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Vaga8ond

Active Member
So I jumped back in the game and started another mage. As I'm leveling it appears to me it's easier just to heal through the damage as oppose to use various stone skin armors to mitigate the damage. Not to mention how tedious it is to keep up and the mana cost involved. I know at higher levels you get some spell resistance and the ability to absorb magica, but is it worth leveling? Is it better just to level restoration and heal through the damage that you take? If you had to choose one or the other which would you take?
 

sticky runes

Well-Known Member
I'm still trying to get the hang of Restoration. The perk that allows Wards to absorb magica takes way too long (level 60 or something?) I like using Turn Undead spells on undead enemies, plus it's good to use healing hands on followers and horses (it can sometimes turn NPCs hostile if they're not following you) but I think of all the magic schools, Restoration is the one you have to be most patient with.
I haven't really found a way to "cheat" my way up the Restoration tree.
 

Nighthiker77

Well-Known Member
I like both. It really depends on the build.

I almost never bother with flesh spells, but the magic resistance or absorption are awesome on high difficulty. You can Dodge most of the physical damage, but the AOE spells are usually going to hit you.

You really only need a few perks in restoration to get most of the benefits. I usually stop at 4 or 5 even on a squishy mage. They don't have as much to heal
 

Pete

Well-Known Member
For me - it is absolutely worth leveling up alteration. As I level up, I need it -- esp in close combat situations.

My mages don't pump up health as they level up, but magika. The ability to absorb damage and constant affects are a must. Survive the blow to heal. Wards are good for dragons, but not good for high level bandits, etc...

That said, restoration and alteration work very well together. They fill each others gaps.
 

Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
I agree with VagaBond. I am playing my first pure mage and am finding that the skin spells are absolutely pointless, even with the 3x perk. There is just no time. I'm posting my new experiences with playing my first pure mage and my first dunmer.
 
My first ever Skyrim character and current main leveled up Alteration completely by mistake. It's level 100 as of my last play through, and like I said totally by mistake which is amusing. I would have her use Flesh spells before entering battle and just keep it on. They are really difficult to put on as you're entering battle so I did it that way and still do, though now that my main is a higher level and can take more damage I'm practicing having her do it right before entering battle. Of course that requires a follower or conjured follower drawing hits away from you. Anyway, Restoration is pretty useful. Just not in battle offensively versus defensively. Alteration, once you get it leveled high enough, is extremely useful, especially if you're doing any type of passive or sneaky build. You get spells like Invisibility, Paralyze, Detect Life, Detect Dead, Waterbreathing. So I would have to choose Alteration, though I as I said Restoration is highly useful as well. :)


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Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
My first ever Skyrim character and current main leveled up Alteration completely by mistake. It's level 100 as of my last play through, and like I said totally by mistake which is amusing. I would have her use Flesh spells before entering battle and just keep it on. They are really difficult to put on as you're entering battle so I did it that way and still do, though now that my main is a higher level and can take more damage I'm practicing having her do it right before entering battle. Of course that requires a follower or conjured follower drawing hits away from you. Anyway, Restoration is pretty useful. Just not in battle offensively versus defensively. Alteration, once you get it leveled high enough, is extremely useful, especially if you're doing any type of passive or sneaky build. You get spells like Invisibility, Paralyze, Detect Life, Detect Dead, Waterbreathing. So I would have to choose Alteration, though I as I said Restoration is highly useful as well. :)


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I am discovering a love of Restoration and of Alteration. There is simply no better spell than Fast Heal and Healing Hands (especially if you have a tendency of injuring your followers) and Paralyze is simply kick-a** (as is waterbreathing). I thought invisibility was an Illusion spell? Never use the Detects though. Since I've played it so often, I pretty much know what's coming up. :)
 
I am discovering a love of Restoration and of Alteration. There is simply no better spell than Fast Heal and Healing Hands (especially if you have a tendency of injuring your followers) and Paralyze is simply kick-a** (as is waterbreathing). I thought invisibility was an Illusion spell? Never use the Detects though. Since I've played it so often, I pretty much know what's coming up. :)

You might be right about Invisibility. I tend to get them confused sometimes. Invisibility seems like it should be Alteration but it's Illusion. :/ So confusing.
I agree though about Restoration, I've saved more than one follower with Healing Hands and Heal Other. :)


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Daelon DuLac

How do you backstab a Dragon?
I still have a problem with the Skin spells. Since I have a tendency to kill my followers by accident (sorry, I just can't get over that tendency since I like fireballs and chain lightning and followers like to run out in front!) so, by the time I conjure an antronach and/or dremora or raise the dead and cast my ebonyflesh, I have to wait a bit to recharge (not long, but still). I was experimenting with wearing Vampire Royal armor vs. Master Robes and I actually had a lower damage rate with the armor than I did with the robes, even using ebonyflesh with 3X. I think it's that the duration on the spell is so much shorter. Now I wear the armor and still cast the flesh spell. That seems to work better. BTW: trick - if you're using a Nord follower use ice spells and frost antronachs exclusively. If you're using fire, use a dunmer. Those seem to work (although I did just kill Jaenessa by accident :sadface: - I was using chain lightning against a giant). Lydia doesn't seem to be bothered by the antronach or by the ice-storm spells and Janessa seems to shrug off the fireball damage. Sure they still need healings, but it is not nearly as high as I thought it would be.

As to your invisibility question, I think this was a discussion we had a few months back in another thread. If invisibility is simply fooling the mind then it would be illusion, if, however, you actually are altering your body to transparency then it would be alteration. I don't think we ever came to a conclusion. :)
 

Driado

New Member
Alteration is one of those perk heavy trees, but the dedication can definitely pay off. It's importance really depends on your playstyle, difficulty level, and your build.

Candle Light and Mage Light are beautiful spells, but purely cosmetic and also make roleplaying more enjoyable. The flesh spells are useful for adept and even expert playthroughs, but I've found myself using the Lord Stone to pick up the slack in the armor department especially on Expert and Master. 350 armor isn't something to scoff at.

Detect Dead can be useful for locating corpses in tall weeds and dark dungeons. More importantly it can detect draugr and vampires which are both plentiful in main quests. Detect life is another wonderful spell to get the jump on bandits and other living baddies.

Telekinesis is a fun spell, but it's usefulness depends entirely upon how you apply it. Waterbreathing is one of those spells that is highly situational, but provides that comfort level of knowing drowning won't be on your list of things that can kill you.

And finally this brings me to the passive perks Magic Resistance and the highly coveted Magic Absorbption. These skills can save you enchanting slots on your armor, and if you forgo enchanting they become even more dependable. Paired with the Atronach or Lord Stone these perks can alleviate your fear of the deadliest mages and dragons in the game.

I nearly forgot to mention Paralyze, the skill that immobilizes most foes. I consider it more of a roleplay situational spell, but if you don't want to stab blast or shoot something trusty ol' Paralyze is there to give your attacker a case of the horizontals. I rarely find myself using this ranged spell, only because paralyze poisons seem more effective for the cost.

Whenever I think about investing in Restoration I always find myself saying this:

"What can Restoration do that I can't do better with Alchemy?". But then again Restoration isn't usually a school that accentuates my playstyle.
 

LotusEater

I brake for blue butterflies
Both schools are more about the perk tree for me but having said that I prefer Restoration because Poison Rune is one of my favorite spells.
 

General Charles Xander

General of the 11th Imperial Legion
It might just be me, but I don't seem to ever have the time to use a healing spell :/. Whenever I'm in the midst of combat and realize I need health, If I take the time to pull out the spell then I will die. I do tend to use the alteration tree in the process. Because I remain true to my character, I use and stay in Imperial armor. Therefor that extra protection I get from Stone/Ebony Flesh really makes a difference in combat. :)
 

Nephor The Shadow Stalker

Strike swiftly and silently.
I only maxed out alteration once. It was worth it and added great utility to my mage. Now I half a** it and only go 5 points in for the magic resistance cause I just can't be a pure mage anymore. It's not that it's to hard it's just that I like my characters to stay alive. I might give a pure mage another go sometime but beef him up a bit.
 

Nocte Aeterna

Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Film
My two cents: Alteration, because of its versatility. Sure, the Restoration perk tree lets you regenerate magicka more efficiently, but there is a lot to be said for an extra armor rating or paralyzing your enemies and leaving them utterly helpless for more than a few seconds.

There are also some cool Alteration utility spells, such as Waterbreathing and Detect Life/Dead. Transmuting ore is also useful if you're looking to make some money or craft amulets.

What's that? You're saying that magic resistance and spell absorption are also benefits of Alteration? Well, hot diggity damn, sign me up!

On the other hand, Restoration has healing spells, wards, and undead banishment magic. Its uses are limited beyond the scope of traditional healing, in my opinion.
 

HouseHosted

Mundus 9-5, Oblivion weekends
Comparing Alteration to Restoration is like comparing halibut to cod. For the life of me, I can't tell the difference, but one costs way more!

I would argue they are both invaluable as they both contain very helpful effects. I don't care if I'm planning a sword and board, I always unlock Respite. Stamina replenishment is huge for a melee oriented class. The big hitter in Alteration is that it doesn't just make flesh spells cost effective (which are amazing for adding armour to armour), it also decreases cost for Paralysis enchantments and staves.

I realize some folks don't have need for all the perks Alteration or Restoration give. Alchemy is a great substitute in many instances, but the great advantage in both these schools is in the magic itself. I can't count the number of times I've needed to resort to a spell when I'd consumed all my health potions; or the opposite, when I've drained my magicka and must resort to a potion. It all works very well with eachother, and it's hard to discern which is more important.
 

sticky runes

Well-Known Member
I haven't really found a way to "cheat" my way up the Restoration tree.

I sort of lied here. You can build up Restoration experience by simply finding an undead foe and constantly pelting him with "turn lesser undead" spells. This won't kill him but will scare him off and doing so repeatedly will boost your restoration levels. A good place to practice this is the Hall of the Dead in Whiterun where Andurs asks you to defeat the skeletons. Do it on your own without a follower to kill the enemies for you.
Of course, if you're role-playing as a character who wants to lay the dead to rest, then this might be considered a perverse form of abuse!

Another method is to wait until you find the equilibrium spell (I think you find it in Labyrinthian during the mage college quest for the staff of magnus) it's an alteration spell that exchanges magica for health. Use it to recover magica while draining your own health and then use healing spells to recover your health and this will raise your restoration levels and your alteration levels. Can be done in a safe location without any enemies around.

Alteration can be easily leveled up by casting detect life in the middle of a busy town. The more people you detect the more experience gained.
 

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