Skyrim Tips and Tricks » Discussions

A Comprehensive Treatise On Wards

• Paws

  

  Member
   

  July 24, 2014

  If you cast wards really fast, alternating between hands as quickly as possible you can get the benefits of having 2 wards up, the magic and physical defenses (with both AR boosts) but it does not drain any magicka at all aside from initial cost of casting the wards (pointed out by Ben C)

  Does this tactic also work with Spellbreaker? Can I increase the strength of the shield's ward by doing this?

  If you cast wards really fast, alternating between hands as quickly as possible you can get the benefits of having 2 wards up, the magic and physical defenses (with both AR boosts) but it does not drain any magicka at all aside from initial cost of casting the wards (pointed out by Ben C)

  Does this tactic also work with Spellbreaker? Can I increase the strength of the shield's ward by doing this?

• Alastor

  

  Member
   

  July 24, 2014

  I don't think so Phil. You can't alternate as fast with the shield to trick the system. Haven't tested it but probably not.

  I don't think so Phil. You can't alternate as fast with the shield to trick the system. Haven't tested it but probably not.
• Vazgen

  

  Member
   

  July 24, 2014

  I think shield's ward is different from regular wards. It does not recharge. I don't think the trick will work

  I think shield's ward is different from regular wards. It does not recharge. I don't think the trick will work

• Paws

  

  Member
   

  July 24, 2014

  Thanks Al and Vaz

  Thanks Al and Vaz

• Balazs Krekacs

  

  Member
   

  August 26, 2014

  I'm playing a character that uses ward very often. They are useful, I dont need any resistance. However, ward absorb does not work for me... Any idea why?

  I'm playing a character that uses ward very often. They are useful, I dont need any resistance. However, ward absorb does not work for me... Any idea why?
• Paul England

  

  Member
   

  October 4, 2014

  Been thinking about this thread lately as I've been blocking Frostbite Spider poison with my Lesser Ward.  Something to add to the list, maybe?  

  Also, I'm curious about your thoughts on the effectiveness of the Dualcasting perk in Restoration.  I don't think I've ever taken it, but if it does make Wards stronger it may find a place in a build I have planned.  Think it'd be worth it?  

  Been thinking about this thread lately as I've been blocking Frostbite Spider poison with my Lesser Ward.  Something to add to the list, maybe?  

  Also, I'm curious about your thoughts on the effectiveness of the Dualcasting perk in Restoration.  I don't think I've ever taken it, but if it does make Wards stronger it may find a place in a build I have planned.  Think it'd be worth it?  

• Vazgen

  

  Member
   

  October 4, 2014

  Added. I remember a Lesser Ward being life-saver in Bleak Falls Barrow on a low level character 

  Regarding dual-casting, it depends on the character. Pros - 2.2 times more AR => more spells can be blocked. Cons - 2.7 times more cost (which, in case of wards, becomes huge), inability to attack (perhaps Mzund can work, haven't tried it). I prefer drinking Resto potion, it can make single ward twice as strong and should be more than enough to combat any mage, assuming you use Steadfast Ward (with Shalidor's Insights Lesser Ward can work as well). 

  Added. I remember a Lesser Ward being life-saver in Bleak Falls Barrow on a low level character 

  Regarding dual-casting, it depends on the character. Pros - 2.2 times more AR => more spells can be blocked. Cons - 2.7 times more cost (which, in case of wards, becomes huge), inability to attack (perhaps Mzund can work, haven't tried it). I prefer drinking Resto potion, it can make single ward twice as strong and should be more than enough to combat any mage, assuming you use Steadfast Ward (with Shalidor's Insights Lesser Ward can work as well). 

• Paul England

  

  Member
   

  October 4, 2014

  Ah, so the Insight scroll strengthens the Ward?  Nice! 

  Hmm, I guess I'll have to make my decision about dualcasting based on other things.  I don't think it affects the level of undead affected by things like Circle of Protection.  And I rarely need (or am in a position to take advantage of) the 2.2 times more healing it would grant. 

  Ah, so the Insight scroll strengthens the Ward?  Nice! 

  Hmm, I guess I'll have to make my decision about dualcasting based on other things.  I don't think it affects the level of undead affected by things like Circle of Protection.  And I rarely need (or am in a position to take advantage of) the 2.2 times more healing it would grant. 

• Jynx

  

  Member
   

  October 16, 2014

  I thought i was litterally the only one in love with wards haha
  Wabbajack + lesser ward is the ultimate dragon killer on legendary difficulty for my mage char, especially with marked for death and sanguine rose and an archer companion, i remember thinking legendary dif. was just tedious but when you start looking a bit deeper it isn't that bad.. a simple frenzy can turn the tables aswell since it is another way of avoiding the damage scaling the difficulty changes.
  Articles like these are much apreciated! 

  I thought i was litterally the only one in love with wards haha
  Wabbajack + lesser ward is the ultimate dragon killer on legendary difficulty for my mage char, especially with marked for death and sanguine rose and an archer companion, i remember thinking legendary dif. was just tedious but when you start looking a bit deeper it isn't that bad.. a simple frenzy can turn the tables aswell since it is another way of avoiding the damage scaling the difficulty changes.
  Articles like these are much apreciated! 

• Jynx

  

  Member
   

  October 16, 2014

  i haven't ever gotten around to that perk, and am not sure at all on the numbers behind it, but is it possible you're casting an expensive ward and the magicka cost is bigger than the absorbtion, which in turn would only decrease the cost of the ward?
  Hope this helps, i really need to pirate skyrim for pc just to be able to look into the creation kit lol

  i haven't ever gotten around to that perk, and am not sure at all on the numbers behind it, but is it possible you're casting an expensive ward and the magicka cost is bigger than the absorbtion, which in turn would only decrease the cost of the ward?
  Hope this helps, i really need to pirate skyrim for pc just to be able to look into the creation kit lol