Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Crystallurgist

  • Member
    March 10, 2015

    Hey, i really love the build, i think it's a great way to play magic and i just started my own character to play this. There are just a few things i'm unsure about, and it would be great if you helped me.

    First of all is illusion really important and should i put points in it early?

    Can you still get good enchantments without perking enchanting?

    I don't have the dawnguard dlc, i'll probably get it soon, but for now can i still play the build to it's fullest without it!?

    Thanks a lot 

  • March 10, 2015
    This build really won't work the same without Dawnguard DLC. The Aetherial Crown is necessary to turn 100% absorption on and off. You will instead have to choose between end-negative and end-positive as switching will involve visiting the Standing Stones. Illusion isn't hugely important to the build, but Aspect of Terror is important for boosting the damage of fire spells. Playing without Hearthfire similarly removes convenient access to all the potions used, meaning you will have to roam around picking herbs instead. With a lot of preparation, alchemy can still be a big part of your gameplay, though!
  • Member
    March 11, 2015

    Librari pretty much covered it, but just to reiterate:

    • Illusion is the least important skill, and the least used. I mostly just had it for a change of pace, to break up the occasional big crowd, and to "play with my food" so to speak. And for Aspect of Terror, of course -- that +15 DPS on Flame Cloak is the big draw. Make sure you have 2/2 Augmented Flames from the Destruction tree before you select the Aspect of Terror Illusion perk, or it'll only be +10 DPS!
    • As Librari said, the Aetherial Crown is a pretty big part of the build. Without it, you can't change between what I've dubbed "end-negative" and "end-positive" Crystallurgy on the fly. You'd also be missing out on the Ring of the Erudite, which is the best ring in the game for mages. And you'd have to use atronachs instead of Soul Cairn summons. You could probably make it all work, but it wouldn't be quite the same. If you can spare a few bucks, Dawnguard is TOTALLY worth it. Especially for someone who's still playing Skyrim ~3.5 years later. It adds so much!
    • I specifically chose enchantments that could be manipulated into effectiveness without requiring Enchanting perks. Fiery Soul Trap is a static 10 Fire Damage (15 if you make a new one once you have Augmented Flames) with built-in Soul Trap. For the Chaos Damage effect on Ebion, it's augmented multiplicatively by Augmented Frost (+50%), Augmented Flames (+50%, and Seeker of Sorcery (+10%). If you throw in an Enchanting Elixir, it effectively buffs your Enchanting skill by 25 levels, which translates to a couple more points of magnitude on the Chaos enchant. Like I said in the build throw all that together at around level 45 Enchanting or so -- which I had just from rechrging my Asulon, and from disenchanting random magic apparel I found -- and you can get the 33 magnitude. 50% chance for each/any of the three elements to do 33 damage = an average of 50 damage per swing! We've foiled all conventional wisdom that suggests you need to maximize Enchanting to get good end-game weapons!
  • March 11, 2015

    I've decided to make the Smithing grinding fun and interesting!  Hearthfire smithing aside, I will only train the skill using gems!  To help me in this, I will get Prowler's Profit for the first time ever, and as soon as possible!  I wanted to get glass as early as possible, but I think some levelups will be necessary just to survive the required dungeons without massively cheesing everything or playing on Novice.

    It just makes sense for this character to do quests related to gemstones.

  • Member
    March 11, 2015
    Thanks again. Well now that i got back to playing skyrim properly and i want go o full in on this build i'm just gonna get dawnguard and hearthfire. My highest level character was like level 35 and i keep making new characters after level 20 because i feel like i want to try something else, but this build seems like it will keep me for a long time, especcialy exploring everything in dawnguard. One more qestion: How do you add fire damage and soul trap on Asulon without the perk to add 2 enchantments?
  • March 11, 2015
    Fiery Soul Trap enchantment. You'll find it on the back of Gathrik's throne in Ironbind Barrow, just north of Nightgate Inn. It always deals 10 fire damage, even if you lower the magnitude. Great early game weapon because of how far the charge goes!
  • Member
    March 11, 2015
    Ohhhh... I had no idea there was a weapon with 2 enchantments, i really need to do some more exploring
  • March 11, 2015
    It's not two enchantments! Fiery Soul Trap is an enchantment effect you can learn and put on your own weapons. I usually do a silver sword or a crossbow!
  • Member
    March 11, 2015
    Yeah, i meant an enchantment with 2 effects, excuse my misuse of words.
  • Member
    March 11, 2015

    That's a clever roleplay idea. Good thinking!

    You know, I still haven't ever gotten Prowler's Profit either. Always meant to get around to it.