User blog comment:Ype4life/My battlemage build/@comment-4057437-20120617035336

We have tried being battlemages, since it worked so well for us in Oblivion, but have found the bow and one-hand to be better in Skyrim. The other skills you didn't mention that are 'very' important are Sneak and Alchemy. (Gotta love that 15x damage with a dagger!) Not only does Alchemy provide a very good income, poisons that paralyze are unbeatable. (Too bad they don't work on Dragons.)

One of us prefers Heavy armor, the other Light. A Khajiit with the perk Fists of Steel is a real killer, especially with gauntlets upgraded usinga high Smithing skill augmented with well enchanted Smithing attire and potent Fortify Smithing potions. (It is possible to craft Potions that increase Smithing by 147 points, and gloves, ring, chain and clothing that raise it by 29 points each = a maximum Smithing level of 363.) One can do more than 125 points of damage per swipe while "unarmed"