Druid
Wood Elf - Staff - Clothing - Light - Conjurer - Mage
Background
Druids are divine spellcasters who receive their spells from nature, not the gods. They strive to live in harmony with the natural world, and hate anything that is not part of the natural cycle, especially daedra and undead creatures.
Weapons
Three wooden staves enchanted with Chain Lightning, Icy Spear and Wall of Flames.
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 progress to Elven when you are able. The green common robes from Ghosts of the Tribunal are used once you have light armor at 100 and all the perks as before that you do not hit the 80% damage reduction cap as this build just sneaks over it towards the end.
Spells
Paralysis Rune from Alteration and some utility spells. Conjure Familiar and Pride of Hirstaang from Conjuration. Elemental damaging spells of all elements from Destruction. Healing spells and Poison Rune from Restoration. Use Elemental Flare before you get the staves crafted.
Standing Stones
The Steed Stone for weightless armour and extra carrying capacity.
Shrines
Use a shrine of Talos for the 20% shout cooldown reduction.
Shouts
Animal Allegiance (Animal - Allegiance - Pack)
Location: Angarvunde, Ancient’s Ascent, Ysgrammor’s Tomb (Companions quest chain).
Simmon nearby animals to assist you in combat.
Call Storm (Storm – Wrath - Lightning)
Location: Forelhost, High Gate Ruins, Skuldafn Temple (The World-Eater’s Eyrie)
Summons a storm that does lightning bolt damage in an area. Only works outside.
Cyclone (Wind - Unleash - Strike)
Location: JBenkongerike, Kolbjorn Barrow (Unearthed), White Ridge Sanctum
Used to flip enemies up into the air
Kyne's Peace (Kyne - Peace - Trust)
Location: Ragnvald, Shroud Hearth Barrow, Rannveig’s Fast
Used to pacify animals but it doesn't work on Trolls.
Unrelenting Force (Force - Balance - Push)
Location: Just follow the main story quests
Staggers enemies but it's replaced by Cyclone.
Whirlwind Sprint (Whirlwind - Fury - Tempest)
Location: Dead Men’s Respite, Volskygge, High Hrothgar (The Way of the Voice)
Use to reach otherwise inaccessible places and to quickly evade attacks or catch up with fleeing enemies.
Character Creation
Female Wood Elf
Pick a Wood Elf for the race as this allows you to have a greater power to control an animal for 60 seconds once a day and they can reach the cap for poison resistance with a perk.
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. All Dwemer Automatons count as Male.
Attribute Distribution
Distribute attributes at a ratio of 1/1/0. At level 62 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 410 (525) | 400 (515) | 100 |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for Wood Elves are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration | 7 | Archery +10 | 0 | Alchemy +5 | 11 |
| Conjuration | 9 | Block | 0 | Light Armor +5 | 5 |
| Destruction | 9 | Heavy Armor | 0 | Lockpicking +5 | 0 |
| Enchanting | 8 | One-handed | 0 | Pickpocket +5 | 0 |
| Illusion | 0 | Smithing | 4 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration | 9 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech | 0 |
| Total | 41 | Total | 4 | Total | 16 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 7
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Magic Resistance 3/3
Adept Alteration
Stability
Enchanting 8
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Conjuration 9
Novice Conjuration
Apprentice Conjuration
Adept Conjuration
Expert Conjuration
Summoner 2/2
Atromancy
Elemental Potency
Twin Souls
Destruction 9
Novice Destruction
Augmented Flames 2/2
Augmented Frost 2/2
Augmented Shock 2/2
Apprentice Destruction
Rune Master
Restoration 8
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Necromage
Warrior Skills
Smithing 4
Steel Smithing
Elven Smithing
Advanced Armors
Glass Smithing
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 11
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Poisoner
Concentrated Poison
Green Thumb
Snakeblood
Light Armor 5
Agile Defender 5/5
Spells
Alteration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight | Novice | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds |
| Paralysis Rune | Adept | Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilising them for 8 seconds |
| Transmute | Adept | Transmute one piece of unrefined Iron Ore to Silver, or Silver Ore to Gold, if the caster is carrying any |
| Telekinesis | Adept | Can pull an object to you from distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it |
| Waterbreathing | Adept | Can breathe under water for 60 seconds. Stand in water and cast to level Alteration. |
Get training from Dravynea at Kynesgrove to get Alteration to 50 and with Adept Alteration you can cast Waterbreathing when in water to level Alteration.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Novice | Summons a familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing |
| Soul Trap | Apprentice | If a target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem |
| Pride of Hirstaang | Expert | Summons a Bear for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing. Resist 50% of frost damage for 60 seconds. Health regenerates 50% faster for 60 seconds |
Use Soul Trap to fill soul gems and level conjuration quickly. Taking nocice conjuration early helps as you can use the Familiar to distract enemies while you damage them with spells and later do the same with the bears from Pride of Hirstaang.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental Flare | Novice | An elemental explosion for 15 points of magic damage and half as much stamina. Deals shock damage on impact |
| Elemental Bolt | Apprentice | An elemental explosion for 20 points of magic damage and half as much stamina. Deals shock damage on impact |
| Elemental Burst | Adept | An elemental explosion for 30 points of magic damage and half as much stamina. Deals shock damage on impact |
| Elemental Blast | Expert | An elemental explosion for 40 points of magic damage and half as much stamina. Deals shock damage on impact |
| Unbounded Storms | Expert | Targets in melee range take 40 shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. Random lightning strikes deal an additional 30 damage |
Unbounded Storms is purely used as a means to speed the levelling of Destruction by casting and using fast travel.
Important: You also need the Chain Lightning, Ice Spear and Wall of Flames spells to make the custom staves at a staff enchanter. I used the one at Tel Mithryn as thats where you can buy the unenchanted staves but it is locked behind a few short quests before you can use it.
Illusion
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Courage | Novice | Target won't flee for 60 seconds, and gets some extra health and stamina. |
Courage can be used to level illusion by casting it at an NPC.
Restoration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Healing | Novice | Heals the caster 10 points per second |
| Healing Hands | Apprentice | Heals the target 10 points per second, but not undead, atronachs, or machines |
| Fast Healing | Apprentice | Heals caster by 50 points |
| Close Wounds | Adept | Heals caster by 100 points |
| Poison Rune | Adept | Targets that fail to resist take 3 points of poison damage per second for 30 seconds |
| Grand Healing | Expert | Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs, machines or undead |
Just the healing spells from restoration and Poison Rune. Please be aware that Poison Rune is not very effective as a damage source on higher game difficulties but on lower game difficulties the poison does stack. However, the Destruction spells will still do more damage.
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.
Summary of combined effects
Destruction spells costs 92% less Magicka. Alteration, Conjuration and Restoration spells cost 46% less Magicka. Health and Magicka are increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 115% faster Resist 37% of all magical effects 69% resistance to fire| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Alteration | Alteration spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less | |
| Body | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Health | Health is increased by 115 points | |
| Feet | Fortify Carry Weight | Carrying capacity is increased by 86 points |
| Resist Fire | Grants 69% resistance to fire | |
| Hands | Fortify Carry Weight | Carrying capacity is increased by 86 points |
| Fortify Magicka | Magicka is increased by 115 points | |
| Amulet | Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Resist Magic | Resist 37% of magical effects | |
| Ring | Fortify Restoration | Destruction spells and enchantments cost 46% less |
| Fortify Magicka Regen | Magicka Regnerates 115% faster |
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
All the details for the potions and poisons are based on having all the listed alchemy perks, Alchemy at 100 and a set of crafting gear.Potion of Fortify Health
| Ingredients | Blue Mountain Flower, Lavender & Wheat | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Health | 170 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | 266 points restored | |
| Fortify Conjuration | Conjuration spells last 213% longer | |
You can get all the Blue Mountain Flowers and Lavender you need in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.
Potion of Fortify Destruction
| Ingredients | Glowing Mushroom, Snowberries & Steel-Blue Entoloma | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Destruction | 213% more damage for 60 seconds |
| Resist Frost | 128% for 60 seconds | |
| Resist Shock | 128% for 60 seconds | |
All the glowing mushrooms you need are at the farm. Snowberries are from around Windhelm. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravans
Potion of Fortify Magicka
| Ingredients | Mora Tapinella, Red Mountain Flower & Tundra Cotton | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Restore Magicka | 266 points restored |
| Fortify Magicka | 170 points for 60 seconds | |
Mora Tapinella are on tree stumps between Helgen and Whiterun. Red Mountain Flowers are all around Skyrim. Tundra Cotton are around Whiterun.
Potion of Fortify Enchanting
| Ingredients | Dreugh Wax/Stoneflower Petals & Snowberries | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Enchanting | 85% stronger for 30 seconds |
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
| Ingredients | Dreugh Wax/Gold Kanet & Glowing Mushrooms | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Smithing | 213% stronger for 30 seconds |
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.
Ingredients Needed
6 x Blue Mountain Flower 5 x Glowing Mushroom 6 x Lavender 3 x Mora Tapinella 3 x Red Mountain Flower 6 x Snowberries 7 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 3 x Tundra Cotton 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
42 x Potions of Forify Health 49 x Potions of Fortify Destruction21 x Potions of Fortify Magicka
Main Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 7 | 21 + 7 = 28 | 42 + 7 = 49 |
| Glowing Mushrooms (5) | 5 | 25 + 5 = 30 | 50 + 5 = 55 |
| Snowberries (4) | 6 | 24 + 6 = 30 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
| Mora Tapinella (3) | 3 | 9 + 3 = 12 | 18 + 3 = 21 |
| Red Mountain Flower (3) | 3 | 9 + 3 = 12 | 18 + 3 = 21 |
| Tundra Cotton (3) | 3 | 9 + 3 = 12 | 18 + 3 = 21 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 40 + 5 = 45 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |