I have always wondered what is the main differences between a Spellsword and a Battlemage?

They kinda seem to be almost the same archetype. They both use combat and magic skills.

Can someone please explain the differences from a lore standpoint? Thanks

Battlemage: Heavy armor frontline specialists. Basically magical equivilant of tanks.

Spellsword: Light armor hit-and-run specialists. Suppliments spells with swords.

Hmm. I can accept that, but in Oblivion's description of a Spellsword one of his/her skills was Heavy Armor?

Different types of magic I think... ? Battlemage is more destruction oriented I think.

-Edit-

Huh. Odd.

Then again, things have never been stable in TES series. Still, in oblivion's case, Battlemages use spells, not swords. Spellswords do.

I also heard somewhere that Spellswords are more inclined to become mercenaries. Is this true? Also who would win in a fight: a Battlemage or a Spellsword?

Most likely.

As for fights, it all depends who's more skilled. Spellswords can't take as much punishment, but isn't reliant on magicka to attack stuff.

Well that's dependent on the individuals isn't it.

From an in-universe persective, it's basically

Battlemage: Any mage who uses magic for martial purposes
Spellsword: Specifically a fighter who is both a swordsman and a mage

All Spellswords are Battlemages, but not all Battlemages are Spellswords.

Of course, we also have class descriptions from Morrowind.

Of course, NPC dialogue is more descriptive, but I don't have the time or patience to find it and write it down.

More like supplements sword and armor/potions with spells.

It's ironic that Skyrim is the first TES game that allows some real fun with spellswords characters yet destruction is so poorly implemented.

I wish I could block while I have both a spell and sword out. Thats the main deterrent. It's really hard to survive up close on master when you cant block.

Among other things... I've been using Dual Wield Parry MOD because, most of the time the spell offhand was put away the moment I engage someone in a melee or, some other time, I traded a sword with a shield to make a "spellshield" character

Hmmm. "Conjure Shield" spell?
Sounds like a good idea.

Battlemages complement their magic with arms, and spellswords complement their arms with magic.

No, bash enemies with a big heavy shield and when they stagger back, hit them with a spell.

Oh, sorry. That was a separate thought inspired by your statement.

Ah...bound armor. How I miss you. I remember the Bound shield spell in Oblivion and Morrowind.

That brings up a question: Would a Spellsword or Battlemage use Bound spells in combat? While Spellswords always seemed more like a lightly armored to me, that has been disproved at times. By summoning up Bound armor, they would sacrifice some of that mobility for protection. A Battlemage, who commonly use heavy armor, may find less need for it, as they normally have sufficient protection. They may turn to it in some cases, but I can't see them using it often.


That's what I did for my Atlmer Battlemage/Dwemer researcher.

So much fun!

I don't see why they would use spells like that in battles. Maybe in extreme situations where they are forced to quickly react and don't have the time or the chance to put on their armor. Otherwise there would be very little reason to waste magicka on summoning armor.

Good point. Wouldn't they also need to focus more Magicka on keeping the armor bound to the plane?

This topic happens to be my area of expertise, since Spellsword and Battlemage are the only classes I play.

A battlemage is essentially a heavily armoured mage, who uses spells from the schools of destruction, restoration, alteration and possibly conjuration if they are brave and can handle the stigma. They start out at range using magic and then switch to melee in close quaters. You may find conjured sword the favourite choice of weapen.

Spellswords are light armoured class who supplements their warrior skills with magic. Let some one said, a Spellsword could just become a light armoured version of a Battlemage, like the Thalmor soldiers you find at the Thalmor Embassy and Northwatch Keep. They also love to summon atronachs so conjuration is a big part of a spellswords arsenal. Destruction, Restoration and importantly Alteration are also Spelldwords skills especially Alteration, because as a light armour user the armour spells will save you. Shields are also important to Spellswords in terms of defense.

My interpretation of a spellsword is that of a heavily armored warrior that uses destruction spells, but is primarily a melee fighter. But maybe that's just my D&D talking. A battlemage (or warmage) is in the context of D&D a spellcaster trained exclusively for the battlefield. While they know few spells, they are highly effective at them. They are also skilled at wearing light armor and the use of weaponry. They are first and foremost soldiers.

Take a look at the Major/Minor skills of battlemages and spellswords in both Morrowind and Oblivion, you will find out that battlemages never consider Restoration needed under their class, while spellswords rely heavily on Restoration. On the other side spellswords hardly use Conjuration, while battlemages are good bounders or summoners.

That is perhaps due to the different roles the battlemages and spellswords play on the battlefield. The battlemages are heavily armoured walking spell cannons, mainly stay on the backline to shoot spell directly to where a spell is called upon, and they use Alteration spells and regular weapons(summoned or not) to keep themselves avoiding getting hurt. The spellswords are first warriors who should fight and charge directly to their enemies on the frontline, shooting spells to (mostly) single or several enemies directly in front of him, counting on general shields to block the swords from enemies, and getting used to heal themselves whenever first-aid is needed.

Battlemages use swords to defend themselves, and their attacks are pure magic.
Spellswords combat like any other warriors, magic is used to help swinging their swords better.

i think u got that backwards

No he got it right, only part I disagree with is that Battlemages dont use Restoration

Edit: And also that spellswords dont use conjuration, the Thalmor Soldiers at the Embassy seem to love it.