My Pure Mage Strategy for Elder Scrolls Skyrim Is Based on the Late 1980’s Ganon Character from The Legend of Zelda

I ultimately decided upon a pure mage strategy my Elder Scrolls Skyrim character, Azrah Gestahl, based upon the early manifestations of Ganon in The Legend of Zelda series from the 1980’s.  Although my character is mostly good, serving as the Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, a member of the Imperial Army, and possessing a healthy penchant for destroying bandit hideouts, the general composition of skills leans heavily toward a very powerful mage in a robe capable of extreme conjuration and destruction, with very strong illusion, alteration, and regeneration knowledge.  I’m not talking about modern day Ganon, mind you.  I’m talking about Ganon as he was back then – magic artifacts, conjuring minions, blasting fireballs, all draped in a cowl as he sought world domination.

I’m playing a pure mage strategy in Elder Scrolls Skyrim for my character Azrah Gestahl.  I normally walk the world flanked with two Dremora Lords, each of which were double charged and have a +50% power bonus due to skill perk level up choices.  The alternative setup is two permanent Storm Strall summons, which remain with me until defeated, unlike the Storm Atronach, which have a time limit before automatically returning to Oblivion.

My Pure Mage Strategy for Skyrim

The first thing I did was get my enchanting up to Level 83 so I could max out many of the enchantment skills.  I then enchanted several custom items for Azrah Ghestahl to wear:

• Ganon’s Pendant: -23% destruction magic
• Ganon’s Cowl: -23% destruction magic
• Ganon’s Ring of Destruction: -23% destruction magic
• Master Robes of Destruction: -22% destruction magic, +150% magicka regeneration rate
• Boots of Strength: +/-56 carrying capacity

Combined with the level up perks for destruction magic (e.g., Expert Level Destruction Spells Cost 50% Less), I am able to tap into a virtually endless well of terrifying and lethal destruction spells.

With double charged fireballs, I can typically take a blood dragon down in 5 or 6 hits with no help from anyone else or any summons.  Right now, I’m at level 92 or 93 destruction magic.  I can’t wait to reach level 100 enchantment so I could double enchant items, at which point I plan on creating a “Lord Ganon” series that stacks destruction level benefits with either Magicka Regeneration or one of the other schools of magic; haven’t decided, yet.

My conjuration spell power, again harkening back to Ganon from the old Legend of Zelda series, is incredible.  I am at Level 100 Conjuration and can easily and quickly pull off double-charged summons who enjoy a 50% bonus power attack due to my skill level up, essentially creating an endless on-demand army of minions that can distract or destroy my enemies.  Sometimes, I wander the world flanked by two permanent Storm Strall summons (a strall is the permanent equivalent of an atronach; it doesn’t go away until defeated) or, alternatively, two double-charged Dremora Lord summons.

How I Was Able to Level Up My Pure Mage Strategy So Quickly In Skyrim

Conjuration Magic Level Up Pure Mage Strategy: The quickest way to level up my conjuration power was to go to the rooftop of my quarters as Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold and summon a fire atronach one hand, then immediately send it back to oblivion with the expel daedra spell on the other hand.  With fast Magicka Regeneration in effect, even at level 80 or 85 conjuration, I was able to wrack up a new level in roughly 20 to 22 summons / banishments.  I made sure to have the guardian stone that improved magic skills 20% faster activated, too.

Restoration Magic Level Up for Pure Mage Strategy: The quickest way for leveling up restoration magic is to go to the Greybeard Monastery on the top of the Throat of the World and stand in a certain place so the wall of blizzard in the courtyard starks to drain your life.  As it does, cast fast healing or some other comparable spell on yourself.  It endlessly supplies the damage as you endlessly heal yourself, leveling up in the process.  It’s a sweet deal.

Destruction Magic Level Up for Pure Mage Strategy: Besides regular training and game development, if you summon a Dremora Lord in your practice arena at the top of the College of Winterhold once you are Arch-Mage, you can turn your summon hostile by attacking with with Wall of Fire or one of the other “wall” spells.  Be ready, though, because it will turn brutal quickly.  I immediately freeze him upon turning hostile by using my Dragon Shout skill, then obliterate him with three hits of double-charged incenerate spells.  You can even use this as a chance to level up other skills, such as Alteration Magic by casting Ironflesh on yourself before the battle begins.  Just remember to be quick!  As a pure mage, you are so weak in no armor that you are vulnerable in close quarters.  Once, I let a Dremora Lord get too near and he decapitated me with one swing.

The Next Steps for My Pure Mage Strategy

As I already said, the next steps involve getting to a Level 100 Enchantment skill so I can unlock the double enchantment perk, creating even more powerful artifacts.  I also need to unlock the Mage bonus for no armor.  There are 3 levels, which, maxed out, will allow an alteration spell like Ironflesh to act 300% stronger.  Properly done, this could make you nearly invincible.

Running around the world, muffled and invisible, as I conjure minions from afar makes me nostalgic for the days of searching for the red ring in Death Mountain.

Update: I’ve done it!  I’ve reached Level 100 Conjuration, Level 100 Destruction, and Level 100 Enchantment!