How to Get Started As a Mage in Skyrim

Last Updated: June 19, 2018

Mages are one of the most interesting, fun-to-play character builds in Skyrim. By relying on magic, rather than strength and agility, mages provide a truly unique playthrough. Certain spells are essential for the up-and-coming mage: finding these spells early can make your mage stronger and more powerful.

Steps

1
Use Helgen. Play until you get into the caves. Once you reach the torturer's room, pick the cell with the dead body inside to get the Spell Tome: Sparks. (Lock-picks can be found in the sack on the small table)
2
Get into the underground chamber with the bear inside. Hadvar will tell you about the bear. Once he's done, crouch into Sneak Mode.

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3
Take out your Flames spell (Sparks uses up more magic) and just hold the flame over him. This will train Destruction quickly. Use the perks you get on the magic school of your choice.
4
When you are satisfied with your Destruction level, leave Helgen and travel Northeast until you see the icon for mines.
5
Explore those mines and you should come across a locked cell door or two. Pick the one with the treasure inside.
- There should be a guard nearby who has the key to the cell doors here. If you killed him, search his body and get the key so that you don't have to lock pick the cell doors.
6
Look on the table and hopefully there will be a Spell Tome: Clairvoyance.
7
After leaving and doing what you need to do at Riverwood, go to Whiterun and from there take the cart to Winterhold.
8
Join the College of Winterhold and talk to the teacher of the magic school you want to train.
9
Understand the formulas. Destruction = Faralda, Restoration = Collette, etc.
10
Spend money on new spell tomes or training that skill. You must read the spell tome in order to learn the desired spell.
11
Explore Skyrim and collect expensive items you find. Sell them at Whiterun and then use the money you earn to train your favorite magic school!

Community Q&A

Question

How can I ride a dragon?

Community Answer

You need to complete the main questline of "Dragonborn." Kill the cultists who ambush and attack you, loot their bodies to find a note and unlock Solstheim. From there, you have to complete every quest in order to face Miraak, the first dragonborn.

Warnings

Don't fight powerful bosses until you at least have an apprentice destruction spell like Firebolt or Ice Spike.

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