Magic is not merely a tool in the frost-bitten tundras and dragon-haunted skies of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it is a way of life. If one has ever dreamed of hurling fireballs at bandits from a cliff's edge, then the varied schools of magic offered by Skyrim sprawl to all avenues of potential. As the Dragonborn, the world of Nirn welcomes you with arcane energy, and you are in the right position to wield it. Let's deep dive into the schools of magic and check what peculiarities await on those dusty tomes in the College of Winterhold or the weird-looking scrolls stolen from enemies.
The College of Winterhold: Magic's Freedom
If magic is something you wish to pursue, The College Of Winterhold will be your primary destination. Upon joining the college, you will have access to spells and trainers at an expert level. All this, with the added bonus of a quest hub full of mystery and magic, means the college's views can be enchanted in more than one since.
As a fellow gamer who likes to buy cheap PS4 games, I tell you (and please remember): Always complete the Ritual Spell quests. After completing one of the schools, you are able to do these tasks, which give some of the most useful spells such as "Flame Thrall" or "Harmony."
Building Your Magic Playstyle
Upon mastering the basic spells, the question becomes, how do you figure out the schools to focus on? The best part about Skyrim is you don’t have to just stick to one school. You can mix and match to come up with combinations like:
- The Arcane Archer: A combination of Conjuration paired with Illusion – A sniper that utilizes the Bound Bow and Invisible spells to vanish after every shot.
- The Battle Mage: This is a self-sustaining tornado of fury. Armor buffs pair well with restoration and Destruction spells to mix with Alteration.
- The Puppet Master: Enemies will fight each other as you summon allies to the battlefield with a focus on illusion and conjuration.
Restoration: The Healing Touch
Building up your defenses, repelling the undead, and dealing with Healing Touch spells are just one aspect of Restoration. It isn’t merely used to heal wounds after the battle has concluded.
- Healing Spells: Mid-combat, your health will always be full with the help of Fast Healing. High-level mages have a wider radius version called Grand Healing which allows them to heal their allies.
- Turn Undead: Draugr and all the skeletons rest in peace as they flee in panic. This is extremely effective when trying to loot crypts such as Bleak Falls Barrow.
- Wards: Squishy mages especially benefit from these spells that cast barriers to absorb incoming magic and also defend against dragon breath attacks.
For a more ‘battle cleric’ approach, combine Restoration spells with heavy armor or a shield. While safeguarding you and your allies, you’ll be able to heal and take damage like a tank.
Bending Reality: Alteration
With the use of Alteration magic, one greatly benefits from having plenty of spells at their disposal. It’s a perfect fit for every playstyle and on every occasion, like for instance, when investing boosts for your offense, defense, and even life detection.
- Armor Spells: Oakflesh and Ebonyflesh are perfect for mages who dislike wearing armor as they enhance your physical protection.
- Candlelight and Magelight: Light up dark places like caves and dungeons, especially ones around Blackreach.
- Detect Life and Detect Dead: It’s incredibly valuable to obtain the ability to reveal both enemies and allies by turning you into magical radar that scans through walls.
Achieving High Tier Skills Alteration: As you cast your spells on objects, remember to pick them up later. In Tamriel, there's no room for littering - even if you are trying to speed up the level progression.
Conclusions
Magic in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is more than just a tool of war - it is a means to tell a story. From a powerful mage capable of destruction to a subtle illusionist conducting from the shadows, the schools of magic are crafted to paint your journey in different colors. So, ready your staff, open a spell tome, and prepare yourself to control the forces of Nirn. You are a Dragonborn after all, and the skies in Skyrim are yours to command.