The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Character Building Guide: Illusion

With so many customization option given by the game, creating your character is not going to be too hard. We have taken a good look at each of the races available and understood that each one of them comes with its own strengths and weaknesses: some are better suited at being warriors while others are better at magic or stealth.

In creating your character and getting him or her ready for battle and adventure you’ll probably need some good understanding on how skills work. Skills determine your proficiency at everything that can be done in the world of Skyrim. Unlike previous The Elder Scrolls game, skills aren’t determined by the character class: the specialization of skills comes with the Perks system.

All Skills improve depending on the action you do: improving some of them can be somewhat tedious. There are other ways to improve skills without having to repeat some actions over and over: you can improve them by getting your hand on a Skill Book or find some Trainers who will help you improve specific skills.

Trainers can only train yyou five times per level: to get them to train you again you will have to raise you level. This limit doesn’t apply to a single trainer but to all: if you have already trained three times with a single trainer, you can only train two more times with another trainer. To start training again you will have to level up.

Some followers will also be able to train you: this actually comes with an advantage since you can get your money back by going through their inventory.

There’s also another trick to earn some good XP if you have the horse Shadowmere: this horse cannot be damaged by magic, direct and ranged attacks. Keep attacking him to earn some easy XP.

Illusion

Illusion is quite obviously that magic branch aimed in creating illusions and foolery. If you like using these kind of spells investing into this skill tree will improve you skills as an illusionists. You may want to invest some time into this tree even if you don’t use many Illusion spells since some perks actually help any kind of mage: the LV 50 perk Quiet Casting makes all spell casting silent and it’s something good to have if you like being a stealthy mage.

Perks

• Novice Illusion

Cast Novice level Illusion spells for half magicka.

• Illusion Dual Casting 
• LV 20

Dual casting an Illusion spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.

• Apprentice Illusion 
• LV 25

Cast Apprentice level Illusion spells for half magicka.

• Adept Illusion 
• LV 50

Cast Adept level Illusion spells for half magicka.

• Expert Illusion 
• LV 75

Cast Expert level Illusion spells for half magicka.

• Master Illusion 
• LV 100

Cast Master level Illusion spells for half magicka.

• Hypnotic Gaze 
• LV 30

Calm spells now work on higher level opponents. Cumulative with Kindred Mage and Animage.

• Aspect of Terror 
• LV 50

Fear spells work on higher level opponents. Cumulative with Kindred Mage and Animage.

• Rage 
• LV 70

Frenzy spells work on higher level opponents. Cumulative with Kindred Mage and Animage.

• Master of the Mind 
• LV 90

Illusion spells work on undead, daedra and automatons.

• Animage 
• LV 20

Illusion spells now work on higher level animals.

• Kindred Mage
• LV 40

All Illusion spells work on higher level people.

• Quiet Casting 
• LV 50

All spells you cast from any school of magic are silent to others.