Skyrim: Best Defensive Spells

There are few RPGs with as many various ways to play as a magic user as there are in Skyrim. The options given to the Dragonborn for combat stretch far beyond just magic, but there are many fascinating character builds that can be created for new runs by only focusing on the magical abilities one can gain to become the best mage in Skyrim.

Related:The Best Skyrim Mage Builds

While most players will choose to use destructive spells and go on the offense with their magical capabilities, there are a few who go for underpowered builds focusing on schools of magic like Restoration and Alteration. Instead of attacking, some players choose to try and get through as much of the game as possible with only defensive spells backing them up.

7 Close Wounds

Heals the Caster

Healing is obviously one of the best ways to defend oneself in Skyrim, and there are a number of great spells that can help players do just that in varying amounts. However, Close Wounds is probably the very best of all the options, due to the great balance between Magicka cost and volume of health restored.

Close Wounds is an adept-level Restoration spell, which heals players by 100 HP points. This is a huge volume, making up the player’s entire beginning health bar in the game, but still resulting in a big boost late-game. Since Close Wounds only costs 126 Magicka and the amount healed can be boosted even further by other healing perks, this spell becomes the very best for healing in the game.

6 Ebonyflesh

Improves Armor

There are several alteration spells that are truly great for defending a player from enemy attacks. Some of those spells can be cast on enemies, but others are cast upon the user instead. This includes Ebonyflesh, which is an upgraded version of spells like Oakflesh and Stoneflesh, and it is one worth working through the Alteration school to unlock.

Related:Best Armor Enchantments In Skyrim

Ebonyflesh is an expert-level spell that increases the player’s armor rating for ninety seconds. In any tough situation, a player can defend themselves with this spell before unleashing their attacks on opponents, making it much more likely they’ll survive hefty blows from many opponents.

5 Whirlwind Cloak

Fling Away Enemies In Range

One of the few great defensive spells that can potentially deal damage, as well as one of the few destruction magic spells that can be considered defensive. Whirlwind Cloak is an adept-level destruction spell that casts a fascinating and very amusing layer of protection around the player.

This cloak, unlike other similar spells that deal damage to opponents if they come too close, simply flings enemies away from the player. This can be extremely entertaining since some opponents will take damage and ragdoll completely when thrown away by the spell, but it is also highly effective in keeping a player safe.

4 Guardian Circle

Cause Certain Enemies To Flee

The Master level spell from the Restoration School of Magic is a fantastic one. Guardian Circle can only be learned by completing the Restoration Master Level quest at the College of Winterhold, but it is well worth learning for the incredible effects it produces.

Guardian Circle creates a wide circle on the ground around the player, entering the circle will cause any undead up to level 35 to flee from the player. Additionally, the player and others within the circle heal 20 HP points per second. A fantastic last-ditch spell to cast when in trouble, especially in dungeons filled with undead creatures, Guardian Circle has saved the lives of many defensively-minded players.

3 Invisibility

Caster is Invisible for Brief Period

A highly underrated spell for thieves and assassins, which make up two of the major factions in Skyrim, invisibility does exactly what players would expect it to do. Instead of having to take a potion or max out the sneaking ability, players can turn themselves completely invisible with this expert-level Illusion spell.

Related:Best Spells In Skyrim, Ranked

Normally working for thirty seconds, Invisibility can be extended via a dual cast to last for 75 seconds straight. This can provide players with the opportunity to get into a house, steal an item, and get out, or slip past a whole group of enemies, all without them having a clue.

2 Mass Paralysis

Can Paralyze Enemies

Another spell that can help players stop enemies dead without actually damaging or attacking them, Mass Paralysis is the master-level spell for the Alteration school of magic. With a master-level quest at the College of Winterhold, this one obtained from Tolfdir, players can in one mighty swoop, completely freeze everyone in an area for fifteen seconds, although potion makers can achieve a similar effect.

The most difficult part of the Mass Paralysis spell is that it costs 937 Magicka to cast, one of the largest Magicka volumes needed for anything in Skyrim. However, with the right perks and enchantments, players can make it much more achievable and will be able to immobilize whole armies, allowing them to make their escape in a defensive manner.

1 Dragonhide

Ignore Physical Damage

The upgraded version of spells like Ebonyflesh; Dragonhide is well worth learning, but again, it is incredibly difficult to do so. Dragonhide is the Master Level spell in the Alteration school of magic, meaning that once again, players need to complete a master-level quest at the College of Winterhold if they want to obtain this spell.

Fortunately, Dragonhide is extremely worth it. Players, for thirty seconds after casting Dragonhide, receive an 80% physical damage reduction from all attacks. Essentially giving players the highest armor rating available by any conventionally-made equipment, Dragonhide is the ultimate defense for players and one of the best alterations spells in the game.

Skyrim

Platform(s)

PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, PS4, PS5, Switch

Released

November 11, 2011

Developer(s)

Bethesda

Genre(s)

RPG, Action, Adventure