Spellcasters in Bethesda's Elder Scrolls games serve as some of the most powerful beings in existence. After all, in Tamriel, spellcasters can manipulate the very fabric of existence to create illusions, manipulate the elements, and summon various beings. Moreover, players of modern Elder Scrolls games like Skyrim know in-depth how powerful the world's eight magic schools are, each possessing their own unique spells and effects. Skilled mages can easily overpower most enemies in the game with just a few select spells.

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However, players who want to maximize their characters know building a spellcaster also relies on the right numbers. Players who want to fully optimize their spellcaster builds might want to focus on certain perks that enhance their spells' potency and efficiency.

10 Recovery (Restoration)

Player using a Restoration spell

Spellcasters who focus too much on firepower could likely die easily with a few hits or find themselves lacking Magicka to cast spells. To remedy that, investing in 60 Restoration could easily grant spellcasters with the Recovery Perk, a valuable asset for their sustainability.

With two ranks in Recovery, players get a 50-percent speed boost when recovering Magicka. This advantage alone is crucial, allowing casters to regain Magicka much faster and thus keep a steady flow of spells coming during dicey combat encounters.

9 Augmented (Destruction)

Mage channeling lightning

Spellcasters who want to dish out the most damage are likely more than well aware that Destruction is the best magic school for their needs. The diverse effects of Fire, Frost, and Shock-based spells can change the tide of battle easily. Long and short of it, Fire-based spells cost less Magicka but deal damage-over-time and increase damage taken by the target. Meanwhile, Frost-based spells deal damage to both Health and Stamina while slowing targets. Lastly, Shock-based spells are great for fighting other mages, as they'll deplete the target's Magicka alongside their health.

Players should focus on boosting one kind of Destruction damage type to maximize their benefits. With the help of Augmented Perks, players can cause certain elemental spells to add up to 50-percent damage boost against opponents.

8 Dual-Casting (Destruction)

In Skyrim, Dual-Casting means casting a spell with both hands. While this doesn't ordinarily add any enhancements to a spell, certain Perks can "overcharge" spells in this manner and boost their effects. Granted, opting to Dual-Cast certain spells can cost around 40-percent more Magicka, making it an impractical choice for starters.

However, players can maximize their Dual-Casting opportunities by being able to reduce the cost of Destruction spells to zero or near those numbers. That way, players can use Dual-Cast to get a Destruction spell boost without costing any Magicka. Players who want a Destruction-centric build could also purchase the Master Destruction Perk (which halves the Magicka cost of Master-level Destruction spells) to maximize Dual-Casting for this school.

7 Impact (Destruction)

Mage channeling a ray of energy

Despite the extra Magicka cost for Dual-Casting, earning 40 Destruction to get Impact can actually amp up a spellcaster's arsenal of Destruction spells. Thanks to Impact, most of the Destruction spells that players use can actually stagger opponents. This factor can be extremely beneficial against bosses and harder opponents, as staggering them with spells can pause their assault and give players enough time to reassess their situation.

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Likewise, more offensive spellcasters can use Impact's stagger and Recovery (Restoration) to regain Magicka quickly for another staggering round of spells.

6 Summoner (Conjuration)

Player using Conjuration for summoning

Spellcasters who want less offensive-oriented builds might opt for Conjuration spells instead, which they can use to summon various creatures to fight on their behalf. Essentially, Conjuration transforms mages into summoners. With Conjuration, players can summon Familiars, Zombies, Revenants, Dremora, and even Atronachs. Interestingly, Conjuration can also summon weapons that players can use in battle — some of which are even stronger than conventional weapons.

However, players who want to maximize their summoning potential should invest in both ranks of Summoner, which they can obtain at 70 Conjuration. With this Perk, they can unlock various Atronach summons or raise more undead at a large distance.

5 Twin Souls (Conjuration)

Skyrim Summoner

Players who want full summoner builds should tap into Conjuration's Twin Souls Perk. Granted, they can only obtain this perk at 100 Conjuration. However, this Perk does enable players to summon two Atronachs or raise two reanimated zombies. These minions can easily turn the tide of battle, even for the short while that they're on the battlefield.

Twin Souls works best in tandem with Alteration spells that call on various allies as well. With these spells, players can have a small army fighting their battles for them.

4 Hypnotic Gaze (Illusion)

Skyrim mage casting frost spell

With Illusion spells, players can twist the environment around them to make targets believe what they want. More potent Illusion spells such as Fury, Calm, Fear, and Frenzy can manipulate enemies into various situations.

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Players facing a tough opponent can find room to recuperate with Calm. With this spell, enemies affected won't attack for half a minute. This spell gives casters enough room to run away, recover, or prepare their spells for an inevitable rematch. With the Hypnotic Gaze Perk, Calm spells can work on much stronger opponents, enabling players to escape even the toughest encounters.

3 Rage (Illusion)

Mage fighting other spellcasters

Why should players cast damaging spells or summon creatures when their enemies can fight each other? Spells like Frenzy and Mayhem can cause NPCs to attack any nearby creatures in a fit of rage, including their own allies. Moreover, the Illusion's Rage Perk can affect higher-level opponents with Frenzy spells, essentially making enemies pick themselves off before the player finishes the battle.

In turn, Rage becomes an especially useful spell for spellcaster builds that want to rely on stealth and subterfuge. After all, clearing a dungeon of enemies by forcing enemies to kill each other from afar is nothing short of diabolical.

2 Magic Resistance (Alteration)

Skyrim mage wearing magic armor

Despite the efficiency of some spells, it's important for spellcasters to get adequate defense. However, defense isn't just about protection against melee attacks. Rather, spellcasters need adequate defense against other mages as well. With Alteration's Magic Resistance, players can get valuable defensive boosts against spell effects.

Magic Resistance, on its first level, can grant 10-percent of a spell's effects. However, three ranks in Magic Resistance can grant up to 30-percent protection from a spell's effects. This benefit can become extremely useful when paired with something like a shield with sufficient Block for Elemental Protection.

1 Stability (Alteration)

Mage casting an Alteration spell

Aside from Conjuration, Alteration serves as a great alternative to non-combative spellcaster builds. Alteration has spells allotted that can teleport pet followers to the user. These pet followers can add tremendous firepower to a spellcaster's team of summons.

Moreover, Alteration's Stability Perk can prolong the duration of Alteration spells by half, which becomes a great boost for summon-based Alteration spells. Additionally, other Alteration spells can add handy knick-knacks such as boosted defense, detection of various creatures, and even paralysis — all of which can benefit from the Stability Perk's prolonged duration.

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