Greater Ward

School	Restoration
Level	Adept
Magicka Cost	86 per second
Casting	Concentration
Delivery	Self
Effect	Increases armor rating by 80 points and negates up to 80 points of spell damage or effects.
Duration	-
Perk	Adept Restoration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Greater Ward
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Greater Ward is the strongest ward spell in Restoration. While the caster holds it, a magic shield blocks up to 80 points of incoming spell damage and adds 80 points of armor. It is the best guard against enemy mages.

Greater Ward belongs to the middle and late game, once Restoration reaches the Adept rank. Colette Marence at the College of Winterhold sells the tome. It can also be a reward for the quest Pilgrimage.

Spell Tome

Greater Ward is learned by reading Spell Tome: Greater Ward. Colette Marence sells the tome. The spell is also taught during Pilgrimage.

How It Plays

Greater Ward is a concentration spell. While the caster holds it, a shield of magic absorbs incoming spells and adds to the armor rating. It needs about a second to charge to full strength, unless it is dual cast. A strong spell can break a ward that is still charging.

Each spell that hits the ward drains some of its strength, and the ward recovers on its own while it is held. A spell that is too strong shatters the ward and staggers the caster, though the spell itself does no harm. Late game mages cast strong and dual cast spells, which is why the strongest ward matters most at that stage.

The ward blocks magic only. Arrows and melee blows pass through it, and only the extra armor softens them. Against warriors, a shield or an armor spell does more.

Uses

Greater Ward is the best guard against necromancers, warlocks and other mages who rely on Destruction. A mage can hold the ward in one hand and answer with a Destruction spell from the other.

Wards also block dragon shouts, dragon breath and the poison spit of frostbite spiders and chaurus. A held ward even stops a disarm shout from knocking the weapon out of the caster's hand.

The shield Spellbreaker, a Daedric artifact, creates a ward of its own while blocking. It lets a warrior gain the same protection without spending magicka.

Perks and Training

The Adept Restoration perk halves the cost of Greater Ward. Ward Absorb turns spells that hit the ward into magicka, which helps the ward pay for itself. Wards cost a lot of magicka to hold, so cost reducing perks and gear matter more for them than for most spells.

Wards raise Restoration when they block real damage. Facing a dragon in a quiet spot and blocking its breath with a ward is a well known way to train the skill.

Cost and Value

Greater Ward costs 86 magicka for each second it is held at a skill of zero. That is the highest of the three wards, so it is best raised only when an enemy spell is on its way. Its 80 points stop all but the strongest spells of the most powerful mages.

Colette Marence sells the tome once Restoration reaches 40. It also appears in random loot from around level 23.

Quest Background

The quest Pilgrimage can award the tome. Alessandra, the priestess of Arkay in the Riften Hall of the Dead, asks for her ceremonial dagger to be taken to Andurs at the Hall of the Dead in Whiterun. Her reward is a Restoration spell tome, and a character with Restoration of 40 or more can receive Greater Ward.

Breaking Enemy Wards

Enemy mages use Greater Ward when they face a spellcaster. A strong spell breaks a ward that has not finished charging. A burst of heavy damage, a weapon, or a shock spell that drains the mage's magicka all get past the defense.

Gameplay Tips

The Ward Absorb perk turns spells that hit the ward into magicka for the caster.

Spell Categories

All Restoration Spells

Novice

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

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Healing		12 per second	Concentration	Heals the caster 10 points per second.
Lesser Ward		34 per second	Concentration	Increases armor rating by 40 points and negates up to 40 points of spell damage or effects.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Fast Healing	73	Fire and Forget	Heals the caster 50 points.
Healing Hands	25 per second	Concentration	Heals the target 10 points per second, but not undead, atronachs or machines.
Steadfast Ward	58 per second	Concentration	Increases armor rating by 60 points and negates up to 60 points of spell damage or effects.
Turn Lesser Undead	84	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 6 flee for 30 seconds.
Necromantic Healing	37 per second	Concentration	Heals the undead target 10 points per second, but not the living, atronachs or machines.
Sun Fire	24	Fire and Forget	Ball of sunlight that does 25 points of damage to undead.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Close Wounds	126	Fire and Forget	Heals the caster 100 points.
Greater Ward	86 per second	Concentration	Increases armor rating by 80 points and negates up to 80 points of spell damage or effects.
Heal Other	80	Fire and Forget	Heals the target 75 points, but not undead, atronachs or machines.
Repel Lesser Undead	115	Fire and Forget	All affected undead up to level 8 flee for 30 seconds.
Turn Undead	168	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 13 flee for 30 seconds.
Heal Undead	115	Fire and Forget	Heals the undead target 75 points, but not the living, atronachs or machines.
Stendarr's Aura	248	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, undead in melee range take 10 points sun damage per second.
Vampire's Bane	72	Fire and Forget	Sunlight explosion that does 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius to undead.
Poison Rune	246	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist take 3 points of poison damage per second for 30 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Circle of Protection	171	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 20 entering the circle will flee.
Grand Healing	254	Fire and Forget	Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points.
Repel Undead	353	Fire and Forget	All affected undead up to level 16 flee for 30 seconds.
Turn Greater Undead	267	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 21 flee for 30 seconds.

Master

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

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Bane of the Undead		988	Fire and Forget	Sets undead up to level 30 on fire and makes them flee for 30 seconds.
Guardian Circle		716	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 35 entering the circle will flee. Caster heals 20 health per second inside it.