Mage: what items should I save?

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jisuo

New Member
I'm constantly having full inventory and I don't even carry any weapons or armor. Just lots of ingredients (do I need those as a Mage?). I just want to know what items are good to save and what I should just trash or sell.
 

Onyx

Member
Hello,

Really depends on how you are playing. What you need depends on your style.

Keep alchemical ingrediants (listed under ingredients) if you want to dabble in alchemy. While Alchemy falls under the Stealth Tree and is very useful for melee characters (due to poisons) it can also be useful for mages so you can make your own Health/Magika potions and perhaps other stuff such as invisibility potions, protections potions etc. Also Alchemy is a good way to make money as you can sell potions you make for MUCH more than the ingredients sell for.

If you are not interested in alchemy then I would suggest you sell it. If you are not sure, if you have a house ( can get one in Whitrun shortly into the main quest for about 5k gold) then I would store it there.

Food is really only for cooking (which restores small amounts of health/stamina). If you visit farms you can usually sell vegetables to them for better prices than shops. Othewise just sell.

As for gear, I would just sell it to blacksmiths and stores to make money as you do not need anything really except mage gear (based on how you described your playstyle).

Hope this helps
 

Onyx

Member
Also when you kill dragons you get Dragon Scale and Dragon Bones. These are used for high lvl smithing (making light/heavy armor). Since you do not use that armor would probably be best selling these to a General Good Store, they are worth alot but weigh a ton! OR store them in your house if you have one and decide later
 

jisuo

New Member
Also when you kill dragons you get Dragon Scale and Dragon Bones. These are used for high lvl smithing (making light/heavy armor). Since you do not use that armor would probably be best selling these to a General Good Store, they are worth alot but weigh a ton! OR store them in your house if you have one and decide later

Thanks a lot. I'm going pure Mage and I'm not putting anything in alchemy so maybe I'll just sell or store them for now. Also I guess a Mage cannot make anything really useful in forges? I've read about enchanting and it seems sweet. I'll just have to learn what you use (ingredients) for that. :)
 

Onyx

Member
Thanks a lot. I'm going pure Mage and I'm not putting anything in alchemy so maybe I'll just sell or store them for now. Also I guess a Mage cannot make anything really useful in forges? I've read about enchanting and it seems sweet. I'll just have to learn what you use (ingredients) for that. :)

No problem :)

For enchanting you need to find a weapon or piece of gear with an enchant then Disenchant it at a enchating station (one can be found in Dragonreach Castle in Whiterun). When you disenchant you then learn that enchanting effect and do not need to disenchant an item with that effect again as you have learned it.

For example, you find a Dagger with + 5 Fire damage. You then disenchant it and you have learned the Fire Damage Enchant. If you later find a Bow with Fire damage you cannot disenchant that (as you already know the effect).

You also need a soul gem filled with a soul. Soul gems are common in dungeons and wizards sell them. In order to trap a soul you need the Soul Trap Spell (Conjuration). This can be purchased from the Wizard in Dragonreach in Whiterun. When you face an enermy (beast only, not human, they require a Black Soul Gem) cast the Soul Trap spell on them. You then need to kill them before the time runs out (about 60 sec but may vary, check spell description). If successful and you have a soul gem large enough for the soul then it will be filled. You can then use the filled soul gem for enchanting or recharging magic weapons (like staffs). The soul gem is destroyed in the process.

The tougher the enemy the large the soul and thus the larger the soul gem you need (they come in various sizes like petty, small, common, great and Grand I think).

As mentioned human souls can only be trapped in Black Soul Gems (can count as Greater I think). These are hard to get but maybe found in Necromancer lairs.

When you want to enchant do the following
- Go to Enchanting Station
- Pick a piece of unenchanted gear (say a Hood or ring)
- Select desired Enchant (say + Health)
- Select a filled Soul Gem
- Once all is selected it will show you the strength of the item. (for example + 5 health). You can also rename the item if you wish.

Viola, you are done. Not though enchants will be very weak to start. Spending perks does help here.
You get skill in enchanting by disenchanting or enchanting gear. Also the larger the soul gem the stronger the effect.

Hope this helps
 

Onyx

Member
In terms of forging the only beneficial thing I can think of would be to forge jewelry (like rings etc) to practice enchants on. They need ore like Silver, gold etc. This is done at the blacksmiths forge and requires you have the required ignots (such as silver).

You can also forge iron daggers (need 1 Iron and 2 x Leather strips - create at tanning station). They are easy to make and you can put a weapon enchant on them. Another easy way to practice enchanting
 

jisuo

New Member
In terms of forging the only beneficial thing I can think of would be to forge jewelry (like rings etc) to practice enchants on. They need ore like Silver, gold etc. This is done at the blacksmiths forge and requires you have the required ignots (such as silver).

You can also forge iron daggers (need 1 Iron and 2 x Leather strips - create at tanning station). They are easy to make and you can put a weapon enchant on them. Another easy way to practice enchanting

Thanks again, you have been very helpful and given a skyrim noob like me more knowledge. ;) if all the people on this forums are like you this should be a great place for help. :)
 

Onyx

Member
Thanks again, you have been very helpful and given a skyrim noob like me more knowledge. ;) if all the people on this forums are like you this should be a great place for help. :)
Happy to help, we have all been there :) Best of luck in your adventures to come :D
 

jisuo

New Member
Is it possible to upgrade soul gems to better versions? I also have a lot of shards so I guess you should be able to merge them somehow into a complete soul gem.
 

Onyx

Member
Is it possible to upgrade soul gems to better versions? I also have a lot of shards so I guess you should be able to merge them somehow into a complete soul gem.

Hi,

I am afraid not. The only way to get better soul gems is to find/purchase better/larger ones.

However, I believe there is a unique item called the Star of Azura (was in oblivion and heard it is also here). In Oblivion it was a re-usable Grand Soul Gem (not able to hold people's souls though just beasts and monsters). There is a Shrine of Azura (North East, speak to bartender in Riverwood around Rumors and he should mark it on the map). If it is similar to Oblivion, if you go there and do her quest you will get the Star of Azura.

As mentioned this acts as a re-usable Soul Gem of Grand status (Largest available). When used it is not destroyed so makes it easier not having to find soul gems. It can only hold a single soul at the time however and the size of the soul depends on the level of creature you kill.

Hope this helps
 

Onyx

Member
Is it possible to upgrade soul gems to better versions? I also have a lot of shards so I guess you should be able to merge them somehow into a complete soul gem.
At least I have not seen this in the guide or experienced it myself so I should have said I "assume not" but you never know :)
 

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