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Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
While I am enjoying using magic on this playthrough, I still find myself constantly falling back on melee weapons (albiet bound melee weapons, but melee weapons non the less).

Destruction spells just aren't powerful enough to actually take out an enemy without multiple shots (even at 450 magicka, a few fireballs or chain lighting will drain you right out and, even with 150% it still takes a minute to recharge (okay maybe 20 seconds). This is especially true with higher level bad guys.

I realize y'all are going to say Followers, summoned creatures, etc...

No on the followers: loathe them, have no use for them and don't want them.

Summoned Critters and beings are fine, but not always the best thing to have around and lord knows those dern zombies can drive you crazy.

Any thoughts?
 

LuChao

The Martial artist
I usually play with Illusion when I play a mgae so I can stay way back and make the enemies attack and weaken each other before I destroy them
 

Sahdira

Member
This a good question. Sahdira always prefers the simpler methods of defeating her enemies: whacking them on the head with a sword. If she does use magic it is to 'summon critters'. She has not experimented with destruction magic much, but she finds it is similar to using a bow; great from a distance but not so good when she was face to face with an axe-wielding barbarian. This is when she turns to melee weapons. She, however, prefers the bow.
 

Cherry

Farfetch'd is judging you!
Aye, destruction is underpowered on every level above Adept. Although fortify destruction enchantments are your friend. A few of those and you shouldn't be running out of magicka any time soon.

Also, i've myself noticed that 150% boost to magicka regen isn't enough for a pure mage.
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
This a good question. Sahdira always prefers the simpler methods of defeating her enemies: whacking them on the head with a sword. If she does use magic it is to 'summon critters'. She has not experimented with destruction magic much, but she finds it is similar to using a bow; great from a distance but not so good when she was face to face with an axe-wielding barbarian. This is when she turns to melee weapons. She, however, prefers the bow.
Khemet would like to meet Sahdira. Feels that they have much in common.
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
Aye, destruction is underpowered on every level above Adept. Although fortify destruction enchantments are your friend. A few of those and you shouldn't be running out of magicka any time soon.

Also, i've myself noticed that 150% boost to magicka regen isn't enough for a pure mage.
I'm working towards OPing my enchantments for regen and resistance and that should help. Destruction just doesn't seem a great option. Conjuration - sure, Illusion - sure, even Alteration & Restoration are very effective in their own way.
 

Israel

Member
I love using Wards, they are my favorite part of mages. I usually combo them with destruction or Illusion magic, it's worked pretty well for me. I still prefer a good sword to magic though.
 

Rimfaxe96

Well-Known Member
Well, generally mages take out their destruction spells and burn, electrocute or freeze until either something dies or their hands are ripped apart. Wards and destruction magic are another favourite pairing because it offers protection while doing damage.
And, the most annoying combo, conjure some big atronach and let it fight for you while you throw fire bolts, ice spikes or some other crap.
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
I love using Wards, they are my favorite part of mages. I usually combo them with destruction or Illusion magic, it's worked pretty well for me. I still prefer a good sword to magic though.
I hate wards. While they are great agains spells cast at you, they just suck the magicka out of you and you can't do anything else. Me, I'll go for magic resistance. Maybe I just haven't learned how to use them well.
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
Well, generally mages take out their destruction spells and burn, electrocute or freeze until either something dies or their hands are ripped apart. Wards and destruction magic are another favourite pairing because it offers protection while doing damage.
And, the most annoying combo, conjure some big atronach and let it fight for you while you throw fire bolts, ice spikes or some other crap.
How much magicka do you have????? Every time I cast a ward, to keep it up more than a second or so I have to stop everything else. It just sucks that magicka out of me.
 

LotusEater

I brake for blue butterflies
If you want a good budget Destruction spell you can spam the hell out of without eating up all your Magicka, put on Ahzidal's Ring of Arcana and spam Ignite. Not much can hold up against 3 or 4 shots of that spell.

As a mage, you also need to buy time fairly often. Some spells/powers I use to buy time:

Frenzy- Ping a camp or settlement from a distance and let them work on eachother before you arrive

Paralyze- Kinda self explanatory however I try to lure them in and paralyze as many as I can in proximity with one another, that way I can lay Runes on as many paralyzed people as I can at once

Destruction Impact Perk- Kinda cheap at times but can buy you time in a pinch

Slow Time- Outrun your own Fireball

Become Ethereal- Self Explanatory, there are times when your only option is to run like the wind

Unrelenting Force- You know...

Pacify- For that emergency 'in your face' guy

The Turn/Repel Undead spells can get you out of a mess with draugr, I prefer the Repel Spells as they can potentially affect more at a time

Whirlwind Sprint- Get you out of a dogpile


Also, since you are using Bound Bow, consider a few simple poisons and potions to compliment your build. On my current build I only use two poisons and a few potions.

Weakness to Poison- Bound Bow (works well with Poison Rune, Miraak's Staff and Ebony Mail when I use it)

Weakness to Magic- Bound Bow (Mostly for dragons, sneak shot an arrow with Weakness to Poison and follow up with Weakness to Magic... All the sudden Destruction Spells aren't underpowered, they are nuclear weapons)

Fortify Illusion, Alteration and Destruction Potions- Fortify Illusion potion makes your Illusion spells more powerful, thus allowing you to target high level opponents. Fortify Destruction potions become more intense as well, and in conjunction with Weakness to Magic poisons become pretty much OP. Fortify Alteration extends the duration of your spells which is great for Mage Armor and Paralyze in particular.


Also, if you are playing a pure mage, speed and agility are your best defense. With no armor on, you should laugh at a guy coming at you with a two-handed weapon as you duck out of the way and lay a Fireball on his back. Also, like I mentioned earlier, there is no shame in running if you are a mage. If you get in to a bind, run like the wind and hide if you must. I do it all the time. :)
 

Israel

Member
I love using Wards, they are my favorite part of mages. I usually combo them with destruction or Illusion magic, it's worked pretty well for me. I still prefer a good sword to magic though.
I hate wards. While they are great agains spells cast at you, they just suck the magicka out of you and you can't do anything else. Me, I'll go for magic resistance. Maybe I just haven't learned how to use them well.
I'll admit they use a ton of magicka, but once I get to above 500-600 magicka and have the arch Mage robes and dragon priest mask from completing the mages guild quest line, my magicka regenerates so fast it doesn't really matter. And they are great against the breath attack from dragons
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
I love using Wards, they are my favorite part of mages. I usually combo them with destruction or Illusion magic, it's worked pretty well for me. I still prefer a good sword to magic though.
I hate wards. While they are great agains spells cast at you, they just suck the magicka out of you and you can't do anything else. Me, I'll go for magic resistance. Maybe I just haven't learned how to use them well.
I'll admit they use a ton of magicka, but once I get to above 500-600 magicka and have the arch Mage robes and dragon priest mask from completing the mages guild quest line, my magicka regenerates so fast it doesn't really matter. And they are great against the breath attack from dragons
Hmm... now I'm having an idea... :)
 

DrunkenMage

Intoxicated Arch-Mage
I love using Wards, they are my favorite part of mages. I usually combo them with destruction or Illusion magic, it's worked pretty well for me. I still prefer a good sword to magic though.
I hate wards. While they are great agains spells cast at you, they just suck the magicka out of you and you can't do anything else. Me, I'll go for magic resistance. Maybe I just haven't learned how to use them well.

Lesser wards block all Dragon breath attacks.
 

TheLonelyWolve

My precious
If it's one thing I know, magicka regen enchantments do not work in combat. I usually use the staff of magnus if I require some magicka, but I usually take battle with staffs these days.
 

DrunkenMage

Intoxicated Arch-Mage
I believe regen depends on how much magicka you have, so you're better off going for more magicka than regen. Though it'll always be slow in combat.
 

Khasrin

Fusozayiit
I usually play with Illusion when I play a mgae so I can stay way back and make the enemies attack and weaken each other before I destroy them

This. Illusion gets overlooked a lot, which is a shame considering how useful those spells can be if you're not doing a lot of Conjuration.

This probably goes without saying but I rely heavily on Alteration. Oakflesh is always one of my first spells. The various Mage Armors and Paralyze are on my must-have list if I'm going pure mage.

With Destruction I continue to use the Novice spells like Flames and Sparks, even after I've moved on to higher levels. As your skill increases and you add perks such as Augmented Shock or Intense Flames, these simple spells are actually pretty devastating without tearing through your magicka. I have to be desperate and/or greatly outnumbered (or I just feel like showing off :p) before I break out the Chain Lightning or Fireball and greater. Are there better ways to use Destruction? Probably. But that is, as it were, how I roll.

Also, runes :D So much fun. Maybe I'm just delighted by the fact that they explode, though. But they deal a significant amount of damage and can be used at range, among other things.
 

Lady Redpool the Unlifer

Pyro, Spirits Connoisseur, and Soulless Anarchist
I use tons of frost spells/runes and bust out the fire only against things that resist frost(Nords, Undead, half the creatures in the fluffing game!) Throw Conjuration in to grab agro and Alteration so that if something DOES get close you can survive the hit, maybe. It takes awhile to kill anything at higher levels, but it's still a fun way to play. I also find myself much more interested in magic regen than magicka cost. Toss one awesome spell and then use the weaker ones as able. Also, as someone mentioned, runes are fricken awesome!
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
I love using Wards, they are my favorite part of mages. I usually combo them with destruction or Illusion magic, it's worked pretty well for me. I still prefer a good sword to magic though.
I hate wards. While they are great agains spells cast at you, they just suck the magicka out of you and you can't do anything else. Me, I'll go for magic resistance. Maybe I just haven't learned how to use them well.

Lesser wards block all Dragon breath attacks.
Really? I had no idea. Sounds like a great thing. Of course you would need to have weapon on hand to retaliate, but, still, talk about a useful tool!
 

Rimfaxe96

Well-Known Member
How much magicka do you have????? Every time I cast a ward, to keep it up more than a second or so I have to stop everything else. It just sucks that magicka out of me.

That's why I don't use wards at all, but rather the atronachs to do most of the killing-part. Otherwise I'm loosing all my magicka and use the rest up to heal myself. ;)
 

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