Prima Games eGuides Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition eGuide

Sign in or create an account

We'll email you a link. No password needed, and if you don't have an account yet, the link makes one.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guide Training Training Part 1: Character Creation

Magic Skills: The Path of Magic – Illusion

Magic Skills: The Path of Magic – Illusion

Illusion Magic manipulates the minds of those around you, sending them into a frenzy or compelling them to flee in terror. Illusion also offers several useful spells for a stealthy character, such as Invisibility and Muffle. Your Illusion skill increases when you cast a useful Illusion spell on a valid target. For example, you don’t get credit for casting Fear on a character who’s immune to the spell or for casting Invisibility when no one is around to see you.

Many Illusion perks are designed to help you overcome the major limitation of Illusion magic: the level restrictions on who your spells can affect. See the Spell List for the individual level restrictions on each spell, and see the Bestiary for a guide to identifying enemies by level.

  • Constellation: Path of Magic
  • Available Perks: 13

Available Illusion Perks

1. Novice Illusion ★
  • Cast Novice-level Illusion spells for half Magicka.
  • Requires: None
2. Animage
  • Illusion spells now work on higher-level animals.
  • Requires: Illusion 20, Novice Illusion

Illusion spells now affect animals up to 8 levels higher than the spell’s usual limit. Stacks with all other perks.

3. Illusion Dual Casting ★
  • Dual casting an Illusion spell overcharges the effects into an even more powerful version.
  • Requires: Illusion 20, Novice Illusion

Dual Casting more than doubles the duration of your Illusion spells and allows them to affect targets twice as high as the spell’s level cap would normally permit. This dramatically increases the effectiveness of all Illusion spells, especially until you begin taking other perks in this school to raise those level restrictions. It also works well for the stealth-focused spells (Invisibility, Muffle), which could give you away if they wear off too early.

4. Apprentice Illusion ★
  • Cast Apprentice-level Illusion spells for half Magicka.
  • Requires: Illusion 25, Novice Illusion
5. Hypnotic Gaze
  • Calm spells now work on higher-level opponents. Cumulative with Kindred Mage and Animage.
  • Requires: Illusion 30, Novice Illusion

Calm spells now affect enemies up to 8 levels higher than the spell’s usual limit. Stacks with all other perks.

6. Kindred Mage
  • All Illusion spells work on higher-level people.
  • Requires: Illusion 40, Animage

Illusion spells now affect people up to 10 levels higher than the spell’s usual limit. Stacks with all other perks.

7. Adept Illusion ★
  • Cast Adept-level Illusion spells for half Magicka.
  • Requires: Illusion 50, Apprentice Illusion
8. Aspect of Terror
  • Fear spells work on higher-level opponents. Cumulative with Kindred Mage and Animage.
  • Requires: Illusion 50, Hypnotic Gaze

Fear spells now affect enemies up to 10 levels higher than the spell’s usual limit. Stacks with all other perks.

9. Quiet Casting
  • All spells you cast from any school of magic are silent to others.
  • Requires: Illusion 50, Kindred Mage

A great choice for any stealth-focused character dabbling in magic or any mage interested in stealth. With this perk, you can cast spells like Fear or Frenzy while remaining hidden, or you can recast Invisibility if it wears off unexpectedly.

10. Rage
  • Frenzy spells work on higher-level opponents. Cumulative with Kindred Mage and Animage.
  • Requires: Illusion 70, Aspect of Terror

Frenzy spells now affect enemies up to 12 levels higher than the spell’s usual limit. Stacks with all other perks.

11. Expert Illusion ★
  • Cast Expert-level Illusion spells for half Magicka.
  • Requires: Illusion 75, Adept Illusion
12. Master of the Mind ★
  • Illusion spells work on undead, Daedra, and automatons.
  • Requires: Illusion 90, Rage OR Quiet Casting
13. Master Illusion
  • Cast Master-level Illusion spells for half Magicka.
  • Requires: Illusion 100, Expert Illusion

Racial Benefits

  • +10 Illusion
  • High Elf
  • +5 Illusion
  • Breton
  • Dark Elf

Trainers

  • Expert: Atub, of Largashbur, in The Rift.
  • Master: Drevis Neloren, instructor 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.
  • Favor: Vampire Slayer*.