Archmage

High Elf - Staff - Clothing - Light - Mage

Background

Archmages are the most advanced practitioners in the art of magic. They have mastered all the schools of magic and have a vast array of spells at their disposal.

Weapons

The Staff of Magnus is used and this absorbs 20 magicka per second, which switches to health once the target has no magicka. You will need a supply of filled soul gems to keep this charged, although it has more charges thanks to the Fortify Alteration and Restoration armour enchantments.

The staff is acquired towards the end of the College of Winterhold quest chain.

Armor

The Leather Scout set should be crafted as soon as you can, as it’s the best armour that uses just leather and it doesn’t require any smithing perks. Then gather a set of Scaled Armor which can be acquired for free with 3 items from the mudcrab infested area to the south east of Gjukar’s Monument and the helmet from Lost Echo Cave, which is west from Solitide, North past Statue of Meridia and then west along the road.

The final armour is Morokei, Arch-Mage’s Robes, Scaled Boots and Gauntlets.

Morokei and then the Arch-Mage’s Robes are found by following the College of Winterhold faction quests.

If you don’t play with the unofficial patch then you can wear the Archmage Robes and Morokai at the same time. If you do play with it then they cannot be worn together but a hoodless version of the Archmage Robes is available in the Archmage’s room so you can wear Morokai with this version. However, the hoodless version does not have the 50 Magicka but Morokai is patched to include the missing Fortify Shouts enchantments. So without the patch you get 50 extra magicka and with it you get a 20% cooldown reduction on shouts.

Spells

Utility spells and Paralyze from Alteration. Conjure Ayleid from Conjuration. All 4 of the elemental spells that benefit cumulatively from all 6 Augmented perks from Destruction. Fear spells from Illusion. Healing spells from Restoration.

Standing Stones

The Atronach Stone for 50% spell absorption, 50 Magicka but -50% magicka regeneration.

Shrines

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

Shouts

Character Creation

Female High Elf

High Elf get a 35/35 boosted skill points with the racial abilities of extra 50 Magicka and the ability to rapidly replenish Magicka, which makes them very well suited for this 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 67 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for High Elves 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.

Conjuration

The Cause Creation adds the Conjure Ayleid Lich spell. You will get a message delivered by courier at level 46 to start this quest. The Spellbook for it can be crafted at the Atronach Forge in the midden underneath the College of Winterhold. The materials are a Great Welkynd Stone, Ruined Book and a Salt Pile. The Consequences quest needs to be completed before you can make the spellbook as the Great Welkynd Stone is a quest item up until that point and cannot be removed from your inventory. The spell will also not get absorbed by spell absorption, which is why this build features it.

Destruction

I uses Elemental Flare until I had my crafting gear made and then I had some Fortify Destruction enchants to reduce magicka cost usage.

Illusion

Courage can be used to level illusion by casting it at an NPC.

Restoration

Just the healing spells from Restoration. Circle of Protection can also be used when you have some Spell Absorption as a means to regenerate magicka. It is quicker just to pop a potion with Restore Magicka though.

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

All the ingredients are in or around Whiterun.

Potion of Fortify Destruction

7 Glowing Mushrooms can be found in the secret lab at the farm but you need 8 and additional ones can be found just inside the entrance of Shimmermist Cave to the North East of Whiterun. Nightshade can be found at the Hall of the Dead and in front of Arcadia’s Cauldron in Whiterun.

Potion of Fortify Carry Weight

Mora Tapinella are on the route from Helgen to Whiterun. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead and around Riften. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravan 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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