Muffle

School	Illusion
Level	Apprentice
Magicka Cost	144
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Self
Effect	You move more quietly for 180 seconds.
Duration	180 seconds
Perk	Apprentice Illusion (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Muffle
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Muffle is an Apprentice Illusion spell for sneaking. For three minutes, it silences the noise of the caster's footsteps and armor. It works better than the Muffled Movement perk, which only halves the noise.

Muffle suits the early game, once Illusion reaches the Apprentice rank. Most court wizards sell the tome, and so does Drevis Neloren at the College of Winterhold.

Spell Tome

Muffle is learned by reading Spell Tome: Muffle. Calcelmo, Drevis Neloren, Falion, Farengar Secret-Fire, Madena, Sybille Stentor, Wuunferth the Unliving and Wylandriah sell the tome.

How It Plays

Muffle is cast on the caster and lasts three minutes, or much longer when dual cast. While it runs, the caster's footsteps and the rattle of worn armor make no sound. A character in heavy armor can creep up on an enemy almost as quietly as one in cloth.

The spell is a natural partner for Invisibility. Invisibility hides the caster from sight, but footsteps can still give the caster away. Muffle removes that sound. With both spells active, most enemies cannot detect the caster unless the caster bumps into them or acts.

Compared with Enchantments and Perks

The spell removes all of the noise, while most unique items with a muffling effect only halve it. The Shrouded Boots of the Dark Brotherhood, the Nightingale Boots and the Ebony Mail all carry a half strength version.

Boots of Muffling turn up as random loot or in shops. Disenchanting a pair teaches the Muffle enchantment at an Arcane Enchanter. A custom enchantment of Muffle always has full strength, whatever the soul gem or the Enchanting skill.

Cost and Duration

Muffle costs 144 magicka at a skill of zero and lasts 180 seconds. A dual cast stretches it to 396 seconds, more than six minutes of silent movement. Even at high levels it stays one of the most useful spells for a sneaking character.

The spell is the answer to noisy armor. A thief or an assassin who wears light or heavy armor for protection pays a noise penalty while sneaking. Muffle removes that penalty early in the game, long before the Sneak tree can.

Builds

Muffle is a cornerstone of the illusionist assassin, a build that mixes Illusion with Sneak. Muffle hides the footsteps, Invisibility hides the body and Quiet Casting hides the spells. With a high Sneak skill, whole dungeons can be cleared without a single alarm.

The blind Falmer track their prey by sound. Muffle makes their caves and the Dwemer ruins they haunt much easier to cross.

Gameplay Tips

Muffle and Invisibility together make the caster almost impossible to detect.
Cast it before enemies are near, or take the Quiet Casting perk, since the cast itself makes a sound.
The spell trains Illusion even with no one around, which makes it a quick way to raise the skill.

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.