Lightning Mage Build

[darkjedi73200]

Lightning Mage

 

"Why Lightning?"

The Lightning school may be the most Mana-consuming school of Destruction. It however makes up for this with:

 

- Instant spell velocity

- Each spell will drain both HEALTH and MANA from the target.

- No race in the game with 50% resist to Lightning.

 

Below is a Pure Caster Build that I have 146hrs playtime clocked.

This build can deal with any situation Skyrim can pit you against.

 

ENJOY!

 

(Combat Guide for this build in the works!) :dance:

Edited December 6, 2011 by darkjedi73200

[darkjedi73200]

DESTRUCTION

(lvl 100 w/ 11 Perk Points)

 

Novice Destruction - (0)

Cast Novice level Destruction spells for half magic.

 

Destruction Dual Casting - (20)

Dual casting a Destruction spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.

 

Apprentice Destruction - (25)

Cast Apprentice level Destruction spells for half magic.

 

Augmented Shock - (30 Rank 1)

Destruction Shock spells do 25% more damage.

 

Impact - (40)

Most destruction spells will stagger an opponent when dual cast.

 

Adept Destruction - (50)

Destruction Cast Adept level Destruction spells for half magic.

 

Augmented Shock - (60 Rank 2)

Destruction Shock spells do 50% more damage.

 

Disintegrate - (70)

Shock damage disintegrates targets if their health is low.

 

Expert Destruction - (75)

Destruction Cast Expert level Destruction spells for half magic.

 

Master Destruction - (100)

Destruction Cast Master level Destruction spells for half magic.

 

 

RESTORATION

(lvl 70+ w/ 10 Perk Points)

 

Novice Restoration - (0)

Cast Novice level Restoration spells for half magic.

 

Regeneration - (20)

Healing spells cure 50% more.

 

Restoration Dual Casting (20)

Dual casting a Restoration spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.

 

Apprentice Restoration - (25)

Cast Apprentice level Restoration spells for half magic.

 

Recovery - (Rank 1 30)

Restoration Magicka regenerates 25% faster.

 

Respite - (40)

Healing spells also restore Stamina.

 

Adept Restoration - (50)

Cast Adept level Restoration spells for half magic.

 

Recovery - (Rank 2 60)

Restoration Magicka regenerates 50% faster.

 

Necromage - (70)

All spells are more effective against undead.

 

Avoid Death - (90 | Once a day)

Heals for +250 points automatically if you fall below 10% health.

 

 

ALTERATION

(lvl 100 w/ 9 Perk Points)

 

Novice Alteration (0)

Cast Novice level Alteration spells for half magic.

 

Alteration Dual Casting (20)

Dual casting an Alteration spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.

 

Apprentice Alteration (25)

Cast Apprentice level Alteration spells for half magic.

 

Magic Resistance (30 Rank 1)

Blocks 10% of a spell's effect.

 

Magic Resistance (50 Rank 2)

Blocks 20% of a spell's effect

 

Adept Alteration (50)

Cast Adept level Alteration spells for half magic.

 

Magic Resistance (70 Rank 3)

Blocks 30% of a spell's effect.

 

Stability (70)

Alteration spells have greater duration.

 

Expert Alteration (75)

Cast Expert level Alteration spells for half magic.

 

Atronach (100)

Absorb 30% of the magic of any spells that hit you.

 

Master Alteration (100)

Cast Master level Alteration spells for half magic.

 

 

CONJURATION

(lvl 100 w/ 9 Perk Points)

 

Novice Conjuration - (0)

Cast Novice level Conjuration spells for half magic.

 

Conjuration Dual Casting - (20)

Dual casting a Conjuration spell overcharges the spell, allowing it to last longer.

 

Apprentice Conjuration - (25)

Cast Apprentice level Conjuration spells for half magic.

 

Summoner - (30 Rank 1)

Can summon atronachs or raise undead twice as far away.

 

Atromancy - (40)

Double summon duration for conjured Atronachs.

 

Adept Conjuration - (50)

Cast Adept level Conjuration spells for half magic.

 

Expert Conjuration - (75)

Cast Expert level Conjuration spells for half magic.

 

Elemental Potency - (80)

Conjured Atronachs are 50% more powerful.

 

Twin Souls - (100)

You can have 2 atronachs or reanimated zombies summoned at the same time.

 

 

ILLUSION

(lvl 50+ w/ 6 Perk Points)

 

Novice Illusion - (0)

Cast Novice level Illusion spells for half magicka.

 

Animage - (20)

Illusion spells now work on higher level animals (+8 levels to the spell maximum).

 

Apprentice Illusion - (25)

Cast Apprentice level Illusion spells for half magicka.

 

Kindred Mage - (40)

Illusion spells work on higher level people (+10 levels to the spell maximum).

 

Quiet Casting - (50)

All spells you cast from any school of magic are silent to others.

 

Adept Illusion - (50)

Cast Adept level Illusion spells for half magicka.

 

 

SUMMARY: 45 Perk Points used.

ILLUSION: lvl 50+ w/ 6 | RESTORATION: lvl 70+ w/ 10 | DESTRUCTION: lvl 100 w/ 11 | CONJURATION: lvl 100 w/ 9 | ALTERATION: lvl 100 w/ 9

[darkjedi73200]

MOVES LIST

 

It should be noted that all the listed mana costs are flat rates before your spec is taken into account. In reality the mana costs will be much lower.

 

-=) Destruction (=-

 

Sparks - (Novice | Mana:16/s)

Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to Health and Magic per second.

 

Lightning Bolt - (Apprentice | Mana:45)

A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magic.

Replaces Spark as your main attack.

 

Chain Lightning - (Adept | Mana:137)

Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magic.

Then leaps to a multiple close range targets.

 

-=) Illusion(=-

 

Invisibility - (Expert | Mana:295)

Caster is invisible for 30 seconds. Activating an object or attacking will break the spell.

 

-=) Conjuration(=-

 

Storm Atronach - (Expert | Mana 284)

Summons a Storm Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing.

 

Storm Thrall - (Master | Mana: 1057) Missions Reward

Summons a Storm Atronach permanently.

 

-=) Restoration(=-

 

Healing - (Novice | Mana:11/s)

Heals the caster for 10 points per sec.

 

Fast Healing - (Apprentice | Mana:65)

Heals the caster 50 points.

 

Close Wounds - (Adept | Mana:111)

Heals the caster 100 points.

 

-=) Alteration(=-

 

Oakflesh - (Novice | Mana:91)

Improves the caster's armor rating by 40 points for 60 seconds.

 

Stoneflesh - (Apprentice | Mana:171)

Improves the caster's armor rating by 60 points for 60 seconds.

 

Detect Life - (Adept | Mana:88/s)

Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra.

 

Ironflesh - (Adept | Mana:235)

Improves the caster's armor rating by 80 points for 60 seconds.

 

Telekinesis - (Adept | Mana:149/s)

Can pull an object to you from a distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it.

 

Paralyze - (Expert | Mana:396)

Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds.

 

Detect Dead - (Expert | Mana:130)

Nearby dead and undead can be seen through walls.

 

Ebonyflesh - (Expert | Mana:300)

Improves the caster's armor rating by 100 points for 60 seconds.

 

Dragonhide - (Master | Mana:738) Missions Reward

Caster ignores 80% of all physical damage for 30 seconds.

 

Mass Paralysis - (Master | Mana:826) Missions Reward

All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 15 seconds.

Edited December 6, 2011 by darkjedi73200

[darkjedi73200]

Gear / Buffs

 

Ring of Resurgence

Magicka regenerates 80% faster.

(Random Loot)

 

Gauldur Amulet

+30 Magic / +30 Health / +30 Stamina

Mission Reward | Starting Chain: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Forbidden_Legend

 

Morokei - (Light Helmet)

Magic regenerates 100% faster

Dropped by Dragon Priest Morokei | http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Morokei_(NPC

 

Arch-Mage's Robe - (Light Chest)

All spells cost 15% Less / +50 Magic / Magic regenerates 100% faster

Mission Reward | Starting Chain: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:First_Lessons

 

Lightning Mage Boots - (Light Boots)

Any boots enchanted w/ Muffle

 

Lightning Mage Gloves - (Light Gloves)

Any gloves enchanted w/ +21 Magic

 

 

Apprentice Stone - (Buff)

+100% Magic Regeneration

-100% Magic Defense

 

Beast Blood - (Werewolf Bonus)

100% resistance to all diseases / Unable to acquire resting bonuses from sleeping.

 

Summary:

+30 Health

+30 Stamina

+101 Magic

380% Magic Regen

15% Spell Cost Reduction

100% Resistance to all Diseases.

[WarKirby3333]

no enchanting?

and taking the apprentice stone isn't so smart. it's like wearing a big "kill me with magic" sign. can you really drain enemies' mana fast enough to not have to worry about it ?

[InuyashaFE]

I agree, I think going with the atronach stone would be much more worthwhile, because it increases your magicka and gives you a buff against magic.

[darkjedi73200]

no enchanting?

and taking the apprentice stone isn't so smart. it's like wearing a big "kill me with magic" sign. can you really drain enemies' mana fast enough to not have to worry about it ?

 

Enchanting would be a waste of perk points with this spec since the only enchants I am using are +magic on gloves and Muffle on Boots.

Muffle doesn't scale with higher enchanting, and +magic on gloves is just for the small mana boost.

Dumping points into enchanting would only yield a slightly better mana enchant on gloves, and this build is about regen not +magic

 

I agree, I think going with the atronach stone would be much more worthwhile, because it increases your magicka and gives you a buff against magic.

 

The Atronach Stone

+50 Magicka, 50% absorb spells, Magicka regenerates 50% slower.

The +50 magic is nice but not enough to make me care.

The 50% Absorb is the only thing about this stone that would be worth taking imo. ( I am however a Breton with natural +25 Spell Def. )

The real Kicked is that -50% Mana Regen for me. My entire build is based on the fact that mana regens so fast that it is never an issue.

This stone counters the concept of my spec and thus was not selected.

 

I have used both stones and in the end I found Apprentice Stone + Magic Resistance (70 Rank 3 - Blocks 30% of a spell's effect.) With my Breton Racial Perk against magic to be more then enough to deal with magic dmg.

 

I suggest looking over the spec again and Theory craft a bit about how the math works. :thumbsup:

[Ghogiel]

what use is this perk: Conjuration Dual Casting - (20)

Dual casting a Conjuration spell overcharges the spell, allowing it to last longer.

[darkjedi73200]

what use is this perk: Conjuration Dual Casting - (20)

Dual casting a Conjuration spell overcharges the spell, allowing it to last longer.

 

Storm Atronach - (Expert | Mana 284)

Summons a Storm Atronach for 60sec

(If you summon with a dual cast x2 60sec so 120sec summon )

 

pair that with....

 

Atromancy - (40)

Double summon duration for conjured Atronachs.

= 4Min Summon. :dance:

[Ghogiel]

so? it'll be dead in 120secs 99% of the time.