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Magic

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SkyrimSpelltomes

Spell Tomes from various schools of magic

For the essence consumed when casting spells, see Magicka.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch the magic!"
―Hold Guard[src]

Magic, also known as the Clever Craft[1], is the art or abillity to alter the world through magicka. Magic is the manipulation of magicka in order to directly control reality in some way. The individual casting of this force to form a mystical effect is called a spell. One who works magic is a mage. Although all races have magical aptitudes, those with elvish blood outshine the others. Magic is governed by the Intelligence and Willpower attributes.

Types of magic

AlterationSkillBook

Alteration skill book

There are eight schools of magic. Each type works in different ways and creates different effects.

Other arcane arts

Powers

Powers are magical effects that can be used by people to produce unique and powerful magical effects. They differ from spells in that Powers have zero Magicka cost, are not learned from Spell Tomes, and some can only be used once per day. Different races have their own unique, specific power(s), but all races can gain powers from completing a quest for someone, or from various crafted armor, clothing and other apparel, and/or from unique magical artifacts. Basically, while a spell is a learned technique to channel magic, a power is naturally gifted to the user.

Abilities/Active Effects

Abilities/Active Effects are magical effects that, once obtained, are constantly active and increase various statistics and values relative to the person who has them. Abilities/Active Effects differ from Powers in that they do not require activation and are not restricted to once-per-day uses like some powers are. Different races have their own unique abilities, but all races can acquire abilities by completing a quest for someone, or from armor and other apparel that was crafted, clothes that were made, and/or from unique magical artifacts or relics.

Enchanting

ArcaneEnchanter

Arcane Enchanter

The art of enchanting involves adding a magical enchantment to a regular item, causing it to have special effects when used. An enchantment is a spell sealed, trapped into an object to confer mystical attributes, which are supported by Souls. To create an enchanted item, one must have an unenchanted item, a soul gem of the desired size, and a specific enchantment that is known and can be placed on the item. Any type of unenchanted item can be enchanted, whether it be weapons, armor, clothing and/or jewelry.

Alchemy

The art of Alchemy does not actually use the essence of magicka, but mages and non-mages associate alchemy with the arcane arts and magicka. Alchemy is the study and use of many materials with powers that may influence the flow of magicka in the world.

AlchemyLab2

Alchemy Lab

Alchemy involves an interface system known as an alchemy lab, and takes multiple ingredients and mixing them together to create a potions. Several different parts of an alchemy lab determine the many variables and results of making a potion. A mortar and pestle is a bowl and grinding tool used for physically and mechanically breaking down alchemical ingredients into powders, pulps or juices used in alchemical operations. A retort is a vessel with a beaked cap or head used to transform, purify, clean or refine raw ingredients into more refined substances used in alchemical preparations.

A calcinator is a stove or crucible used to reduce metals and other refined substances to ash so their arcane properties can be separated from the ash. It is also used to increase the magnitude of all known effects of the specific item.

An alembic is a double glass container in which the arcane properties of raw, refined, arcane, non-arcane and supernatural substances are distilled from their raw ingredients. The materials are infused, then heated until vapor is produced; then, the vapor moves to and condenses in the other container, precipitating the distilled materials with the desired alchemical and magical effects.

Classes

Buoyancy2

A Breton mage casts Buoyancy on herself.

Magic is the specialization of the following playable classes in Morrowind and Oblivion:

In both games, custom classes can be created which employ magic as a specialization.

Magic items

Reality need not be influenced by spell-casting; spells can be imbued into objects. These objects can then be used to influence reality. Imbuing items with magical effects is called "enchanting." Those without magical affinities can still use these objects. Objects imbued with magic often have limited uses, expiring or becoming destroyed when the final charge is used. Few exceptions can be recharged; for example, weapons enchanted with magic and staves. Armor, clothing, jewelry often bear a constant effect which never expires. In Cyrodiil, members of the Arcane University can enchant items using an Altar of Enchanting. Citizens of Skyrim enchant using tables known as Arcane Enchanters.

Types of magical items

Magical stones

Magical stones are naturally occurring, organic substances that possess magical properties. These fall into four categories.

  • Snow Elf architecture
    • Wayshrines – Wayshrines are large, magical, dome-like architectural structures created by the Snow Elves to quickly traverse between specific locations. The wayshrines in the Forgotten Vale are primarily used to access the Inner Sanctum.
    • Paragon Platforms – Paragon Platforms are another type of magical structures created by the Snow Elves. The only identified paragon platform has been seen in the Forgotten Vale; paragon platforms are used to access different parts of the Forgotten Vale with the Vale itself. In order to access a specific location through a Paragon Platform with the Forgotten Vale, one must have the correct paragon in order to access it.
  • Ayleid Ruins – These special stones can be retrieved from various ruined sites of the now extinct Ayleid civilization. They are said to be made of meteoric glass (which in turn is supposedly part of the body of Lorkhan). When activated, they bestow certain magical effects upon the user. These are:
  • Enchanting stones – Used to create and recharge enchanted items.
    • Sigil Stone – Only found in the plane of Oblivion.
    • Soul Gem – Found almost anywhere there is loot to be had, also can be found filled and unfilled in magic shops or mined in special locations such as Blackreach.
  • The fourth type are stone pillars that can be found in various parts of Cyrodiil and Skyrim which bestow powers from the heavens when activated.

Unique magical artifacts

Weapons and apparel

Dawnbreaker

Dawnbreaker

Books and scrolls

Miscellaneous

Other magic

Notable mages

Ancient mages

  • Hevnoraak (Ancient Nord/Atmoran) (Dragon Priest)
  • Ahzidal (Ancient Nord/Atmoran) (Dragon Priest)
  • Curalmil (Alchemist) (Ancient Nord/Atmoran)

Court wizards of Skyrim

College of Winterhold

Current

Savos aren

Arch-Mage Savos Aren

Faculty members
Students

Former

Sources

Illusion

Alteration

Conjuration

Destruction

Restoration

Mysticism

Enchanting

Alchemy

References

  1. ↑ Dialogue with Tsun
  2. ↑ Dialogue with Festus Krex
  3. ↑ Dialogue with Urag gro-Shub
  4. ↑ Butcher Journal 1
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Daynas Valen's Notes
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