I've been playing this series for a decade and yet I never got around to learning.

My new character is being built with total defense in mind. The defense against physical damage will be covered through blocking, heavy armor and alteration magic. But I want to enchant all my gear with magic resistance. If I enchant it with straight resist magic, won't that cover attacks from frost, shock and fire as well? If so, why would anyone enchant for a specific element? What extra benefits if any would that give you?

Thanks.

You are correct. The formula calculates magic resistances before factoring in an elemental resistance. Furthermore magic resistances covers all incomming magic attacks- not just one specific element.

If you are working for maximum defense you should begin with magic resist enchants.

The elemental enchants are situational: Like if you were a vampire you might still want a resist fire enchant even with max resist- because you have a large fire weakness, or you might want to stack frost resist if you are going against certain briarheart camps and you are a melee build- to avoid the slow effect of frost.

You max magic resist at 85%. now if you have the max elemental resist as well since it calculates after- you basically will get about 97.5% (IIRC) max resist vs an element by stacking both forms.

Also- you could become a vampire- take atronach stone, and get atronach perk in alteration, and be immune to any/all magic.

I believe you can also get more protection from being elemental specific than a general magic resistance. For example, you might be able to get 40% resist frost, but 20% resist magic. You know?

Okay thanks for your replies guys. I'll max out magic resistance and then start with a specific element. As my latest character is a Nord, I know I won't need to worry about frost.

Magic resistance is capped at 85% - no matter how much you stack it it will never go beyond that threshhold. Elemental resistance, on the other hand, can be maxed to 100% to render you completely immune to that element.
Personally, I just max out magic resistance and brunt the remaining damage. It's so miniscule it isn't a problem.

Not quite correct - elemental resistances are also capped at 85%
Spell Absorb can be brought to 100% through the Atronach stone and being a Breton, or the vampire necromage trick.

Check out http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342463-complete-character-design-freedom-damage-resist-caps-and-ridiculous-damage-thread-10/ for lots of game-mechanics info.

Well yes, but you need the necromage perk. You also need to take the atronach perk after being a necrovamp and have to reset the stone after becoming a necrovamp for the bonus to be applied.

Uh huh, that is how it is accomplished....

Why settle for one when you get both? Get the (almost) max magic resistance and (almost) max elemental resistance. It's easier than you think.

Check out this reference build by domilasa


http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1333470-complete-character-design-freedom-damage-resist-caps-and-ridiculous-damage-thread-9/page__st__120__p__20200225#entry20200225

Female Nord
Elven Armor, Elven Warhammer
Lord Stone, Agent of Mara, Two Alteration perks
Necklace; Resist Frost, Resist Fire
Ring; Resist Shock, Resist Magic
Helm; Waterbreathing
Chest; Fortify Light Armor, Resist Poison
Gloves; Fortify Block, Fortify Two Handed
Shoes; Resist Shock, Resist Fire

DR; 80%
Block; 85%
MR; 82%
Frost; 85%
Fire; 85%
Shock; 85%
Poison; 42%

20 perks; http://skyrimcalculator.com/#24358

Right abacus, you have mentioned that before, problem is- it has a ton if its slots devoted to resistance, when it could be done in 8 perks not 20 and no slots used.
Alternatively a breton with lord mara and 4 perks can have 85% and that is enough to shrug it off anyways. - no slots used.
All are valid options for sure.

In any case- magic defense is basically a necessity on master.

That build also could save 3 perks by going middle on enchant tree instead of the sideroute that has perks that are mutually exclusive and situational.

Typically enchanting for resistance to a specific element is stronger than going the "Jack-of-all-trades" route.
The max I have been able to achieve in enchanting is 50% individually, but up to 20% for magic resist. Enchanting for one thing makes the equipment better against some things, but gives you a handicap against another.

But you didn't explain that you need the necromage perk... Nor did you stress that both the perk and stone need to be taken after.