Destruction magic in Skyrim.... oh dear.

[A Free Man]

snip.

You just suck Haha no but seriously I use destruction and conjuration as my two main schools, I find that it is rather easy to kill even the highest level of enemies. I just have to make sure I don't get hit since I am a 1 shot kill from the majority of enemies now. If you want an alternative it is quite a simple conundrum really, if the power/mana ration was good and is now bad... Go back to what it was before. If it sounds like I'm saying use apprentice level destruction magic as a master it's because I am. I use the old firebolt spell almost always unless I'm against a large group of enemies which is rare, and it works like a charm. I have enough mana to cast it hundreds of times and as soon as I kill those around me my magic regens in seconds.

You could get a few friends or mercenaries to take with you.

Ohh also very much this. Companions might be annoying for some but for a mage they make life so much easier. Hell I can beat most enemies now with only two spells. The healing spell and heal other spell. I just let my warrior companion who I give all of my best armor and weapons fight them while I heal us both. Not that I do that much as I like to get in on that action myself. Just be careful when using fireball around them haha.

 

[Jandau]

So without enchanting/smithing exploits... let's hear some good advice for those who want to focus on Destruction!

Let me just clarify: do you consider any use of Enchanting to be exploiting? If yes, then that's your problem. However, if you consider regular use of Enchanting acceptable, then just enchant a few pieces of armor with pure Destruction enchants (not the ones that also have Magicka regen). With 3 such enchants (maxed enchanting with the perk for better skill enchants, of course) and the Archmage robe, you're around 90% cheaper Destruction spells. With 4 such items you are now at 100% reduction.

As for Destro itself, did you get Impact? Lower spell cost Perks? Damage perks? Destruction actually requires fairly few Perks - Double casting, Impact, Shock Damage (I use Shock spells since they work on almost EVERYTHING) X 2 and any cost reduction perks you deem necessary. And skip the Master level perk, the Master level destro spells suck.

Don't just spam your biggest spell. It can be quite inefficient, especially if you don't have the gear to back it up. Regular old Lightining is quite decent, even at higher levels. Granted, once you have a good amount of cost reduction you can just spam Thunderbolt in peace.

As for your argument that "Surely a primary combat skill should be powerful enough in and of itself to manage the game...", the answer is no, it should not. Can One-handed manage the game alone? Or does it need help from Light/Heavy Armor, Block, Sneak, Smithing, etc.

Also, did you level Conjuration? Summon Dremora Lord is freaking awesome since it scales in the same way enemies do. With 100 Conjuration and the double summon perk you can have two of these bad boys running around while you support with your Destruction spells.

To sum up, I did the following on my Mage:

100 Enchanting -> 3 pieces of gear with Destruction and Conjuration enchants (double enchant Perk)
100 Conjuration -> Double Dremoras, the cost of casting them is low thanks to my enchanted gear
70+ Destruction -> Low cost thanks to my gear, Impact lets me stunlock enemies indefinitely

Your problem is that you think you should be able to handle anything with just one skill, when most character types use a combination of offensive and defensive skills to handle enemies. You assassin needs Sneak to get close and get the big crits, Onehanded for his weapons, Light Armor to keep him alive. Don't be suprised if you can't just "Destro LOLOLOL!" your way through the game...

 

[Nopodop]

Use low level destruction spells like fireball, ice storm, etc. They are much more cost effective than expert level ones like incerate and icey spear.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Your problem is that you think you should be able to handle anything with just one skill, when most character types use a combination of offensive and defensive skills to handle enemies. You assassin needs Sneak to get close and get the big crits, Onehanded for his weapons, Light Armor to keep him alive. Don't be suprised if you can't just "Destro LOLOLOL!" your way through the game...

Not really though, I understand the game's mechanics well enough. My sneaky Assassin and Two handed skullcrusher breeze through the higher level enemies without a care in the world. They laugh in the face of Ancient Dragons and Draugr Deathlords... while my mage just get owned (admittedly not as much since finishing the mage's college)

I think it comes down to taste really... I don't enjoy quite that level of micro-management that is required of a Mage in this game, which is funny because it was my favourite way to play in Oblivion.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

This all falls apart if you're playing on a console though. You aren't playing a Bethesda game on a console, right? I mean, why not just go buy a glock and shoot yourself in the foot? The only difference in results is that your foot will eventually get better on it's own.

PC Elitists like yourself would do well to remember that some console players would LOVE a fancy, high spec PC to play Skyrim on but we can't afford it.

 

[Jandau]

Your problem is that you think you should be able to handle anything with just one skill, when most character types use a combination of offensive and defensive skills to handle enemies. You assassin needs Sneak to get close and get the big crits, Onehanded for his weapons, Light Armor to keep him alive. Don't be suprised if you can't just "Destro LOLOLOL!" your way through the game...

Not really though, I understand the game's mechanics well enough. My sneaky Assassin and Two handed skullcrusher breeze through the higher level enemies without a care in the world. They laugh in the face of Ancient Dragons and Draugr Deathlords... while my mage just get owned (admittedly not as much since finishing the mage's college)

I think it comes down to taste really... I don't enjoy quite that level of micro-management that is required of a Mage in this game, which is funny because it was my favourite way to play in Oblivion.

That's because you built your Mage poorly. A badly built warrior would also run into a brick wall eventually. As for micromanagement, I had a lot more of it with my Warriors and Assassins, with timing power attacks, blocks, sneaking into position for backstabs, etc. My Mage just walks into a dungeon, drops his summons and spams Thunderbolts. If anything gets close (rare, but happens) a FusRoDah clears that right up. Ancient Dragons aren't a problem. In fact, Dragons are a pushover. First time they hover above me, I can just stunlock them and drop them to 10%-0% HP in one go, then they crash, either dead or just needing a bit of finishing off.

You only quoted the last paragraph of my post, but I'll assume you read the whole thing. I suggest you try the advice I listed there, you might be suprised by your Mage after you get him some decent gear and Perks. I found the game to be easier with him than with any of my other characters.

EDIT: Oh, and I just HAVE to comment on this

PC Elitists like yourself would do well to remember that some console players would LOVE a fancy, high spec PC to play Skyrim on but we can't afford it.

My 4 year old trashcan (which cost about $400 when I bought it, even cheaper now) runs Skyrim on Medium without any problems. This makes the game look roughly the same as on the consoles. You only need the super expensive stuff if you want everything on Ultra settings. However, if you're satisfied with console-level graphical settings, a shitty PC will do you just fine. I'm not being elitist here, I just don't like people bashing the PC with no basis...

 

[AlternatePFG]

This all falls apart if you're playing on a console though. You aren't playing a Bethesda game on a console, right? I mean, why not just go buy a glock and shoot yourself in the foot? The only difference in results is that your foot will eventually get better on it's own.

PC Elitists like yourself would do well to remember that some console players would LOVE a fancy, high spec PC to play Skyrim on but we can't afford it.

You shouldn't have to install a mod for destruction magic to be useful anyway, it should have been useful in the game from the start

 

[MiracleOfSound]

That's because you built your Mage poorly. A badly built warrior would also run into a brick wall eventually.

Not nearly as badly though, because of damage scaling. The Destruction damage does not go up as you scale up... you just unlock slightly better spells. But the spells stay as they are and feel underpowered after level 30 to me, even with all the perks. Whereas a warrior is always finding better weapons and armour as he levels and a sneak character, well, just has to level sneak really and pay a visit to the DB sanctuary.

As for micromanagement, I had a lot more of it with my Warriors and Assassins, with timing power attacks, blocks, sneaking into position for backstabs, etc. My Mage just walks into a dungeon, drops his summons and spams Thunderbolts. If anything gets close (rare, but happens) a FusRoDah clears that right up. Ancient Dragons aren't a problem. In fact, Dragons are a pushover. First time they hover above me, I can just stunlock them and drop them to 10%-0% HP in one go, then they crash, either dead or just needing a bit of finishing off.

You only quoted the last paragraph of my post, but I'll assume you read the whole thing. I suggest you try the advice I listed there, you might be suprised by your Mage after you get him some decent gear and Perks. I found the game to be easier with him than with any of my other characters.

I did read it all and am reading all the tips on this thread... will probably go back to my mage in a week or two when I have the patience to grind out enchanting. Conjuration doesn't appeal to me at all though... I don't enjoy letting the game play itself.

 

[Dami Fayse]

The game does seem to be particularly unbalanced. I'm currently playing an assassin and with the dark brotherhood gauntlets to do double damage with backstabs combined with the perk that does x15 damage with daggers I can take out a dragon with a casual swing.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

My 4 year old trashcan (which cost about $400 when I bought it, even cheaper now) runs Skyrim on Medium without any problems. This makes the game look roughly the same as on the consoles. You only need the super expensive stuff if you want everything on Ultra settings. However, if you're satisfied with console-level graphical settings, a shitty PC will do you just fine. I'm not being elitist here, I just don't like people bashing the PC with no basis...

Who's bashing on PC? I love PC.

I was bashing on PC Elitists.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

You shouldn't have to install a mod for destruction magic to be useful anyway, it should have been useful in the game from the start

My point exactly.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I seem to have levelled myself into a corner with my Destruction mage high-elf.

Basically, the destruction spells mana cost to damage ratio seems completely out of balance. I'm level 30 now and spending half my game running around in circles waiting for mana to recharge just so I can do an attack that is of equal, if not less, power than the infinite melee ones warriors get. (Yes I have Morokei and Archmage Robes)

Now I know half of you have already gotten halfway through typing 'Just use enchanting to break the game' but I don't really want to do that. Surely a primary combat skill should be powerful enough in and of itself to manage the game without using a cheap exploit.

I've spent the last 20 hours getting completely owned by enemies who my Warrior and sneak characters would stomp all over without a care in the world.

So without enchanting/smithing exploits... let's hear some good advice for those who want to focus on Destruction!

And for the love of god if you're going to derp out something like 'You just suck' or 'you're doing it wrong', have the common sense to offer an alternative tactic.

Em I haven't read through the whole thread yet and I will later but we could use more info regarding perks and what other skills you are using and how you have levelled them and what companions you are using if any and what kind of shouts you are using once again if any. Also you will be doing a bit of enchanting whether you are going to exploit it with alchemy is up to you but if you want gear to play in higher levels you need a bit of smiting or enchanting.

So if you are adamant of no enchanting you are gimping help we can give as you can enchant stuff to decrease magicka cost and increase magicka regen. I don't count that as exploit so we need a bit more info on what you are classing as an exploit to give better help.

 

[Sethzard]

Make magika potions, level up enchanting and use conjuration more.

 

[Ridley1987]

I have thought of something else. Equilibrium from the alteration spells. Cast is simultaneously with healing and you can quickly restore your magicka to full.

I run a vanilla skyrim and my destruction restoration conjuration pure mage with a 3:1-2 magicka:health has no flaws other than me trying to go too far too fast for too long (which is appoximately the red barons motto which he broke and died because of.)

 

[GenericAmerican]

I've played about 100 hours in my destruction mage and haven't had problems. I don't completely rely on destruction though, a healthy bit of conjuration, illusion, and FUS RO DAH'ing things have lead to much success.

 

[godofallu]

All combat skills have a damage peak in Skyrim, but yeah Magic's tends to pop up earlier.

There are a few good magic rebalances over at the nexus. If that doesn't peak your interest try adding a new combat style. As you level up you kind of are forced to dual class. Magic can't be your primary forever without mods.

 

[DustyDrB]

Yeah, Destruction is waaaaaaaay less powerful than using bows/blades/blunt. But I don't think it's to the point that you're actually weak. It's just that the other combat styles become stupidly powerful eventually. I had to turn the difficulty all the way up just to preserve some semblance of challenge once I got to level 30 with my first character (an archer). At least the game will still challenge you.

On the flip-side...I actually do enjoy the fact that combat mages are the underpowered ones and archers are the overpowered ones for once. Though things get too easy, it's nice that archery gets some love now.