Summary
- Destruction spells in Skyrim are powerful, with different elements offering unique effects like damage over time or lines of fireballs.
- Magic builds are versatile, especially for players who want to focus on destruction spells for combat and crowd control techniques.
- Players should experiment with different spells like Fire Storm and Ice Spear to inflict massive damage on enemies or control the battlefield with AoE effects.
Combat is pretty consistent in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Different builds have their strengths and weaknesses, but pretty much everyone can agree that the most diverse and adaptable playstyle is a magic build. Each type of magic holds a special niche, with spells focused on healing, summoning, defense, or attack. The most consistent damage-dealing spells in the game are Skyrim's Destruction spells, which are rather tame early on before turning into something truly impressive that can sweep most enemies off their feet in no time at all.
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While some mods add a plethora of new spells to the game, the base game has enough spells for any play style. Each element has its place, with fire dealing extra damage over time, frost draining stamina, and shock destroying enemy Magicka. However, contrary to popular belief, the most powerful Skyrim Destruction spells aren’t all higher mastery levels, and some of the most useful ones can be cast right out of the gate. Players who have played as stealth archers too many times in this game will certainly enjoy embarking down a path of pure and utter destruction as they use the best Destruction spells in Skyrim.
Updated on February 28, 2025, by Gerardo Molina: One of the greatest things about Skyrim is that it has lots of different spells for players to try if they want to pursue a Magic build. While some are really forgiving with Magicka consumption, others will deplete half or more of players’ Magicka bar if used too quickly—at least at the beginning of the game. Destruction spells are completely devastating, especially in the Expert and Master levels, as they can quickly decimate large groups of enemies in the blink of an eye. Sure, wielding a massive sword and taking down enemies in a few swings is also fun, but it’s nothing compared to becoming the ultimate Mage in the land of Skyrim.
35 Strangulation
A Fancy Way To Absorb Health
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 84 Magicka
- Effect: Absorb 16 Health from the target for 3 seconds
Once a part of the Creation Club, Strangulation is a fun addition to the Destruction spell tree that players can check out early on in their journey to become the strongest Destruction mage in the game. Absorbing health from a target early on is a great way for players to take out enemies while also healing themselves up.
Strangulation may become irrelevant as players unlock higher tiers of Destruction magic in Skyrim, but it's still a great way to toy around with enemies for those who want to understand why so many people love to sling spells to damage their foes in the game. Players can have a ton of fun with this unique spell before moving on to bigger and better things. As players explore the land of Skyrim, they will often have the chance to have the Strangulation Spell Tome pop up on their journey. This will greatly be determined by their Hero level and Spell level. That said, players’ best chance at finding a Spell Tome containing this powerful Destruction Spell is by searching boss-level chests in Necromancer and Conjurer lairs.
34 Vampiric Drain
A Vampiric Spell That Allows Players To Drain An Enemy's Health
- Requirements: Vampire transformation unlocked
- Cost: 6-17 Magicka per second
- Effect: Drains health proportional to the player's Vampirism level
Players who choose to become a vampire in Skyrim can make the most of their powers to show their enemies who's boss. Sure, this may come at the cost of the freedom to traverse locations by day, but that's a price players are often willing to pay to check out the unique content added in the Dawnguard DLC.
Along with the numerous vampiric powers that players gain access to, the Dragonborn can also drain enemies of their health with Vampiric Drain. This is an obvious power to include, given how vampires operate, and players with a high Vampirism level can transform Vampiric Drain into one of the best Destruction spells in Skyrim. Targets of this spell can also contract Sanguinare Vampiris, which can quickly lead to Vampirism unless the affliction is cured within three days. Although some Spells benefit from wielding them with both hands, this is not the case for Vampiric Drain, as its power remains constant regardless of whether it’s equipped in one hand or both. Players looking for a projectile spell that has long range might want to seach elsewhere, as Vampiric Drain, like the Flames Spell goes out in a stream, which considerably decreseases its area of effect and reach. As a fun piece of information, the NPC Serana can continue to use this spell, even if she’s cured from Vampirism. Talk about being lucky.
33 Fire Rune
A Fiery Trap That Players Can Set Up For Fun Results
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 234 Magicka
- Effect: A trap that hits for 50 Fire Damage when triggered by an enemy
It's easy to see why some people would scoff at the thought of setting up magical traps to deal with their enemies when it's just easier and more convenient to deal damage from the shadows. However, doing so would prevent players from making the most of Fire Rune, one of the best Destruction spells in Skyrim that players can use to turn the tide of battle against their opponents and punish those who are overzealous and try to charge the Dragonborn.
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The 50 points of fire damage can be deadly for opponents out of their depth. However, one major reason why players don't use this spell all that often is the ridiculously high Magicka requirement, which can prove to be a major pain for low-level builds who don't have too much of this resource to spare. Players who are forced to wait for ages before placing another Fire Rune would likely prefer to just use regular direct spells instead.
32 Frost Rune
The Dragonborn Can Catch Enemies Unawares With A Frosty Trap
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 293 Magicka
- Effect: A trap that hits for 50 Frost Damage when triggered by an enemy
It can be a ton of work, but players willing to put in the effort to set up traps for their enemies can make the most of one of Skyrim's best Destruction spells. If the Dragonborn loves to operate from the shadows, then using distractions to lead enemies into traps can be a great way to make the most of the runes that players can set up in hostile areas.
Watching an enemy step into a trap only to breathe their last is a move that players won't get tired of no matter how many times they pull it off. Sure, the amount of magicka required to cast Frost Rune can be tremendous, but players setting up these traps in stealth have all the time in the world to replenish their magic resources, as enemies are caught in these high-damage traps over and over again.
31 Firebolt
A Fire Missile That Burns The Target
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 41 Magicka
- Effect: Deals 25 Fire damage
Sometimes, the simplest spells are the ones that end up being the most effective. This is the case with Firebolt, a powerful Destruction magic in Skyrim that does a great job of burning enemies to a crisp. In the right hands, even something as simple as Firebolt can be an efficient way to demolish the Dragonborn's opponents.
High-level enemies can take way too many shots from this spell to make it viable in such encounters, but players who are dealing with foes well below their pay grade will love what the Firebolt spell brings to the table. It can be unlocked early and can become a mainstay of the Dragonborn's arsenal in no time. Unlike Flames or Vampiric Drain, Firebolt is not released in a stream, but rather as a projectile, which makes it ideal for casting it towards enemies that are standing far away from the Dragonborn while still inflicting considerable damage.
30 Ice Spike
An Iconic Spell That Damages Both Health And Stamina
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 48 Magicka
- Effect: Deals 25 Frost Damage to Health and Stamina
To this day, there's something hilarious about watching an enemy functioning like normal with a massive Ice Spike in their abdomen. The novelty of this spell coupled with its iconic imagery is why so many people continue to remember this spell fondly even now.
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Sure, it may not be the most effective Frost damage dealer in the game, but it's great at lower levels when players don't have a lot of Magicka to spare. Impaling enemies with multiple ice spikes makes for a rather cool image that players won't forget anytime soon.
29 Lightning Bolt
A Quick, Easy-To-Cast Spell That Shocks Enemies
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 51 Magicka
- Effect: Deals 25 Shock Damage to Health and half of that to Magicka
There's something oddly satisfying about unleashing a torrent of lightning magic at a steady rate and watching an enemy's health bar fall. While Lightning Bolt may not seem like the most effective spell the Dragonborn can use, players need only level up their Destruction a bit to witness the true power of this magical technique.
It shaves off an enemy's health and Magicka at a steady rate, making it perfect to tackle any enemy that uses magic in battle. Until players unlock bigger and better spells, the Lightning Bolt will be a trusted and loyal servant, especially during the early game.
28 Elemental Bolt
Combines Fire And Shock Damage
- Requirements: Apprentice Destruction magic unlocked
- Cost: 62 Magicka
- Effect: Deal 20 Fire & Shock damage while also depleting the target's Stamina
While some players may love to stick to one element when spamming spells in Skyrim, there are times when the Dragonborn will see great results by combining elements and overwhelming their opponents. This is where the Elemental Bolt spell comes into the picture and does a great job of showing the Dragonborn's foes who's boss.
Elemental Bolt combines both Fire and Shock damage for a deadly package that makes it one of the most underrated and best Destruction magic in Skyrim. Once players have the Magicka pool required to spam this spell, most enemies will be toast in no time.
27 Freeze
Stops Enemies In Their Tracks
- Requirements: Ahzidal's Ring of Arcana equipped
- Cost: 30 Magicka
- Effect: Deals 20 Frost Damage to Health & Stamina and slows down the target for 15 seconds
No matter what video game players check out, there's something oddly satisfying about freezing an enemy in their tracks if the playable character has access to Frost magic. In Skyrim, this can be enjoyed relatively soon if players manage to get their hands on Ahzidal's Ring of Arcana.
It gives players access to both Ignite and Freeze, with the latter being perfect for slowing enemies down and potentially stopping them in their tracks. If the Dragonborn is lucky enough, they can potentially dispose of an enemy in a truly humiliating manner with this spell.
26 Elemental Flare
Extremely Broken And Incredibly Cheap
- Requirements: No rank requirements, Arcane Accessories Creation Club kit downloaded
- Cost: 45 Magicka
- Effect: Deals 15 Fire Damage, 15 Shock Damage, and 15 Damage to Stamina in an area of effect
Elemental Flare is extremely cheap to cast with devastatingly powerful effects. Elemental Flare deals 15 Fire Damage and 15 Shock Damage at the same time for only 45 mana - almost four times the amount of damage as the Flames spell in a single bolt.
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It has an area of effect, too, meaning that a mage can cast this over and over again into a group of enemies and hit each for near-full damage, even if they aren't hit directly. It's one of the most powerful Skyrim Destruction spells, but Elemental Flare and its upgraded versions are only available with the Arcane Accessories pack, included with Skyrim Anniversary Edition.