Skyrim Tips and Tricks » Discussions


Destruction Magic (a “shocking” realization)

Tags: #Tips and Tricks Guides  #Tips and Tricks Magic 
  • June 11, 2016

    I did not realize that about the AoT bug, thanks Alastor.  I always disliked the intense flames perk.

     I will change that section as soon as I'm able. Editing from a phone is a pain. 

  • Member
    June 12, 2016

    Very good stuff here, Vargr! I found little more about Aot… Everybody know that dragons are immune to illusion spells, but Aot + Intense flames affect dragons too! Every time I fought a landed dragon with a true Pyromancer, after some damages, it began to flee in fear... 

  • Member
    June 12, 2016

    Try it to believe!

  • Member
    June 12, 2016

    An impressive article on my all-time favourite skill.

    I think it's pertinent that Disintegrate only comes online at Destruction 70, and Destruction has a well-earned reputation of leveling like a turtle. Without training, a character can easily be in the 30s or even 40s before Disintegrate comes into play. That's a pretty significant mark against, especially if one isn't running with Enchanting or Alchemy - training adds up fast.

    Additionally, I can't help but point out that Fire spells, switch to Shock at low health, would be the 'optimal' way to play, as I think Luck Ponte pointed out earlier. He also mentioned heavy perk investment, but it's not so bad; only a single extra perk (Augmented Flames 2, Augmented Shock 1, Disintegrate; compared to Augmented Shock 2, Disintegrate). Obviously this doesn't take spell switching into account, which can be a bit of a (massive) pain. Still, it's an option.

    Lastly, I'd like to spend a moment considering the impact on playing styles. Obviously a single-element Destruction mage would focus optimally on Fire or Shock; this is not new news. Similarly, a necromancer probably wouldn't want to take Disintegrate; less bodies to raise. However, I think a Spellsword build could take the above perk spread into account also - two perks Augmented Flames and two more invested for Disintegrate. A spellsword, however, also has to take into account being in melee range, and therefore power attacks. Ergo, frost could still be useful, but that's an even bigger perk investment, and it's not as though a spellsword has all that many to spare (also hotkeys). Perhaps in the name of minimising perks and hotkeys only three perks into the Shock side of the tree might be optimal.

  • June 12, 2016
    You make some excellent points. Although I've never felt like Destruction was onerously slow to level and I usually find myself taking the expert perk between level 20 and 25. You and Luck make a great point about specializing in both fire and shock for maximum damage potential.
  • Member
    June 12, 2016

    I suppose it definitely depends on playstyle and the number of skills leveled alongside destruction, but I recently raised a spellsword to 60 (when I should have been studying... including now) and the Expert perk only opened up in the mid 30s, I think. I remember throwing Septims at Sybille Stentor to open up Rank 2 Augmented; took Destruction from the 40s to 60, and when I hit Destruction 60 I was definitely level 26. Without training low 40s would definitely have been a possibility.

    It wasn't a particularly big build, either (or it wasn't at level 26); Destruction Restoration One-handed Alteration, with a dabbling in Sneak and Block.

  • Member
    June 12, 2016

    I think the discussion on tapering mechanics is relevant also.

  • Member
    June 13, 2016

    Lightning has always been my favorite element in Skyrim. I really wish they had included Expert level concentration Shock spells (The Wall of ____ spells aren't that great)! It is really satisfying to be fighting a Legendary Dragon down to 15% and kill it with a quick burst of Sparks.

  • June 13, 2016

    Not to mention it looks awesome when a dragon disintegrates. 

  • Member
    June 14, 2016
    Shocking.