Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Vancian Wizard

Tags: #Character Build Elementalist  #Character Build Illusionist  #Character Build Vampire  #Race:Dunmer  #Rank:Legendary 
  • Member
    January 23, 2016
    It's something I experienced myself (prior to 1.9), but only one time. I dont use Marked for death because I'm afraid of it, you know?
    It's also mentioned in the skyrim wiki, although one could say the informations there arent always correct.
    http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Marked_for_Death
  • Member
    January 23, 2016

    I've never had that glitch occur or even heard about it. Interesting.

    However, I was talking more about non-glitched strategies for defeating him using spells in the Vancian theme. I liked the suggestion from earlier about using Ahzidal's Ring of Necromancy with the Ritual Stone.

    Alastor, what is your take on the Wizard using a Lesser Ward? It would certainly immediately shatter and stagger you whenever Ahzidal uses those damned flame waves of his, but it should help stave of some of the damage on Master or Legendary. Is there any precedent in Vancian magic for a weak at-will magic shield?

     

  • Member
    January 23, 2016

    I know that the build calls for Dunmer as the only race. This is not in any way a critique of the build mechanics. It's more about my personal preference really. I've recently come to appreciate the Orsimer as a fun, unique and quite powerful race to play (honestly, I had never even thought about using this race over the years). I know that the Dunmer have an offensive racial power, but the Orsimer gets an extremely useful daily ability which could be paired with the Ring of The Beast for a last-ditch effort to win a fight. I also realized how awesome an Orc looks with a long grey beard and black robes...

    Of course losing the Dunmer's natural fire resistance makes it a bit harder to survive with the vampire's weakness to fire. Hence my question about using a Lesser Ward on occasion, lol.

  • Member
    January 23, 2016
    I will now direct you to the custom spells section, a particular spell titled Selis' Fiery Ward. The spell engulfs the user in protective flames that creates a physical and magickal defense around the user. Lol but seriously, a Ward can be worked into any spell your create so long as you incorporate a Greater Power to make it a 'once a day' use spell. Fun roleplay :) your best bet to defeating Ahzidal on Master is by using every single Greater Power to its full potential. I know that's very vague but those abilities are enough to beat Ahzzy on Master without any magickal protection. I've done it! Use the columns for cover and pick off the undead before attempting to fight the revenant sorcerer. Let me know how you succeed :) And I fully support the use of different races and even thought of using other races myself. And an orsimer in black hooded robes is sick as all hell >:D it just makes the start of your adventure a bit tougher with one less offensive option in Ancestor's Wrath.
  • Member
    January 23, 2016
    Btw I think even a shatterd Lesser Ward would kill you. It's pretty much a 1-hit KO and unless your Ward is equal to or greater than the magnitude of his spell then you'll die. I think only a Greater Ward could stand up to his attack.
  • Member
    January 23, 2016
    No, a ward, no matter how strong, will always block the BASE DMG of the next incomming spell, regardless of breaking the ward or not. If the dmg is equal to the ward's strenght, the ward will break but you wont get staggered. If the dmg is higher, the ward will break, you will get staggered and be unable to cast the ward for some seconds. However, you wont take any dmg.
  • Member
    January 23, 2016
    Yep, Relycs right. I'm rusty on Vaz's Ward Treatise :) It would stagger a Lesser Ward though. Probably rendering it useless cuz Ahzidal's attacks come too quick
  • Member
    January 23, 2016

    Hi man, I tried your Horde of the Lich King spell but sadly the Ahzidal ring of necromancy's stuff doesn't work on my PS3! It works ONLY if I equip the ring before activate the Ritual stone power. 

  • Member
    January 24, 2016

    Well that's unfortunate :(

  • Member
    March 3, 2016

    I don't know if this is widely known or not, but if you're on PC, the Ordinator Perk overhaul actually adds skill perks for Vancian wizards. Check it out, if you're interested.

    Anyway, this build is fantastic! In Morrowind, I played a master Telvanni Wizard very similar to this. I knew there were mods to enable magicka regen, but I never liked them. It was cool to me to have a bunch of powerful engraved rings and staves with my various spells, and a limited pool of magicka for a few select spells i'd cast.

    It made encounters something I prepared and meditated for, like a deeply wise Arch-mage.