I have seen lots of threads complaining about how Destruction is under powered. So, I decided to create a little guide showing you why it is not. Let me make some assumptions before explaining how can you play with destruction:

Destruction does less damage because it is rare to find enemies resistant to every element.

When you play with a melee character, you will notice that the real damage you deal is not the same damage presented on your weapon. That's because enemies have defense. If you use the Shout "Marked for Dead" you will notice a gigantic boost in your damage output especially against the strongest enemies. However, destruction lets you use Fire, Frost and Shock damage. The only creature that I am aware of that can resist all the 3 elements are Giants (33% resistance to magic). Sure, there are some creatures resistant to, say, Frost. But you can use Fire against them. Even better, there are tons of creatures that happen to have weakness to Fire. That means your Fire spells have a "natural boost" against them.

Destruction can be used as a long-range skill.

This is really useful because you can kill enemies without ever being hit. But archery does that, doesn't it? There are two main reasons why Destruction beats Archery:

- Speed. Bows deliver arrows very slowly. Spells can hit the target twice, if thrice as fast as arrows.

- Area of effect. Arrows hit the target and nothing more. Some spells hit enemies close to the target.

Now, I'm going to present you some suggestions of how you can make destruction your main source of dealing damage.

Use Enchanting

This is a no-brainer. Reduce the cost of the spells almost to 0.

Use Conjuration

You should summon atronaches to have some back up. If you are using fire, summon a Flame Atronach - she is going to deal some damage and is immune to Fire Spells which means no friendly fire. That same logic applies to Frost Atronaches and Storm Atronaches.

Use Alchemy

This is the key for every Destruction Mage. Craft some Fortify Destruction potions. With 100 Alchemy, 5/5 alchemist perk, and Benefactor you get something like:

Destruction spells are 75% stronger for 60 seconds.

However, don't stop here. Make use of your Enchanting Skill. Enchant a Necklace, a Ring, some Gloves and a Helmet/Hat with 25% fortify Alchemy. It will grant you something like:

Destruction spells are 150% stronger for 60 seconds.

That is INSANE! Some of you may ask: can't melee characters do the same. Indeed, they can. But they cannot make poisons to weaken the enemy.

With just 100 Alchemy, 5/5 alchemist and poisoner you can craft this:

Target is 45% weaker to fire/frost/shock damage for 30 seconds.

Or with enchanted gear:

Target is 90% weaker to fire/frost/shock damage for 30 seconds.

Not satisfied? These effects are cumulative with this one:

Target is 30% weaker to magic for 30 seconds.

And with enchanted gear:

Target is 60% weaker to magic for 30 seconds.

With those poisons, your damage will increase. And the damage of your atronaches too!

You can use a bound bow to deliver the poison to your enemy (good thing you invested in Conjuration).

Make use of your perks:

Augmented Flames, Augmented Frost and Augmented Shock give you a nice 50% damage boost. If you use Shock, you can also choose to invest in disintegrate because it effectively reduces the Health of your enemies by 15%.

And impact:

Use Wall of Flames / Wall of Frost / Wall of Storms on the ground. Then continuously stun the enemy with Incinerate / Ice Spear / Thunderbolt when the enemy is at the Wall's range. That means you can deal damage from 3 sources: You, the ground, and your atronach (4 sources if you have Twin Souls). Add the potions and the poisons and the damage output becomes INSANE!

All other builds work like that too. I have never seen a character effectively surviving with one skill.

What level are you playing on to use destruction as you stated? Just curious.

I really like how the op shows just how bad vanilla destruction really is.

You need 3 skills (at max) to do 1 thing, you consume resources alot (potions weigh and you have limited amount of them) and you are squishy. On top of that you utilize very cheesy tactics to win (stagger spam, 100% mana cost reduction).

Prepare for the naysayers OP. Look, there's one above me already, flinging illogical statements about.

Kudos on the write up and best of luck in your Skyrim adventures.

Don't use magic. The only good one is Restoration, and only because you do not really fight with it. Stick to warrior/assassin/thief skills.

^This^ I set out to make a destruction character recently and ended up using illusion, Alteration and enchanting alongside it.

Illusion can supplement thieves and assassins. Alteration can help warriors with stoneflesh etc. Enchanting improves your armour whilst giving you bonuses. Destruction is the only one you actually fight with.

I think you should report you for flamebaiting.

First where do I say "no" to the op? If I where to make a (vanilla) destruction mage I would do exactly like op suggests.

Second how is my post illogical? If you drink a potion ingame I call it consuming resources. You say I'm illogical?

you are just as effective without those skills though.

Magic=underrated.

I said that they could supplement those character builds, you can do without them but to me a thief with illusion is better than one without.

Destruction magic is very powerful. The only explanation I can find for why these [censored] have a hard time using it is because they never got it to lvl 100, forgot to get the augmented perks and didn't learn the Expert and Master spells.

Expert and master lvl spells actually use more mana per damage not to meantion the long cast time on master lvl spells.

By the time I unlock Adept level for destruction, my enchanting is at 100. And by using enchanted items with a 100% reduction cost, destruction is extremely powerful and effective. Thats really all you need in my opinion.

That's what the cost reduction enchantment is there for.

The master lvl spells only take 3~5 seconds to charge.

In enemy encounters, your foes don't start off in melee range already. They often have to run in your direction. That's enough time to cast it before they get close.

Lightning Storm is very useful against dragons, because they don't have any attacks that cause stagger. It's the fastest way to take an Ancient Dragon down.

You're welcome to do just that, if you feel it is necessary.

But yes, your statements are by and large illogical. The only offensive skill that can, and even highly questionably, get by without a secondary or third skill is archery.

One handed or two handed warriors are less viable than a destruction mage if both candidates solely rely on that ONE skillset each.

In my opinion, magic skills are the best set of support skills out there. (Destruction being one of the most flexible IMO)

Long range, short range, special effects, duration...

Lots going for it.

Using destruction by itself isn't any different to using one handed by itself.

You're going to be weak in at least some manner when compared to builds that use multiple support skills.

I personally can't be bothered with potions a lot of the time. Too fiddly. And I only enchant to about 70% cost reduction.

I still love destruction.

Good post @ OP

And here is where I stop reading. Magic in this game is more support for the warrior and assassin/thief skills.

Currently at level 47, playing on Legendary. Though I admit, I need mods to expand favorite hotkeys for all the things I use.

Notice how I said "Reduce the cost of the spells almost to 0." Almost to.

I don't like 100% reduction. And impact is not a cheesy tactic if you use it correctly, as I demonstrated on the article. Seriously why all the hate with impact? Can't a Warrior just bash people to death? It's the same story. You have the option to do so, that does not mean you have to play like that.

In fact, I am playing with a mod that causes Diminishing Returns to stun. 3/4 consecutive stuns and the enemy becomes immune to it for some seconds.

I agree with you as far as impact goes. If I use frenzy on a group of bandits and the bandit chief happens to get by my atronach or whatever I have summoned and is charging at me, of course Im going to use impact.

The difference is, with Destruction, which by its very name is a COMBAT MAGIC SCHOOL, you are sure stuck with the utility of the impact perk.

Only if you duel cast.