Magic Skills: The Path of Magic – Alteration

Alteration spells manipulate the physical world and its natural properties. This school includes some of the best defensive spells available (the Flesh spells) and a wide range of utility spells like Waterbreathing, Telekinesis, and Paralysis. Your Alteration skill increases when you cast a useful Alteration spell on a valid target. For example, you don’t get credit for casting Oakflesh but never entering combat, casting Waterbreathing but never entering the water, or casting Detect Life if no one is around.

• Constellation: Path of Magic
• Available Perks: 14

Available Alteration Perks

1. Novice Alteration ★

• Cast Novice-level Alteration spells for half Magicka.
• Requires: None

2. Alteration Dual Casting

• Dual casting an Alteration spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.
• Requires: Alteration 20, Novice Alteration

Dual casting doubles the duration of most Alteration spells. Especially at early levels, this primarily affects the Flesh line of spells, so make sure you’re using them frequently enough and really need that extra time before taking this perk.

3. Apprentice Alteration ★

• Cast Apprentice-level Alteration spells for half Magicka.
• Requires: Alteration 25, Novice Alteration

4–6. Mage Armor (3 ranks) ★

• Rank 1: Protection spells like Stoneflesh are twice as strong if not wearing armor.
• Requires: Alteration 30, Apprentice Alteration
• Rank 2: Protection spells like Stoneflesh are two and a half times as strong if not wearing armor.
• Requires: Alteration 50, Apprentice Alteration
• Rank 3: Protection spells like Stoneflesh are three times as strong if not wearing armor.
• Requires: Alteration 70, Apprentice Alteration

The Mage Armor perks significantly increase the effectiveness of the Flesh line of spells if you’re not wearing any armor. If you’re willing to commit to these spells as your primary means of defense, these perks are incredibly useful. But be sure you’re willing to accept the “no armor” restriction before you invest in them.

7–9. Magic Resistance (3 ranks) ★

• Rank 1: Blocks 10% of a spell’s effects.
• Requires: Alteration 30, Apprentice Alteration
• Rank 2: Blocks 20% of a spell’s effects.
• Requires: Alteration 50, Apprentice Alteration
• Rank 3: Blocks 30% of a spell’s effects.
• Requires: Alteration 70, Apprentice Alteration

These perks are a great way of boosting your defense against magic, instead of, or in addition to, the Restoration line of Ward spells. This is a solid choice for any caster and is especially good for Bretons, as it stacks with their racial magic resistance.

10. Adept Alteration ★

• Cast Adept-level Alteration spells for half Magicka.
• Requires: Alteration 50, Apprentice Alteration

11. Stability

• Alteration spells have greater duration.
• Requires: Alteration 70, Adept Alteration

Stability increases the duration of all Alteration spells by 50%. At this point in the Alteration tree, you may have begun to experiment with spells like Paralysis, where the longer duration can definitely make a difference. If you plan to use it extensively or need even longer-lasting Flesh spells, it’s worth taking Stability (and possibly Alteration Dual Casting) to get the most from each cast.

12. Expert Alteration ★

• Cast Expert-level Alteration spells for half Magicka.
• Requires: Alteration 75, Adept Alteration

13. Atronach

• Absorb 30% of the Magicka of any spells that hit you.
• Requires: Alteration 100, Expert Alteration

This perk is worthwhile if you are running low on Magicka at high levels.

14. Master Alteration ★

• Cast Master-level Alteration spells for half Magicka.
• Requires: Alteration 100, Expert Alteration

Racial Benefits

• +5 Alteration
• Argonian
• Breton
• Dark Elf
• High Elf
• Redguard

Trainers

• Expert: Dravynea the Stoneweaver, mage of Kynesgrove, Eastmarch.
• Master: Tolfdir, mage at The College of Winterhold.

Other Resources

• The following quests can also increase this skill:
• The College of Winterhold Quests: Radiant Quests: Shalidor’s Insights.
• Other Factions Quest: Pantea’s Flute.
• Daedric Quest: Discerning the Transmundane.
• Miscellaneous Objectives: Eastmarch Hold: Salt for the Stoneweaver*.