Stoneflesh

School	Alteration
Level	Apprentice
Magicka Cost	194
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Self
Effect	Improves the caster's armor rating by 60 points for 60 seconds.
Duration	60 seconds
Perk	Apprentice Alteration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Stoneflesh
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Stoneflesh is the Apprentice armor spell in Alteration. It raises the caster's armor rating by 60 points for one minute. It is a clear step up from Oakflesh, and Ironflesh is the next spell in the line.

Stoneflesh belongs to the early game, once Alteration reaches the Apprentice rank. Most court wizards and Tolfdir at the College of Winterhold sell the tome.

Spell Tome

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

How It Plays

Stoneflesh is a fire and forget spell cast on the caster. It lasts a full minute, and both hands are free again right after the cast. The best moment to use it is just before a fight begins.

The flesh spells shine for characters in robes or plain clothes. Their armor rating is low, so an extra 60 points cut the damage from blades and arrows noticeably. A character in full armor gains much less from it.

Perks and Builds

The Mage Armor perk multiplies the armor bonus while the caster wears no armor. The first rank doubles it, the second raises it to two and a half times, and the third to three times. Robes and plain clothing keep the bonus in place. With all three ranks, Stoneflesh gives a robed mage a strong defence for a modest cost.

The Stability perk makes the spell last half as long again. Alteration Dual Casting stretches the duration further when the spell is cast with both hands. With both perks, one cast covers more than three minutes. The Apprentice Alteration perk halves the cost.

A flesh spell pairs well with a cloak spell from Destruction, such as Flame Cloak. The armor absorbs blows while the cloak burns every enemy in reach.

Training Alteration

Stoneflesh trains Alteration only when an enemy is nearby, though combat is not needed. Casting it again and again beside an enemy that cannot reach the caster raises the skill quickly. Caged wolves and slaughterfish in a lake are common choices.

Cost and Value

With the three ranks of Mage Armor, Stoneflesh grows to 120, 150 and then 180 points of armor for a caster in robes. That is a large step up from the 120 points that Oakflesh reaches with the same perks.

The Apprentice Alteration perk covers only two spells in the base game, Stoneflesh and Magelight. A mage who relies on Stoneflesh in the early game still gets good value from it.

Followers Who Cast It

Marcurio, the hired mage at the Bee and Barb in Riften, knows Stoneflesh. Brelyna Maryon at the College of Winterhold knows it as well.

Gameplay Tips

The first rank of the Mage Armor perk doubles the bonus to 120 points while the caster wears no armor.
The Stability perk makes the spell 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.