Sorcerer

Imperial - Staff - Clothing - Heavy - Battlemage

Background

Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories, just raw power that they direct at will.

Weapons

Any Destruction staff as a backup weapon for the early levels.

Armor

Any heavy armour at the start of the game and the mage robes and mage hood from the torturer’s area in Helgen. Join the College of Winterhold and use the Novice robes of Destruction you get for free as soon as you can

The final gear is a Circlet, Master Robes of Conjuration and Illusion, Steel Spell Knight Gauntlets and a Steel Spell Knight Boots.

The robes can be purchased from Radiant Raiment in Solitude with a high enough character level. They are also available from mage vendors and general goods vendors.

The boots and gauntlets can be acquired during a quest started by reading the journal in the first room on the right in the Blood and Silver Inn at Markarth.

Spells

Alteration for utility spells. Destruction for elemental based spells, Illusion for Fear spells and Restoration for heals.

Standing Stones

The Atronach Stone once the Atronach perk has been acquired for 50% spell absorption, 50 Magicka but -50% magicka regeneration.

Shrines

Use a Shrine of Talos for 20% faster shout cooldown.

Shouts

Character Creation

Female Imperial

High Elves are the closest match for the build with 30/35 skill points being in perked skills. Imperials and Dark Elves are second with 25/35. I went with Imperial as they get a boost in damage with Destruction and in defence with Heavy Armor and Restoration. The armor boost is particularly useful as you will want mage robes and a mage hood in the early game when your Magicka is low. The boost in enchanting for Imperials also helps as battlemages are very gear dependent to reduce the Magicka cost of spells so getting enchanting high and making gear has a significant impact on the performance of the build.

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.

Attribute Distribution

Distribute attributes at a ratio of 1 / 1 / 0. At level 61 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Imperials are marked in bold.

Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

Spells

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.

Conjuration

Used to fill soul gems for enchanting.

Destruction

Get Elemental Flare from Farengar at Dragonsreach as soon as you can. It's a very cheap and effective Destruction spell. I used this all the way to getting crafting gear where I then switched to the higher ranks of the spell with Fortify Destruction spell Magicka reduction enchntments. All 6 Augmented perks in Destruction each add 25% damage to these spells.

Illusion

I levelled Illusion last, made it Legendary and then used Call to Arms in Whiterun market to take it back up to 100 again.

Restoration

Restoration spells are used as a means to restore Health out of combat or in emergencies when you have run out of healing potions.

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.

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

Potion of Fortify Health

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

Potion of Fortify Carry Weight

Creep Cluster are numerous near Kynesgrove to the South of Windhelm. Get 2 Glowing Mushrooms just inside Shimmermist Cave to the north east of Whiterun and the remaining 7 are in the secret lab at the farm. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit merchants.

Potion of Fortify Enchanting

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

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.

Main Area (27)

Side Area (11)

Planters (6)

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