Fire, Frost or Shock? - That is the question, but what is the answer?

When I started this playthrough with my Nord warrior I had always planned to eventually use magic. Once I had gotten to skill level 100 in Block it was always my intention to go into legendary and get my perk points back, and now I have, and now my character has gone from a warrior to a sort of battle mage. It's going well so far, and I'm enjoying it, but I have gotten to the stage where I need to make a decision. I have to choose one of the three elements to invest perk points in. Investing in all three seems like a waste to be honest, as I'm also using alteration and restoration magic so I have to be choosy.

So guys, I'd like to hear your opinions on which element I should go for?

I personally prefer shock but that's just because it works so well against mages and I do so hate enemy mages.

But if you want to do some real good - go with frost. In general it slows everyone down and lets you stay further back to cast your bigger spells. Don't get me wrong, fire is nice since it does burn damage but all you'll have then is not just an enemy coming at you... but an 'on fire' enemy coming at you sword raised and still ready to kick your face in with their great axe while your dikeing around trying to figure out which spell to cast next. ^^

I was leaning towards the Shock element to be honest. As there are less people immune to shock than there are fire or frost, and generally the spells are a lot faster. I'm also going to be starting the Dragonborn DLC for the first time with this character, where I have heard that there is some pretty cool stuff to find which is beneficial to mages. Aren't there a lot of fire based enemies in that add-on as well? Could be another reason why I shouldn't choose that element..

Shock is pretty nice... It makes me feel like a Sith.. I always feel like I have to say "Feel the power of the dark side!!>≈o... Even though... I'm.. Quite. The opposite" xD

I lean towards frost more than anything. Seems like most enemies i encounter are sword wielding and are always charging at me. Frost will definately slow them down.

Shock for me. Nothing makes me feel moar powahful then having lightning coming from my fingers. Frost is good for slowing people down and fire is good for blowing [censored] up.

I think fire is way cooler than shock or frost. But shock is definitely superior if you have to pick one. Shock spells cost more magicka but you'll hardly miss any, unlike fire.

I can think of three NPC types that resist Shock, and two of them are individuals with a name.

Frost, half of everything in the Game has a resistance to it, but the slow effect tends to be ignored by many Players. Being owned by a Dwemer Automaton is not fun.

Fire, can be the most cost effective. Flame Atronachs, half of the Dragons, Dunmer seem to ignore it. Oils Slicks and Gas traps are a hidden threat to a Pyromancer.

Most of My Mages use Shock, and Shock Ranged Spells do not have a travel time from Our character to an NPC like Frost and Flame.

Sock.

Only less than 5 NPC resist sock. Easy to hit enemies with, very fast and look cool.

The best Destruction element is a sword or bow.

Fire is the strongest with the Aspect of Terror perk and doesn't cost as much to cast as shock, it doesn't drain magic but I don't think that really works anyway as I've never zapped a mage and caused them to stop zapping me back.

Shock.

I tend to find all the elements a great use for pretty much all situations. But I find shock and frost to be the most useful.

First of all, I tend to poke everyone with a long range fireball coming right at them. If they charge, I send an obliterating storm of ice at them and oddly, they take the most damage from it. Though I shouldn't be surprised, I nearly get one shotted by a forsworn mage every time they cast ice storm at me. I almost never use fireball unless I am fighting in ice dragon or dealing with a group of people who haven't spotted me yet.

Then of course when it comes to a nice mage battle, I bring out a ward spell in my left hand and chain lightning in my right and have fun having a mage duel. I could easily just zap them away with an overcharge, but that would ruin the fun.

Hmm, strange. I've gotten quite a bunch of mages to deplete their magicka reserves just by shocking them and keeping a ward up. Not all are prone to this though since there are some mages beyond master level who tend to a vast amount of magicka and absorbing too.

Funny thing is with novice or apprentice level mages is sometimes when I electrocute all their magicka away, instead of coming at me with a dagger, they sometimes just sit there doing absolutely nothing until they regenerate all their magicka back. I found this happens with my second argonian when I have poisoned them with Lingering Damage Magicka too

I go shock. I like going all Palpatine on my enemies and it drains mages' magicka.

Either Fire or Shock. I personally prefer fire. Frost is one I wouldn't recommend since at least 85% of Skyrim resists it.

Technically, there's more now and Shock can be called Storm instead (Storm = Shock + Wind).

And I say Storm.

If you can't afford allocating points to the other two elements, I'd say go for shock. Otherwise, go for all of them and use the appropriate element for the given situation.

I've always mainly used shock since the game was released, I like the effects and it seems to be the one that does damage to just about everything.

Shock for me too. Annoying noise though.

I like shock the best because it's so helpful to be able to instantly hit enemies and the aforementioned scarcity of things that resist it. Also, disintegrating dragons ...and http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/579013736171547633/33AEE1006A022093673D40D911F34F6CA97325C3/.

I've just begun my new character today (well, technically yesterday since around an hour ;P), and so far I'm using all the elements. I'm a pure mage, though.

Usually I use Fire. If it's an opponent who comes at me fast and/or hits hard (thinking of strong guys/girls with two-handed weapons here), I use Frost... "No power attacks for you! *gg*". And for mages or enemies that I can't reliably hit with the other elements for some reason, I'll use Shock.

On a sidenote, I love SkyUI. As a mage even more than with my other chars. F1-F4 for three elements and a dagger in mainhand. 1-3 for healing, ward and fleshspell in offhand. <3

Ehm yeah. I'm drifting off topic here. ^^

Isnt fire the best due to the dragonborn ring. Frost is weakest due to natives. With terror, the ring and fire perks you are killing things faster and quicker and spending less magic

I'm in a stand-still between all three. Fire deals extra damage, but some emenies are resistant to it. Frost drains stamina, slows 'em down but nords are resistant to it. Shock drains magicka, and hits almost instantly, but has a shorter range.

The shorter range isn't much to worry though. Can still hit dragons flying above the city just fine.

Shock is too cool.