My favourite is Illusion by far; nothing beats a high level Paralyse spell.

Hehe.. My favourite is DEFINITELY Conjuration!! XD I like summoning the creatures and make 'em fight for me!! Plus, it's easy to level it up! Then I use Destruction spells while my creatures is distracting the foe.. Team work, my friend, team work..

Alchemy because you can use any type of magic with it.

Illusion. Specifically, the mind control spells.

Yeah, that's a pretty solid strategy, except it seems to me like Destruction takes FOREVER to level up (I've maxed Illusion, Conjuration and Alteration, and I've nearly maxed Restoration, but am still less than 50 with Destruction...)

I answered Illusion, my second favorite is Mystcism - I use a few mods that make Mystcism more useful in game . I would say Alchemy is my third favorite.

I have to vote Illusion because Charm and Paralyze make my life so much easier. Destruction is a very close second, though. I only ever draw my weapon anymore if I feel like a challenge (and I have Blade at 100!).



I managed to get Destruction to 100 even before Illusion and Mysticism, which I had as Major Skills. Here's how:

1. At the spellmaking altar, make Destruction spells that are much more effective if you cast them multiple times in a row, like a combo of Fire Damage and Weakness to Magic. Cast back-to-back, you can double or triple damage on subsequent castings.

2. Again, at the spellmaking altar, mix Destruction effects with other effects so that spells you use routinely end up leveling Destruction for you. For instance, mix in some Fire Damage with Invisibility to set enemies on fire and make them forget who they were fighting at all. Mix in Frost or Shock damage with a second of Paralyze to keep enemies down as you repeatedly decimate them. Mix in 100 points of Drain Life with a 1-second Soul Trap and cast that instead of using weapons with Soul Trap effects to finish off enemies.

You can't beat Illusion for convenience, but I also get the impression that you can't beat Destruction for quickly eliminating a single or small groups of enemies.

Destruction with a high level shock spell.

Alteration is my favourite. I have mods to allow on touch Alteration spells so I can now unlock chests underwater and have added extra types of shield spells to make it much more diverse for me to use.

Illusion is easily the best Magicka in the game though and has a very wide range of uses.

Alchemy however is NOT a type of Magicka. Yes it is classified as a Magic Skill but is technically not a type of Magicka. Can you cast Alchemy? No you have to use Alchemy in a totally different way to what you have to for any other Magic Skill.

Destruction. Its THE offensive magic school.

I love the School of Restoration, simply because it keeps me alive when my armor and weapons fail me(like when I encounter 4-5 Gloom Wraiths at lvl 50. Man they have a lot of health).

Precisely. Give me restoration, or give me...... well, death.

If I had to choose only one of them, I'd choose Restoration, even when I only play Warrior / Battlemage chars. I like to fight without having to worry about the consequences

Yeah, Destruction takes forever to level.. But, that's probably because you only get it up, when you hit a creature with it!! If you just cast it without hitting a living being, then you won't get exp.

Destruction. Custom AOE spells ftw.

Thought to myself, "What, another one of these threads?" Then I realized that unlike the others, this includes Alchemy. So good for you.

Why Alchemy? Because its results happen almost instantaneously, cannot be interrupted by being attacked by a dirty large weapon, and reproduces the effects of many spells in most other schools. Nothing there to dislike.

I voted Restoration. Some of my melee characters have used no other magic, and at least one mage used it (Absorb Health) as the major offensive attack. I haven't had any characters that didn't use it all through the game, which I can't say for anything else. Alchemy is a close second, but it's not unusual for a mage character to stop needing it after a time.

As I oppose all form of mind control due to personal reasons, I stay away from those by principle. Voted Alchemy, def the most useful school. Not to mention fun to tinker with

It may be used differently, but it still has magical effects in a similar manner and therefore rightfully belongs here

Create a Weakness to Poison on Self. Your skill should go up in no time if you just walk around casting it non-stop.

Oh, and either Illusion or Conjuration. Mind control is near game breakingly powerful but summoning epic Daedra is just good fun. Or combine the two for interesting Bandit lair fights.

"This time it was merely an illusion. How clever." Some of Syndelius' (SI) last words.

I like the illusion because the mind control spells are particulary... Entertaining. Rockmilk cavern... The perfect place for a frenzy spell.

EDIT:

Actually it is mysticism. The essential spell for an enchanter and agent. And the one wanting to put an arrow 50 ft above your head.
I really like Mysticism and I always use it as a Major skill. And I am a guy wanting to put an arrow 50 ft above my head. I love telekinesis, detect life, and soul trap. They are cheap to cast and yet quite effective. No... the soul trap is quite expensive actually.

Haha.. Haven't thought of that before!! Thanks!! I appreciate it!!