Equilibrium

School	Alteration
Level	-
Magicka Cost	25 health per second
Casting	Concentration
Delivery	Self
Effect	Convert 25 points of health into magicka per second. Caster can be killed by this effect.
Duration	-
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Equilibrium
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Equilibrium is a rare Alteration spell that trades health for magicka. While the caster holds it, 25 points of health turn into 25 points of magicka every second. Health is its only price, and the spell can drain the caster to death.

Spell Tome

Equilibrium is learned by reading Spell Tome: Equilibrium.

Equilibrium Map Location

Equilibrium map location:
The tome lies in Labyrinthian Chasm, a part of Labyrinthian that opens during the quest The Staff of Magnus.

Map credit by Map Genie.

How It Plays

Equilibrium is a concentration spell cast on the caster. It costs no magicka, only health. For every second it is held, health drains away and the same amount of magicka flows in. A mage who has run dry can refill the magicka bar while taking cover.

The danger is real. The spell keeps draining as long as it is held, and it will kill the caster if held too long. The health bar has to be watched closely. Alteration perks leave the health cost unchanged.

Pairings

Equilibrium pairs well with a healing spell in the other hand. Equilibrium turns health into magicka, and the healing spell turns magicka back into health. A strong healing spell such as Fast Healing can refill both bars with the right perks and skill.

The Avoid Death perk in Restoration can save a caster who drains too far. It heals 250 points once a day when health falls very low.

Training Restoration

Equilibrium is a well known tool for training Restoration. Restoration only rises when a healing spell restores health that was really lost. Equilibrium provides that lost health in a controlled way, and the magicka for the next heal comes back at the same time.

Pairing with Healing

The healing spell in the other hand has to be strong enough to keep up. Plain Healing usually cannot match the drain of Equilibrium, so the caster still loses health over time. Fast Healing with good Restoration perks and lower spell costs can close the gap and refill both bars.

The spell is useful well beyond mages. It costs no magicka, so a warrior or a thief can use it to top up magicka before casting a single utility spell, such as Muffle or a quick heal.

Gameplay Tips

Holding Equilibrium in one hand and a healing spell in the other can refill both bars while training Restoration.
Higher difficulty settings drain more health each second, while the magicka gained stays at 25.

Notes

The spell needs at least a little magicka in the bar before it can be cast.

Spell Categories

All Alteration Spells

Novice

Novice spells are the first a mage learns and cost the least magicka.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Candlelight	21	Fire and Forget	Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds.
Oakflesh	103	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 40 points for 60 seconds.
Teleport Pet: Arachnia	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Arachnia the spider.
Teleport Pet: Bone Wolf	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Bone Wolf to your side.
Teleport Pet: Demented Elytra Nymph	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Demented Elytra Nymph.
Teleport Pet: Dwarven Mudcrab	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Dwarven Mudcrab.
Teleport Pet: Hilda	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Hilda.
Teleport Pet: Manic Elytra Nymph	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Manic Elytra Nymph.
Teleport Pet: Nix-Hound	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Nix-Hound.
Teleport Pet: Skritch	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Skritch.
Teleport Pet: Sweet Roll	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Sweet Roll.
Teleport Pet: Thistle	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Thistle.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Magelight		84	Fire and Forget	Ball of light that lasts 60 seconds and sticks where it strikes.
Stoneflesh		194	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 60 points for 60 seconds.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Detect Life	100 per second	Concentration	Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra, can be seen through walls.
Ironflesh	266	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 80 points for 60 seconds.
Telekinesis	170 per second	Concentration	Can pull an object to you from a distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it.
Transmute	100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron ore to Silver, or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Waterbreathing	222	Fire and Forget	Can breathe water for 60 seconds.
Ash Shell	251	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist are immobilized in hardened ash for 30 seconds.
Master Transmute	100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Paralysis Rune	172	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them for 8 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Detect Dead	148 per second	Concentration	Nearby dead can be seen through walls.
Ebonyflesh	341	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 100 points for 60 seconds.
Paralyze	450	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds.
Ash Rune	418	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them in hardened ash for 30 seconds.

Master

Master spells are the strongest in the school and need the most skill.

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Dragonhide		837	Fire and Forget	Caster ignores 80% of all physical damage for 30 seconds.
Mass Paralysis		937	Fire and Forget	All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 15 seconds.