Herald of Xotli

Dark Elf - Greatsword - Clothing - Heavy - Barbarian - Battlemage

Background

The result of demonology that went beyond the realms of hell and earth and out into the cold empty wastes beyond the realm of existence, they now faithfully serve Xotli, a demon-god of the Elder Night. They wield fire spells and greatswords, making them a formidable enemy on the battlefield.

This is based on a mage class from the game Age of Conan. A herald of Xotli a mage that focusses purely on fire magic and delivers this through both spells and by imbueing their two-handed sword with fire damage. They are also able to polymorph into demon form to increase both their damage and improve their defence capabilites while burning enemies that are within melee range.

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Weapons

Any two handed weapon at the start of the game until you can get a steel greatsword. Then progressively get better versions as you unlock the smithing perks. I went for a Dark Greatsword rather than a Daedric for the final weapon as although it does less damage it weighs a lot less so more power attacks for your stamina but it fits the appearance better in my opinion. A Skyforge Steel Greatsword does exactly the same damage but weighs one less.

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Armor

A full set of heavy armour while levelling. Ahzidal’s mask for the 25% increase in fire damage and the fire resistance. Daedric boots and gauntlets, which with the mask, smithing at 100 and a set of enchanted crafting gear can reach the 80% damage reduction cap. Master Robes of Destruction as this allows you to reach 100% magicka cost reduction while providing 150% magicka regen over the 115% if you custom enchant your own robe. Any heavy along the way can be used and I was wearing a full set of Orcish Plate for a long time while levelling and working my way to gaining Ahzidal.

Ahzidal is acquired from Kolbjorn Barrow on Solstheim by fully excavating the ruin. You can find Daedric Gauntlets and Boots on high level bandit leaders. The Master Robes of Destruction can be purchased from Faralda at the College of Winterhold.

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Spells

Destruction for fire spells, Alteration for utility spells, Restoration for out of combat heals.

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Standing Stones

The Lord Stone in the early levels and once the Atronach perk is acquired switch to the Atronach Stone for 50% spell absorption, 50 magicka but -50% magicka regeneration.

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Shrines

Use a shrine of Talos for the 20% shout cooldown reduction.

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Shouts

Dragon Aspect (Stength - Armor - Wyrm)

Location: Dragonborn DLC main story

Provides the player with a large boost to critical damage, boosts armour and reduces the cooldown of shouts.

Fire Breath (Fire - Inferno - Sun)

Location: Dustman's Cairn (Companions), Sunderstone Gorge, Throat of the World (Throat of the World)

A cone based fire damaging spell.

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 Dark Elf

Pick a Dark Elf as you can reach the fire resistance cap without using an enchantment slot and get a boost to Destruction early.

You need to join the Companions to access one word of the Fire Breath shout but this can be obtained on their second quest once you have joined them. You also have access to a Skyforge Steel Greatsword for free upon completion of this quest whihc is a good early weapon to have.

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Attribute Distribution

Distribute attributes points at a ratio of 0/2/1. At level 58 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Magicka	Health	Stamina
100 (265)	480	290 (405)

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Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Dark Elves are marked in bold.

Mage		Warrior		Rogue
Alteration +5	8	Archery	0	Alchemy +5	7
Conjuration	0	Block	0	Light Armor +5	0
Destruction +10	4	Heavy Armor	7	Lockpicking	0
Enchanting	9	One-handed	0	Pickpocket	0
Illusion +5	0	Smithing	6	Sneak +5	0
Restoration	9	Two-handed	7	Speech	0
Total	30	Total	20	Total	7

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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.

Detect Life is an easy out of combat way to level Alteration in a controlled way so that you can add in training between levels. You can acquire the spellbook in Whiterun by talking to the Steward in Dragonsreach reading a book in Arcadia's Cauldron and then the spellbook is on the body of a stablehand at Whiterun Stables. Cast detect life in market areas where people are numerous. More people means more XP gain.

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Conjuration

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

Soul Trap can be used to level conjuration and is very quick once you have spell absorption, Expert Restoration and the Circle of Protection spell and a low level enemy such as a wolf.

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Destruction

Spell	Level	Description
Flames	Novice	A gout of fire inflicting a base damage of 8 points of fire damage per second
Fire Rune	Apprentice	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of damage when enemies come near
Fireball	Adept	A fireball which explodes on impact for 40 points of damage in a 15-foot radius
Flame Cloak	Adept	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points of damage per second
Incinerate	Expert	A blast of fire that does 60 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage
Unbounded Storms	Expert	Targets in melee range take 40 shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. Random lightning strikes deal an additional 30 damage

Unbounded Storms is purely used as a means to speed the levelling of Destruction by casting and using fast travel.

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Illusion

Spell	Level	Description
Courage	Novice	Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina.

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
Healing Hands	Apprentice	Heals the target 10 points per second, but not undead, atronachs, or machines
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

Grand healing can only be cast once Expert Restoration is acquired or you have your gear enchanted with custom enchantments. The same goes for Circle of Protection, which can be used as a limitless source of Magicka if you have some spell absorption.

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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

Two-handed weapons do 300% more damage
Weapon uses no charges
Destruction spells cost no Magicka
Restoration spells cost no Magicka
Magicka regenerates 115% faster
Magicka and Stamina are increased by 115 points
Resist 37% of all magical effects

Item	Enchantment	Effect
Ahzidal	Fire Damage	Increases fire spell damage by 25%
	Resist Fire	Increases fire resistance by 50%
Master Robes of Destruction	Fortify Destruction	Destruction spells and enchantments cost 22% less
	Fortify Magicka Regen	Magicka Regenerates 150% faster
Feet	Fortify Two-handed	Two-handed weapons do 75% more damage
	Fortify Stamina	Stamina is increased by 115 points
Hands	Fortify Two-handed	Two-handed weapons do 75% more damage
	Fortify Magicka	Magicka is increased by 115 points
Amulet	Fortify Destruction	Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less
	Resist Magic	Resist 37% of magical effects
Ring	Fortify Two-handed	Two-handed weapons do 75% more damage
	Fortify Destruction	Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less
Greatsword	Fire Damage	Target takes 106 points of fire damage
	Absorb Health	Absorb 69 points of health

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 in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.

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Potion of Regenerate Stamina

Ingredients	Fly Amanita, Dragon's Tongue & Scaly Pholiota
Effects	Fortify Two-handed	170% more damage for 60 seconds
	Resist Fire	128% for 60 seconds
	Fortify Illusion	170% stronger for 60 seconds
	Regenerate Stamina	213% faster for 300 seconds

Fly Amanita and Dragon's Tongue can be found at Kynesgrove, which is just to the south of Windhelm. Fly Amanita are numerous in the mine. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead.

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Potion of Fortify Destruction

Ingredients	Glowing Mushrooms, Snowberries & Steel-Blue Entoloma
Effects	Fortify Destruction	213% stronger for 60 seconds
	Resist Frost	128% for 60 seconds
	Resist Shock	128% for 60 seconds

All the Glowing Mushrooms you need are at the farm. Snowberries are around Windhelm in numbers. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravan merchants.

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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

5 x Blue Mountain Flower
6 x Dragon's Tongue
6 x Fly AManita
5 x Glowing Mushrooms
5 x Scaly Pholiota
6 x Snowberries
7 x Steel-Blue Entoloma
4 x Wheat

Potions and Poisons Produced

20 x Potions of Forify Health
30 x Potions of Fortify Stamina Regeneration
28 x Potions of Fortify Destruction

Main Area (27)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Fly Amanita (4)	6	24 + 6 = 30	48 + 6 = 54
Scaly Pholiota (5)	5	25 + 5 = 30	50 + 5 = 55
Wheat (4)	4	16 + 4 = 20	32 + 4 = 36
Steel-Blue Entoloma (3)	7	21 + 7 = 28	42 + 7 = 49
Glowing Mushrooms (5)	5	25 + 5 = 30	50 + 5 = 55

Side Area (11)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Blue Mountain Flowers (3)	5	15 + 5 = 20	30 + 5 = 35
Snowberries (4)	6	24 + 6 = 30	48 + 6 = 54

Planters (6)

Ingredient	Qty	Harvest	Green Thumbs
Dragon's Tongue (4)	6	24 + 6 = 30	48 + 6 = 54

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