Thug mages carry a steel dagger. Bandit Highwayman, Bandit Plunderer, and Bandit Marauder mages carry a leveled dagger (iron, steel, orcish, dwarven, or elven).

In addition to their gear, bandit mages carry a random assortment of items, including lockpicks, food, jewelry, soul gems, ingredients, books, spell tomes, a leveled Conjuration or Destruction staff, and a small amount of gold.  Bandit Plunderers and Marauders carry more gold and have a chance to carry additional lockpicks than lower-level mages.


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|50
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|style="font-size:90%"| • Magicka Recovery 2  
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|Bandit Outlaw 
|align=center |5
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|101
|124
|70
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Flames, Frostbite, or Sparks  
• Healing  
• Lesser Ward  
• Magicka Recovery 2    
• Oakflesh  
|style="font-size:90%"|• None
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|Bandit Thug
|align=center |9
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|222
|173
|75
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Fast Healing  
• Firebolt, Ice Spike, or Lightning Bolt  
• Magicka Recovery 2    
• Steadfast Ward  
• Stoneflesh 
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Augmented Flames  
• Augmented Frost  
• Augmented Shock  
• Regeneration 
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|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center |14
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|292
|153
|70
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Fast Healing  
• Firebolt, Ice Spike, or Lightning Bolt  
• Magicka Recovery 2    
• Steadfast Ward  
• Stoneflesh 
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center |19
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|362
|183
|70
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Chain Lightning, Fireball, or Ice Storm  
• Fast Healing  
• Firebolt, Ice Spike, or Lightning Bolt  
• Magicka Recovery 2    
• Steadfast Ward  
• Stoneflesh 
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center |25  
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|441
|294
|150
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Chain Lightning, Fireball, or Ice Storm  
• Close Wounds 
• Fast Healing  
• Firebolt, Ice Spike, or Lightning Bolt  
• Ironflesh  
• Magicka Recovery 2    
• Steadfast Ward 
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Augmented Flames 2  
• Augmented Frost 2  
• Augmented Shock 2  
• Custom Fit  
• Mage Armor  
• Magic Resistance 
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One-Handed Melee Bandit Chiefs
thumb|A Redguard Bandit Chief ready for battle
Bandit Chiefs use the same fighting style as other melee bandits, but are a higher level, which means they have more health, more stamina, and more perks.  All Bandit Chiefs carry a leveled dagger (steel, orcish, or elven) in addition to one of the following weapons:

Mace: steel mace, enchanted iron mace, Orcish mace, enchanted steel mace, enchanted Orcish mace, Dwarven mace, enchanted Dwarven mace, Elven mace, enchanted Elven mace, Nordic mace , enchanted Nordic mace glass mace, enchanted glass mace, or ebony mace
Sword: steel sword, enchanted iron sword, Orcish sword, enchanted steel sword, enchanted Orcish sword, Dwarven sword, enchanted Dwarven sword, Elven sword, enchanted Elven sword, Nordic sword , enchanted Nordic sword, glass sword, enchanted glass sword, or ebony sword
War Axe: steel war axe, enchanted iron war axe, Orcish war axe, enchanted steel war axe, enchanted Orcish war axe, Dwarven war axe, enchanted Dwarven war axe, Elven war axe, enchanted Elven war axe, Nordic war axe , enchanted Nordic war axe, glass war axe, enchanted glass war axe, or ebony war axe

The enchanted weapons listed above will have either fire damage, frost damage, shock damage, magicka damage, or stamina damage enchantments.  The strength of the enchantment will vary depending on the level of the item.

Bandit Chiefs wear the following leveled heavy armor:
Cuirass: banded iron armor, iron armor, steel armor, steel plate armor, or Nordic carved armor 
Boots: iron boots, steel cuffed boots,  steel shin boots, steel plate boots, or Nordic carved boots 
Gauntlets: 50% chance of iron gauntlets, steel Nordic gauntlets, steel Imperial gauntlets, steel plate gauntlets, or Nordic carved gauntlets 
Helmet: 50% chance of iron helmet, steel helmet, steel horned helmet, steel plate helmet, or Nordic carved helmet 
Shield: banded iron shield, iron shield, steel shield, dwarven shield, orcish shield, ebony shield, or Nordic shield 

In addition to the equipment listed above, all Bandit Chiefs carry a leveled amount of gold.


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|155
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|style="font-size:90%"|
• Champion's Stance 
• Fighting Stance 
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|Bandit Thug
|align=center |10
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|224
|25
|126
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|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center |16 
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|315
|25
|160
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center |21
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|395
|25
|195
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center |28 
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|497
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|258
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Two-Handed Melee Bandit Chiefs
thumb|A Bandit Chief in steel plate armor, wielding his glass greatsword
These Bandit Chiefs wear the same heavy armor as their one-handed allies (without the shield).  They carry a leveled dagger (steel, orcish, or elven) in addition to one of the following weapons:
Battleaxe: steel battleaxe, enchanted iron battleaxe, Orcish battleaxe, enchanted steel battleaxe, enchanted Orcish battleaxe, Dwarven battleaxe, enchanted Dwarven battleaxe, Elven battleaxe, enchanted Elven battleaxe, Nordic battleaxe , enchanted Nordic battleaxe, glass battleaxe, enchanted glass battleaxe, or ebony battleaxe
Greatsword: steel greatsword, enchanted iron greatsword, Orcish greatsword, enchanted steel greatsword, enchanted Orcish greatsword, Dwarven greatsword, enchanted Dwarven greatsword, Elven greatsword, enchanted Elven greatsword, Nordic greatsword , enchanted Nordic greatsword, glass greatsword, enchanted glass greatsword, or ebony greatsword
Warhammer: steel warhammer, enchanted iron warhammer, Orcish warhammer, enchanted steel warhammer, enchanted Orcish warhammer, Dwarven warhammer, enchanted Dwarven warhammer, Elven warhammer, enchanted Elven warhammer, Nordic warhammer , enchanted Nordic warhammer, glass warhammer, enchanted glass warhammer, or ebony warhammer

The enchanted weapons listed above will have either fire damage, frost damage, shock damage, magicka damage, or stamina damage enchantments.  The strength of the enchantment will vary depending on the level of the item.


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|155
|25
|95
|style="font-size:90%"|
• Champion's Stance  
• Fighting Stance
|-
|Bandit Thug
|align=center|10
|

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|224
|25
|126
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|-
|Bandit Highwayman
|align=center|16
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|315
|25
|160
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|Bandit Plunderer
|align=center|21
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|395
|25
|195
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|Bandit Marauder
|align=center|28
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|497
|25
|258
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|-
|}
 

Mistwatch Bandits
Mistwatch contains a group of bandits called Mistwatch Bandits; these location-specific bandits can be either one-handed melee fighters, two-handed melee fighters, archers, or mages, and have the same stats and perks as their ordinary bandit counterparts.  They are all members of the Mistwatch faction, and will no longer be hostile towards the player should the Mistwatch quest be completed in Fjola's favor.
 

Related Quests
Some quests that require going into a bandit hideout or dungeon include:





 
Radiant Quests





 
World Interactions
Animals attacking bandit
Bandit beat down
Bandit Killed With Horse Left Behind
Bandits dressed as Imperial Soldiers
Bard at rest attacked by bandits
Dead woman with bandits
Giants fending off bandits
Ice Wraiths Fighting Bandits
Traveling Merchant Attacked by Bandits
Vampires fighting Bandits  
Warlock fighting off bandits

Dialogue
thumb|Bandits gathered around a table
If you speak to a bandit who is leaning against a wall, typically guarding the outside of a hideout, they may give a generic, non-hostile response (such as "You need something?"), although after a few seconds they will draw their weapon and attack. Male bandits will talk to themselves while idle, but they do not talk to each other unless scripted by a certain location  .

Idling
"...retire some day... get myself an island..."
"...never enough gold... just need one good haul..."
"...might pay off my bounty this time... walk into the city a free man..."
"...told him to just hand over the gold, but did he listen? Oh, no... they always have to fight back..."
''"...I'll never do another span in that stinking jail... rather die than give myself up..."
"...he he he... two threes? What was he thinking? Fool never saw me pull that ace out of my boot..."
"[Sighing] ...need me some Skooma... the imported stuff... just one last time..."
"...gonna start keepin' a knife in my boot... tired of gettin' disarmed..."
"...should have known she was lying... said she'd wait for me... but they never wait..."
"...lyin' little harlot... that brat ain't mine... could be anyone's... won't get one rusty septim from me..."
"..."go to the college" da said... "use your smarts" he said... like I'm supposed to figure out which college he meant..."
"...hmph, wizards... Now that's power... Bet they got that "secret" magic... can turn wood to gold... yeah... Wish I could turn wood to gold..."
"...mead, mead, mead... kill him to get some beer every now and then? Stupid bees and their stupid honey..."
"...picking pockets, now that's the real art... ...no rough stuff, just take it and go... ...hmph, don't sound like much fun, though..."
"[Singing] ...once was a woman, as fair as an evenin', of springtime in old Stros M'Kai..."
"[Singing] ...with three beers down, the Orc did frown, and bid the Elf goodbye... ...for none could know, 'twas not for show, and someone had to die..."
"...kill 'em, he talks to me again like that... get him when he's sleeping... or poison his meat... see how he likes that."

Combat
"Never should have come here!"
"Lookee here. Looks like we got ourselves a hero."
"You picked a bad time to get lost, friend."
"Now ain't this a surprise."
"Time to die, hero!"
"Go ahead, try and fight back!"
"Die already so I can take your stuff!"
"Whatcha gonna do? Huh? Whatcha gonna do?"
"Gonna split your belly like an old woman's purse!"
"Gonna rip you... open!"
"You'll be so much easier to rob when you're dead..."
"Tell you what. You start running so I can stab you in the back."
"Can't wait to count out your coin..."

Miscellaneous
A male bandit who has just discovered a corpse may say:
"What...? Whoever did this, you're dead. You hear me? Dead!"''

Notes
Bandits encountered in Skyrim are generally twice as likely to be male than female.  In most cases, the leveled lists that spawn bandits list each male bandit twice (except Khajiits) and each female bandit once.
Most bandits have a morality of "Any Crime", which means they're willing to commit any crime.  Bandit Chiefs and the "berserker" variety of two-handed fighters, however, have a morality of "No Crime", which means they are unwilling to commit crimes of any sort.  Their aggression is the same as any other bandit, though, so they will still attack you on sight.
Bandits that spawn within the exterior zone of Treva's Watch are set to spawn at a normal leveled list corresponding to your game level. However, bandits which spawn within the interior zone are set to appear 5 levels earlier, which means that at lower levels you will more likely encounter Bandit Marauders, etc.
There is a bandit imprisoned in Ravenscar Hollow who has been locked up by hagravens and will ask you to free him. If he survives the fight with the hagravens, he will demand all of your belongings and you will be forced to kill him. This bandit is one of the few with whom you can exchange more than a couple of lines of conversation.

See Also
For dead NPCs named "Bandit", see Bandit (dead).
For the bandit enemies added by the Divine Crusader Creation, see Bandit Thief.
For a list of locations where bandits are found, see this category.
For unmarked bandit camps, see Unmarked Places.

Gallery