So, I just started a 4th character.

An Altmer mage. I never get a single hit when I fight warriors,archers etc.

BUT, my problem is when I fight mages. They all use wards, and they nearly killed me teice before I could do damage to them. I use 2 handed firebolts because it does a lot of damage,doesn't consume much magicka and doesn't damage my follower. I know I should use wards, but they consume too much magicka and a 1 handed firebolt doesn't do much.

Any advice?

Dont use Destruction. Its horribly unbalanced,

I suggest you use conjuration or illusion as your main spells and it will make your mage much more convienant to play as.

Destruction Spells don't start getting good till the later levels of it mixed with the right perks. Depends what kind of Mage you find most appealing.

Im level 33 Breton mage.
I use conjuration. It's 94 or 95. With left hand i summon Dremora, With right hand I summon a sword.
After I've summoned these 2 things. I use a Frost Cloak spell.
And finally I equip my fireball into my left hand and start blasting my enemies with it, if they come close, I use my sword, if my hp is low. I use close wounds, it's same as fast healing but it's stronger

First thing you should do is College Of Winterhold, U can get "Morokei" and "Archmage Robes" which both give you 100% magic regeneration.
For a total of 200% faster regeneration.

Atronach or Lord stone is a good start, though I would avoid Atronach if you use a lot of conjuration due to the absorb summons glitch. Wards are great against dragon breath, passive magic resistance or absorption is what you need against groups of enemy casters.

Do not overlook Alteration as some perks give you extra magic resistance

did no one read his actual post and not just the title? he said his problems dealing with other mages not what magic school(s) to use or how. seeing that a lot.
anyways found a good way to stop wards is to use the constant cast spells like flames/wall of flames. breaks wards really quickly then you can move in for the kill

Lightning is your friend. Dual cast with the stun lock perk while their wards are down, and enchant yourself items that resist lightning so that they can't do the same to you when their wards are up.

Zap and wait, zap and wait. Don't be so quick to cast, wait until they stand up and knock them down again. That way you are not blasting through your Magicka reserves too quickly and you will be slowly regaining it in between shots. Clothing that helps the recharge rate helps here as well.

If you are facing more than one mage then Conjuration is your best friend. Use it to thin the heard then pick off the weakest ones first. Several nearly dead weak mages will kill you quicker than one strong fully healthy one (unless you fury the weak ones that is).

I also like to throw some fury spells into the mix. Don't be the only target.

Lightning is better, blast the wards, lower the enemy mages magicka so they can't use more.

yes lightning is better than flame spells, was just giving examples of constant-cast spells, also on the subject as to whether or not to use wards: i've only ever used them for dragons, until i got become ethereal shout, and my mage hasn't had any trouble surviving as long as he struck first.

Ummm I read the OP's post and that is why I said level in Alteration. If you die from enemy spells get that resistance up! It also boosts your Stoneflesh and such against physical damage.

Also, if you want to deal with powerful summoned Atronachs the Conjuration school has fun perks for bound weapons that either unsummon or turn their creatures against them.

At lower levels lightning bolt or simple sparks is your friend as it damages their magicka. And keep moving, get cover from rocks/walls/trees/whatever. Frost is also nice to slow them down but prefer shock.
I never ever used Wards, much too high cost.

Are you dual casting (with impact) firebolts? That should stop their ward.

they get it back up too quickly though, and then your stuck just constantly breaking a ward and doing little to no damage.

This is funny because lighting is the only one I don't use...lol.
I maxed Fire and Ice. I didn't use Lighting because they are a bit low-ranged...

Thanks btw.

BTW Yeah I need to study more conjuration rather than Apprentice level

The lord stone, remaking your mage as a Breton. The alteration Magic Resistance Perk, Wards.

I just use Spellbreaker, to get out of cover. Then when I'm close enough I shout Feim to become ethereal run up, hit them with shield then slash with Sword with absorb Magica enchant. Also since most mages in Skyrim use frost just conjure up a frost atronarch and since he is immune they are forced to take out iron daggers.

yours and the guy before you posted while i was typing that first message.

As Ryusei said, they get their wards back up really quick. As soon as I try to fire again, they're already defending. I usually use the Dual Firebolt and then use Yol so I can damage them a bit.

True...but considering distance, they may raise another.

Better to:
1 resist/absorb
2 create a distraction-frenzy or summon
3 single cast repeatedly to drain mana

Destruction Storm spells are nice at higher level, cast one it will be like ZERG.. ! ! Fire Storm / Ice Storms etc x

have you done the college? there is a staff you get from it that drains magicka really really fast (its the only way iv ever made a mage go melee without chasing it down, them and their damn near bottomless supply of magicka)

i think lightning actually has the longest range out of the three types, and best of all it gets to your target instantly. i dont have a source for having read it has the longest range, sorry.

Whoops sorry!

Also why the advice to remake his char to Breton? Both Altmer and Bretons make the best casters IMO but the Highborn power, even if only once a day, saved my golden hide in boss battles.

It all comes down to preferences in the end and I just like Altmer better(yeah sue me LOL). I like the 50 extra magicka at start.
Bretons do have a nicer starting spell and +10 conjuration, Altmer get +10 Illusion which is a bit meh. It all evens out in the end.

Note that Breton resistance is 25% btw and not 50% as load screens tell you!

Edit-lightning bolt has the longest range or at least seems to. I use it to zap Forsworn off mountains. It is also more accurate but that could be me.

load up a powerfull attack spell in each hand (not a dual version) fire one, if its strong enof to break the sheild fire the other one right after. Repeat.

Ah. Conjuration is probably the answer then.