Number 10: Dragonhide
A Master-Level Alteration spell, Dragonhide turns even the frailest of players into an ungodly tank. While the requirements are high, it’s well worth it as the spell reduces 80% of all damage done to the Dragonborn.
So, if it’s so powerful, why is it so low on this list? Well, that’s largely due to the heavy drawbacks that ultimately keep it from being too broken and even, for some, a bit unwieldy.
The spell has an incredibly high Magicka cost of 837, which is quite debilitating for even the most renowned Mages. And while this can be a bit offset from magical items, the fact of the matter is that the cost is considerable.
The second drawback to this spell is that it requires a long casting time, making it very difficult to use in an ongoing fight. If you have a follower or can summon aid, this can be mitigated a bit, but even still, the majority of methods a Mage might use to defend themselves while charing a spell require Magicka that may just not be there.
Finally, Dragonhide only has a 30 second activation time, meaning that the spell will only remain active for 30 seconds. And while this on its own wouldn’t be that much of an issue, the fact that the other two drawbacks are so costly somewhat nullifies the benefits of this spell.
Still, if you can pull it off, you’ll have pretty much won the fight as your enemies’ attacks will feel less like damage and more like very enthusiastic tickling.
Number 09: Bound Bow
Bound Bow is an Adept-Level Conjuration spell that should ideally be learned by every player in the game, whether they are learning Archery or not. This impressive weapon is considerably higher than many of the mid-tier weapons available in the game. This means that, with only a wave of your hand and a few bits of Magicka, you can instantly go from unarmoured to deadly sniper, killing anyone that might give you a problem.
The only reason it is at the lower half of this list is that, while everyone should have the spell, it is ideal for Archers. This means that a Mage who is ill-trained in Archery will do little better with the weapon than they would with their weapons.
Number 08: Invisibility
Coming in at a respectable number 8, Invisibility is an Expert-Level Illusion spell that every Assassin, Thief, and Illusionist Mage should have in their arsenal.
Unfortunately, the reason it is in the 8th spot is due largely to its moderately high Magicka cost in conjunction with its short 30-second usage. This is, of course, compounded by the fact that the spell doesn’t muffle your footsteps and can be duplicated relatively easily with Invisibility Potions throughout numerous stores and shops.
Still, it’s a great tool to get out of a sticky situation or gain a brief amount of time performing a more powerful spell without being interrupted.
Number 07: Storm Thrall
Storm Thrall is arguably the best Conjuration spell in the game. This Master-Level spell creates a powerful Storm Atronach that will follow you indefinitely until it has been killed in battle.
While it is an amazing summon all on its own (being a perfect mix between the Frost Atronach’s durability and close-ranged damage and the Fire Atronach’s long-ranged attacks). It becomes even more impressive when combined with several other supplementary Conjuration perks like Elemental Potency and Twin Souls, increasing its strength by 50% and allowing you to summon an additional one respectively.
The only reason this spell is at #7 is honestly that Atronachs, no matter how sturdy, is only a bit more durable than a base follower, meaning that you can get many of the same benefits from this spell by shelling out a few hundred gold instead.
Number 06: Poison Rune
An Adept-Level Restoration spell, Poison Rune excels greatly in the ratio between Magicka cost and overall usefulness. When stepped on, Poison Rune will detonate, poisoning any opponent in the immediate area. And while this isn’t all that great for undead and constructs, living opponents can be decimated with this spell if used effectively.
The only downside to this is that it is fairly circumstantial and doesn’t affect all enemies you might be up against. It’s because of this that this incredibly useful (and magically affordable) spell only barely misses the top 5.
Number 05: Chain Lightning
Now we are in the Top 5, and I promise that each of these spells is well worth their spots.
Starting with Chain Lightning, this Adept-Level Destruction spell costs only 156 Magicka to perform and can deal out a base amount of damage of 40 points of damage hit by it. As it is “Chain” Lightning, the spell can jump from one opponent to the next in a nearby area, working great as a form of crowd control, even at its base level.
This spell shines when combined with the numerous Destruction related perks like Disintegrate, Dual Casting, and Augmented Shock. This turns a fairly potent attack into something that can wipe out an entire room in only a few seconds.
The reason it’s at the bottom of the Top 5 is largely because it does require a fair amount of Perks to be truly effective at higher levels. That said, when given said Perks, this spell is a perfect option for any Mage build out there.
Number 04: Frenzy
But why bother going through the trouble of killing your enemies when you can have them do it themselves? That’s where Frenzy comes in.
This Adept-Level Illusion spell cost 209 Magicka to cast and cause all individuals in a nearby area to attack anyone within sight, regardless of affiliation or ally status. There are many different and amazing uses for this spell that are honestly too many to list. Without a doubt, it’s something that all players should play within at least one of their games.
The only downside to the spell is that its base level is capped at 14, though various Perks can improve this.
Number 03: Paralyze
In the Top 3, Paralyze is an Expert-Level Alteration spell that costs a hefty 450 Magicka to cast. That said, it’s well worth it, in my opinion. The spell can completely stop an opponent in their tracks for a base amount of time of 10 seconds. They are completely at your mercy and entirely unable to resist anything you have planned for them during that time. Sounds scary? Yeah, it is.
It’s one downside that the spell only works for 10 seconds. This means that unless you’ve got a large pool of Magicka, an impressively strong weapon, a pair of allies to help jump in, or a way to immediately get out of the area, it may not be enough time for you to truly get what you want to be done.
Number 02: Ignite
An Apprentice-Level Destruction spell that is only available with Ahzidal’s Ring of Arcana, Ignite is an insanely broken spell that honestly shouldn’t even be in the game if you know what you’re doing.
While only moderately effective on its own, Ignite has a very, VERY low Magicka cost 30, meaning any moderately powerful Mage can effectively spam this attack at just about any opponent.
“But so what?” you might be saying right now. “If it’s not that strong, Flame could pretty much do the same thing.”
That, my friend, is where you’re wrong. In its base level, a single Ignite spell makes a respectable 60 points of damage per attack in 15 seconds. For added context, Firebolt (the standard Apprentice-Level Fire Destruction spell) costs 41 Magicka to perform and makes 37 points of damage after being combined with both Perks of Augmented Flames.
Still not impressed? When you combine Ignite with the various Destruction Perks in the game, it can reach total damage (per attack) of over 315 points! That is over 3xs the damage output of a base Master-Level Firestorm attack with a cost of 846 Magicka! Do you see now just how insanely broken this spell is? With a few Perks and buffs, this low-cost spell can pretty much kill just about an enemy with a few hits.
Number 01: Transmute
Now, I know what you are likely thinking. “What? No way! Is this a gag?!” And I am here to tell you, my friend, that it is not.
While every spell I’ve listed so far is incredibly powerful in their own right, they are all fairly limited in their scope. As an example, Ignite is a Destruction spell that, no matter how powerful it is, can only kill your enemies. The same can be said for virtually all on this list. Bound Bow only makes a bow, albeit a very impressive one, Invisibility only turns you invisible, Storm Thrall only conjures a Storm Atronach as a follower. These spells are all, in effect, one-trick ponies that don’t do much more than their intended effect.
Transmute, on the other hand, is so much more than what it initially appears. While one may look at this Adept-Level Alteration spell and think, “Ok, it turns Iron to Silver. Big whoop.” the reality is that it truly is much more than that. With a cost of only 88 Magicka, this spell can turn a poor and needy magic-user into a wealthy tycoon in only a few hours. Seriously! I’m not kidding.
With this spell alone, you can max out your standard levels, your Alteration levels, your Blacksmithing levels, your Speech levels, potentially your Enchanting levels, all while greatly improving your financial levels. With this spell alone, you can make enough wealth to buy all the items, houses, and tomes you’d ever want. With this spell alone, you can ultimately create any item you want. With this spell alone, you can talk to and haggle with whomever you want. Not only that but if you steal the iron or silver, once it is transmuted, the new material is not considered stolen and can be sold freely! The number of benefits this spell can give you is mindblowing and should not be underestimated just because it is not aggressive.
It is THE ultimate spell that EVERY magic-user should have and devote time to using. Trust me; you will thank me later.
Conclusion
And with that, folks, we’ve reached our end. Did you like this list? Did it meet your expectations? What are your thoughts on Transmute, the best spell in all of Skyrim? Sound off into the comments and let me know what your favorite spell in the game is.
