I have completed the game as 2 different characters now and I have just created a new one that is 100% a mage. I enjoy using the destruction spells since they do direct damage but I have heard some people say they eventually become obsolete. Is this true and what/when are the cases when they are? First time being a mage character so any help is appreciated.

Player destruction do not scale (unlike NPCs), so they can't cause as much damage as melee weapons fully improved with smithing and enchanting.

Unless you're also an alchemist and using weakness to fire/frost/shock poisons on all your targets, melee and archery damage will end up really surpassing destruction damage (if you're fully taking advantage of high smithing, alchemy, and enchanting as a warrior). The very high magicka cost of high level destruction spells also means you'll need to either enchant a bunch of -destruction cost gear, or chug potions continuously (or run away a lot).

Actually playing as a destruction mage, I thought the damage was fine, even without poisons, except for a bit in the middle where damage sort of lagged (but that was because I wasn't using the AOE fireball spell due to not wanting to hit my companion.)

The issue is really the magicka cost, a dual cast augmented thunderbold will do nearly two hundred damage a hit. It takes a good deal of fortify smithing and or fortify weapon skill to reach that. The problem is unless you've reduced the cost to zero you run out of juice to fast. The damage for the cost in magicka is underpowerd but the impact perk is considered overpowered as nothing can resist it and its 100% effective.

My pure mage uses dual-hand chain lightining 120 dps (60 each). With the stagger perk, at level 43, no problems so far.

Take enchanting to increase your magick pool/health and regen rate, plus the reduction in mana to almost zero cost, you shouldn't have any problems. Eventually you learn to put 2 enchants on each piece of gear.

Having said that, I'm playing at the next to last highest level - the default settings got to be too low. I may have to go up to the final level (master??) - have to see how that works out.

I'm sure you've read/heard about powerleveling enchanting, smithing, and alchemy - I'm not doing that, just leveling enchanting as a normal skill.

One thing about chain lightning - it will jump to a follower and kill him/her. I got around that by making Lydia essential - she still doesn't like it lol. So, I often use dual-hand flames as back up. Chain lightning has a long reach - far enough to kill enemies walking on top of forts from quite a distance away. So, I attack with chain lightning as long as Lydia is behind me - than switch to fire if necessary. But, that's not often the case.

Good luck.

Weakness poisons not too useful for a 100% mage, but never leaving home without a stock of fortify destruction potions, and some magicka cost reduction kit, can go quite a way.

Comparing 'off the shelf' destruction spells to uber upgraded and enchanted weapons is ridiculous...compare it to the basic off the shelf model of weapon, and that gives you a far more accurate balance.

No one has to stick with just destruction magic, just as no one has to upgrade or enchant weapons...it's all personal choice.

What is obsolete are these continual arguments that destruction is weak (no offense to the OP).

Not really. Lore wise off the shelf Destruction is far more powerful than enchanted weapons, unless they are truly legendary, of which there are none in Skyrim. Destruction and magic as a whole is a joke in Skyrim compared to previous ES magic systems.

Lore = Living in the past. Get over it. If 'lore' was the basis of the game, you would still be replaying TES 1. The vast majority of people don't want to stay in the past, they want to see inovation, with better and improved games. If we didn't see that, then you wouldn't have dual casting or dual wielding, you wouldn't have followers, you wouldn't have double enchantments, etc etc.

Perhaps magic isn't meant to be as important in Skyrim...which is why everyone gets shouts.

Right, because all of those things conflict with lore.

I got no problem with destruction or any of the magic schools in Skyrim compared to previous titles. Something most forum goers should probably learn is that different does not automatically mean bad.

I have a Destruction/Restoration/Alteration mage with minor conjuration and enchanting and I have no problems whatsoever.

Magic not important? It is one of the three major combat roles in the game.

Followers were around way before Skyrim, Erandur is right magic is a joke in this game. But it was way more fun in previous games being able to create spells kept magic viable making sure other conventional weapons didn't outpace it entirely. Plus it was more fun in previous games, now if you'll excuse me I will now go flying around the tops of the buildings in Balmora.

No, newb. Know more about the ES. It has nothing to do with the past. Dual casting is a gimmick. Followers were in Ob. Enchanting was better in previous games where you could have more than just 2 enchantments. LOL at the scared of change fallacy again.

If you understood my post, you would see that referred to innovation and change...but I accept that you wouldn't understand that seeing you are probably stuck on 'lore'.

Erandur, you call me a 'newb', but you have only been registered on this forum since 17 November...get some time up, novice.

The continual arguments that Destruction is weak will go away when Destruction is fixed, just like the x64.exe arguments went away when Bethesda released their own LAA patch. I don't think that will happen anytime soon, but the complaining will rightfully go on until then.


*...I want my Spellmaking back you son of a Bethesda.*

Do you even understand your post? Because it makes literally no sense.

Yet your a newb who doesn't even know whats new and isn't in Skyrim. The age of your account does not make you a newb, not knowing about ES does. Obvious Fallouter who's never played an ES before is obvious.

Give them to a bow follower?

Sorry guys, I'm not the one crying over destruction magic.

LOL at people with no argument.

Is that Lo Armistead down there?

Arguing with Xarnac the Conqueror about TES magic, and calling him a newb. [Gets popcorn]

BY ODIN!? Chunky your actually defending skyrim?!
Edit, Nvm

Well, Erandur, let's see what the mods think about your insults...you may get another account yet.

Who?