Frenzy

School	Illusion
Level	Adept
Magicka Cost	209
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	Creatures and people up to level 14 will attack anyone nearby for 60 seconds.
Duration	60 seconds
Perk	Adept Illusion (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Frenzy
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Frenzy is the Adept version of Fury. Every creature and person up to level 14 within 15 feet attacks anyone nearby for one minute. Cast into a group of enemies, it sets them on each other while the caster stands back.

Frenzy belongs to the middle of the game, once Illusion reaches the Adept rank. Drevis Neloren at the College of Winterhold and Sybille Stentor, the court wizard of Solitude, sell the tome.

Spell Tome

Frenzy is learned by reading Spell Tome: Frenzy. Drevis Neloren and Sybille Stentor sell the tome.

How It Plays

Frenzy is an aimed fire and forget spell with a small area of effect. Every valid target near the point of impact loses track of friend and foe for a full minute. Frenzied enemies attack whoever is closest, so a group of bandits or wolves soon turns on itself.

The caster should stay out of the fight once the spell lands. A frenzied enemy that is attacked by the caster will usually turn on the caster. Staying hidden, or casting Invisibility, keeps the frenzied group busy with each other.

The spell is strongest against tight groups. Cast into the middle of a camp, it can start a brawl that the caster only needs to finish. Against a single enemy, its area effect is wasted.

Crime and Contracts

Frenzy has a darker use in towns. A person who is frenzied attacks anyone near them, and killing someone in self defense is not a crime. A caster who stays hidden can turn a target into an aggressor and then strike back without a bounty. Casting it in view of a guard, though, counts as an assault.

This makes Frenzy useful for some Dark Brotherhood contracts. A Frenzy Poison on an arrow works in a similar way and can be used from the shadows.

Perks and Builds

The Adept Illusion perk halves the cost of Frenzy. Animage raises the level limit against animals, Kindred Mage raises it against people, and Rage raises it against everyone. These perks stack. Illusion Dual Casting raises the limit further. With all of them, Frenzy affects nearly every enemy except dragons.

Master of the Mind lets the spell work on undead, Daedra and Dwarven automatons. With it, even a crypt of draugr can be turned against itself.

Compared with Fury and Mayhem

Fury, the Novice spell, frenzies a single target up to level 6. Mayhem, the Master spell, frenzies everyone up to level 25 in a huge radius. Frenzy sits between them and costs far less than Mayhem.

Other Uses

Frenzy also helps hunters. Deer and elk that would normally run away turn and charge the caster instead. That brings them within reach of a sword or an axe, with no need for a bow.

Animage, Kindred Mage and Rage together push the spell far beyond its base limit of 14. With those perks, Frenzy affects people of level 36 and more, which covers most of the enemies in Skyrim. The spell is a powerful early tool for an Illusion mage and stays useful through the whole game.

Gameplay Tips

Cast it while hidden. If anyone sees it cast on a peaceful person, it counts as an assault.
The Rage perk lets the spell work on targets 12 levels higher.
Undead, Daedra and automatons only respond to the spell after the Master of the Mind perk.

Spell Categories

All Illusion Spells

Novice

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

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Clairvoyance	25 per second	Concentration	Shows the path to the current goal.
Courage	39	Fire and Forget	Target won't flee for 60 seconds and gets some extra health and stamina.
Fury	67	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 6 will attack anything nearby for 30 seconds.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Calm	146	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 9 won't fight for 30 seconds.
Fear	153	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 9 flee from combat for 30 seconds.
Muffle	144	Fire and Forget	You move more quietly for 180 seconds.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Frenzy	209	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 14 will attack anyone nearby for 60 seconds.
Rally	113	Fire and Forget	Targets won't flee for 60 seconds and get extra health and stamina.
Frenzy Rune	278	Fire and Forget	Targets up to level 20 that fail to resist are frenzied for 30 seconds.
Orum's Aquatic Escape	165	Fire and Forget	Caster is invisible for 15 seconds. Activating an object or attacking will break the spell. Can breathe water for 15 seconds. Improved night vision for 15 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Invisibility	334	Fire and Forget	Caster is invisible for 30 seconds. Activating an object or attacking will break the spell.
Pacify	290	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 20 won't fight for 60 seconds.
Rout	316	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 20 flee from combat for 30 seconds.
Fenrik's Welcome	116	Fire and Forget	Caster becomes invisible and can open locks with level Expert and below for 5 seconds. Activating an object or attacking will break the spell.

Master

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

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Call to Arms	655	Fire and Forget	Targets have improved combat skills, health and stamina for 10 minutes.
Harmony	1052	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 25 nearby won't fight for 60 seconds.
Hysteria	866	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 25 flee from combat for 60 seconds.
Mayhem	990	Fire and Forget	Creatures and people up to level 25 will attack anyone nearby for 60 seconds.