im sure this has been around all over the web but i just want to know whether i should get augmented flames,shock or frost.Im only going to use 2/2 in one magic tree since magic isnt really my main playstyle.I was leaning towards shock or fire and just using frost to slow enemies since frost has alot of resists anyways.Which one seems cooler to use?would the extra dmg in fire make a huge difference with the 2 perks?

I think there is a noticeable difference and you should get both it you want that area if destruction to be useful for you.

I would base the decision off of if I wanted to kill ky enemies quicker with fire, or that if mages hindered me more often than not I would choose shock to drain their magic reserves, shock magic can be very beneficial in an encounter with a mage.

Coolest is shock. The http://www.fuenf-filmfreunde.de/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/palpatine.jpg uses them, too.

Shock seems to be the fastest hitting, too, and can make aiming easier.

Which element do you use more? Personally I went with Fire, don't use the others much.

The augmentation is pretty much the same for each. However, according to the wiki Shock is probably the best elemental damage to specialize in. I doubt this is a spoiler, but just in case I'll mask it:


http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Destruction#Summary

thanks all im leaning towards possibly shock.

I prefer flames because shock spells make my guy feel like a sith, especially with the hood on
Also wall of flames looks sweet

One thing in favor of fire: if you get aspect of terror in Illusion, you get a major bonus to fire spells. It only requires 50 Illusion and three perks for a base 10 point bonus and 15 points with dual cast and impact. This means that even the basic flame spell can do 59 damage per sec dual cast - over double. Firebolt, well over 100 damage. etc. If you're thinking about Illusion anyway for calm and frenzy, it's a no-brainer.

i use fire the most right now since im only lvl 20 on this new build.

I have a Shock mage and I must say that playing her is pretty awesome, mostly because of her spells.
One thing about shock spells is that they are easy to aim with, and besides, look really awesome, especially the higher level ones.
Also, don't forget the Magicka damage.
Breton Shock mage = Ultimate slayer of mages

Everyone has a different view. I prefer fire because I have a harder time hitting things with shock, than with firebolt and fireball, probably because of the small AOE you get with those spells. Also, there is not that much that is resistant to fire and a lot of stuff that is weak to it. Almost nothing is resistant to shock, but not that much is weak to it either.

Sure, shock works away at mage's magicka, but usually mages are going to die before you have noticably whittled down their magicka with shock because shock does twice as much damage to health as it does to magicka and mages typically have way more magicka than health. Fire also does more damage than shock with the burning effect, and then their is the Illusion perk that ups fire damage.

Bottom line though is that I just like the feeling of lighting stuff on fire better than blasting with shock. So if I had to choose one, it would be fire.

How do you calculate this? I mean Flames only does a base 8 damage, right? Dual cast gives 2.2 damage making it 17.6. Plus the 15 (I assume total not for each hand) give 32.6. And with the +50% damage perk takes it to 48.9.

Unless I'm not calculating correctly. Was never good at these types of formulas in games so I usually just leave it to others. Just curious how you get the 59 damage. Not too shabby at 49/sec. either.

Fire = Damage (good for killing everything)
Frost = Damage/Stamina damage/slowdown (good for killing, slowing down & draining stamina from warrior types)
Shock = Damage/Magic damage (good for killing mages and draining their magic)

A self-made Potion of Fortify Destruction can increase this by 159% for 60 seconds. Needs best alchemy gear, 100 points in Alchemy and all relevant perks. This will turn your 48.9 dmg/s into 126.7 dmg/s.

It is each hand. Start at 8 damage, two augments make it 12, aspect of terror with dual cast and impact make it 27 each hand (for some reason, you need impact to get the full 15, even if you single cast), then dual cast is 59.

Ah! I see. And that would mean casting one handed flames would give you 22pts/sec (the 12pts. plus the 10 from AoT)?

Nice to know because I always wanted to try a shield/flames (or shock or frost) character but never did as the damage is sub par later. Still probably would be without going overboard with sdack's method. Not that I have a problem with it.

Yes, if you don't have impact. With impact it's 27 casting one handed.

what about the master spells?fire storm of lightning storm?

Good question. I've never had a master spell so I can't say from actual experience.
They can't be dualcast so I don't know if the impact perk affects them.

I thought only impact affected dual casting? Or does it not matter for the sake of the illusion perk?

and that is bad?

i would go with shock for disintegrate

I actually like the visuals of Fire and Frost better.

However, the fact that ranged Shock spells hit instantaneously is a big plus for me. So my mage is Shock oriented.

aspect of terror doesn't raise my destruction magic damage...maybe your using it with something else that somehow raises your flame damage

Always seem to use a mix of fire and shock, have used very little in the way of frost. Fire probably gets the most use due to its wide range of effects on targets even if you have to take a touch longer to aim and plan ahead.

Fire definitely does more damage but shock certainly has a cool factor and a usefullness I would not want to be without. The most useful features of shock are the lack of a need of perfect accuracy and the instant nature of the strike. They also drain mana which is ok but not something I focus on. I burn down other casters with dual cast incenerate anyway. But I love chain lightning for multiple enemies and the way it tosses them around when they die. If I was forced to pick one of the other I'd definitely take fire.