Jade Phoenix Mage
High Elf - Sword - Clothing - Light - Dual Wield - Battlemage
Background
A fellowship of swordsages, known as the Jade Phoenix, took up the study of magic to find a new martial discipline. They achieved supernatural perfection in their martial maneuvers by incorporate the arcane art of fire magic.
Weapons
Any sword at the start of the game. The final weapons are two Glass Swords, whihc you can make once you have the Glass Smithing perk.
Armor
Craft a set of Leather Scout Armor at the start of the game. 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 gear is a Gold and Emerald Circlet or a Jade and Emerald Circlet, College Robes, Glass Boots and Gauntlets. A Gold and Emerald Ring and a Gold Amulet complete the look and they can both be crafted.
The College Robes and Gold and Emerald Circlet can be bought from Radiant Raiment in Solitude.
The boots and gauntlets can be crafted once you have the Glass Smithing perk with 2 Leather, 4 Leather Strips, 3 Refined Malachite and 2 Refined Moonstone.
Spells
Mage armor and utility spells from Alteration, Fire cloak spells and Firestorm from Destruction and Restoration for heals.
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
Become Ethereal (Fade - Spirit - Bind)
Location: Ironbind Barrow, Lost Valley Redoubt, Ustengrav (Horn of Jurgen Windcaller).
Allows you to become temporarily invulnerable while also using no stamina while running. It is used to cast Fire Storm without being staggered in this build.
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 High Elf
Dark Elves come out on top for skill boosts in this build on 25/35 but I went with High Elf instead as they are joint second on 20/25 with Wood Elf but I wanted to do an Elven Armor and crossbow build and that seems to fit the looks of a High Elf better. The 50 Magicka from the High Elf allowed me to switch a Fortify Magicka enchantment on the gear to a Fortify Carry Weight, which is more useful for the build with it having a low Stamina to Health ratio on the attributes.
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 0 / 2 / 1. At level 62 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:
| Magicka | Health | Stamina |
|---|---|---|
| 100 (315) | 510 (625) | 300 (415) |
Perk Point Distribution
The skill boosts for High Elves are marked in bold.
| Mage | Warrior | Rogue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration +5 | 10 | Archery | 0 | Alchemy | 7 |
| Conjuration +5 | 0 | Block | 0 | Light Armor | 7 |
| Destruction +5 | 5 | Heavy Armor | 0 | Lockpicking | 0 |
| Enchanting +5 | 9 | One-handed | 10 | Pickpocket | 0 |
| Illusion +10 | 0 | Smithing | 4 | Sneak | 0 |
| Restoration +5 | 9 | Two-handed | 0 | Speech | 0 |
| Total | 33 | Total | 14 | Total | 14 |
Skills and Perks
Mage Skills
Alteration 10
Novice Alteration
Apprentice Alteration
Adept Alteration
Expert Alteration
Alteration Dual Casting
Magic Resistance 3/3
Stablity
Atronach
Destruction 5
Novice Destruction
Destruction Dual Casting
Augmented Fire 2/2
Intense Flames
Enchanting 9
Enchanter 5/5
Insightful Enchanter
Corpus Enchanter
Extra Effect
Fire Enchanter
Restoration 9
Novice Restoration
Apprentice Restoration
Adept Restoration
Expert Restoration
Regeneration
Recovery 2/2
Respite
Necromage
Warrior Skills
One-handed 10
Armsman 5/5
Fighting Stance
Savage Strike
Dual Flurry 2/2
Dual Savagery
Smithing 4
Steel Smithing
Elven Smithing
Advanced Armors
Glass Smithing
Rogue Skills
Alchemy 7
Alchemist 5/5
Physician
Benefactor
Light Armor 7
Agile Defender 5/5
Custom Fit
Unhindered
Spells
Alteration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candlelight | Novice | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds |
| Oakflesh | Novice | Improves the caster’s armor by 40 points for 60 seconds |
| Stoneflesh | Apprentice | Improves the caster’s armor by 60 points for 60 seconds |
| Detect Life | Adept | Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or Daedra, can be seen through walls |
| SIronflesh | Apprentice | Improves the caster’s armor by 80 points for 60 seconds |
| 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. |
| Ebonyflesh | Expert | Improves the caster’s armor by 100 points for 60 seconds |
The Detect Life spellbook can be obtained in Whiterun by taking to the Steward in Dragonsreach and following the quest to the Stables.
Conjuration
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Conjure Familiar | Novice | Summons a familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing |
Conjuration is not needed in the build but you could use conjure familiar to help tank enemies for you in the early levels.
Destruction
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flames | Novice | A gout of fire inflicting a base damage of 8 points of fire damage per second |
| Flame Cloak | Adept | For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points of damage per second |
| Mara's Wrath | Expert | For 30 seconds, opponents in melee range take 16 points fire damage per second. Undead up to level 26 flee for 30 seconds |
| 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 |
| Fire Storm | Master | A 100 point fiery explosion centered on the caster. Does more damage to closer targets |
Unbounded Storms is purely used as a means to speed the levelling of Destruction by casting and using fast travel.
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 |
| Fast Healing | Apprentice | Heals caster by 50 points |
| Close Wounds | Adept | Heals caster by 100 points |
| Grand Healing | Expert | Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs, machines or undead |
Just the healing spells from Restoration.
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
Weapon uses no charges. Destruction spells cost no Magicka. Alteration and Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast. Health, Magicka and Stamina are increased by 115 points. Magicka regenerates 10% faster. :ight Armor skill is increased by 92 points. Resist 37% of all magical effects. 86% resistance to fire| Item | Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells cost 46% less to cast. |
| Fortify Restoration | Restoration spells cost 46% less to cast. | |
| Body | Fortify Destruction & Magicka Regen | Destruction spells cost 28% less to cast. Magicka regenerates 10% faster. |
| Fortify Health | Health is increased by 115 points. | |
| Feet | Fortify Stamina | Stamina is increased by 115 points. |
| Resist Fire | Grants 86% resistance to fire. | |
| Hands | Fortify Light Armor | Increases Light Armor skill by 46 points. |
| Fortify Magicka | Increases your Magicka by 115 points. | |
| Amulet | Fortify Light Armor | Increases Light Armor skill by 46 points. |
| Resist Magic | Resist 37% of all magic. | |
| Ring | Fortify Alteration | Alteration spells cost 46% less to cast. |
| Fortify Destruction | Destruction spells cost 46% less to cast. | |
| Sword 1 | Fire Damage | Target takes 85 points of fire damage. Targets on fire take extra damage |
| Absorb Health | Absorb 55 points of Health | |
| Sword 2 | Fire Damage | Target takes 85 points of fire damage. Targets on fire take extra damage |
| Absorb Stamina | Absorb 69 points of Stamina |
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 & Wheat | |
|---|---|---|
| Effects | Fortify Health | Health is increased by 170 points for 60 seconds |
| Restore Health | Restores 266 points of Health | |
You can get all the Blue Mountain Flowers 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 | Destruction spells are 213% stronger for 60 seconds |
| Resist Frost | Resists 128% of frost damage for 60 seconds | |
| Resist Shock | Resists 128% of shock damage for 60 seconds | |
Get 2 Glowing Mushrooms just inside Shimmermist Cave to the north east of Winterhold and the remaining 7 are in the secret lab at the farm. Go back to Helgen and take the path towards Ivarstead and gather all the Snowberries you need from there. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit merchants
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 9 x Glowing Mushrooms 11 x Snowberries 13 x Steel-Blue Entoloma 5 x WheatPotions and Poisons Produced
24 x Potions of Forify Health 52 x Potions of Fortify DestructionMain Area (27)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel-Blue Entoloma (3) | 13 | 39 + 13 = 52 | 78 + 13 = 91 |
| Wheat (4) | 5 | 20 + 5 = 25 | 90 + 9 = 99 |
| Glowing Mushrooms (5) | 9 | 45 + 9 = 54 | 48 + 6 = 54 |
Side Area (11)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowberries (4) | 11 | 44 + 11 = 55 | 88 + 11 = 99 |
Planters (6)
| Ingredient | Qty | Harvest | Green Thumbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Flowers (3) | 6 | 18 + 6 = 24 | 36 + 6 = 42 |