So I just recently got the Moroki mask and the Archmages robes. The robes are kinda cool but i am really dissapointed that the mask has armor on it. Anyway, ever since I got the robes and mask, it seems like everything is a lot harder. Am I using the wrong gear? The wrongs spells?(Fireball and steadfast ward and stoneflesh) Please help. For some reason I keep getting slaughtered by just a few Bandit Highwaymen.

Lvl. 22 Dark Elf, Expert difficulty, Main skills- Destruction, Restoration, and Alteration

Do you have a follower. Conjuration is also a good school of magic for a mage, summoning an antronach is always good for crown control whilst you take enemies down from long range.

The best mage gear is player enchanted gear with an armour rating.

While I prefer robes for the enchantments early-game, once your enchanting level is substantial and you've accumulated a nice chunk of mana, it is best to switch to armor, light or heavy, and enchant it with your desired effects. This is especially important in that you're not using Conjuration or a follower. On Expert, a pure-mage with no back up is way to squishy and will die in a hit or two.

Either use Conjuration, get a follower, or switch to armor. Its a must.

It's hard to live without armor. If you must, make sure you have the mage armor perks, put your stat points into health, and use heavy damage to keep them at bay. I recommend the dual casting impact perk in destruction and self-enchanted gear (enchantment is the most powerful skill in the game and a must for a pure mage) that reduces destruction cost to 0. Level 75 destruction spells should overwhelm single targets, and level 50 destruction spells with impact can "stun lock" multiple targets. Kite melee enemies (run backward while using dual-cast destruction and they should never reach you), and use cover against ranged attacks, duck out and launch your attack and then duck back in behind cover again (fireball and ice storm will help if you have trouble hitting them - and remember lightning is instantaneous so it can't be dodged).

You'll be near-invincible at high levels like that (be sure to get elemental resistance on your gear as well, and use fortify enchantment potions to make it as high as you can), but the lower levels will still be tough. As others have said, tanks to absorb the damage while you zap the enemy can be a good idea - adding conjuration to your repertoire will make you very powerful, but a good follower can help you weather all but the most difficult situations (10 draugr stuck in a room with you). I recommend you avoid places like Dustman's Cairn (early Companions quest) and Dead Men's Respite (Bard College quest) until you're stronger.

Finally, alchemy is second only to enchantment in terms of power for those with no armor. It's worth looking into, though I'm on a no potion runthrough and I can't offer much advice (I guess restore health, restore magicka, elemental resistance for dragons and warlocks). Stealth can help a little, but magic makes loud noises and bright lights so it's of limited use. Illusion, if you want to be a "complete" mage, will save your life (especially with the perks). Just be prepared for some hit-and-run until you grow into a heavy mage.

I use the mage armors which is why it svcks to have the armor on the mask (even though it's only 9!!!). So the perk where it adds strength if not wearing armor won't work. Should I just take the mask off so I can get the perk?

@Craig1405 I don't have a follower because they all die!!! I had Lydia, the woman in the Bannered Mare, and The woman in the Drunken Huntsmen and they all died like instantly. I just started the Dawnguard quest on this character so I should have Serana in a little bit, but she's kinda weak and do I really want a mage as a follower?? Any suggestions?

I have highish enchantment (70) but I have nithing to enchant and I'm saving some armor slots so I can enchant stuff to negate the vampire weaknesses.

I have no armor on except for the mask.

Thx for the replies

Serans levels with you up to level 50, she is also an essential npc so she can't actually die. I've used her as a follower and found her a great asset. If you want a tank follower I'd suggest Mjoll the lioness, she's also pretty good and will certainly help you out in tight situations.

Robes are lacking a bit in Skyrim to be honest. We could do with a few top notch more exclusive designs that we can enchant ourselves.

I was hoping from a set of Breton robes or Breton clothes from High Rock like the Redguards had Hammerfell Garb.

ok thx. I had serana in some other characters and she was SOOO annoying. She kept coming up to me and repeating "Need something?" over and over again. Ill think ill try Mjoll because I think since I'm a mage I need a warrior so I can stay Back

Agreed, not much good garb for the mage around town in Skyrim unfortunately.

Also, do wards really help or am I just wasting my time? I use them a lot now with mages AND warriors alike because of the armor boost, but should I have like another more usefull spell in that hand? The good wards drain a lot of magic.

My pure mages don't bother with them as I try to keep to long range attacks as I go for a very large magic pool and invest very little in health. Conjuration is definitely something you should look into and will certainly help your cloth wearing mage. I think the conjuration/illusion combo is the strongest for a pure mage and is usually the route I take.

Yeah I think I'll try the conjuration, but I started a character that was pure illusion and it was a little difficult as you can't do direct damage. Guess I could try it a little more noew that im a higher level.

I always play as a sorceress, and I do not use masks, for to me, they are not worth it. If you are out and about, and have an inclination to sneak, then sneak and catch your enemies off guard. Make sure you have not only the archmage robes, and also the amulet that was given to you, and the circlet that was also given to you. You will find a great pair of boots in the archmage quarters that help with shock. All you have to do is find a decent ring.

Use conjuration for helpers and bound weapons, but mostly for helpers to help you in a battle.

The flesh spells do not work with armor of any kind. Hope this helps.

I have the boots and the amulet but I sold the circlet. the mask is the only thing that fits on the robes besides circlets. I like the buff on the mask. I have the enchanted ring that you get from saarthal (+20 health) and some gloves that I enchanted for +35 magic. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the flesh spells worked with armor, just not as much?

If you're on PC, there's a mod that removes the hood from the Archmage's Robes (without changing the enchantments on them). Also, even if you're sticking with the Archmage's Robes, you might want to enchant some jewelry, shoes, or the like with enchantments that reduce the cost of casting spells from the Alteration and Restoration school, so your flesh spells and wards won't drain as much magicka.

The flesh spells work with armor, it's the Mage Armor perks that are negated if you're wearing armor: they make the flesh spells twice as effective if you're not wearing armor. If you're going to wear armor at some point, simply skip taking the Mage Armor perks and you'll be fine.

I think that when I eventually get Daedric armor Ill make boots and gauntlets for armor. I think i should skip the Mage armor perk (@JosieJ) and just get the one that doubles the duration. Thx again!

You are right JosieJ. My bad, cause I got the 2 confused. SorryMaxSkyrim4.

Totally cool. I was confused a littl myself!

Okay. I do not use alteration at all, so I am not quite use to it. I use destruction, conjuration, illusion and restoration. I also use alchemy and enchanting, and a few points into sneak. Destruction is my bread and butter so to speak, conjuration for helpers, illusion so aI can get everyone to fight themselves and I just kill off what is left, and restoration. I only use potions during a fight, and even if I have to. I use restoration after a fight.

What destr spells should I be using? I am currently using fireball, but its not doing too much. Im level like 55 in destr and lvl 22 character

What ever destruction spell, I always dual cast them. The perks I use are

At level 22 that should be about right. Also, if you take these perks in illusion, it also gives your fire spells more power

Because one of the fire spells (the one with the 2 **'s) gives a "fear" and makes enemies run, having the last illusion perk in the list ups the damage by 10%

I don't have lvl 2 of augmented flams yet (lvl 60 destruction is the requirement) and I only use one hand of destr. cause I use a ward, but I'll start trying it

My currant gal is level 59, almost 60, and has done a legendary on destruction once, and also on illusion once. In a dungeon, I do a lot of sneaking, reason I put a point into stealth, and up the left side of the tree to silence, and have no follower. That is what I use conjuration for. When there is at least 2/3 bandits in sight, I hit one of them with a frenzy spell, and then the other, and I usually end up with one left. A dual casted fireball/firebolt usually takes care of them. I also make it a habit of sleeping in a bed in that dungeon, if there is one, for the rested perk, which also helps.

Also in illusion, I get the quiet casting so my enemies cannot hear me casting my spells.

The most important spells I use are

There are a few others, and I mark them in my favorites. I also use a few shouts