Skyrim, Are Master Illusion Spells Worth It?

In Vanilla Skyrim, humanoid enemies have a max level cap between 40-50 or lower, making Master level Illusion spells still viable even late in the game. Fortify Illusion potions can strengthen your Illusion spells, allowing you to affect higher-level enemies. Master spells provide a much larger area of effect but take five seconds to cast, and they don’t need the higher level when the area of effect contains mostly spawn.

Illusion master spells have an extremely wide range, and with the right perks, entering a dungeon and casting Mayhem at the door can do a lot of fighting for you. With the Master of the Mind Illusion perk, it even works on summoned minions and raised corpses. Rally fires an orb that explodes on impact, affecting any within a 15-foot radius.

Master Illusion is the most powerful school of magic, but it’s just very perk intensive. It can help you walk around Skyrim without facing a single enemy in battle or influence your foes so they take care of you. Master illusion spells are garbage, and Master destruction is worthless.

Illusion spells are a mixed bag, with some meant to avoid combat and others meant to instigate it in equal measure. While no Illusion spell does any direct damage, spells and perks in this school are a good supplement to Stealth-focused characters and make them more effective.

To master Illusion spells in Skyrim, players must find four Master Illusion Texts scattered throughout the college that are only visible and obtainable through the use of a novice-level spell.