It may sound like an odd request but the most common way to avoid spells is simply to sidestep them so most players learn to aim at their enemy's feet so they'll be caught in the aoe. The ai never learns this lesson so whether it's a fire atronach or Almalexia the solution is always to sidestep.

No, but the Code Patch does have the option for "NPC AI casts zero cost powers. Allows NPCs to cast their races' powers, making fights significantly harder."

As advertised, this does make battle harder in some cases.


But really, TES games are as easy or hard as you make them


You can simply increase the difficulty, so that when you do get hit it hurts a lot more. (and your attacks do less damage.)

Or just don't allow yourself to sidestep spells that would normally hit you. Play as a warrior that rushes in blindly to kill his foes, without using cover. (save often)

no, but there are mods that increase the spell bolt speed to as fast as arrows

Yeah this is what I was about to recommend. It's not the fact that side stepping is the problem, it's just that it's far too easy to do. So this mod makes it so your chances of side stepping are slim unless you're The Flash.