There is no reason to use robes as a mage in this game. You can enchant them the same as a robe, and they even provide armor so you don't have to spam the shield spell. In fact, you can use armor AND the shield spell for even more armor, though I think you can hit the armor cap with just heavy armor + a few perks. Case closed.

Robes are cooler.

Enchanted armor is OP.

You decide.

Hi Wayman,

I'm taking a similar path with my character. I'm only level 12 and I'm not planning on going into smithing. Could you tell me at around what level you started to find good light armor? So far I've only come across, fur, hide, leather and stud (pretty much the same stuff since the beginning of the game.

I'm starting to question if light armor is the right way to go.

Thanks.

I'm a spellsword with light armour too. Off the top of my head, you'll gradually start seeing Elven at 20 and Glass at 30.

The unlock in Alteration requires 3 perk points to fully unlock. It gives you x3 armor bonus from Alteration's armor spells if you wear no real armor. The best spell is Ebonyflesh, which adds 100 armor: *3 is 300. This spell requires significant magicka to cast, and it only lasts 1 minute.

Contrast: Light armor. Which can easily give an armor rating over 300 if you spend 3 perk points on it, while costing no magicka at all and which doesn't "wear off" mid battle.

I don't see how there's really any debate at all, if you're into Enchanting. Physical armor can be made to have the same benefits as robes, as well as substantial passive protection. Mage armor is a costly, time-limited, active defense.