Players can fire off these spells while still keeping a sword or shield in their other hand, addressing close and mid enemies in equal measure. Projectile spells like Fireball or Ice Spike can be fired with one hand, striking enemies at range. As the mage’s go-to for dealing damage, Destruction spells hurl fire, frost, and lightning at enemies, and serve as a colorful way to vary up combat encounters. Of Skyrim’s six magical skill trees, Destruction magic is the most straightforward.

Skill in Destruction has little bearing on the accessibility of spells, and this can make investing in the Destruction tree feel like a waste of perk points. Skyrim’s best magic spells can easily be found in loot chests or bought from merchants rather than earned through leveling. The province is dominated by traditionalist Nords who fear magic, associating it with the hated Thalmor, or the mistrustful wizards from the College of Winterhold.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim often feels like a video game that capitalizes on martial combat, despite the fact that there are some significant pros to using Destruction magic (in addition to its cons).

How to level destruction skyrim