Blackcaster

Imperial - Staff - Clothing - Light - Mage

Background

Blackcasters have focussed their studies on the nature of fear, the emotion produced from vulnerable minds of people and animals alike. They learn to harness and shape this intangible energy, manipulating the primal force of dread to bend their victim’s actions to their will.

The build is inspired an enemy type in Elder Scrolls Online where a Blackcaster is an Imperial Fear Mage.

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Weapons

An ebony staff of chain lightning as a backup weapon for automatons and ash spawn. An unenchanted staff can be bought from Neloth at Tel Mithryn on Solstheim. You need to know the Chain Lightning spell, have some Heartstones and access to a staff enchanter. You can find a staff enchanter at Bloodchill Manor and Myrwatch.

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Armor

A full set of Leather Scout armour as it’s the best light armour you can craft at the start of the game. Mourner’s Clothes, Dark Seducer Helmet, Dark Seducer Gauntlets and Dark Seducer Boots for the final gear.

Mouner’s Clothes can be bought from Radient Raiment in Solitude.

The helmet, gauntlets and boots can be acquired by talking to Ri’Saad the Khajiit merchant who travels between Whiterun and Markarth and asking him about bandit attacks.

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Spells

Destruction for the Absorb Health spells, Illusion for Fear Spells and Restoration for out of combat heals.

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Standing Stones

The Lord Stone for the 50 extra armour and 25% magic resistance.

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Shrines

Shrine of Talos for faster shout cooldown.

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Shouts

Dismay (Fear - Run - Terror)

Location: Dead Crone Rock, Lost Tongue Overlook, Shalidor’s Maze

Causes enemies up to level 24 to flee for 30 seconds. Quick to activate over say using Hysteria.

Whirlwind Sprint (Whirlwind - Fury - Tempest)

Location: Dead Men’s Respite, Volskygge, High Hrothgar (The Way of the Voice)

Use to reach otherwise inaccessible places and to quickly evade attacks or catch up with fleeing enemies.

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Character Creation

Female Imperial

Dark Elves are the best race for this build as all 6 of their racial skill boosts are perked skills for this build. High Elves are second on 30/35 and then Argonian, Breton and Imperials are next on 20/35. I picked Imperials because the Blackcasters in Elder Scrolls Online are Imperials.

Pick female as the sex for your character as there are more male humanoids than females to fight in Skyrim so the 10% damage bonus against the opposite sex from Agent of Dibella gets more use. All Dwemer Automatons count as Male.

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Attribute Distribution

Distribute attributes at a ratio of 1 / 1 / 0. At level 58 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Magicka	Health	Stamina
390	380	100

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Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Imperials are marked in bold.

Mage		Warrior		Rogue
Alteration	3	Archery	0	Alchemy	7
Conjuration	0	Block +5	0	Light Armor	4
Destruction +5	5	Heavy Armor +5	0	Lockpicking	0
Enchanting +5	9	One-handed +5	0	Pickpocket	0
Illusion	11	Smithing	5	Sneak	5
Restoration +10	8	Two-handed	0	Speech	0
Total	35	Total	5	Total	16

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Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

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Spells

Alteration

Spell	Level	Description
Candlelight	Novice	Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds.
Detect Life	Adept	Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra, can be seen through walls.
Telekinesis	Adept	Can pull an object to you from distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it.
Waterbreathing	Adept	Can breathe under water for 60 seconds. Stand in water and cast to level Alteration.

The Detect Life spellbook can be obtained in Whiterun by taking to the Steward in Dragonsreach and following the quest to the Stables. Cast this spell in the market to level Alteration.

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Conjuration

Spell	Level	Description
Soul Trap	Apprentice	If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem.

Used to fill soul gems for enchanting.

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Destruction

Spell	Level	Description
Choking Grasp	Novice	Absorb 8 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.
Flames	Novice	A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Strangulation	Apprentice	Absorb 16 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.
Chain Lightning	Adept	Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magicka, then leaps to a new target.
Hangman’s Noose	Adept	Absorb 26 points of health per second from the target for 3 seconds.
Touch of Death	Expert	Absorb 40 points of health per second from the target, for 4 seconds.

Get the spell book for Choking Grasp from Farengar as quickly as you can. It is your source of both damage and healing.

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Illusion

Spell	Level	Description
Courage	Novice	Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina.
Fear	Apprentice	Creatures and people up to level 9 flee from combat for 30 seconds.
Rout	Expert	Creatures and people up to level 20 flee from combat for 30 seconds.
Hysteria	Master	Creatures and people up to level 25 flee from combat for 60 seconds.

Courage can be used to level illusion by casting it at an NPC.

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Restoration

Spell	Level	Description
Healing	Novice	Heals the caster 10 points per second
Fast Healing	Apprentice	Heals caster by 50 points
Close Wounds	Adept	Heals caster by 100 points
Grand Healing	Expert	Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs, machines or undead

Restoration spells are used out of combat.

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Enchantments

The effects listed below are based upon 100 Enchanting skill, all the enchanting perks in the build and with a set of enchanted crafting gear. Read my guide on making crafting gear if you are not familiar with it.

Summary of combined effects

Destruction and Illusion spells costs 92% less magicka.
Magicka regenerates 115% faster.
Sneaking is 300% easier.
Light Armor skill is improved by 46 points.
Resist 37% of all magical effects.
Resist 86% of fire damage.

Item	Enchantment	Effect
Head	Fortify Destruction	Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less
	Fortify Illusion	Illusion spells and enchantments cost 46% less
Body	Fortify Magicka Regen	Magicka regenerates 115% faster
	Fortify Illusion	Illusion spells and enchantments cost 46% less
Feet	Resist Fire	Grants 86% resistance to fire
	Fortify Sneak	Sneaking is 75% easier
Hands	Fortify Light Armor	Increases Light Armor skill by 46 points
	Fortify Sneak	Sneaking is 75% easier
Amulet	Resist Magic	Resist 37% of magical effects
	Fortify Sneak	Sneaking is 75% easier
Ring	Fortify Destruction	Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less
	Fortify Sneak	Sneaking is 75% easier

With the Sallowed Regent Black Book the magnitude of all enchantments can be increased. Please note that Black Books can only be used on Solstheim.

The magnitude of the enchantments can be further increased by equipping 4 pieces of Azhidal's gear.

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Alchemy

All the details for the potions and poisons are based on having all the listed alchemy perks, Alchemy at 100 and a set of crafting gear.

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Potion of Fortify Health

Ingredients	Blue Mountain Flower & Wheat
Effects	Fortify Health	170 points for 60 seconds
	Restore Health	266 points restored

You can get all the Blue Mountain Flowers you need is in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.

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Potion of Fortify Carry Weight

Ingredients	Mora Tapinella, Scaly Pholiota & Steel-Blue Entoloma
Effects	Fortify Carry Weight	Carry 170 more weight for 300 seconds
	Regenerate Stamina	Stamina regenerates 213% faster for 300 seconds
	Fortify Illusion	Illusion spellls are 170% stronger for 60 seconds
	Restore Magicka	Restores 266 points of magicka

Mora Tapinella are on the route from Helgen to Whiterun. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead and around Riften. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravan merchants.

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Potion of Fortify Destruction

Ingredients	Glowing Mushroom, Snowberries & Steel-Blue Entoloma
Effects	Fortify Destruction	Destruction spells are 213% stronger for 60 seconds
	Resist Frost	Resist 128% of frost damage for 60 seconds
	Resist Shock	Resist 128% of shock damage for 60 seconds

All the glowing mushrooms you need are at the farm. Snowberries are from around Windhelm. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravans.

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Potion of Fortify Enchanting

Ingredients	Dreugh Wax/Stoneflower Petals & Snowberries
Effects	Fortify Enchanting	85% stronger for 30 seconds

Dreugh Wax and Stoneflower Petals are only available from Khajiit caravans. Some travel between Whiterun and Markarth. Snowberries are abundant near Windhelm.

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Potion of Fortify Smithing

Ingredients	Dreugh Wax/Gold Kanet & Glowing Mushrooms
Effects	Fortify Smithing	213% stronger for 30 seconds

Dreugh Wax and Gold Kanet are only available from Khajiit caravans. Some travel between Whiterun and Markarth. Glowing Mushrooms are in Falmer caves.

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Farming

For more information on getting to and setting up your farm read my guide.

Ingredients Needed

4 x Blue Mountain Flower
6 x Glowing Mushroom
5 x Mora Tapinella
3 x Scaly Pholiota
8 x Snowberries
15 x Steel-Blue Entoloma
3 x Wheat

Potions and Poisons Produced

15 x Potions of Forify Health
18 x Potions of Forify Carry Weight
36 x Potions of Fortify Destruction

Main Area (27)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Snowberries (4)	8	32 + 8 = 40	64 + 8 = 72
Glowing Mushrooms (5)	6	30 + 6 = 36	60 + 6 = 66
Blue Mountain Flowers (3)	4	12 + 4 = 16	24 + 4 = 28
Steel-Blue Entoloma (3)	9	27 + 9 = 36	54 + 9 = 63

Side Area (11)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Wheat (4)	3	12 + 3 = 15	24 + 3 = 27
Scaly Pholiota (5)	3	15 + 3 = 18	30 + 3 = 33
Mora Tapinella (3)	5	15 + 5 = 20	30 + 5 = 35

Planters (6)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Steel-Blue Entoloma (3)	6	18 + 6 = 24	36 + 6 = 42

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