Waterbreathing

School	Alteration
Level	Adept
Magicka Cost	222
Casting	Fire and Forget
Delivery	Self
Effect	Can breathe water for 60 seconds.
Duration	60 seconds
Perk	Adept Alteration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Waterbreathing
Game/DLC	Skyrim

Waterbreathing is an Adept Alteration spell that lets the caster breathe underwater for one minute. It turns a long dive to the bottom of a lake into a safe one.

Waterbreathing becomes useful in the middle of the game, once Alteration reaches the Adept rank. Tolfdir at the College of Winterhold and Wylandriah, the court wizard of Riften, sell the tome. The in-game description of Alteration names Waterbreathing first among the spells the skill makes easier to cast.

Spell Tome

Waterbreathing is learned by reading Spell Tome: Waterbreathing. Tolfdir and Wylandriah sell the tome.

How It Plays

Waterbreathing is a fire and forget spell cast on the caster. It is best cast before the dive, while still standing on land or in shallow water. Once cast, the caster can stay below the surface for a full minute without drowning.

The spell opens up places that are hard to reach by holding breath. Geirmund's Hall has an entrance that lies underwater, and several sunken ships hold loot on the sea floor. Clams, Nordic Barnacles and fish can also be gathered at leisure from the bottom of lakes and coastlines.

Other Ways to Breathe Underwater

Argonians breathe underwater as a racial ability, so they never need the spell. A Potion of Waterbreathing gives the same effect for a short time. Histcarp is one of the ingredients that carry the effect.

Enchanted apparel gives the effect for as long as it is worn. Rings, necklaces, circlets and helmets of Waterbreathing turn up as random loot or in shops. The Volsung dragon priest mask and the Deathbrand Helm from the Dragonborn DLC also carry it.

Training Alteration

Waterbreathing is a classic way to train Alteration. Standing in water deep enough to dive into and casting the spell again and again raises the skill quickly. The caster does not need to be underwater, only standing in water such as the pool outside Dragonsreach or a river. Tolfdir trains Alteration to master level, and Dravynea the Stoneweaver in Kynesgrove trains it to expert level.

Waterbreathing also appears in Daggerfall, Morrowind and Oblivion.

Cost and Duration

Waterbreathing costs 222 magicka at a skill of zero. The Stability perk raises the duration to 90 seconds, and dual casting raises it to 132 seconds. With both, a single cast lasts more than three minutes.

Argonians gain nothing from the spell, since they already breathe underwater. For every other race it is the most reliable way to explore the bottom of lakes and the sea.

Gameplay Tips

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.