Restoration magic is primarily used for healing spells in The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim. Though not as visually stunning or creative as the Destruction or Conjuration magical skill trees, it is arguably more vital to the game. Though more situational, other Restoration spells can combat the game’s many Undead opponents. Lastly, Ward spells fall under the Restoration school. Though Wards are not as necessary as the game would have players believe, there are Restoration perks that can make them worthwhile, even at high levels.
While not all builds have obvious benefits from Ward or Turn Undead spells, every archetype can benefit from healing spells. At the start of the game every player already knows two spells: Flames and Healing. Bethesda Game Studios considered these spells to be paramount to the early-game experience, and to be staples in the player’s arsenal. At first glance, Skyrim’s best magic spells would seem to be powerful Destruction spell like Fire Storm or Blizzard, or maybe a game-changer like the Alteration spell, Paralyze.
In reality, the game’s best spell should not be gauged by it’s power or damage output, but by based on its overall usefulness. Restoration spells like Healing or Close Wounds are used more frequently than the game’s flashiest Destruction spells. They are more cost-effective, more easily attainable, and their uses have a broader range. Pure Martial or Rogue builds have little need for Skyrim’s other mage skills, but every player needs to heal.
Aside from Restoration, the most common way to restore health in Skyrim is with Healing Potions. Found in every dungeon, these can be easily found on defeated enemies, hidden in chests, or simply sitting on shelves or tables. They are the number one potions every Skyrim player should have on hand, with most players having a stockpile in their inventory. Healing Potions are also leveled to the player, meaning that the Potion of Ultimate Healing will start appearing in-game once the player reaches Level 40. This happens regardless of their overall Health value, their skill in Restoration, or their skill in Alchemy.
Since Healing Potions are so ubiquitous, some players opt to use them instead of Healing spells. They are faster to use, do not rely on the player’s points in Restoration, and can heal for more points than some Healing spells. Even when hot-keyed, it’s still an extra step to equip and cast spells to heal. Healing Potions, by comparison, can be ingested immediately and without the need of a free hand. They are, however, a limited resource. While a mid-high level Dragonborn might have dozens of Ultimate Healing potions, low-level players might be better off using the default healing spell they start off with for free. Stockpiled minor healing potions will soon be obsolete, and are better off sold for quick gold. Since even master-brewed potions will never restore health to the same degree as an Ultimate Healing potions, it’s not worth investing in Skyrim’s Alchemy.
Restoration, by comparison, levels more organically. Any time the player heals during combat, the skill level increases. This accomplishes two things: Firstly, higher levels in Restoration allows for the unlocking of higher-tier perks in the skill. Perks along the tree’s major branch, such as Apprentice Restoration and Adept Restoration, make healing spells cost less Magicka. While these perks do not inherently heal the Dragonborn more, they make for a matter of quantity over quality: Instead of one big healing spell, the Dragonborn can simply cast the same one twice for half the cost.
Secondly, higher levels in Restoration allow for the purchasing of higher-level Restoration spells. One of the biggest reasons to join Skyrim’s College of Winterhold is that it’s home to the game’s best spell vendors. Colette Marence sells spells, scrolls, weapons, and apparel based on the player’s Restoration level. She will only offer the game’s more potent Restoration spells if the player has reached higher levels in the skill. If a player is finding their Restoration spells to be weaker than desired, it’s likely that they just need to upgrade their spells to their higher levels.
Besides spells to heal, this also affects the potency of Restorations’ Turn Undead and Ward spells. Turn Undead spells suffer the same major drawback as Skyrim’s Illusion magic: Neither can affect high-level opponents. Draugr Deathlords can shrug off even the game’s more powerful Turn Undead spells, but firing off that spell will still cost Magicka. The mage then ends up fighting the Deathlord at close range, and with depleted mana reserves. This can be circumvented by dual-casting the spell and by having the Necromage perk. It’s also a huge help to wear gear enchanted to reduce Restoration costs.
Wards are only situationally useful to begin with, as projectile spells can be dodged or blocked without too much trouble. Once the player has access to Spellbreaker, the need for Ward spells is reduced even more. This shield generates a Ward any time the Dragonborn blocks, and it does not draw on the player’s Magicka pool. For players who used to rely on Wards, this easily turns Spellbreaker into one of Skyrim’s best Daedric artifacts.
Though not to the same degree as is granted by levels in Light Armor or Heavy Armor, Wards do briefly add to the player’s armor level, increasing it by up to 80 points. Still, higher-level Ward spells are generally better avoided. This armor increase only lasts as long as the Ward is up though, and maintaining a Ward costs valuable Magicka, whether it actively deflects damage or not. Magic-oriented players with low armor skill are better off investing in Alteration skills, since that lowers the cost of spells like Oakflesh or Ebonyflesh. With the right perks, however, a Ward cast by a player skilled in Restoration can be more optimal than using Spellbreaker.
The Ward Absorb perk can stack with other passive abilities to create one of Skyrim’s best character builds, the Atronach. With this build, enemies who deal damage using magic, or even a dragon’s breath attacks, will refill the Dragonborn’s Magicka reserves instead of hurting them. This is accomplished by playing as a Breton and using their innate racial ability, Dragonskin, acquiring the Atronach perk in the Alteration tree, the Ward Absorb perk, and using Skyrim’s Atronach Standing Stone.
It’s also worth mentioning the Restoration tree does have some options for damage-dealing. The Dawnguard DLC offers new spells such as Sun Fire, Vampire’s Bane, and Stendarr’s Aura. These work similarly to Skyrim’s Destruction spells, providing projectile, AoE, and cloak spells specifically catered to fighting Undead. Since the Dawnguard questline involves fighting vampires and travelling to the Soul Cairn, these offensive Restoration spells can prove useful throughout.
Which Perks To Choose
- Recovery: For players who favor magic, this is one of the most useful perks in the game. Though it is listed under Restoration, faster Magicka regeneration is beneficial to any kind of mage. For players going for the unique Atronach character build, this perk also negates the -50% Magicka regeneration penalty that the Atronach Stone imparts.
- Necromage: Undead enemies comprise a huge percentage of Skyrim’s opponents. Draugr, Skeletons, Vampires, and Dragon Priests inhabit many of the game’s dungeons and crypts, and this perk strengthens all offensive spells against them by 25%, and boosts their duration by 50%. Whether by design or not, this perk also affects the Dragonborn if they are a Vampire Lord. Since the Dragonborn is then technically Undead, certain spells, shouts and even enchantments will increase in potency.
Which Perks Not To Choose
- Respite: It may seem useful to have healing spells restore stamina, but many players who’ve reached the requisite 40 levels in Restoration are therefore pure mage builds. These archetypes have little need for stamina anyway, as they tend to favor Destruction spells over melee combat. Even Battlemages may have no need for this perk; healing spells still require a free hand to cast, and most melee builds will not have one available.
- Restoration Dual Casting: Unless the player is opting for a Paladin or Cleric build where Restoration spells are their primary means of combat, this perk should be avoided. The player is vulnerable enough sacrificing one hand to heal. While using both hands to heal bolsters the healing spell’s potency, it also leaves the player without any way to block or attack back. A Ward cast with two hands also depletes Magicka reserves twice as quickly.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available on Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and will release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 11, 2021.
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