The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Destruction Summoner Mage Build

Skyrim has no seasons. The spell, Perk and item details in this article were checked against the UESP pages listed at the end on November 4, 2026. We have not re-checked them in the game. Where a number could not be confirmed, the text says so.

Would you like to be a master of magic in the vast lands of Skyrim? This build guide explains how to create a 'Destruction Summoner Mage' who casts Destruction spells at low cost and commands powerful summoned creatures. It covers the path from early to late game and one way to handle Dragon Priests, within what UESP confirms.

This Build's Concept: Cheap Spells and Summoned Front Line

The ultimate goal of this build is to stack Destruction spell cost reduction through Enchanting until it totals 100%, so Destruction spells cost no Magicka (we could not confirm in UESP how large the reduction on a single piece can be). In combat, you'll summon two "Dremora Lords" via your Conjuration skill to act as a frontline tank and attacker, while you safely eliminate enemies from the rear. The Destruction Perk "Impact" makes most Destruction spells stagger an opponent when dual cast (UESP). UESP says that against high-health enemies such as Dragon Priests, this lets you stagger-lock them and stop them from retaliating. For your race, choosing a High Elf provides a +50 bonus to starting Magicka, allowing for smoother early-game progression.

Progression Guideline: The Path to Arcane Supremacy

Becoming a Destruction Summoner Mage takes planned skill development. Here's a breakdown of the progression steps from early to late game.

Early Game (Lv1-20): Laying the Foundation

Immediately after starting the game, progress through the College of Winterhold questline. Note that the Archmage's Robes are awarded only after "The Eye of Magnus," near the end of the questline, so you will not have them early (UESP). Morokei's mask comes from killing Morokei in Labyrinthian and carries +100% Magicka regeneration (UESP also lists a bug where its in-game enchantment differs). In combat, hire a Follower and utilize them as a tank. For your own Conjuration magic spells, focus on the early-game spell "Conjure Flame Atronach." Conjuration earns experience when you summon a creature and meet a hostile enemy before it vanishes (UESP). UESP also lists casting Soul Trap on corpses repeatedly, but that exploits a bug, so we do not recommend it. Also, start actively collecting soul gems during this period to prepare for later Enchanting skill leveling.

Mid Game (Lv20-40): Pursuing Specialization

Your top priority during this level range is to "reach Enchanting skill level 100." Use the soul gems and unwanted equipment you've collected along the way to tirelessly enchant, honing your skill. In parallel with skill leveling, acquire crucial Perks for combat. For Destruction skill, prioritize "Impact" (Destruction 40; requires Destruction Dual Casting) to stagger enemies. For Conjuration skill, secure the path towards your ultimate goal, "Twin Souls" (Conjuration 100). "Conjure Dremora Lord" is an Expert-level conjuration spell. Phinis Gestor at the College of Winterhold stocks Expert conjuration spell tomes when your Conjuration is 65 or higher (UESP).

Late Game (Lv40-): Reaching Completion

Once your Enchanting skill reaches 100 you can take "Extra Effect" (Enchanting 100 plus Corpus Enchanter or Storm Enchanter), which lets you put two effects on an item you are enchanting. You cannot add a second one to an item that is already enchanted (UESP). Put a Destruction spell cost reduction on four pieces of equipment, head, armor, ring and necklace, aiming for a 100% total (we could not confirm in UESP that one piece can reach 25%). Choose the second effect when you create the enchantment. For example, add "Conjuration magic spell cost reduction," "Magicka regeneration," or "Health increase" to further strengthen your character. The Conjuration Perk "Twin Souls" (Conjuration 100) lets you have two summoned creatures at once, and UESP notes that it affects Dremora Lords too. With two out front, you are better prepared for tough enemies such as Dragon Priests and the Ebony Warrior.

Build Details: Skill Configuration and Final Gear

Here's a specific breakdown of the configuration to maximize this build's performance.

Build Overview Table

Final Equipment Set (Self-Enchanted)

• Head: Circlet - "Destruction spell cost reduced," "Conjuration spell cost reduced"
• Armor: Clothes or Robes - "Destruction spell cost reduced," "Conjuration spell cost reduced"
• Necklace: Gold Necklace, etc. - "Destruction spell cost reduced," "Magic Resistance +20%"
• Ring: Gold Ring, etc. - "Destruction spell cost reduced," "Health +XX"
• Gloves: - "Magicka +XX," etc. (Free slot. UESP says enchantments that fortify combat skills or magic schools do not benefit a follower who wears them)
• Boots: - "Fire Resistance +XX%," "Frost Resistance +XX%"
• Weapon: - Generally not needed. Fight solely with magic spells.

In Practice: One Way to Handle Dragon Priests

This build comes into its own against late-game enemies like Dragon Priests. They have a lot of health, and UESP says dual-cast Impact can keep them staggered. The steps below follow that idea (we have not confirmed in the game how reliable it is):

1. Combat Preparation: Just before the battle, cast "Conjure Dremora Lord" twice to call forth two powerful warriors. The base duration is 60 seconds (120 with Atromancy; UESP), so do not cast it too early.
2. Opening: Send the two Dremora Lords to charge the Dragon Priest. They will act as excellent shields, drawing the Dragon Priest's attention.
3. Begin Attack: Once you confirm the Dragon Priest is targeting your summoned creatures, maintain a safe distance and cast Destruction magic spells with both hands. With the "Impact" Perk, most Destruction spells stagger the target when dual cast (UESP).
4. Continuous Attack: Keep dual-casting Destruction spells (such as Thunderbolt or Incinerate). UESP says this can keep the target staggered and stop it from retaliating (stagger-lock). Dual casting costs about 40% more Magicka than casting the spell twice separately (UESP), so watch your Magicka.

If a summoned Dremora Lord is defeated, simply summon it again.

About Legendary Difficulty

Legendary difficulty was added in Patch 1.9. In the UESP table, enemies take 0.25x damage and the player takes 3x damage. UESP says difficulty affects followers and summons the same way it affects enemies. We have not tested in the game how far this build holds up on Legendary or how reliable the stagger-lock is. Because it takes longer to wear enemies down, dual-cast Magicka cost and re-summoning are likely to matter more.

Summary

The "Destruction Summoner Mage" build is one way to play a magic user in Skyrim. The core of the build is stacking Destruction spell cost reduction through Enchanting up to a 100% total. In combat, two Dremora Lords summoned with the "Twin Souls" Perk hold the front line, while you stagger enemies with dual-cast Destruction spells through "Impact". Progression takes time and planning. Use this guide as a reference and try the Destruction Summoner Mage.

Sources and What We Checked

The spell, Perk and item details were checked against the following UESP pages on November 4, 2026. UESP can change, and we have not re-checked these in the game. The stat allocation, level brackets and the enchantment combinations on each piece are our own guidelines and are not confirmed in UESP. Japanese names (such as Twin Souls and Extra Effect in the Japanese version) cannot be confirmed from UESP either.

• Destruction（UESP）
• Conjuration（UESP）
• Enchanting（UESP）
• Conjure Dremora Lord（UESP）
• Phinis Gestor（UESP）
• Archmage's Robes（UESP）
• Morokei (item)（UESP）
• Standing Stone（UESP）
• Fortify Destruction（UESP）
• Soul Trap (effect)（UESP）
• Damage（UESP）
• High Elf（UESP）