Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-12277465-20140501182332/@comment-82.229.212.221-20140608164608

I only play master difficulty and playinf mage IS a challenge but it's highly doable.

First, know that destruction doesn't level enough on master level, so if you rely on other skills, your destruction skill will lag behind and the enemies will be too hard to kill with destro. So, you have to focus heavily on your destruction school. I play an altmer and invested 100% points in magicka, for starter. The problem is that i'm a glass canon and can't afford getting hit.

I don't do enchanting, since even if i can lower the cost of my spells, leveling makes my foes more powerful.

You need a secondary magic skill to help you control mobs.

Illusion is fine, if you don't level too much, with dual cast and improved calm you can either frenzy enough enemies to play decoys or keep wild animals away.

Conjuration is fine too, but harder. Frenzy is more reliable but can't focus undead or dragons, so having a flame atronach ready helps a lot.

Lastly, sneaking matters.

My playthrough relies on "buying" destruction levels to faralda. Dark brotherhood questline earns plenty of gold to level tens of level.

If you find a destruction ring or circlet, plus upgrade your novice destruction robe to an apprentice or adept you have more than enough mana. (I have neither of them, only nightweaver from DB, and currently doing dungeons easily, lvl 17)

For faster leveling, focus on runes from 25 to 50, then fire cloak + lightning bolt impact perk. At 75, with flame wall and thunderbolt you can storm through any dungeon. If you played smartly you should be level 20 max.

If you want to level even more, you need the archmage robe. Illusion and conjuration maxed allow to crowd control every mob (frenzy), add summoned daedra and you are able to deals tons of damage in seconds. (frenzy mobs, flame wall in the pack, then chain lightning, it's much more damage than any other build can deal)