Leave your swords and shields at the door; the class of spells and sorcery is in session!

Holding a bolt of lightning in the palm of your hand and expelling a thunderous surge of power may be what pulls you in. Or gazing into the depths of oblivion and pulling out of it some wicked creature might be what first caught your interest. It could have been the pleasure felt from scorching an army of enemies in a momentary blast of fire. Whatever it is, you can’t deny that there’s undeniable fun to be had down the route of Magicka. This time, we seek out five fun builds centered around the mystifying magic of Skyrim

5. The Arcane Elementalist

The Arcane Elementalist | Skyrim Anniversary Edition Build by BADCompanySarge

Origin Story:

Diligently studying the mysterious and elusive art of Alteration and Destruction magic, a young mage becomes lost in the pursuit of knowledge, often forgetting about current affairs and the world around her. She delved into magic on her own until her sights became set on learning advanced sorcery at the College of Windhelm in Skyrim. Along her path through solemn crypts and dangerous caves, The Arcane Elementalist will continue until she has acquired every lost spell tome to complete her repertoire of powerful magic.

Destruction magic is at the heart of the greatest magic builds and setting off this list, we’ve got an elemental mage who left the libraries for a more practical application of her spells. In this build, you’ll find yourself sending enemies flying in a flurry of elemental sorcery. The Elemental Blast spell has never been used better than when used in conjunction with Paralysis Rune; this combination allows you to stop enemies in their tracks, allowing you to release a mighty explosion upon your landlocked foes. And with enhanced magic items, this mage never runs out of Magicka to keep unleashing havoc on unsuspecting bandits. 

This build was extremely overpowered in my opinion; the Elemental Blast has game-breaking potency which makes difficult situations seem easy. Enemies in Skyrim are already vulnerable against ranged attacks and compared to measly bolts, The Arcane Elementalist’s scourge of explosions can’t be defended against. For even further magical prowess, I would suggest getting to an arcane enchanter and placing Fortify Magicka or Fortify Magicka Regeneration on the boots and gloves.

Build Strengths:

• High-level Alteration spells remove the need for slow, heavy armor. 
• Coupling Alteration perks and The Lord Stone gives The Arcane Elementalist enhanced magic resistance and spell absorption.
• Focusing mainly on Magicka, The Arcane Elementalist always has enough to cast spells without the need for swords or staffs.
• High Elves begin with +50 Magicka and skill boosts to Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, and Restoration, which are necessary for this build. 
• Wearing countless gear with Magicka enchantments, The Arcane Elementalist has a large pool of Magicka available so that she can only use spells in combat. 

Build Details:

• Skills:

- Destruction

- Alteration

- Restoration

- Conjuration

- Alchemy

• Standing Stone:

- The Lord Stone (50 points damage resistance and 20% Magic resistance)

• Stats:

- 90% Magicka

- 10% Health

• Gear:

- Master Robes of Destruction and Alteration (Destruction spells cost 20% less to cast, 150% faster Magicka Regeneration, Alteration spells cost 22% less to cast)

- Adept Hood (+50 Magicka)

- Savos Aren’s Amulet (+50 Magicka)

- Ring of Peerless Magicka (+70 Magicka)

- Mage Backpack (+75 Carrying Capacity, +20 Magicka)

- Thalmor Boots

- Thalmor Gloves

• Factions:

- College of Winterhold

• Spells:

- Elemental Blast (Anniversary Edition)

- Paralysis Rune (Anniversary Edition)

- Ebony Flesh

• Potions:

- Fortify Destruction and Spell Absorption

4. The Shaman

Skyrim SE Builds - The Shaman - Remastered Build by FudgeMuppet

Origin Story:

Born and raised in a well-fortified mountain stronghold, a young Orsimer girl was trained to accept the oath of Malacath and her stronghold’s ancient traditions. She adapted to the Orsimer woman’s role as enchantress and alchemist, becoming a noble healer within her stronghold; however, her progressive views on how the orcs should work together instead of against each other always prevented her from fully accepting her role. Finally, after being gifted to a rival orc warlord as a bridal peace offering, she decided to escape from her fate as a dominated wife and chose instead to wander the lands of Skyrim on her path and turn away from the Orcish barbarianism that tainted her family’s way of life. 

Unleashing a magnificent storm of spells and explosions before stepping through the smoke and stabbing paralyzed enemies, The Shaman is a masterful mage with incredible power in combat. This build incorporates tactical planning as a variety of poisons and poisons can be used before entering combat and multiple spells are at your disposal for any situation. In stealth, The Shaman can secretly paralyze nearby opponents with her traditional Orcish Dagger, establishing her as an adaptable mage capable of fending for herself in any possible questline or faction. Igniting paralyzed foes with incredible eruptions of fire while wearing Amazonian attire, this Orcish sorcery is the embodiment of the greatest shaman a simple stronghold could produce and serves as an incredibly fun, lore-filled journey.

Personally, this build appeals to me because of its perfectly fleshed-out lore and unique take on the classic mage build. This Orsimer shaman is a pleasure to play as when you explore Draugr-infested crypts and pick out ingredients from the depths of Blackreach. You have a fair amount of freedom in the enchantments and spells you use based on your magic style. In my opinion, an expert choice would be to use Paralyze and an explosion for area damage. The dagger mainly finds its use in stealthy situations which tend to be quite rare with this build. Honestly, it’s an engaging playthrough that can be completed relatively quickly, but it’s fun to create and adapt to your needs. 

Build Strengths:

• Orsimer Shamans can call upon Berserker Rage, a battle trance in which they take half damage and deal double damage for 60 seconds, an ability that is useful when outnumbered.  Additionally, she begins with 20 starting Enchanting, which proves useful for adding useful fortifications to items and gear.
• Using Alteration spells and The Atronach Stone grants you great damage and magic defense. In total, The Shaman has 80% spell absorption. 
• Almost even focus on Health and Magicka enables The Shaman to evade death in combat and have sufficient Magicka to cast a variety of spells.
• Using the Fortify Carry Weight enchantment on many pieces of her gear, she has more than enough space to store potions, poisons, and ingredients that are essential to her playstyle.

Build Details:

• Standing Stone:

- The Lover Stone (learn all skills 15% faster)

- The Atronach Stone (+50 Magicka, absorb 50% of spell damage, recover Magicka 50% slower)

- The Steed Stone (no speed loss from armor and +100 carry weight)

• Stats:

- 60% Health

- 40% Magicka

• Factions:

- College of Winterhold

- Dawnguard (Dawnguard DLC)

- Companions

• Skills:

- One-handed

- Restoration

- Alteration

- Enchanting

- Alchemy

• Spells:

- Ash Shell (target encased in a shell of ash for 30 seconds) (Dragonborn DLC)

- Paralyze

- Ebony Flesh

- Close Wounds

- Sun Fire (Dawnguard DLC)

- Detect Life

• Gear:

- Stormcloak Officer’s Helmet (Fortify Alchemy + Fortify Alteration)

- Forsworn Armor (Fortify Restoration + Fortify Alteration)

- Forsworn Boots (Fortify Carry Weight + Resist Frost)

- Forsworn Gauntlets (Fortify Alchemy + Fortify Carry Weight)

- Bone Hawk Ring (Fortify Alchemy + Fortify Alteration)  (Dawnguard DLC)

- Bone Hawk Amulet (Fortify Alchemy + Fortify Alteration)  (Dawnguard DLC)

• Weapons:

- Orcish Dagger (Fiery Soul Trap + Paralyze)

- Eye of Melka (Fiery explosion for 40 points damage in 15-foot radius)

• Additional Items:

- The Black Star

3. The Sunfire Herald

The Sunfire Herald [Skyrim Vanilla Battlemage Build] S1E2 by Skypothesis

Origin Story:

Resurrecting the ancient Ash’aba line of warriors, a young Redguard woman was determined not to fall into her family’s mundane life of herding and farming but rather to scour the lands searching for the undead to purge. Traversing through Cyrodil, she would destroy any undead thralls or necromantic experiments, keeping her people safe from the consequences of those dark arts. After being captured and escaping the Imperials, she now continues her life’s work in Skyrim by annihilating the vampires, Draugr, and Dragon Priests that plague its beautiful mountains and barrows.

In this build, we play as a battlemage with immense might as you cast explosions throughout the battlefield. Most combat will be played alongside Atar, a tank knight, with a focus on casting explosive spells and healing him from a distance. This playstyle may prove difficult at first for the gaming warriors among us who enjoy taking center stage, but after discovering her power and incredible might through dominating the battlefield while sustaining minimal damage, you’ll understand why The Sunfire Herald is a great build to delve into. 

In my opinion, it’s the lore creation centered at the heart of this build that makes it unique for me. The creation of an entire guild and resurrection of ancient ideals engages and motivates you to descend into caverns and dark questlines with your followers, searching for more undead to destroy. I found that the most fun to be had was found in crypts, barrows, and vampire dens – places where your sun fire spells and abilities reached impossibly powerful heights. And the sheer number of hours to be spent on just perfecting your guild home, Lakeview Manor, and mastering the shield and spellcasting combination will likely ensure endless fun as you bring light back into Skyrim.

Build Strengths:

• Redguards begin with a +5 skill boost to Destruction and Block. They also possess 50% resistant to poison.
• Using the Ethereal Crown, The Sunfire Herald can acquire the abilities of two different Standing Stones at the same time, allowing for greater power and strength.
• The Sunfire Herald has a great variety of spells at her disposal for destruction and health regeneration. Specifically for her lore, she also has sun damage spells that are particularly useful against the undead.
• Combining heavy armor, magic, a dagger, and staff, The Sunfire Herald can adapt to multiple situations. The dagger is useful for stealth; heavy armor and the Eye of Melka, for brute force; and magic, for intense elemental attacks.

Build Details:

• Player Home:

- Lakeview Manor (with armory, bedrooms, and trophy room) (Hearthfire DLC)

• Housecarl:

- Rayya 

• Follower:

- Atar

• Spouse:

- Marcurio

• Steward:

- Lydia

• Factions:

- College of Winterhold

- Dawnguard (Dawnguard DLC)

• Weapons:

- Eye of Melka (casts explosion for 40 damage in 15-foot radius)

- Dragon Priest Dagger (Fiery Soul Trap + Absorb Health)

• Gear:

- Spellbreaker (blocking creates a ward that protects against up to 50 points spell damage)

- Dwarven Armor (Fortify Destruction + Restoration)

- Forsworn Gauntlets (Fortify Magicka + Block)

- Forsworn Boots (Resist Fire + Frost)

- Ethereal Crown (allows you to hold abilities from two standing stones)

- Amulet (Fortify Restoration + Magicka Regeneration)

- Ring (Fortify Destruction + Magicka Regeneration)

• Standing Stones:

- The Steed Stone (no speed loss from armor and +100 carry weight)

- The Atronach Stone (+50 Magicka, absorb 50% spells damage and 50% slower Magicka regeneration)

• Spells:

- Close Wounds

- Guardian Circle

- Heal Other

- Stendarr's Aura

- Sun Fire (Dawnguard DLC)

- Flame Cloak

- Fireball

- Wall of Flames

• Shouts:

- Fire Breath

- Battle Fury (Dragonborn DLC)

• Powers:

- Sun Flare

- Bones of the Earth

• Skills:

- Restoration

- Destruction

- Block

- Enchanting

• Stats:

- 50% Health

- 50% Magicka

2. The Stylite Storm

The Stylite Storm [Skyrim Vanilla Arch-Mage Build] S2E3 by Skypothesis

Origin Story:

Once a respected and wise shaman that tended the mysterious Hist trees, The Stylite Storm used to administer ritual sap to young Argonians; however, after being plagued by mysterious visions of the coming of dragons and Alduin, she chose to engage the incoming war on the frontlines by traveling to Skyrim. The Stylite Storm now dedicates her time to destroying dragons, dragon priests, and all who use Magicka for evil pursuits to prevent calamity from striking and the corruption of true students of the magical arts. 

An Argonian spellcaster graces our list at second place with a range of spells and an interesting backstory. Delivering furious bolts of lightning and balls of fire, The Stylite Storm engages her enemies as a masterful archmage would, with incredible force and might. As a wise Argonian shaman, she brews concoctions to further increase her damage and effectiveness in combat; and like a magical protector, she combines magic from the schools of Alteration and Destruction to provide an excellent playstyle for combat.

In most situations, I found myself switching rapidly between the Staff of Fireballs and tormenting bolts of lightning, allowing enemies to be set alight and then finally obliterating them with a surge greater than anything Thor could muster up. Perfecting my destruction spells and adapting the archmage’s attacks to different conditions was incredibly entertaining because the most difficult situations could easily be overcome by effectively planning my potion combination and spell choice. And with enough electricity to shock the insanity out of Sheogorath himself, this magic build is impressively powerful.

Build Strengths:

• An Argonian archmage has a slight skill boost to alteration and restoration. Histskin also allows her to recover health ten times faster when overwhelmed by multiple dragon priests. 
• Using potions before battle, The Stylite Storm build requires you to plan and predict future combat, turning every situation into an opportunity for careful preparation.
• With numerous Fortify Magicka enchantments and a greater number of ability points spent on Magicka, she has an enormous pool of Magicka at her disposal for a consistent stream of Destruction spells.

Build Details:

• Factions:

- College of Winterhold

• Gear:

- Temple Priest Robes (+75% Magicka Regeneration) (Dragonborn DLC)

- Archmage’s Boots (+40% Shock Resistance)

- Forsworn Headdress (Fortify Destruction + Fortify Magicka)

- Mystic Tuning Gloves (Fortify Destruction + Fortify Magicka)

- Thalmor Gloves (Fortify Destruction + Fortify Magicka)

- Ring (Fortify Alteration + Fortify Magicka)

- Necklace (Fortify Destruction + Fortify Magicka)

• Spells:

- Sparks

- Thunderbolt

-  Lightning Bolt

- Greater Ward

- Ebony Flesh

- Equilibrium

- Candlelight

• Weapons:

- Staff of Fireballs (creates explosion causing 40 points damage in 15-foot radius)

- The Staff of Magnus

• Shouts:

- Elemental Fury

• Potions:

- Fortify Destruction + Fortify Health

- Restore Magicka

• Stats:

- 66.7% Magicka

- 33.3% Health

• Standing Stones:

- The Atronach Stone (+50 Magicka, 50% spell absorption, 50% slower Magicka regeneration)

• Skills:

- Destruction

- Enchanting

- Alchemy

- Alteration

- Restoration

1. The Dark Lord

Skyrim Builds - The Dark Lord - Sauron Inspired Summoner Build by FudgeMuppet

Origin Story:

Mairon Direnni, born of a pureblood, aristocratic Altmer family, studied Daedric artifacts and ancient books in his youth. Compelled by a strong lust for power and the domination of his realm, the young student summoned Mehrunes Dagon and requested to be taken to his realm, the Deadlands. However, he was captured, imprisoned, and experimented on before being transported back into Tamriel, where he realized that he now had greater perception and abilities. With his new eyes, he can see the interdimensional bridges, allowing him to conjure formidable allies in his pursuit of dominion.

 Summoning creatures from frightening dimensions and hunting down Daedric artifacts, in this build we play as the Sauron of Tamriel who even has a menacing ring on his Brawler’s gauntlets. Combat with this build is incredibly fun as you have a large variety of ways to annihilate your enemies. By summoning two hellish creatures at a time, barely any enemies get close enough to The Dark Lord to deal any worthwhile damage and his dual cast destruction spells wouldn’t even allow them to live long enough to strike him. Incredibly, this battlemage even wields one-handed weapons, further proving his animosity towards his enemies as he eviscerates with metal and magic.

This build takes first place in any category and, personally, it has to be the most fun build I’ve ever played around with. The impossibly difficult task of acquiring his armor, items, and spells engages and thrills even the hardest of gamers, leaving you exploring well into every DLC and all of the additional content that Bethesda has to offer. And by staggering incredibly powerful opponents with just his spells, this build can carry you into Master difficulty, proving itself as more of an adventure than just a simple magic build.

Build Strengths:

• Altmer begin with 25 Illusion and 20 Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, and Restoration, which are essential to a mage build. Calling upon their pure magical blood, they use Highborn to regenerate Magicka faster for 60 seconds once a day and naturally have a passive increase of +50 Magicka.
• Switching between spells, staffs, and one-handed artifact weapons, The Dark Lord can adapt to different combat situations and always has a backup method of attack should one fail to destroy his enemy.
• Combining the Agent of Mara ability with his enchanted items, The Dark Lord can achieve 85% magic resistance, which is the highest possible resistance in the game.
• The powerful armor, daedric artifacts, and master spells ensure you’ll be playing through this build for hours.
• Damage dealt from a distance as your summons perform the close attacks

Build Details:

• Player Homes:

- Myrwatch

- Bloodchill Manor

• Factions:

- Volkihar Clan (Optional) (Dawnguard DLC)

- Dawnguard (Optional) (Dawnguard DLC)

- College of Winterhold

• Mount:

- Daedric Horse

• Weapons:

- Mehrune’s Razor

- Staff of Magnus (Absorb 20 Magicka per second. If the target is out of Magicka, absorb Health instead)

- Torment (Burns target for 30 points)

- Mace of Molag Bal (25 damage to Stamina and Magicka. Fills Soul Gem if the target dies within 3 seconds)

- Staff of Hasedoki (fill soul gem if target killed in 60 seconds, protects against 40 points magic damage when not in combat)

• Stats:

- 50% Magicka

- 50% Health

• Standing Stones:

- The Lord Stone (50 points damage resistance and 25% magic resistance)

• Skills:

- Destruction

- Conjuration

- Heavy Armor

- Smithing

- Enchanting

- One-handed

• Spells:

- Flames

- Shock

- Bound Sword

- Elemental Blast

- Flame Cloak

- Shock Cloak

- Conjure Flame Atronach

- Conjure Frost Atronach

- Conjure Shock Atronach

- Conjure Ancient Deathpriest

- Conjure Bone Colossus

• Gear:

- Daedric Boots (+37% Fire Resistance, 40% higher one-handed damage)

- Brawler’s Daedric Gauntlets (+62 Magicka, 40% higher one-handed damage)

- Daedric Plate Helmet (Fortify Destruction + Fortify Conjuration)

- Daedric Plate Armor (Fortify Destruction + Fortify Conjuration)

- Necklace (Conjuration spells cost 25% less to cast, +20% magic resistance)

- Gold Ring (Destruction spells cost 25% less to cast, +20% magic resistance)

• Additional Items:

- The Black Star

You might also be interested in:

• [Top 10] Skyrim Best Mods for Mages
• Top 15 Best Skyrim Follower Mods You Must Use
• The 10 Best Skyrim Enchantments