I'd like to know if my thinking is wrong here. I want to maximize the damage output of my mage on Master difficulty. As I understand it, my opponents will get more hitpoints as I level. Thus, the best plan is to maximize my damage output, let's say Destruction to 100 with many perks, but do not level any non-essential skill.

I've already completed the main quest with a level 46 dunmer mage on Master. However, I did not make any special effort to slow leveling in lockpicking or any leveling from skill books. Therefore there are probably several levels where my opponents became stronger, but I did not increase my damage output or even ability to survive.

Do I have that right? If so, when I play it again, I plan to have a follower open all locks (I was halfway through the game before realizing this), and ignore all locked doors that cannot be bypassed with the Tower. Also, I will not turn in any quests that level any non-mage skill and also not use any skill books that level the wrong skills. I'll hit the Mage stone right away too.

one tip is, don't pick the mage stone so that you will not level faster.

Wouldn't I want my mage skills to rise faster than speech from selling etc.?

Choose a few core skills (enchanting, defense skill, combat skill) and only level those ones.

They don't just get more HP and hit you harder, they also start being able to be too high for your Illusion and/or Alteration spells. It's super lame to have mobs resisting your Calming spells when you have 100 Illusion and every perk you can grab. I know not everything gains levels as you do, but I know that my Pacify worked on guards when I was in the 30s but when I got into the 40s they became immune. I hated it. Punished for increasing your skills? Huzzahhh...

Single-target Destruction damage caps out at 70 skill when you learn the Expert level spells, but your Conjuration summons can add their own significant DPS (2 x Dremora Lord). You can then work on Alchemy to brew some potent Weakness to Magicka poisons, which can be applied to tough enemies via bow for extra nuking power.

Don't avoid leveling up, but make sure that you're purposefully leveling either Destruction or Conjuration a bit with every level.


Do you have Kindred Mage and Hypnotic Gaze? Did you try dual casting the spell?

Kindred Mage + Hypnotic Gaze increases the spell's maximum target level by 18, and dual casting it effectively doubles the maximum level.

I didn't bother dual casting since I read it just makes it last longer. I usually end up with an Illusion spell in my left hand and a dagger in my right hand. I'm definitely going to go try dual casting it now, though. Thanks! (unless it doesn't work, then no thanks! )

EDIT: Never mind, I don't even have enough magicka to dual cast XD. It must triple the cost or something. I thought it would only make it just a little more than double the spell cost, but it's a lot more.

Yes, that's a good strategy since it emphasizes your mage skills. It should be easy to level in a way that caps your character at level 25 or so. The main reason for level bloat as a mage is maxing enchant and alchemy (and a little smithing) which means an extra 15-20 levels. Not that you don't get returns from those skills but it depends on how you want to play.

280% mana cost. Bethesda's magic system basically forces you to zero out the casting cost of Destruction and Conjuration or Illusion via enchants.

Do you have the requisite 8 perks in Enchanting?

Not on this character, lol. And now I'm in the mood to play a different one so I'll have to come back to this later and work on my Enchanting a bit more.