We will construct a complete progression plan for you, from early game to endgame, covering core skills, support skills, key Perks, and practical spell combinations.

I. Core Skill Trees
These are the areas where you must invest the majority of your Perk points.
Destruction
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Core Status: Your main damage source. All Perk points should be prioritized here.
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Key Perks (In order of priority):
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Impact: The soul of the Destruction tree. All basic projectile spells (Flames, Frostbite, Sparks) have a chance to stagger enemies. This is the Destruction Mage’s single most important survival tool. Get this first!
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Augmented Flames/Frost/Shock: Increases damage/effectiveness for the respective element. Focus on the element you use most, rather than all three initially.
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Destruction Dual Casting: Dual-casting a spell increases its magnitude/effectiveness. Crucial for boosting spell power and stagger chance.
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Deep Freeze/Intense Flames/Disintegrate: Advanced effects for each element (Paralyze, Burning, Armor Damage). Very powerful.
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Rune Master: Allows you to place runes from a distance. Excellent for tactical area denial.
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Alteration
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Core Status: Your primary survival line. Priority right after Destruction.
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Key Perks:
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Mage Armor: Increases the effectiveness of Armor spells (Stoneflesh etc.) when not wearing physical armor. Essential for a Robed Mage.
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Magic Resistance: Provides 10/20/30% magic resistance. Simple and vital.
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Stability: Alteration spells last longer. Great for Stoneflesh and utility spells like Detect Life.
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Atronach: Absorb 30% of incoming magicka from spells. A powerful defensive and sustain option.
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Conjuration (Highly Recommended Support)
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Core Status: Creates distractions and tanks for you. Immensely boosts survivability.
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Key Perks:
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Conjuration Dual Casting: For more powerful/durable summons.
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Elemental Potency: Summoned Atronachs are stronger.
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Twin Souls: Allows two simultaneous summons. The ultimate goal, letting you have a full frontline.
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Restoration
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Core Status: Healing and Magicka sustain. Only a few key Perks are needed.
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Key Perks:
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Recovery: Increases Magicka regeneration rate by 25/50%. Crucial for sustain.
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Regeneration: Healing spells cure more health.
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Respite: Healing spells also restore Stamina. Surprisingly useful for sprinting and power attacks.
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II. Essential Support Skills
These skills drastically improve your quality of life but require fewer Perk points.
Enchanting
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Core Status: The key to solving the Destruction Mage’s endgame problems. A Destruction Mage without Enchanting is incomplete.
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Goal: Craft four pieces of gear (Head, Chest, Ring, Necklace) with “Fortify Destruction” 25% each. This achieves 100% cost reduction, allowing you to cast Destruction spells for zero Magicka.
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Key Perks: You need to invest heavily here, up to Extra Effect to put two enchantments on one item.
Alchemy
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Core Status: Provides essential buffs and is a great source of income.
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Uses:
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Craft Fortify Destruction potions to temporarily increase Destruction spell damage, the only way to break the late-game damage cap.
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Craft Fortify Magicka/Regenerate Magicka/Restore Magicka potions for emergency sustain.
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Sell high-value potions to fund your Enchanting training and material purchases.
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III. Practical Spell Combos & Rotation
Knowing the skill trees is one thing; here’s how to use them in combat.
Early Game (Scraping By)
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Output: Flames (DPS) or Sparks (vs. Mages). Low cost, decent damage.
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Defense: Oakflesh.
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Recovery: Healing and Magicka Potions.
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Tactic: Kite enemies. Use terrain. Once you get Impact, you can stun-lock a single enemy to death.
Mid-Game (Coming Online)
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Output (Choose a Specialty):
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Fire: Firebolt. Good damage, cheap. Fireball for AoE.
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Frost: Ice Spike. Good against melee foes. Frost Cloak for close-quarters.
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Shock: Lightning Bolt. Unblockable, instant travel time. Chain Lightning for groups.
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Defense: Stoneflesh. Summon a Flame Atronach as a tank.
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Control/Utility: Fast Healing, Candlelight/Magelight.
End-Game (Ascended Archmage)
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You should have achieved 100% Destruction cost reduction.
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Single Target: Dual-cast Incinerate (Fire) or Icy Spear (Frost). Or use Lightning Storm (Master Shock) to melt anything.
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Area Clear: Dual-cast Fireball or Ice Storm. Lightning Storm‘s beam also cleaves.
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Ultimate Control & Survival: You have maxed Magic Resistance, powerful Ebonyflesh, and can summon two Storm Atronachs or Dremora Lords to hold the line indefinitely while you unleash unlimited hell.

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