The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Magic Guide: Destruction

Magic in Skyrim plays quite a big role, especially considering how many different things you are able to do by using it. In Skyrim magic comprises various types of spells, as well as Shouts and Races innate powers. Casting regular spells will be costing you Magicka points and by improving your skills in each magical branch you’ll be able to reduce the magicka cost of Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, and Master spell types. Even if you’re not skilled at these spells you’ll still be able to cast them effectively: the only problem is that the Magicka cost will be quite high. Another way to decrease Magicka cost is through the use of robes.

If you’re looking at making your magic spells more powers you’ll have to use some special potion or use the Dual Casting skill which allows you to cast a spell with both hands: Magicka cost will be increased but also will the potency of the used spell.

Spells in Skyrim are learned by reading Spell Tomes: just use one of these tomes while it’s in your inventory and you’ll learn it, with the tome disappearing in the process. Spell tomes can be obtained from vendors and as loot: when tomes are found as loot they will be appropriate to the player’s skill level. The Spell tomes found in vendors are also randomly generated and the only way to a specific tome for sure is by going to the vendors at the College of Winterhold who offer the full selection of spells appropriate for the player’s skill level. You may also want to visit court wizards found in most of the game’s major holds to learn some of the spells.

These are the the Magic branches that we will be covering in these Skyrim Magic Guides: if you want to know the perks associated with these Magic branches you can check out our Skyrim Character Building guides, where we have covered all the available perks of the game.

• Alteration
• Conjuration
• Destruction
• Enchanting
• Illusion
• Restoration

Destruction

Destruction spells serve as the main offensive for mages since it’s the only magic school able to cause direct damage. Just like with the other magic schools, you’ll be able to learn these spells by reading tomes- Faralda of Winterhold is the master of Destruction and sells a good number of Destruction spell tomes.

Use this books to raise your Destruction skill

• A Hypothetical Treachery
• The Horror of Castle Xyr
• Mystery of Talara, v3
• Response to Bero’s Speech
• The Art of War Magic
• Oghma Infinium

Spells

• Novice Spells

Flames
A gout of fire inflicting a base damage of 8 points of fire damage per second.
Targets on fire take extra damage. One of the two basic spells.
Frostbite
A blast of cold inflicting a base damage of 8 points of frost damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Sparks
Lightning which inflicts a base damage of 8 points of shock damage per second to Health and Magicka.
Arniel’s Convection

Burns the target 1 point per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Vampiric Drain

Absorb 2, 3, 4 or 5 points (depends upon the level of vampirism) of health from the target.

• Apprentice Spells

Firebolt
A bolt of fire that inflicts 25 points of fire damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Freeze
A spike of ice that does 20 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina and slows the target for 15 seconds.
Ice Spike
A spike of ice that inflicts 25 points of ice damage to Health and Stamina.
Ignite
A blast of flame that sets targets of fire, doing 4 damage per second for 15 seconds.
Lightning Bolt
A bolt of lightning that inflicts 25 points of shock damage to Health and half as much to Magicka.
Fire Rune
Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of damage when enemies come near. Affected targets take extra damage.
Frost Rune
Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of damage to Health and Stamina when enemies come near. Movement speed is reduced for affected targets.
Lightning Rune
Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of damage to Health and half as much to Magicka when enemies come near.

• Adept Spells

Ice Storm
A freezing whirlwind that does 40 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina. The whirlwind radius is increased if the character has Augmented Frost 2/2. Spell range is smaller if cast with Destruction Dual Casting. Does harm Followers, but not Dragonborn.
Flame Cloak
For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points of damage per second. Targets on fire take extra damage. Does not harm Followers. Does harm neutral NPCs like town guards.
Frost Cloak
For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina. Does not harm Followers. Does harm neutral NPCs like town guards.
Lightning Cloak
For 60 seconds, nearby opponents take 8 points of damage per second to Health and half as much to Magicka. Does not harm Followers. Does harm neutral NPCs like town guards.
Whirlwind Cloak
For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range have a chance of being flung away.

• Expert Spells

Icy Spear
A spear of ice that does 60 (90) points of frost damage to Health and Stamina.
Incinerate
A blast of fire that does 60 (90) points of fire damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt that does 60 (90) points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka.
Wall of Flames Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second. Does not harm Followers or Dragonborn.
Wall of Frost
Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of frost that does 50 points of frost damage per second. Does not harm Followers or Dragonborn.
Wall of Storms
Sprayed on the ground it creates a wall of lightning that does 50 points of shock damage per second. Does not harm Followers or Dragonborn.

• Master Spells

Blizzard
Creates a blizzard that surrounds the caster. Targets take 20 point of frost damage every second for 10 seconds, plus stamina damage.
Fire Storm
A 100 point fiery explosion centered on the caster. The closer a target is, the more damage they take.
Lightning Storm
Fires a continuous stream of lightning. Target takes 75 points of shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka.

To be able to buy Master Destruction spell tomes you will have to complete the Destruction Ritual Spell quest once you reach level 100 in Destruction.