Lightning Storm

School	Destruction
Level	Master
Magicka Cost	138 per second
Casting	Concentration
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	Target takes 75 points of shock damage per second to Health, and half that to Magicka.
Duration	-
Perk	Master Destruction (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Lightning Storm
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Lightning Storm is the Master shock spell in Destruction. It fires a steady beam of lightning that deals 75 points of shock damage per second to health, and half that to magicka. The beam reaches very far, which makes it one of the best spells against a dragon in flight. The caster must stand still and use both hands while it lasts.

Lightning Storm is an end game spell. Faralda sells the tome at the College of Winterhold once the Destruction Ritual Spell quest is done. Fire Storm and Blizzard are the other two Master Destruction spells. Lightning Storm also appears in Morrowind and Oblivion.

Spell Tome

Lightning Storm is learned by reading Spell Tome: Lightning Storm. Faralda sells the tome.

How It Plays

Lightning Storm is the final step of the shock line that starts with Sparks. Like Sparks, it is a concentration spell that keeps working for as long as the button is held. Unlike Sparks, it needs both hands and a warm up of about three seconds. It also reaches far beyond any other concentration spell.

The beam strikes at once, like every shock spell. The caster can sweep it across the sky to follow a flying dragon. That makes Lightning Storm the most reliable Master spell against dragons that refuse to land. Shock damage also drains the dragon's magicka.

While the beam runs, the caster stays rooted to the spot. A mage who uses Lightning Storm needs a safe spot, a follower in front, or enemies that are still far away.

The beam has great force. Fired into a cluttered room, it sends loose objects flying in every direction. The screen also shakes when the beam hits something close.

Compared with Fire Storm and Blizzard

Fire Storm and Blizzard both center on the caster and hit everything around. Lightning Storm is the only Master Destruction spell that hits a single target at range. It is the right choice for one strong enemy, while the other two suit crowds.

Shock is the element that the fewest enemies resist. This makes Lightning Storm useful against almost anything. Enemy mages also lose their magicka quickly under the beam.

Perks and Builds

The Master Destruction perk halves the magicka cost of each second of the beam. Both ranks of Augmented Shock raise the damage of every shock spell. The Necromage perk in Restoration makes the beam stronger against undead such as draugr and vampires.

The Zahkriisos dragon priest mask from the Dragonborn DLC raises shock damage by 25%. Fortify Destruction gear lowers the cost, and enough of it makes the beam free to hold. With free casting, the beam can stay on a target for as long as the fight lasts.

Cost and Damage

Lightning Storm gives the best damage for its magicka of the three Master Destruction spells. Fire Storm and Blizzard cost well over a thousand magicka for a single cast at a skill of zero. Lightning Storm costs 138 magicka for each second the beam stays on, and every second deals 75 points of damage.

The Master Destruction perk halves that cost per second. A higher Destruction skill lowers it further, while extra damage comes from perks, potions and gear. With both ranks of Augmented Shock, each second of the beam deals 112 points of damage.

Many players rank Lightning Storm as the strongest shock spell in the game and one of the best Destruction spells overall. Its reach and its steady damage make it the usual answer to a dragon that keeps to the air.

Gameplay Tips

The spell needs about three seconds to warm up, so start it before the enemy closes in.
The Augmented Shock perk raises the damage to 112 points per second at the second rank.

Notes

The beam can turn a target to ash even without the Disintegrate perk.
Oddly, the beam leaves hawks unharmed.

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.