I imagine this has been all over the forums somewhere (if anyone can give me a good thread with a Dev reply, please post the link). But it seems to me that magic in terms of offensive capability is useless. Destruction does not even come close to any weapon skill damage output. Add to this, it seems that spells do not carry the additional "sneak attack/ backstab" damage enhancement.

I have used a warrior type, crafted weapons, armor, etc. And I can use Restoration heals with Respite (stamina heal) to hammer night any number of foes into submission. Yet, as a mage, I get my *** handed to me on a regular basis. The usefulness of spell damage vs. magika cost is way out of balance next to any weapon output. Weapons can be boosted to 100% plus (if you add sneak attack damage) yet, spells cap at 50% plus a potion. I have to ask Beth ... WTF?

I use mainly destruction and have no issues, aside from running out of magicka if I chain cast high level spells. But if I do...I just use Equilibrium and Healing, while avoiding bastards for a few moments. The AoE and armor ignore features of spells are quite nice. Do you use armor that boosts magicka regen and amount, reduces spell cost, etc?

I don't really see a problem with it. I didn't go nuts with enchanting or anything and I destroy everything at my current level.

I know it will get harder around 45-50, but I don't think it will be that bad...

I don't think it's useless, it's my basic way of killing enemies, dual spells are especially powerful if you choose the right perk.I'm rarely running out of Magicka because I add points only to Magicka when I level up, I'm leaving health and stamina far behind.

Being not as strong as weapons is not the same as being useless. Sneak attack produces some pretty ridiculous output, but that's not to say it's the standard by which all should be judged.

Different skills should be different.

Yes, I use about the best magika regen rate & bonus magika I can get on armor/ robes. I normally take enchanting to 100 with the center line for 2 effects & craft what I find to the be the most useful.

Haven't played one myself but for the last 8 or so levels I used one of the wizard NPC's and he owns everything - unfortunately that often includes my dog, my horse and myself so I'm dropping him for now since i play a melee char, if I had been an archer he would have been good.

Yep destruction is useless. You cannot find uses for it.

No it doesn't compare to weapon damage when it is fully smithed + enchanted + potioned.

However at the same time anything you are fighting with destruction, and I mean ANYTHING, cannot fight back as it's permanently staggered. Unless of course you are one of those people that refuses to acknowledge the existence of enchanting.

Yeah, it's pretty useless. I don't like shooting something 20 times to kill it at max level Bethesda. Please fix this and make some way to increase spell damage, not just lower mana costs which is useless and boring. Also, the master spells are extremely useless so fix those as well. Also, I didn't even max smithing or enchanting yet, but already my sword and bow character destroy my mage character who I just stopped playing.

or unless, you are fighting 2 of anything

Fixed. Smithing+Chanting puts it well over alone. Potions just bumps it exponentially higher.

You're probably getting your but kicked becasue you have a warrior's mentality... I say this becasue I did, too.

When doing the College of Winterhold questline, I decided to mage up. Thus Destruction became my main source of attack... and I started getting my butt kicked. Then I started moving. See, as a warrior, you tank. You get right up to people and attack. As a mage this gets you killed. You need to keep moving in order to dodge attacks, and keep out of reach of melee. Without those high armor scores, you simply can't stand around for prolonged periods of time. That said, I do carry my trusty greatsword with me everywhere, just in case I run out of magicka while being attacked by a mob, since I got killed by a mob once... of course, since I started carrying my greatword around, I've never come into that particular situation again. Go figure.

Ice storm at 0 cost is awesome and easily chain staggers multiple enemies. Oddly I find it my most powerful spell right now, more than fireball or chain lightning. Although I use them all depending on the fight.

Destruction is alright. I own elder dragons and dragon priests no problem.

Haha, speaking of destruction. Was level 9 when the college guy sent me to get back some books from some rogue mages. When I got there, the bastards were casting Ward with one hand and fireballs with the other, being safe behind the ward while still shooting at me. After trying to touch them. I just said [censored] this! and went it with a sword.

Magiclol. Warriors rock.

Smithing+enchanting puts weapons slightly above destruction when you don't consider the fact the weapons are melee. When accounting for travel distance and such smithing+enchanting vs destruction+enchanting is fairly even. It's alchemy that really breaks everything and pushes weapons from 500 damage swings to 5000 damage swings.


You have AoE spells... that stagger... and you can cast them as much as you want.

Maybe if you don't power attack or enchant your weapons.... DW power attack with perks is nuts. My warrior just kills way faster.

But the OP has a point, destro is rather crap without enchanting. Not completely useless though.

My destro mage, played quite oddly at the beginning but once i got the hang of it, all is good, crafted some (not maxed) cost reduction gear, and all is good, i still get my ass kicked, but thats when i ddont have room to move, otherwise its ok...

i had to invest in other schools too.. illusion and conjuration are fun, Aspect of Terror, for some reason, enhances fire damage , with augmented flames 2/2, Impact (important), i dual cast fireballs, or firebolts and can even CC multiple enemies, and still have a challenge (i m rather squishy)

Compared to oblivion, its 100 times more powerfull, makes it less of a challenge, maybe you arn't playing him right?

lolwut

Ya I have a battlemage and I had to use one-handed to defend myself when my magic ran out and it quickly became a WAY more powerful and cost effective way to kill people. I only use destruction now because its a flashier way to tickle the rooms of deathlords and gloommasters I have to fight...

Bethesda's developers don't make comments on these forums.

You will never get an answer to a question related to any games they make, unless it is in a sticky thread.

As for destruction being worthless, well I see all of the magical skills as being under powered in a lot of situations. I don't rely upon them as a rule since my play style doesn't require a lot of spell use. I often use spells that augment my attacks or provide passive protections. If I have to hold down a key for something to work, then I don't use it often if at all.

Just stick to your fire spells and use one-handed attacks on burning enemies. That in conjunction with your conjurations should be enough damage. For range and dragons, dual cast. Magic cost can be mitigated with items - destruction enhancement is really all you want.

While on the topic of magic, go ahead and bring back levitate. Will make it harder for that backward flying dragons to get away from me.

I used to say that it's same people's minds that are useless, not Destruction per se!.
Don't take me wrong tough.