This page details an overview of the Destruction skill in Skyrim, including recommended perks, leveling tips, and where to find Destruction trainers.

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Destruction, Skyrim.

Destruction Overview¶

Increasing your Destruction Skill Level reduces the amount of Magicka Destruction spells cost. Destruction spells come in a variety of forms - runes (magical traps), cloaks (close range damage per second) and direct damaging spells. These spells are split into three elements: fire, shock and frost.

Recommended Perks¶

The Destruction school sounds cool, but in reality it is far inferior in direct damage output to Archery, making it difficult to recommend investing any perks into this tree. If you must invest, however, Novice Destruction is a mandatory waste of a perk, leading to the better Destruction Dual Casting, which will make spells stronger, while Impact staggers an enemy when you hit with spells that are cast from both hands. These will dramatically improve your combat ability if you really want to use Destruction. If you have to specialize in any one element we’d recommend shock, as few foes are resistant to it and choking off the Magicka reserves of an enemy mage will effectively neutralize them.

Leveling Tips¶

Like Archery, Destruction can take time, as you just need to get out there and kill things with spells to improve the skill. Ranged skills are pains like that, and although it’s technically possible to max this skill at Helgen, you’d have to have an insane amount of dedication and time on your hands to do so. On the plus side, using more potent spells quickens the process, so it’s suggested that you switch up to higher spells whenever possible to keep the leveling process from stagnating too much.

Destruction Trainer Locations¶