Flames

School	Destruction
Level	Novice
Magicka Cost	14 per second
Casting	Concentration
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Duration	-
Perk	Novice Destruction (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Flames
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Flames is the Novice fire spell in Destruction, and every character knows it from the very start of the game. The race chosen at character creation makes no difference. It sprays a short stream of fire from the hand for as long as the cast button is held. Targets caught in the stream catch fire and take extra damage.

Flames belongs to the opening hours of the game, from the first cave to the first barrow. It stays useful longer than its rank suggests, because fire is the cheapest element to cast. Firebolt is the next fire spell, and it throws fire much farther.

Spell Tome

Flames is learned by reading Spell Tome: Flames. Calcelmo, Enthir, Falion, Faralda, Farengar Secret-Fire, Madena, Nelacar, Sybille Stentor, Wuunferth the Unliving, Wylandriah and Talvas Fathryon sell the tome.

Location

Copies of the tome lie in Labyrinthian Chasm and in Mzulft. The tome is mostly worth selling, since every character already knows the spell.

How It Plays

Flames is a concentration spell. It drains magicka every second the hand stays open, and it stops the moment the button is released or the magicka bar runs dry. The stream reaches only a short way, so the caster has to stand close to the target. Enemies with swords and axes close that gap quickly, which makes Flames a brawler's spell rather than a sniper's one.

The spell sets every target it touches on fire. A burning enemy keeps taking damage for a moment after the stream moves away. Fire is the cheapest of the three Destruction elements to cast, and Flames is one of the most magicka-efficient damage spells in the whole game. A full magicka bar lasts a long time against a single bandit or a pack of wolves.

Fire hits some enemies much harder than others. Trolls are weak to fire, and draugr resist frost but take full fire damage. That makes Flames a good answer to the barrows and caves of the early game. Dark Elves resist half of all fire damage, so a Dunmer enemy shrugs off much of the stream. Flame Atronachs are also poor targets.

Compared with Frostbite and Sparks

Each element has its own Novice spray spell. Frostbite deals frost damage, which hurts both health and stamina and slows the target down. Sparks deals shock damage, which hurts health and drains some magicka as well. Flames trades those side effects for the lowest magicka cost and the burning damage that lingers after the stream.

Frost spells cost a little more than fire, and shock spells cost the most of the three. Nords and vampires resist frost, while very few enemies resist shock. Flames is a strong pick against beasts and draugr, while Sparks is the better choice against enemy mages.

The Apprentice spells reach much farther. Firebolt throws a single bolt of fire across a room, and Fire Rune leaves a trap on the floor. Flame Cloak, an Adept spell, wraps the caster in fire that burns everything in melee range. Wall of Flames, an Expert spell, sprays a burning line across the ground that hurts everything walking through it.

Perks and Builds

The Novice Destruction perk halves the magicka cost of Flames and every other Novice Destruction spell. It is the first perk in the tree, so a mage character can take it at the very start. With that perk, Flames costs only a trickle of magicka each second.

Destruction Dual Casting turns Flames into a stronger stream when the same spell sits in both hands. The overcharged version also costs more magicka. The Impact perk adds a stagger to dual cast bolts and area spells such as Firebolt and Fireball. A dual cast stream of Flames gains damage, but the stagger only comes with those charged spells.

The Aspect of Terror perk in Illusion adds 10 points to fire spells, and 15 points once both ranks of Augmented Flames are taken. For Flames this bonus more than doubles its base damage of 8 points per second.

Gear also helps. The Ahzidal dragon priest mask from the Dragonborn DLC makes fire spells deal 25% more damage. Fortify Destruction enchantments lower the cost of every Destruction spell, and four pieces at 25% each bring the cost of Flames down to nothing. A Potion of Destruction gives the same boost for a short time.

Levelling Destruction

Flames is a classic training spell for Destruction. The skill only rises when a spell hits a valid target and the target actually takes damage. A conjured creature counts as a target, so a summoned Flame Atronach or Frost Atronach can stand still while the caster sprays it. A Frost Atronach suits this best, since it takes more damage from fire.

A common trick pairs Flames with Healing Hands. The caster burns a friendly or essential character in one hand and heals them with the other. This raises Destruction and Restoration together. If the target fights back, the caster also trains Light Armor or Heavy Armor while wearing armor.

Faralda at the College of Winterhold trains Destruction up to master level. Sybille Stentor in Solitude trains it to expert level. Wuunferth the Unliving in Windhelm offers lower ranks of training.

Lore

The in-game description of the skill says the School of Destruction involves harnessing the energies of fire, frost and shock. Flames is the first taste of that school for every character. Destruction spell tomes show an open palm circled in fire.

People in Skyrim notice when a mage walks around with fire in hand. Townsfolk and guards may say "Take care with those flames." or "Don't set anything on fire, all right?" A guard who sees a skilled Destruction mage may add, "Destruction magic's fine; just don't go burning down any buildings."

Followers and Enemies Who Cast It

Brelyna Maryon, a student at the College of Winterhold who can become a follower, attacks with Flames and Firebolt after opening each fight with Oakflesh.

Gameplay Tips

The Augmented Flames perk raises the damage to 10 points per second, and to 12 at the second rank.
The Intense Flames perk makes badly hurt enemies flee in fear.
Fire sets off oil slicks and pockets of flammable gas, which can catch several enemies in one blast.

Spell Categories

All Destruction Spells

Novice

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

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Flames	14 per second	Concentration	A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Frostbite	16 per second	Concentration	A blast of cold that does 8 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Sparks	19 per second	Concentration	Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to Health and Magicka per second.
Choking Grasp	39	Fire and Forget	Absorb 8 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.
Elemental Flare	45	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 15 points of fire damage, 15 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Fire Rune	234	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of fire damage when enemies come near.
Firebolt	41	Fire and Forget	A blast of fire that does 25 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Frost Rune	293	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of frost damage when enemies come near.
Ice Spike	48	Fire and Forget	A spike of ice that does 25 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina.
Lightning Bolt	51	Fire and Forget	A bolt of lightning that does 25 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka.
Lightning Rune	323	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes for 50 points of shock damage when enemies come near.
Elemental Bolt	62	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 20 points of fire damage, 20 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.
Strangulation	84	Fire and Forget	Absorb 16 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Chain Lightning	156	Fire and Forget	Lightning bolt that does 40 points of shock damage to Health and half to Magicka, then leaps to a new target.
Fireball	133	Fire and Forget	A fiery explosion for 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Flame Cloak	289	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points fire damage per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Frost Cloak	316	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range take 8 points frost damage and Stamina damage per second.
Ice Storm	144	Fire and Forget	A freezing whirlwind that does 40 points of frost damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Lightning Cloak	370	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds nearby opponents take 8 points of shock damage and half magicka damage.
Whirlwind Cloak	338	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, opponents in melee range have a chance of being flung away.
Elemental Burst	96	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 30 points of fire damage, 30 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.
Hangman's Noose	143	Fire and Forget	Absorb 26 points of health per second from target, for 3 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Icy Spear	320	Fire and Forget	A spear of ice that does 60 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina.
Incinerate	298	Fire and Forget	A blast of fire that does 60 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Thunderbolt	343	Fire and Forget	A Thunderbolt that does 60 points of shock damage to Health and half that to Magicka.
Wall of Flames	118 per second	Concentration	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second.
Wall of Frost	137 per second	Concentration	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of frost that does 50 points of frost damage per second.
Wall of Storms	145 per second	Concentration	Sprayed on the ground, it creates a wall of lightning that does 50 points of shock damage per second.
Elemental Blast	144	Fire and Forget	An elemental explosion for 40 points of fire damage, 40 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to stamina.
Mara's Wrath	329	Fire and Forget	For 30 seconds, opponents in melee range take 16 points fire damage per second. Undead up to level 26 flee for 30 seconds. Swim unharmed in freezing cold water.
Touch of Death	316	Fire and Forget	Absorb 40 points of health per second from target, for 4 seconds.
Unbounded Flames	78 per second	Concentration	Casts a stream of long-distance fireballs in an arc. Impact creates a wall of fire that does 50 points of fire damage per second.
Unbounded Freezing	69 per second	Concentration	A freezing wind envelops the caster, knocking down nearby enemies and freezing them for 50 points of damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Unbounded Storms	69 per second	Concentration	Targets in melee range take 40 shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka. Random lightning strikes deal an additional 30 damage.

Master

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

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Blizzard	1106	Fire and Forget	Targets take 20 points of frost damage for 10 seconds, plus Stamina damage.
Fire Storm	1426	Fire and Forget	A 100 point fiery explosion centered on the caster. Does more damage to closer targets.
Lightning Storm	138 per second	Concentration	Target takes 75 points of shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka.