Mass Paralysis

School	Alteration
Level	Master
Magicka Cost	937
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Self
Effect	All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 15 seconds.
Duration	15 seconds
Perk	Master Alteration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Mass Paralysis
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Mass Paralysis is the Master version of Paralyze. Every creature within 40 feet of the caster that fails to resist is frozen for 15 seconds. It turns a fight against a crowd into a string of free attacks. The spell hits friends as well as foes, so followers freeze too.

Mass Paralysis is an end game spell. Tolfdir sells the tome at the College of Winterhold once the Alteration Ritual Spell quest is done, and that quest opens when Alteration reaches 90. Dragonhide is the other Master Alteration spell, and it is the reward for the same quest.

Spell Tome

Mass Paralysis is learned by reading Spell Tome: Mass Paralysis. Tolfdir sells the tome.

How It Plays

Mass Paralysis is centred on the caster. It needs a long charge of a few seconds before it goes off. During that charge the caster stands open to attack, so it pays to cast it from cover or after slowing the enemy. A frost spell or a shout such as Unrelenting Force can buy the time.

Once it lands, every target in range drops to the ground and lies helpless. Fifteen seconds is a long time in a Skyrim fight. A warrior can kill several enemies in that window, and a mage can line up spell after spell. The spell shines in tight places where enemies tend to swarm, such as Falmer caves, draugr crypts and Forsworn camps.

The spell paralyzes everyone in range, not only enemies. Followers and thralls freeze as well, though atronachs are immune to paralysis.

Some enemies shrug off paralysis entirely. Dragons and Dwarven automatons are immune to every form of it. Mass Paralysis is therefore a poor answer to a dragon attack or to a Dwemer ruin full of centurions. A ward can block the spell, and magic resistance shortens it, so enemy mages are less reliable targets.

Compared with Paralyze

Paralyze, the Expert spell, freezes one target for 10 seconds. It is a fast aimed spell, so it works well in the middle of a fight. Mass Paralysis costs far more and takes longer to cast, but it catches a whole group for longer. A mage with both spells can open with Mass Paralysis and use Paralyze on any enemy who resists.

A Paralysis Poison gives a similar effect on a weapon or arrow. Weapons with a Paralyze enchantment, such as Chillrend, give a chance to freeze an enemy with each hit.

Perks and Training

The Master Alteration perk halves the magicka cost of Mass Paralysis. The Stability perk makes the paralysis last longer, like every Alteration spell. Fortify Alteration gear brings the high cost down, and enough of it removes the cost altogether.

Mass Paralysis is one of the fastest ways to train Alteration. With gear that makes it free to cast, a few casts in the middle of a group can raise the skill from low levels to 100 in a few minutes. Players often use it this way to make Alteration legendary again and again.

Cost and Value

Mass Paralysis costs 937 magicka at a skill of zero, one of the largest costs of any spell in the game. The Master Alteration perk halves it, and Fortify Alteration gear brings it within reach. Once the cost is under control, the spell can freeze whole groups and give the caster a clear path out of a losing fight.

Gameplay Tips

It works best in tight spaces when a large group of enemies closes in.
The Stability perk makes the paralysis last half again as long.

Spell Categories

All Alteration Spells

Novice

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

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Candlelight	21	Fire and Forget	Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds.
Oakflesh	103	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 40 points for 60 seconds.
Teleport Pet: Arachnia	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Arachnia the spider.
Teleport Pet: Bone Wolf	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Bone Wolf to your side.
Teleport Pet: Demented Elytra Nymph	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Demented Elytra Nymph.
Teleport Pet: Dwarven Mudcrab	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Dwarven Mudcrab.
Teleport Pet: Hilda	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Hilda.
Teleport Pet: Manic Elytra Nymph	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Manic Elytra Nymph.
Teleport Pet: Nix-Hound	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Nix-Hound.
Teleport Pet: Skritch	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Skritch.
Teleport Pet: Sweet Roll	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Sweet Roll.
Teleport Pet: Thistle	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Thistle.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Magelight		84	Fire and Forget	Ball of light that lasts 60 seconds and sticks where it strikes.
Stoneflesh		194	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 60 points for 60 seconds.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Detect Life	100 per second	Concentration	Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra, can be seen through walls.
Ironflesh	266	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 80 points for 60 seconds.
Telekinesis	170 per second	Concentration	Can pull an object to you from a distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it.
Transmute	100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron ore to Silver, or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Waterbreathing	222	Fire and Forget	Can breathe water for 60 seconds.
Ash Shell	251	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist are immobilized in hardened ash for 30 seconds.
Master Transmute	100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Paralysis Rune	172	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them for 8 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Detect Dead	148 per second	Concentration	Nearby dead can be seen through walls.
Ebonyflesh	341	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 100 points for 60 seconds.
Paralyze	450	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds.
Ash Rune	418	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them in hardened ash for 30 seconds.

Master

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

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Dragonhide		837	Fire and Forget	Caster ignores 80% of all physical damage for 30 seconds.
Mass Paralysis		937	Fire and Forget	All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 15 seconds.