How to play a mage in Skyrim?
How to play as pure mage - AKA Have you saved recently?
Learn which elements work against which foes (fire for undead, etc)
Dual-Casting, Dual-Casting, Dual-Casting
Impact
Wait, did I save?
Try to figure out if this battle best for staff damage or spell damage
- If you need to level your mage skills, you'll have to use spells sometimes. Having a super staff is great but you're not going to improve Destruction primarily with a staff unless you one hand staff and one hand Firebolt, etc, so only use the Staff if you're unable to sustain your Magicka.
Favorites will save your life and lower your stress
- I may use too many favorites but, if you ask me, the power to pause the game, collect your thoughts and grab the right spell at the right time is a god-send. Put most of your spells in favorites. It sounds counter-intuitive but you don't wanna chance getting an Autosave during a very bad moment while losing a boss-fight by bringing up the general menu and having the game save for you. While we're on the topic, multiple saves are a must as well.
Practice weaker abilities on weaker foes (mudcrabs, wolves, etc) and go with your best stuff in boss, arena-type situations
- This will teach you how to point and shoot better and level up your skills. Have fun with it! Try to kill multiple fast-moving wolves with one low powered spell. This is a great way to improve your targeting skills (I'm on PS3 - keyboard + mouse IS cheating). Learn how much damage each spell can do. You're a mage. Learn your craft.
Use the real elements of magic
- Tables, pillars, large rocks, bodies of water (you know, the elements!) are great for playing a friendly game of keep-away. Run around the table dropping frost runes or wall of frost and watch the baddies drop like flies. Use your favorite elements, of course.
Conjuration isn't my strong suit so I only use it to RAISE AN ARMY worthy of an Age of Empires tournament
- Send in the army... one by one. Here's a zombie! Here's another one! And another! I could do this all day.
Did I save?
Spray low to get more AOE damage. Aim high to do more direct bodily damage
Also, one hand Healing and Destruction and stay with your enemy provided they can't one or two shot you.
Magicka to Health 4:1
- Not so much a rule, but for me, every four times I do Magicka I definitely put one into Health. Even as High-elf I go through a lot of magicka. Magicka is your friend and magicka regen is your lover. Remember this.
This may not be the best method for you but I don't use helpers
- If I can't conjure another one I will just wind up with another person to kill. Why? 'Cause I shoot spells all over the place and I don't care who gets burnt. Which usually pisses off my companions and they wind up turning on me. Plus this is about me and my magicka. Magicka is my side-kick.
This post was dedicated to my gf at the College of Winterhold, Faralda. Ugly as sin but she keeps me going. You archmages know what I'm talkin' 'bout.
Keep moving. Sprint away, jump on a ledge, go behind pillars, chairs, tables. Let your magicka regenerate, turn around and do some more damage to the enemy, sprint away, and whittle em down.
Also try and use traps that are in the dungeon on enemies, not only will they inflict damage on you but others as well.
I recommend taking the horse carriage to the Mages College at Winterhold, so you can get some good magic gear and improved spells.
During battle, use all your options:
- Before attacking, buff up. Get defensive spells going, quaff a potion that speeds up health/magicka regeneration.
- Start with sneaking and land a poison arrow in their chest.
- Immediately conjure something to hide behind
- Attack the enemies, using magick, potions and shouts
- When out of health/magicka, either use potions or retreat and hide for a bit.
As a mage, remember:
- You are dependant on your spells. So don't forget to learn them!
- Choose fire/frost/shock depending on the situation.
- Most magical equipment will be better than armor for a mage.
- When leveling, always choose magicka. Always.