I am playing the game for the first time. I decided to go as a battlemage/spellsword. Here is how I have invested my perks until now (wearing light armour currently):

skyrimcalculator[dot]com/201820

While playing on Adept, the problem I am facing is this: Against melee or archer enemies, my Flame Atronach and Lydia draw fire while I use my mean Superior Dwarven Greatsword to cut down the horde. Against good mages, there is some problem but again they can take the fire while I finish off the dangerous casters.

But against mage bosses, I am having some serious trouble. The most recent one I had was when doing the quest for finding Azura's Star. The Ascending Mage or something in there gave me so much trouble that I finally had to kill him in Apprentice difficulty. The problem was that he seemed to have infinite magicka! He just kept casting ice spikes and some sort of ice bolt or blast. My atronach kept dying in 2 hits and Lydia didn't last much longer. Even with the full Unrelenting Force Shout, I only managed to 2 power hits on him and then he would stand up. After that, I used my magicka because my Stamina was depleted. Well, let me just say that my spells hurt him as much as wolfs hurt me. Then a spike and frost bolt would finish me.

So what am I doing wrong? Is my perk distribution bad or have I chosen bad skills? Is it the fact that I don't use potions much - maybe I should've just popped a Stamina potion and tried to finish him with another power attack? Or is it because I am very weak in defencive skills? I just decided to go for Light Armour, but maybe I am so squishy because I am almost zero in Armour, Block and Restoration.

Mage Bosses will kick your butt if your not careful. I got into some battle the other night with a Mage and he almost killed me. It was constant Ice Spike after Ice Spike. He never seemed to lose magic. I finally spammed some Ultimate Healing Potions and got up in his face and shredded him with my Health Absorbing Sword.

Now, not being a Mage, I don't have any magical defences other than clothing. Since the most devestating attacks these guys do are Elemental, you can whip up some Resist Enchantments and give yourself 60% to 80% resistance in each of the 3 elements in one outfit, including Rings and Amulets. That should help.

Also, have you tried dodging spells?

I'm using a Spellsword too. Wards + Ward Absorb can save you from an onslaught by the Greybeards on Master (I aggro'd them specifically to get the hang of wards). Mage bosses are no biggie. I always use Lightning Cloak to drain their magicka while wacking them with my sword.

muffle+invisibility+paralyze=win

Also why did you pick 2handed as your melee? Could you explain that a little bit.

You can use the Lord stone and enchantments to make yourself pretty much immune to hostile magic.

Resist magic gear and potions is your answer. If you don't want to get into enchanting yourself (you'll have to spend a few perks there and grind it up good if you want some real good enchantments), you can loot or buy the stuff.

If you use a shield, there's a perk to block spells. If you use wards, they block spells too (takes a lot of magicka if you don't use them with good timing, though).

And dodge spells is a good idea. Also, remember shock spells drain magicka. You also might wanna find or buy a weapon with some drain/absorb magicka enchantment. Maybe combine with poisons?