The Elder Scrolls: Everything You Need to Know About All the Schools of Magic

In The Elder Scrolls universe, there is a world where almost anything is possible when it comes to gaining power. Whether as the descendant of ancient dragons, a prophesied reincarnation, or a mortal turned into a god, the series has never failed in making the player feel like an all-powerful being. But before dragons, reincarnations, and godhood, there was magic.

In The Elder Scrolls, magic – or rather magicka – is a prevalent force in the series’ universe. It is the primary source from which the various races’ spellcasters draw their power. As it is from magicka that all the known spells and incantations are created. Though those like the elves or those with elven ancestry (Altmer, Dunmer, Bretons) tend to be more naturally inclined to using it, magicka is a resource that any race in Nirn can use. As far as use goes, the general applications of magicka fall into a variety of subjects. Specifically, there are a known total of eight schools of magic that any mage – aspiring or experienced – has access to.

1 The School of Destruction Gives Access to Devastating and Detrimental Spells

Dealing Damage

Likely the most common type of magic used in The Elder Scrolls world, the School of Destruction is that which specializes in the use of destructive spells; magic meant to bring harm to the caster’s enemy. This usually comes in the form of various elemental spells, whether it’s fire to burn, ice to freeze, or lightning to electrocute. An elemental spellcaster can cast anything from a simple stream of flames to a massive elemental storm.

Aside from the elements, Destruction magic also comes in the form of spells that are more subtle but nonetheless devastating. For instance, there are spells in the Destruction school that involve draining the life of others or making them vulnerable.

2 The School of Alteration Changes the Physics of the World

Bending the Laws of Nature

On the other side of destruction is alteration. The School of Alteration is the school that specializes in changing the laws of nature and the world. This is a pretty broad explanation, but in a more definite description, alteration allows the caster to use spells that change the general rules of biology and physics.

For example, someone that uses Alteration magic can make their skin as hard as wood or even iron. They can also augment an item’s weight, making something as heavy as a stone or as light as a feather. They can create specialized wards that act as shields against harmful spells like those from the Destruction school. To take it a step further, Alteration can even transmute metals into different types of other metals, like metal into silver or silver into gold.

3 The School of Illusion Changes the Reality of the World

Changing the Laws of Nature

At first glance, the schools of Illusion and Alteration may seem alike to each other, as both allow the user to change the nature of the world. But there’s a key difference between the two; whereas Alteration can bend the laws of physics, Illusion can work outside those laws entirely.

The School of Illusion involves the usage of spells that in a sense, change the reality and senses of its target entirely. What does this involve? Well, for starters, an Illusion caster can mute the sounds of their own footsteps or even make themselves entirely invisible to others and erase their presence. As far as being used on others, Illusion spells can either rally or fester the spirits of those they target, causing them to flee out of fear or charge forward in blind bravery.

In a more powerful sense, there are Illusion spells that can even cause paralysis, completely hindering the target from being able to move. The School of Thaumaturgy is also an honorable mention. However, it has much in common with the School of Illusion in terms of usage and application, and most of its spells have been categorized as the latter.

4 The School of Conjuration Summons Creatures and Weapons from Different Planes of Existence

Creatures, Weapons, and Daedra at the Fingertips

The School of Conjuration, as the name suggests, involves the summoning of various entities and items from another plane of existence. This may seem like a simple act in itself, but the possibilities of this school of magic are near endless. A Conjuration caster, if powerful enough, can summon nearly anything.

For the basics, Conjuration magic can involve summoning something as simple as a skeleton or a creature. But those more skilled can summon higher-tier creatures and monsters, like elemental atronachs or even daedra. Conjuration can also give the caster access to summon various weapons from the daedric plane, like swords or bows. But the limits of the school don’t stop there, as Conjuration even gives the user the means to summon the spirits of the dead to fight on their behalf.​​​​​​​

5 The School of Restoration is Centered Around Healing and Purification

Laying on Graceful Hands

For all the things that magic can do, from destroying to creating or even altering the world, one shouldn’t be too surprised when they discover that magic can also heal. That’s the main purpose of the School of Restoration, where its purpose is to cleanse, heal, and purify. Those skilled in Restoration magic are those that can heal and revifify.

Some examples of Restoration magic involve, well, healing. The most basic aspect of this is a healing spell that can restore the life of both its user and the target. In a more advanced application, Restoration spells can also cleanse the target of harmful poisons and toxins, and even cure diseases.

Despite all its restorative capabilities, the School of Restoration is just as capable of doing harm as it is in healing. Specifically against the undead, a Restoration caster can use purifying magics that can cause them to flee in terror or even burn them to ash.

6 The School of Mysticism Manipulates the Very Nature of Magic

The Oldest and Least Understood

Mysticism is regarded as the oldest and least known school of magic in The Elder Scrolls. The School of Mysticism is that which is described as altering the very nature of magic itself. What this means exactly is vague, but the effects it has upon the world are as numerous as they are great.

One example of Mysticism magic is teleportation, or the act of instantly bringing one person from one destination to another. Another example is telekinesis, which involves the ability to move an object without physically touching it. And then, there’s soul-trapping, the ability to take an individual’s soul and place it within a soul gem after death. The latter is under the School of Conjuration in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but it has been traditionally known as a Mysticism spell.​​​​​​​

7 The School of Enchantment Can Imbue Weapons and Armor With Magical Abilities

ENCHANTMENT!

Unlike the other schools of magic, the School of Enchantment doesn’t involve the actual casting of magic but rather its imbuing. In The Elder Scrolls, Enchantment refers to the practice of imbuing various weapons, armor, and other items with magical enchantments to augment their capabilities. These various augments can involve the likes of adding elemental effects, increasing a weapon’s damage or an armor’s protection, or even making certain spells more potent.

For example, a sword can be enchanted with fire that burns the enemy for every slash it makes. A ring can be enchanted to increase an individual’s carry capacity or increase their proficiency in a weapon skill or magic school. The possibilities are numerous when it comes to enchantment, but as far as powering those enchantments, they require the use of soul gems, those already filled with souls.

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