So.

I was tired of reading topics how destruction svcks and decided to try it out for myself.
My lvl 48 or something character with destruction of 24 started leveling it (or rather paying for training)..

So by the time my destruction rose to skill 50 I was lvl 50 and in some random dwemer ruin..
The whole time I was searching for a staff and finally I found it, a chain lightning staff.

Then I discovered something that drastically changes the way destruction is perceived.

Staff benefits from IMPACT!!
Meaning if you cast a spell from your staff (or actually channel it) and you have impact perk (and you should have it) your opponent will be staggered.
It does not matter what you have in the other hand..

Why is this important?!
Here is an example.

300 magicka pool, random spell that costs 50 and does 100 dmg
- you can cast the spell 6 times inflicting 600 dmg before you are oom
- you can dual cast the spell for 560 dmg (2 x 140) and do 440 dmg but stagger your enemy
- you cat cast the spell 6 times doing 600 dmg and combine the casting of your staff and do another 600 dmg for free for a grand total of 1200 dmg

After discovering this I firmly believe that bethesda envisioned mages with a staff in one hand and a spell in another..

Staffs benefit from "augmented" perks.
Staffs benefit from "impact" perk.
Staffs benefit from high destruction.


So yeah.
This makes destruction a cake walk even after 50.

Atm lvl 55 with destruction of 77 and still using chain lightning in combo with a chain lightning staff and loving it.

So get a staff and be prepared to change your view of destruction!!

Hm. Isn't that about the damage of one sneak power attack of two one-handed swords? (I mean, without abusing enchanting etc.).

Annnd... isn't 1200 dmg at level 50+ only about a half or so of most monster's hp bar? (I mean, semi-boss monsters)?

Do staffs damage scale with your destruction level?

Staffs can certainly help avoiding magicka issues, but I think the main complaint about destruction is raw power, not resource issues.

So OP, what your saying is the 2-handed perk applies to a staff in one hand regardless of what you cast from the other hand? If so does the stagger perk need to be in the same tree as the staff's enchantment? i'll have to go and do some testing on this myself!

Stagger perk is only destruction, thus only destruction staffs benefit from it.
I didn't try frenzy or paraylsis staff but I don't think it would do any good.

If you staff is lightning it will also benefit from augmented shock and desintegrate..
Fire staff from augmented and intense flames.

The numbers are just an example to show how much difference a staff makes.
It doubles your dmg per magicka bar output while retaining the impact perk.
Actually almost triples compared to dual casting.

Your destruction skill determines how many charges the staff has, while casting (and recharging) should increase your enchanting..
Mine is 100 so can't check..

Ok! Thanx 4 the info!

I should not have to ise a staff to cast a strong spell.

"You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun! Go back to the shadow. You shall not pass!"

Even Gandalf was using a staff here!

And now tell me what difficulty you are playing. Because people who play below Expert/Master usually enjoy Destruction. I simply opted to play for Conjuration/Restoration. Best choice I made.

Wow... you have been living under a rock huh?

First off leveling enchanting and get -100% cost for your spells. DC TBolt, it does ~200 damage per second and you never go oom and chain stagger people. It's significantly better than using a garbage staff.

If you think this makes destruction good you haven't seen what a "real" weapon can do. Normal swings from my 2h sword do about 600 damage(power attacks a lot more), if I really wanted to push things with crafting skills I could get that up to about 3k per hit with elemental fury going I can hit every half second or so. That puts it at around 6000 DPS. That's about 30x stronger than destruction. THAT is why people think destruction is weak.

I love using destruction because running around shooting lightning is awesome that doesn't mean I don't recognize it's kinda gimp comparatively.

I'm playing on master. My character is an Altmer mage/assassin. Currently lvl 30 and doing ok. Trying to stay away from using conjuration for a little extra difficulty.

BTW: to the OP. Most useful Dragon Shout for me has been the 'sprint' for getting the [censored] out of trouble fast!

This.

If that is so, respect to your challenge. I personally play on Expert. Don't get me wrong on the Conjuration part though, I use it 99% of the time to summon my bound swords for my Khajiit whenever I need them, saving weight. Also, it levels me up fast and keeps up that challenge since my one-handed is always lagging behind that skill somewhat. I love it.

And yeah, a Fire Atronach is needed at times, especially for aerial or very imposing targets.

Some people like to play the game without being a demigod. That can really ruin the game.

yeah i abuse my character's natural ability for magicka regen.....so if the situation gets too tricky i use the sprint shout to the nearest exit then run like hell until i can 'rest' 24 hrs to get it back. I'm actually loving the way destruction has been 'nerfed' since Oblivion. It makes the playstyle so much more challenging, and so for me anyways, more fun! I'd just like on my wish list from Santa 2 things; 1. Sneak bonus reduced to 15x max 2. Return of fire/shock/frost damage alchemy potions for some variety!

Yes, this.

Also, you can disagree with someone without insulting them with "living under a rock" quips. Let's keep the forum friendly.

And I didn't know staffs counted for impact. Thanks for the tip!

The staff works even when your enchanting skill is not 100, gasp!!

Maybe some people want to play an rpg and not a crafting sim..

I tried my melee combat without weapons, now I feel destruction is overpowered.

You dont say that! But really this is awsome and i think im gonna go use my staff now!