Ice Storm

School	Destruction
Level	Adept
Magicka Cost	144
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	A freezing whirlwind that does 40 points of frost damage per second to Health and Stamina.
Duration	-
Perk	Adept Destruction (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Ice Storm
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Ice Storm is the Adept frost spell in Destruction. It sends out a slow, spinning cloud of ice that hurts everyone it passes through. Each victim takes 40 points of frost damage per second to health and stamina and slows down. It becomes useful in the middle of the game, once Destruction reaches the Adept rank. Faralda at the College of Winterhold sells the tome, and so do several court wizards.

Ice Storm is the frost spell for fighting groups, much as Fireball is for fire and Chain Lightning is for shock. Icy Spear is the stronger Expert frost spell for a single target, and Blizzard is the Master frost spell. Ice Storm is an old spell in the series, and it also appears in Arena, Daggerfall and Oblivion.

Spell Tome

Ice Storm is learned by reading Spell Tome: Ice Storm. Enthir, Faralda, Farengar Secret-Fire, Madena, Wuunferth the Unliving and Talvas Fathryon sell the tome.

How It Plays

Ice Storm is a fire and forget spell. The cloud rolls forward along the ground instead of exploding at one point. It keeps going after it hits an enemy, so it can strike several foes standing in a line. A narrow corridor full of bandits is the perfect place for it.

The cloud is slow, and its reach is short. A fast enemy such as a wolf or a sabre cat can step out of its path. Flying dragons are also hard to catch with it. The spell works best on enemies that walk straight toward the caster.

Frost damage hurts stamina as well as health. A bandit or warrior with an empty stamina bar cannot power attack or bash with a shield. The slow effect keeps melee enemies at a distance for longer. These side effects make Ice Storm a strong defensive spell against fighters.

The cloud grows wider the farther it travels. Near the caster it is narrow, but at the end of its path it covers a broad strip of ground. The slow keeps victims inside the cloud for longer, so they take more damage before they can step out.

Dual casting makes the cloud larger and stronger, but it also shortens how far the cloud travels. A dual cast Ice Storm suits a tight room where enemies are already close.

Compared with Fireball and Chain Lightning

Fireball flies fast and far, then bursts in a circle. Chain Lightning strikes at once and leaps from one target to the next. Ice Storm is the slowest of the three, and it has the shortest reach. In return it covers a whole line of enemies on its way and drains their stamina.

Frost also has more resistant enemies than the other elements. Nords resist frost, and Nords are the most common people in Skyrim. Vampires resist it strongly, and Frost Atronachs ignore it. Against these foes, a fire or shock spell is the better choice.

Ice Spike, the Apprentice frost spell, gives more damage for each point of magicka. Ice Storm is still the better pick when several enemies stand close together. A mage can carry Ice Spike for single targets and Ice Storm for groups.

Perks, Gear and Staves

The Adept Destruction perk halves the magicka cost of Ice Storm. Augmented Frost raises the damage of every frost spell in two ranks. Deep Freeze paralyzes enemies whose health falls low, which leaves them helpless for a few seconds.

Destruction Dual Casting overcharges the cloud for more damage. The Impact perk adds a stagger to dual cast Destruction spells. The Dukaan dragon priest mask from the Dragonborn DLC raises frost damage by 25%. Fortify Destruction enchantments and a Potion of Destruction help in the same way as for every other Destruction spell.

The Staff of Ice Storms casts the same cloud from its own charge. A warrior can use it to slow and wear down a group before closing in with a weapon.

Followers Who Cast It

Illia, the frost mage of Darklight Tower, favors frost spells and casts Ice Storm once the player character passes level 20. Serana from the Dawnguard DLC switches to Ice Storm at the highest levels. Their clouds hurt allies standing in the path, so a melee character should keep out of the line between the follower and the enemy.

Cost and Damage

Ice Storm has a base cost of 144 magicka. Fireball costs 133 and Chain Lightning 156 for the other Adept area spells. A higher Destruction skill only lowers the cost of each cast. Extra damage comes from the Augmented Frost perk, potions and gear.

Gameplay Tips

The cloud passes through walls and doors, so it can hit enemies in the next room.
The cloud moves slowly and has a short reach, so it struggles to catch fast enemies.
The Augmented Frost perk raises the damage to 50, and to 60 at the second rank.

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.