Lightning Bolt
School	Destruction
Skill Level	Apprentice (25)
Magicka Cost	51
Effect	A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka.
Spell Tome	Purchased
Tome ID	000A26FF
Spell ID	0002DD29

Lightning Bolt is an Apprentice-level Destruction spell in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that, when cast, creates a bolt of lightning that does 25 points of damage to Health, and half that to Magicka. Casting this spell causes a bolt of electricity to fling at the intended target. Unlike Sparks, which sprays a jet of electricity continuously, Lightning Bolt must be charged momentarily, then fired. Dual-casting this spell creates a unique animation. Lightning Bolt is also a possible enchantment for staves.

PerksEdit

• With the Destruction perk, "Augmented Shock," damage done by Lightning bolt increases by 25%, whether dually or singly cast, for the first point invested and 50% for the second.
• "Impact" causes a target to stagger when Destruction spells are dual-wielded (but not the continual-cast spells, i.e., Flames, Sparks, Frostbite).
• "Disintegrate" causes targets with low Health to be instantly killed when hit with shock damage.

Spell tomeEdit

AttributesEdit

• Weight: 1
• Value: 95
• See Spell Tome for a complete table of spell tomes, their descriptions, and their values.

AcquisitionEdit

• Farengar Secret-Fire sells Lightning Bolt after the Dragonborn assists Jarl Balgruuf the Greater with defeating Mirmulnir.
• Faralda at The College of Winterhold also sells this spell.

UsefulnessEdit

• Lightning Bolt damages both Health and Magicka when cast, making the spell effective against other mages.

• Lightning Bolt is a great spell to use against non-hostile or airborne Dragons, since the spell does not arc like an arrow, and it reaches its target instantly, unlike Firebolt or Ice Spike. However, Lightning Bolt does have a definitive range, and sometimes the dragon needs to be close enough to hit with the spell.

• Conjured Storm Atronachs and Storm Thralls are resistant to shock damage, so misfired Lightning Bolts do not harm them as much as other summoned Daedra.
• If the Dragonborn uses the spell just before a dragon shouts, the dragon will be prevented from doing so.
  • Only true when dual-cast in conjunction with the Impact perk. Charge and maintain the dual-cast until the dragon breathes in or rears its head back in preparation for a dragon breath, then release the spell to stagger the dragon.
• Lightning Bolt will strike a target immediately when cast, unlike Ice Spike or Firebolt, which makes it useful for firing at enemies from long-range.

GalleryEdit

Lightning Bolt first-person charging

Lightning Bolt third-person charging

Lightning Bolt first-person

Lightning Bolt third-person

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AppearancesEdit

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (First appearance)