Elemental Savant
Breton - Sword - Clothing - Heavy - Spellsword
Background
Elemental Savants study the basic building blocks of existence - air, earth, fire, water - learning to harness their powers. They often begin their journey as a battlemage with a fascination in an individual element before realising that to do so is not effective for all enemies, so they widen their studies, although they are always drawn towards the original element.
Weapons
Any destruction staff or a Staff of War as a backup.
Armour
Any Heavy Armor in the head, hand and feet slots at the start of the game and a mage robe ideally of Destruction in the body Slot. The Final gear is Nahkriin, Robe of the Lich, Ebony Plate Boots, Ebony Plate Gauntlets.
Nahkriin is quite deep into the main quest as it is found on the Dragon Priest of the same name in Skuldafn, which is on the way to Sovngarde to fight Alduin. It’s therefore best to use an Ebony Plate Helmet before acquiring this enchanted with both Fortify Destruction and Fortify Restoration. I'm using a mod that allows me to change the default dragon priest masks to 6 new looks. This is a mod by Xavbio who also has mods the weapon and armor textures that I also use.
The Robes of the Lich are at the very end of the Ghosts of the Tribunal creation, which can be started by reading the journal in the room on the right of the lower floor in the Temple at Raven Rock on Solstheim. I’m using this because the Texture mods I play with have purple on both Nahkriin and the Robes and without these they will probably look odd. A Master Robes of Conjuration is a good alternative as this provides the same magicka regeneration as the Robes of the Lich but provides a 22% cost reduction in Conjuration spells. This increases the cost reduction from 46% to 68%.
The Ebony Plate gear can be acquired by reading the letter from Tyra Blood-Fire that gets delivered to you by courier at level 32. Complete the resulting quest and have the Ebony Smithing perk and you can then craft the Ebony Plate Boots and Gauntlets.
Spells
Utility spells from Alteration, Atronach from Conjuration, elemental spells from Destruction and Heals from Restoration.
Standing Stones
The Lord Stone to add 50 extra armor rating and 25% magic resistance.
Shrines
Use a Shrine of Dibella for roleplay but a Shrins of Talos is more useful.
Shouts
Slow Time (Earth - Mind - Dragon)
Location: Hag’s End, Korvanjund (The Jagged Crown), Labyrinthian (The Staff of Magnus)
Slows time down for you a bit and everyone else a lot. Can be used to get multiple very quick spells in.
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.
Character Creation
Female Breton
Bretons, High Elves and Imperials come out top with a skill boost of 25/35. I chose a Breton as they start with a 10 point boost to Conjuration and the Conjure Familiar spell. The bonus magic resistance also helps in the early levels as well as reducing perks required and freeing up an enchantments slot that would otherwise be used for Resist Magic.
Attribute Distribution
Distribute attributes at a ratio of 2 / 3 / 0. At level 62 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 340 (505) | 460 (575) | 100 |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Bretons are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration +5 | 6 | Archery | 0 | Alchemy +5 | 7 |
| Conjuration +10 | 7 | Block | 0 | Light Armor | 0 |
| Destruction | 12 | Heavy Armor | 6 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting | 9 | One-handed | 0 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion +5 | 0 | Smithing | 6 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +5 | 8 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech +5 | 0 |
| Total | 42 | Total | 12 | Total | 7 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 6
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Magic Resistance 2/3
Stabiility
Conjuration 7
Novice Conjuration
Apprentice Conjuration
Summoner 2/2
Atromancy
Elemental Potency
Twin Souls
Destruction 12
Novice Destruction
Apprentice Destruction
Destruction Dual Casting
Augmented Flames 2/2
Intense Flames
Augmented Frost 2/2
Deep freeze
Augmented Shock 2/2
Disintegrate
Enchanting 9
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Fire Enchanter
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Necromage
Warrior Skills
Heavy Armor 6
Juggernaut 3/5
Fists of Steel
Cushioned
Conditioning
Smithing 6
Steel Smithing
Dwarven Smithing
Orcish Smithing
Ebony Smithing
Daedric Smithing
Arcane Blacksmith
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
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. |
Talk to the Steward in Dragonsreach to get a quest to investigate an assassination attemp on the Jarl. After reading the buiness ledger at Arcadia's Cauldron go the Whiterun Stables and on the body of a stablehand is a Detect Life sepllbook. This can be used to level Alteration. Cast this with both hands Until your magicka has run out as this will generate twice as much XP. Then your magicka has a chance to regenerate and repeat again.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Novice | ISummons a Familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. |
| Conjure Flame Atronach | Apprentice | Summons a Flame Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. |
| Soul Trap | Apprentice | If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem. |
| Conjure Frost Atronach | Adept | Summons a Frost Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. |
| Conjure Storm Atronach | Expert | Summons a Storm Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. |
Conjuring a Familiar to tank enemies for you may make the game easier at the start but it’s doesn’t really fit with the build. Bretons get this spell at the start of the game. Get Novice and then Apprentice Conjuration as your first perks and then buy the Flame Atronach spell from Farengar at Dragonsreach.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flames | Novice | A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage |
| Firebolt | Apprentice | A blast of fire that does 25 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage |
| Chain Lightning | Adept | Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magicka, then leaps to a new target |
| Fireball | Adept | A fiery explosion for 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius. Targets on fire take extra damage |
| Ice Storm | Adept | A freezing whirlwind that does 40 points of frost damage per second to Health and Stamina |
| Thunderbolt | Expert | A Thunderbolt that foes 60 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka |
Start by using fire as it's good damage for lower magicka cost. I was using Firebolt as my damage source until I got enchanted gear where I started using the Adept level spells. Thunderbolt is used for single targets and also Dragons as it's easy to hit flying dragons with this spell.
Illusion
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Courage | Novice | Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina. |
Courage can be use to level Illusion but it's not needed in the build.
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 |
Healing spells are used more in the early game but are used for out of combat heals in the end game.
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 spells cost nothing to cast Conjuration spells cost 46% less to cast Restoration spells costs 20 less magicka. Health is increased by 115 points. Magicka is increased by 165 points. Magicka regenerates 150% faster. Carrying capacity is increased by 86 points.86% fire resistance.
| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Nahkriin | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells cost 20% less to cast |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells cost 20% less to cast | |
| Fortify Magicka | Increases Magicka by 115 points | |
| Robes of the Lich | Fortify Magicka Regen | Magicka regenerates 150% faster |
| Feet | Fortify Carry Weight | Carrying capacity is increased by 69 points |
| Resist Fire | Grants 86% resistance to Fire | |
| Hands | Fortify Carry Weight | Carrying capacity is increased by 69 points |
| Fortify Magicka | Magicka is increased by 115 points | |
| Amulet | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells cost 46% less to cast |
| Fortify Health | Increases Health by 115 points | |
| Ring | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells cost 46% less to cast |
| Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells cost 46% less to cast |
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.
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.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.
Potion of Fortify Destruction
| Ingredients | Glowing Mushroom, Snowberries & Steel-Blue Entoloma | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Destruction | Destrcution spells are 213% stronger for 60 seconds |
| Resist Frost | Grants 128% Frost Resistance for 60 seconds | |
| Resist Shock | Grants 128% Shock Resistance for 60 seconds | |
Go to Shimmermist Cave to the North East of Whiterun and gather 2 Glowing Mushroom inside the entrance. The remaining 7 are in the secret lab at the farm. Snowberries are around Windhelm Stables and the local farms. Steel-Blue Entoloma are available from Khajiit caravans. Remember to buy, quicksave, attack and quickload to reset the vendor until you have all 13 Steel-Blue Entoloma.
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.
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.
Farming
For more information on getting to and setting up your farm read my guide.
Ingredients Needed
6 x Blue Mountain Flower 9 x Glowing Mushroom 11 x Snowberries 13 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
24 x Potions of Forify Health 52 x Potions of Fortify DestructionMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 13 | 39 + 13 = 52 | 78 + 13 = 91 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
| Glowing Mushrooms (5) | 9 | 45 + 9 = 54 | 90 + 9 = 99 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowberries (4) | 11 | 44 + 11 = 55 | 88 + 11 = 99 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 44 |