Updated on August 5th, 2021 by Anastasia Maillot: Building the perfect mage continues to be a tough one in Skyrim, due to the persisting imbalance that magic suffers from in the game. RELATED: Skyrim The 5 Best & Worst Things About Playing A Mage Class Here's how to get started on your mage journey. While it's not as gratifying as playing a high damage stealth archer or a tanky warrior bashing through enemies, it requires a lot of planning and strategizing which can feel surprisingly rewarding in the long run. That being said, there's a way to make things work and to even feel empowered as a mage. With how much close-range combat is included in the game, it can also feel daunting to even attempt playing a mage.
Spellcasters tend to fare well early into the game but struggle later on as their damage tanks compared to other builds like the classic stealth archer and even two-handed warrior. That's because the game hasn't done a great job at balancing magic in the long run.
Mages are one of the toughest builds to execute properly in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
