I was wondering if the Master destruction spells are useful or just to show them off?
I'm asking because it takes ages to cast and you can't hold them neither precisely point (Lighting Storm)…
Have you ever used them with a purpose?
Are the Master destruction spells useful
the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim
Related Solutions
Sort and simple answer is yes! My second character is based around this build. I am currently level 32 and I am quite enjoying it. I rarely use equilibrium as I rarely run out of magicka and when I do I have a loooot of potions from hoarding them around.
At the moment I am dual casting apprentice level destruction - and yes this more than enough to kill frost dragons. maybe it takes a few more hits but it staggers dragons (not Alduin) and I am waiting till my enchanting is 100 so I can make my destruction free and not waste anymore perks. I use rune spells and conjuration (fire, storm and dremora lord) regularly to give me a tactical advantage.
Early game I'd suggest having a follower but not really that necessary later on.
I used restoration perks to increase my magicka regen by 50% so I can use atronach stone. i use arch mage's robe, morokai's mask and self enchanted amulet and ring for giving more magicka+magicka regen. So I suggest doing college of winterhold quests asap. Right now I have around 430 magicka and 410 health.
Hope this answers your question though I am a month late :p
Edit:
I will put up my character build here and edit it every so often if it helps:
- level: 35 (atronach stone)
- Enchanting - lvl 100 (and I always use grand souls for enchanting my gear)
- Destruction - lvl 90
- conjuration ~ lvl 86
- alteration - lvl 33 (I am including this as this is the next skill I will try to develop)
- gear: orcish armor (destruction+alteration), ebony helmet (destruction+alteration), ring (destruction+conjuration), amulet (destruction+conjuration), ebony gauntlets (magicka+something nice). So this makes all my destruction cost 0 magicka.
I tested this at the last part of the main quest-line
from the point where you enter Skuldafn.
It works rather well, would work better with some (crowd) control spells eg. paralysis from alteration, or some illusion spells etc.
Edit: various rebalances in patches since the below was posted (such as a particular spell's damage per cast) has made it inaccurate. I am afraid, therefore, that it seems that the author of the spreadsheet has taken down the link.
A Solution
I developed a basic spreadsheet that allows you to find out all the above questions, and more. V1 provides a full workup of magicka and all related enchanting effects, and provides detailed damage info for destruction spells.
A better VBA model I was 30% through is on hold while I enjoy a DLC to my favourite game :D
An basic example with my current mage: Magistra Circe
Mirror 1: SkyrimNexus
EDIT: the sheet is locked to prevent accidental deletion of a formula. You can unlock it (no password) under the "Review" Tab (in Excel).
Best Answer
I used them for the lols during fort attacks in the Stormcloak/Imperial war quests, since there are a lot of targets around you. You can also sneak up to groups of enemies while stealthy/Invisible and let off one of them to start the fight.
Other than that, I didn't use them much, for the reasons you mentioned. Of all the perks they put in the game, I don't know why there isn't a perk to make winding up Master spells faster. You're really vulnerable while preparing and holding them, since you can't move.