Magic is an integral part of Tamriel, even in Skyrim where the Nords are suspicious of mages and their craft. While Nords may not have a strong tradition of magic, some do practice it, and there are plenty of other races in Skyrim who have brought their craft from afar and are willing to teach. Because of this,Skyrimhas a whopping 160 spells, covering a range of situations for any Dragonborn, from the most magic-avoidant Dragonborn to one that becomes the head of the College of Winterhold. And, while many of the spells can be silly or situation dependent, most of them are worth investing in and can support other skills in some surprising ways.
Not all spells are equal, though, and someSkyrimspells are more useful than others. There are a number of spells that are learned on certain quests then never used again, or require so much magicka that they’re impractical for anyone but only the most dedicated, high-level sorcerer. The spells on this list are ones that are flexible, easy to use, and adaptable for any situation and playthrough.
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S Tier
Healing -This is a Novice-level Restoration spell that heals the caster 10 points per second. Every player knows this spell: it’s one of the few that every race automatically starts with in the game. It’s the most basic, bare-bones spell, but it’s one that’splayed a role in every player’s experience ofSkyrim, it’s useful, it’s iconic, and that’s why it’s ranked as one of the best spells inSkyrim.
Transmute -Another basic, this Alteration spell is essential for leveling the Smithing skill. Transmute changes iron to silver and silver to gold, giving the Dragonborn easy access to gold ore and ingots to craft gold rings to level up Smithing fast and earn some extra cash on the side. It doesn’t help at all in combat, but it’s essential for developingthe skill to craft gear worthy of The Last Dragonborn.
Lightning Storm -This is a Master-level Destruction spell and the most efficient one when considering the damage output to magicka cost. Not only does it deal out an insane amount of damage, it’s also highly effective against airborne enemies including dragons, reducing them to ash even without the Disintegrate perk. The only drawback of this spell is the requirement to remain stationary while casting it, but the sheer damage it deals more than makes up for it.
A Tier
Ignite -An Apprentice-level Destruction spell, yet packs a devastating punch. It sets a target on fire for 15 seconds and causes damage over time, which stacks with each hit. Ignite comes with theDragonbornexpansion; the Dragonborn needs to have Ahzidal’s Ring of Arcana equipped to cast it, but completing these requirements is well worth the hassle. Equipping the Ring also unlocks the ice spell, Freeze.
Storm Thrall -This is a Master-level Conjuration spell, andpermanently summons a storm atronach to the Dragonborn. The atronach will fight for the Dragonborn until it dies, is dismissed, or turned, and is great as a support fighter or even just as a hardy distraction.
Summon Arvak -ThisApprentice-level Conjuration spell comes withDawnguard, and lets the Dragonborn summon the undead horse Arvak wherever they are in Skyrim. Having an undead horse available wherever you go at the touch of a button is incredibly convenient, especially if the Dragonborn is over-encumbered, needs to jump off cliffs, or doesn’t want to worry about their horse dying.
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B Tier
Bound Bow -Conjuring weapons is a valid strategy for players inSkyrim, and theBound Bow is the most powerful weaponof the lot. It summons a Daedric bow to the caster with 100 Daedric arrows for 120 seconds. The great thing about Bound Bow is the zero carry weight and no worries about having enough arrows to get through a fight.
Invisibility -Any Dragonborn that uses stealthneeds this spell in their repertoire as it completely removes the need to carry around those pesky Invisibility potions and allows any sneaky assassin to deal sneak attack damage on enemies. Because it doesn’t muffle sounds and creates a noise upon casting, it’s worthwhile to combine it with the Muffle spell and the Illusion perk Quiet Casting.
Poison Rune -An offensive Adept-level Restoration spell, Poison Rune is great for laying traps and bypasses armor and magical defenses. The damage from Poison Rune stacks, making it devastating against living beings without any resistance to poisons.
Candlelight -A very simple and unassuming spell but a lifesaver inthe Twilight Sepulcherand parts of the Black Books where darkness deals damage. The light it creates follows the Dragonborn, is weightless and limitless, hands-free, easily conjured, and, unlike a torch, remains out of the field of view.
C Tier
Paralyze -This Expert-level Alteration spell is perfectif you need a moment to breathe. While its alternate version, Mass Paralysis, does paralyze multiple targets and thus seems more useful, it requires a lot of charge-up time and paralyzes everyone in the area, friendlies included. Paralyze does what it says on the label, plain and simple.
Frenzy -This spell is the source of mayhem and is handy when crowd control is needed or if the Dragonborn needs to slip by unnoticed.Frenzy is an Adept-level Illusion spelland makes everyone in the area attack the nearest target. Players need to make sure there are actual targets nearby because, if there aren’t any, victims of this spell will attack the Dragonborn.
Clairvoyance -Skyrim can be a confusing place and some of those dungeons are like a labyrinth. For new players or veterans who need a bit of a refresh, a flare of Clairvoyance leading the way can save hours of running around in circles.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
