Dual casting is 10% extra damage/strength for 40% more mana : V - Skyrim

» Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:36 am

I believe it's for balance. To cast a spell twice would take, well, twice as long (I assume). Dual casting allows you to deal that damage now, rather than in a few seconds. The cost for dealing the extra damage now is increased magicka cost.

That's my theory anyway.

nope, both ways take the same amount of time to cast.

» Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:28 pm

Seem fair considering how much Impact has helped my player. I usually start all big battles with a few Impact Fireballs to stagger the enemy while I run to safety or get other spells up.

One more reason to keep pumping points into magicka..

Actually I don't think it's fair. What other perks in the game have negetive aspect tied to them?

» Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:36 pm

Thank goodness I only got it for destruction so far, the stagger perk makes it worth while.
I'll be saving before getting the other dual casting perks to see if its even worth it.

» Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:05 pm

and again, for restoration this perk is a waisted point... for damaging spells i see the point with stagger but for healing??

Well if you are dying fast, say from a Dragon breathing fire on you, dual casting a healing spell can sometimes be the better option because it will heal you faster. Casting twice may consume mana slower, but it might not be strong enough to keep you alive.

» Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:35 pm

Burst-firing destruction spells is highly effective because you get lingering damage from, ie. burns, for very low mana cost. Burst-firing Flame basically got me through the main questline.

Casting a single spell twice is almost exactly as fast as dual-casting; you can cast in both hands without triggering a deliberate dual cast by pressing one button ~half a second after the other.

» Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:21 pm

It didn't really seem worth it for me, the magic drain seems to far exceed the damage bonus, it seems better to just cast 2 single spells.