Help for a non-magic player...

[Lyons]

Hello all. I was hoping to get some advice...

Ephah is a level 31 Wood Elf archer. Stealthy at times but not dependant on sneaking. Using single handed swords for back up. So far, when levelling up, I’ve been increasing my health and stamina 50/50. I’ve put nothing into magicka. Will this hold me back in the game? I’m thinking mainly about being able to complete the Winterhold College quest line. I have a hood that fortifies my magicka +50 so my magicka total can be 150 with this equiped. I’m happy with my combat and I’m not looking to start using spells anytime soon but is it advisable to get my magicka up a small amount for anything further in the game. Maybe raise it to 200ish?

What is the possible maximum magicka total when using fortified clothing?

Also does it become pointless to go beyond a certain amount with health and stamina? If I continue my 50/50 split up to level 80 I think that works out to about 500 in each which seems pointlessly large.

Any advice would be awesome

[Evil-i]

My character isn't much of a magic user either, and uses it mostly for Healing, Clairvoyance, and Illumination. I have his basic magic ability at 200, which seems comfortable and fine for what he needs at level 35-ish.

[Mattbott]

the perks in each school of magic allow you to cast spells for half magika so it's not a killer

i can summon a flame atronarch, heal myself, electrocute dwemer robots, and that's about all my guy can do (50+ lvl)

shouts are the best magic for my character tbh

there are dragons out there which do 300 damage with their bite , which meant an automatic swallow for my character until a few of levels ago, so imo keep putting your health and stamina up if that's how you play it (forsaken dual wielders also can kill me very quickly lol)

not sure about the max magika, but there are masks, rings, necklaces and headbands which can fortify it by anything up to 50 or 70 points, and clothes etc so i would say you could get your score up to 300 with a bit of planning (and potions)

[Arterion]

Truth be told, no magic skill or knowledge of magic combat is required to complete the College of Winterhold questline. Sneak kill people with your bow and you should be fine. The only advice I can give you for your build is to stock some magic resistance potions for the dragon priest fights.

As for the gear, with Enchanting you can make every spell school cast for no cost, so magicka is not an issue later on. Keep some fortify magicka potions if you wish to dabble in the Art or just use the Atronach stone which gives you a flat +50 magicka, which equals to five levels. The Necromancer Amulet is also a good start if you wish to cast those expensive summons.

Overall, you will obtain all the gear and books you need just by completing the College questline. For example if you are level 40 the fourth quest will give you a circlet with Fortify Magicka (50-70 points, depends on the level), and later on you will obtain a powerful staff and cloths, more than enough for a mage to shine in combat.

Still with your build I see only Rune spells and some Illusion trick worth the consideration. Bound Bow is also a great gameplay enhancer with the proper perks in Conjuration.

[Jeff]

You can get by in the CoW with minimal magic and magicka. There are only a few places where you have to use magic, and lower level spells work fine. I very rarely add points to Magicka.

The exception is if you do the Master Quests, which can require a higher level spell and more Magicka... but if you do those, you can always use enchantment buffs to Fortify Magicka, and lower spell cost.

[yodah]

What is the possible maximum magicka total when using fortified clothing?

Normally, I would guess around 200 extra points of magic or so. With the Fortify Restoration potion exploit, there really wouldn't be a possible max. If you had 4 pieces of gear that fortified magic 50 points each and drank a Fortify restoration potion with a 5,000%+ magnitude, you would probably never run out of magic.

[Siken]

On my character i puth all in healt and got some items of stamina, nice bonuse of stamina regeneration from light armor perk and Lady stone but gona swich to Atronach stone wen my restoration hit 60 and i get perk to regenerate magicka faster and gona start using amulet that regenerate my healt 50% faster.
My frst character whas mix of all Atrobute and that whas no so good, but it all depend on dificulty you play so considerring that you may rise it on higer levels i sugest you stop upgrading stamina and concentrate on healt and finde som ring or other item that fortify magicka.

Conjure bow will be best to strat whit your mage and short fire burst will give you best demage over time.
But to I sugest you make use of spelbreker or ward whit proper perk in ward absorption and lightning demage or thing will not go so welll for you in open combat agens other mages.

[Mr Pyjama]

Overall, you will obtain all the gear and books you need just by completing the College questline. For example if you are level 40 the fourth quest will give you a circlet with Fortify Magicka (50-70 points, depends on the level),

Right, you got lots of good (mostly best) magicka equipment during the CoW questline.

Baldur's amulet fragments (+30 magicka +30health +30stamina)
Mage's Circlet (+70 magicka if you are lvl25)
Savos amulet (+70 magicka)

Then at the end :
Morokei Mask (light armor equipment with +100% magicka regen) + Archmage robe with big magical stats + almost useless Magnus staff.

Finally, you should be interested in the Restoration school since a perk allow both health and stamina regeneration simultaneously.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

I have a friend who did exactly what you did, the only magic you need is the Illusion school. For the Nightblade type character, there is truly not a single perk on the Illusion tree not worth taking. Invest in magicka at roughly a 4/6 rate, so four level-ups in magicka, one in health, and one in stamina for every six levels. If you have it, begin using the Nightingale Armor or something with similar enchantments to boost your Illusion skills. Also, switch to the Mage stone until your Illusion catches up with your stealth skills, and then switch back to whatever you were using before.

[Syrkin]

The first spell I had to cast on my paladin was 150 magicka. At the time I had 100 magicka total, and no potions or gear to increase it, and at the level I was at the +magicka ratings weren't +50 anyway.

It's a random spell chosen for you to be able to cast to get into the CoW anyway. My rogue had to cast a 50ish magicka spell was all.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

At the time, I had to cast a flam atronach spell at level 1, which meant quaffing a potion of fortify magicka. If you don't have any and you get the atronach challenge, you're screwed until you find one.

[KittyKat17]

I'm a Nord that ended up liking bows a bit too much... It's the only thing I use now. I finished the College of Winterhold questline without using magic... Never liked using it much. I'm a good bit of the way finished with the game and just started using some magic to level faster (I'm at or almost at 100 for a lot of skills).

[Lyons]

Thanks for all the advice peeps! This has been really helpful. I've just finished the main quest line and you were all right, there is no real need for a high Magicka capacity.

Much appreciated!