Repel Undead

School	Restoration
Level	Expert
Magicka Cost	353
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Aimed
Effect	All affected undead up to level 16 flee for 30 seconds.
Duration	30 seconds
Perk	Expert Restoration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Repel Undead
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Repel Undead is the Expert version of Repel Lesser Undead. Its swirling wave makes every undead it hits, up to level 16, flee for 30 seconds. It is the stronger choice when a group of undead closes in.

Repel Undead belongs to the late game, once Restoration reaches the Expert rank. Colette Marence at the College of Winterhold is the only merchant who sells the tome.

Spell Tome

Repel Undead is learned by reading Spell Tome: Repel Undead. Colette Marence sells the tome.

How It Plays

Repel Undead is a fire and forget spell. It sends out a swirling wave instead of a single bolt. Every undead creature the wave touches, up to level 16, turns and flees for half a minute. Draugr, skeletons and vampires all count as undead.

It works best when a group of undead has already closed in. In a crypt where several draugr rise at once, one cast can send them all running.

Compared with the Other Undead Spells

Repel Lesser Undead, the Adept version, reaches undead up to level 8. Turn Greater Undead, the other Expert spell, turns a single undead creature up to level 21. Repel Undead reaches weaker undead than that, but it can catch a whole group.

Bane of the Undead, the Master spell, turns undead up to level 30 in a wide circle and also sets them on fire.

Perks and Training

The Expert Restoration perk halves the cost of the spell. Necromage raises the level of undead it can repel and makes the fear last longer. Restoration Dual Casting stretches the fear too, though it leaves the level limit unchanged.

Repel Undead is one of the fastest ways to train Restoration in the late game. Every undead the wave touches gives experience, so a group of undead in a row raises the skill quickly. With Fortify Restoration gear that removes its cost, the spell can carry the skill all the way to 100.

What Counts as Undead

The wave works on every kind of undead in Skyrim. Draugr, skeletons, ghosts, dragon priests and vampires all count, as do corpses raised by necromancers. The Dawnguard DLC adds more undead, such as the keepers of the Soul Cairn.

Cost and Value

Repel Undead costs 353 magicka at a skill of zero, the most of any spell in the Turn and Repel families. Turn Greater Undead costs 267 and reaches stronger undead, but only one at a time. Repel Undead is the better buy when a crypt sends several mid level draugr at once.

Gameplay Tips

The Necromage perk lets the spell repel stronger undead and makes the effect last longer.

Spell Categories

All Restoration Spells

Novice

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

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Healing		12 per second	Concentration	Heals the caster 10 points per second.
Lesser Ward		34 per second	Concentration	Increases armor rating by 40 points and negates up to 40 points of spell damage or effects.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Fast Healing	73	Fire and Forget	Heals the caster 50 points.
Healing Hands	25 per second	Concentration	Heals the target 10 points per second, but not undead, atronachs or machines.
Steadfast Ward	58 per second	Concentration	Increases armor rating by 60 points and negates up to 60 points of spell damage or effects.
Turn Lesser Undead	84	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 6 flee for 30 seconds.
Necromantic Healing	37 per second	Concentration	Heals the undead target 10 points per second, but not the living, atronachs or machines.
Sun Fire	24	Fire and Forget	Ball of sunlight that does 25 points of damage to undead.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Close Wounds	126	Fire and Forget	Heals the caster 100 points.
Greater Ward	86 per second	Concentration	Increases armor rating by 80 points and negates up to 80 points of spell damage or effects.
Heal Other	80	Fire and Forget	Heals the target 75 points, but not undead, atronachs or machines.
Repel Lesser Undead	115	Fire and Forget	All affected undead up to level 8 flee for 30 seconds.
Turn Undead	168	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 13 flee for 30 seconds.
Heal Undead	115	Fire and Forget	Heals the undead target 75 points, but not the living, atronachs or machines.
Stendarr's Aura	248	Fire and Forget	For 60 seconds, undead in melee range take 10 points sun damage per second.
Vampire's Bane	72	Fire and Forget	Sunlight explosion that does 40 points of damage in a 15 foot radius to undead.
Poison Rune	246	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist take 3 points of poison damage per second for 30 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Circle of Protection	171	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 20 entering the circle will flee.
Grand Healing	254	Fire and Forget	Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points.
Repel Undead	353	Fire and Forget	All affected undead up to level 16 flee for 30 seconds.
Turn Greater Undead	267	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 21 flee for 30 seconds.

Master

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

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Bane of the Undead		988	Fire and Forget	Sets undead up to level 30 on fire and makes them flee for 30 seconds.
Guardian Circle		716	Fire and Forget	Undead up to level 35 entering the circle will flee. Caster heals 20 health per second inside it.