Updated at: 12-06-2023 - By: Craig Huey

How the Magical Academies of Skyrim Stack Up, Worst to Best Skyrim is home to numerous magical academies, but which one produces the most effective spellcasters? Which ones do you feel more comfortable skipping?

Just like a good role-playing game set in a fantastical world,Skyrimpermits players to achieve a high level of proficiency in occult disciplines. Those who truly want to lose themselves in this fantasy world will find that playing as a pure mage build is a worthy challenge. It is essential for any Dragonborn who intends to rely heavily on magic to have a firm understanding of the various magical schools and the benefits they provide.

It’s possible to harness tremendous power from any magical tradition. Still, while some are useful in a variety of contexts, others are more limited in their utility. Some can rapidly advance in rank, while others call for extensive effort. In order to assist players in allocating their Magicka, the following list ranks each mage skill inSkyrimpositionally, that is, beginning with the worst and progressing to the best.

6 Alteration

A lot of the time, using Alteration magic requires a lot of context. Detect Life and Detect Dead are powerful spells that help players prepare for battles in advance, but they require a significant investment of Magicka. It takes a high Alteration skill to paralyze an opponent, but doing so helps buy time in a tough fight. Similarly, the ability to breathe underwater is useful on occasion, but it’s much simpler to acquire through magical clothing.

Skyrim's Schools of Magic, Ranked From Worst To Best

Oakflesh and Ebonyflesh are just two of the many protection spells taught there. Magically-inclined Dragonborns can use these spells to make themselves invincible with the Mage Armor perk set. Nonetheless, especially at lower levels, the requirement for Magicka can put its users at a significant offensive disadvantage. The defensive potential of alterations magic is high, but its effective use requires extensive training.

5 Illusion

Avoiding conflict through the use of Illusion magic is possible with spells like Calm, Fear, and Fury. However, a lot of practice is needed to improve this skill to a level where it can be useful. Spells of the Master tier have a level cap of 25, and none of them can be used against undead or daedra. The player can invest in perks to avoid these problems, but doing so requires advanced levels of Illusion.

This school can open up some fun possibilities for play for mages who focus on stealth. Wizards of high Illusion level can use the spell while hiding in plain sight behind a barrel to incite widespread panic and violent outbursts. Be prepared to put forth effort, employ strategic planning, and take the risk of losing bounties for ineffective Fury spell casting, though.

4 Destruction

An effective offense can be the best defense at times. Destruction spells, such as fireballs and lightning bolts, are the primary weapons of magic users in the harsh world of Skyrim. They can prepare themselves to face resistances of any kind by focusing on one element (fire, frost, or shock) or by training in all three.

Destruction is potent, but it is only useful to mage in this situation. Extensive practice is required to reach the highest levels of this ability. It is especially dangerous to run out of Magicka mid-fight during a ranged attack, so players must be cautious when using their strongest spells. Yet the rewards for working toward Destruction are substantial. There’s nothing more satisfying than a well-placed fireball that reduces an army of enemies to ash and smoke.

3 Conjuration

Being one of the most varied schools of magic in existence is why Conjuration has made this list.Skyrim. Skilled users of this school can conjure atronachs, resurrect the dead, capture souls, and fashion spectral weapons. When cast properly, the Conjuration spells Banish and Command Daedra render hostile Daedric creatures easy to control.

The offensive support of summoned atronachs and the undead’s ability to redirect enemies can turn the tide of difficult battles. With the right enhancements, a bounded blade can trap souls and cast out Daedra like no other. Though Conjuration mages aren’t as widely recognized as their Destruction counterparts, they can be just as devastating in battle.

2 Restoration

Everyone has dabbled in Restoration magic at least a little bit, regardless of playstyle. Healing, the school’s foundational spell, is given to all players at the beginning of the game. Due to the perilous nature of Skyrim, the Dragonborn will have plenty of opportunities to hone their skills. Once a player has honed this ability through the use of healing spells, they will be able to cast devastating wards that negate magical damage and cast devastating fire and fear spells against undead.

A RANKING OF Skyrim’s 13 Monuments

Furthermore, theDawnguard In addition, the destructive power of the Restoration school grows. Sun Fire and similar spells deal significant fire damage to the undead, making them invaluable in dungeon exploration. Enhancing your Restoration skill to expert level is a good investment in your defense and offense.

1 Enchanting

Effectively enchanted items are useful for more than just mages and rogues; warriors can benefit from them as well. Although magical items can be found in many places, players who invest in developing their Enchanting skill can craft their own unique sets of armor, weapons, and other accessories to suit their play preferences. Keep soul gems on hand and enchant unused gear to gain experience and levels.

Armor enchantments allow for the enhancement of a wide variety of skills, and even provide passive benefits like silence or water breathing. Not only that, but weapons can benefit from a wide variety of magical effects, including those based on the elements of Destruction and Illusion. Finally, the Dragonborn’s only magical ability that can be used to earn money is Enchanting. All over the world, players can make a killing off of experimentally enchanted equipment, while the best pieces remain in the players’ possession.