Paralyze

School	Alteration
Level	Expert
Magicka Cost	450
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds.
Duration	10 seconds
Perk	Expert Alteration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Paralyze
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Paralyze is an Expert Alteration spell that freezes a single target. A target that fails to resist stays stiff and helpless for 10 seconds. That is a long window to attack freely or to get away. Mass Paralysis is the Master version, and it catches everyone around the caster.

Paralyze belongs to the late game, once Alteration reaches the Expert rank. Tolfdir at the College of Winterhold is the only merchant who sells the tome. The in-game description of Alteration names Paralysis among the spells the skill makes easier to cast.

Spell Tome

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

How It Plays

Paralyze is an aimed fire and forget spell. A hit target falls to the ground and cannot move or fight for the full duration. A warrior can strike freely, an archer can line up shots, and a mage can cast without fear. The spell also pushes and staggers the target as it lands.

Paralyze is one of the few attack spells in Alteration. Most of the school deals with armor, light and utility. For an Alteration mage, it is the main way to take an enemy out of a fight.

A ward can block the spell, and magic resistance shortens it. Dragons and Dwarven automatons are immune to every form of paralysis.

Perks and Builds

The Expert Alteration perk halves the cost of Paralyze. Stability raises the duration, and Alteration Dual Casting raises it further. With both perks, a dual cast holds the target for more than half a minute.

With enough Fortify Alteration gear, the spell becomes free to cast.

Weapons can carry the same effect. A weapon with the Paralyze enchantment has a chance to freeze the target with each hit. Chillrend, the glass sword from the Thieves Guild quests, is a well known example. A Paralysis Poison gives one paralyzing strike to any weapon.

Training Alteration

Paralyze is one of the fastest ways to train Alteration. It can be cast again and again on a single person, even a guard who is not hostile. With gear that makes it free to cast, a mage can raise Alteration from 75 to 100 in a short time.

Best Uses

Paralyze works on bosses as well as common foes, as long as they can be paralyzed at all. Freezing the leader of a group opens it to free attacks, and freezing a charging group buys time to heal. Many players rate it as the best spell in all of Alteration.

Its small area makes it easy to aim. Unlike Mass Paralysis, it freezes only the chosen target, so a follower standing nearby keeps fighting.

Getting the Tome

Tolfdir puts the tome on sale once Alteration reaches 65. It also appears in random loot from around level 35. Paralyze costs 450 magicka at a skill of zero, so the Expert Alteration perk is a big help.

An enemy killed while paralyzed may rise unable to move if a conjurer raises the body later. A necromancer who plans to raise a foe does better to land the killing blow after the paralysis ends.

Gameplay Tips

The Stability perk raises the paralysis to 15 seconds.
Dragons and Dwarven automatons are immune to the spell.

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.