Mage Equipment

[Po77InATOr]

I have done some research but I would like a second opinion. What do you guys think is the best equipment in the game for a pure battle mage (staff, armor, rings, etc...)?

[Fljotsdale]

POST CONTAINS A COUPLE OF MINOR SPOILERS

If you want armour, than choose Light armour.
Otherwise, you can enchant articles of clothing with Shield; max Sheild value per item is 10 (Grand Soul Gem with Grand soul), so you can have shoes, skirt/pants, shirt/blouse, hood, for a maximum of 40 Shield. If you use a robe, your max will be 30.
The advantage of enchanted clothing is that you NEVER have to repair it!
However, if you want to, you can also use gauntlets and a shield - though the shield is no use with a staff, it can be useful if you have to resort to melee with a blade.

Staffs are great! Get your own Mage staff as soon as you enter Arcane University. I find electrical damage enchantment is the best, but you have several choices available to you.
You just point a staff and press the attack button, you don't whack with it, which is what I thought. Silly me! :laugh:
And pick up ALL staffs you find in the game. Some you will want to sell, but many are very good. And considering that you need Varla stones or filled soul gems to recharge/partly recharge them (or PAY to have them recharged), it is always good to carry several fully charged staffs with you. A melee weapon skill is also good in case you run out of juice - either mana or staff.

Remember that soul gems will only partially rechage ONE enchanted weapon; a varla stone will FULLY recharge ALL enchanted weapons in your inventory. Don't waste 'em! Use up the charge in all your enchanted weapons before using a varla stone.

Yes, rings and amulets are good. The Arcane Uni will give you a very nice amulet after one of the early University quests.You get a handy ring from Thoronir in the Market district after completing a quest for the market traders, which is very useful early on, especially if you have a High Elf character.
There are some excellent rings to be found in the game, and remember you will be able to enchant rings and other items for yourself once you qualify to enter the Arcane University.

Items of waterbreathing, waterwalking, feather, nighteye, and detect life are also VERY VERY useful.

[Po77InATOr]

Great info! Thanks alot. Aside from that could you also give me the names of some of the best equipment to be used at a higher level, so I know when I find one whether it's worth it or not?

[ashes2233]

with staffs etc it will say something like fire damage 60pts the higher the pts the beter the staff

[RavenBlackthorn]

I am currently a level 34 High Elf Mage.
Aside from encumberance issues (and role playing factors), is there any particular reason why Light Armour is being recommended over that of something stronger? I have been wearing Daedric for quite some time now, and is the strongest armor with the highest defensive rating in the game. Although heavy at first, once you gain Strength and raise you Heavy Armor Skill (which reduces encumberance of Heavy Armor) the weight was no longer a factor for me.

As far as weapons were concerned, I managed to get my hands on a Staff of Conflagration, and a Staff of Thunderbolts early on in the game. The Staff of Conflagration proved to be especially helpful when fighting multiple opponents.
As far as rings are concerned, I carry several with me: Ring of War, Ring of Perfection, Ring of Wizardry, (all with nuuumerous +10 enchantments each) and Ring of the Iron Fist etc (that fortifies hand to hand and has damage reflection.
The amulets that I used the most were the Amulet of Blades and Amulet of Axes. These boost the effectivness of Blade and Blunt all the while reflecting damage.
My armor currently is Daedric with all +50 Magika enchantments (for those insanely costly spells at higher levels)
I carry the Estachion of Chorrol which also reflects damage.

With all of my damage reflection enchantments, I take very little damage (and can kill opponents by blocking alone).
I typically wield a Daedric Longsword that I enchanted with a +30 Damage Health Sigil. Drops every enemy in the game and no one is immune to the enchantment. Drop a little poison on the tip every once in awhile and your Mage is pretty much unstoppable. (Of course level slowly etc. Fast leveling a Mage can lead to an unplayable character)

[Faberge]

I am currently a level 34 High Elf Mage.
Aside from encumberance issues (and role playing factors), is there any particular reason why Light Armour is being recommended over that of something stronger? I have been wearing Daedric for quite some time now, and is the strongest armor with the highest defensive rating in the game. Although heavy at first, once you gain Strength and raise you Heavy Armor Skill (which reduces encumberance of Heavy Armor) the weight was no longer a factor for me.

One of the good sides of light armour is the slightly lower weight. In the beginning you can carry for example; couple of extra enchanted weapons, either as your arsenal or as your loot. When you can carry more loot, you can get more money and you can use that money to train your athletics or buy something fancy.

But unfortunately, when you become the master of both skills there will be no more differences in the amount of protecting the armours offer. This is because master of light armour will gain extra protection if wearing only light armour. So in the end the main concern would be which looks the best. Personally I just love the Orcish greaves, boots and gauntlets on my Breton swashbuckler. Yes my character does have an shirt and cape too.

As for items there are couple of items I could recommend for a mage type character.

There are two magical helmets:
Helmet of the Mage; Ebony Helmet; Fortify Magicka 20pts, Spell Absorption 14%; 0004789E

Helmet of the Mind: Mithril Helmet; Fortify Intelligence/Luck/Willpower 8pts; 00047890

And here are couple of magical rings:
Mundane Ring; Reflect Spell 35%, Resist Magic 50%; 0009844B; 0009844B

Ring of Perfection; Fortify All Attributes 10pts; 00098456

Ring of Wizardry; Fortify All Magic Skills 10pts; 0009844A

Sorcerer’s Ring; Spell Absorption 25%, Fortify Magicka 25pts; 00098454

Because some of these items are hard to come by, due to random loot, I have added the ItemIDs.

[Demise]

i personally use imperial legion armor thats enchanted with +24 magicka bonuses, and then an enchanted mage hood. And for the two rings and amulet just more +magicka things