Ward (Skyrim)



Wards are restoration spells in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. When held up, they negate spell damage or effects and increase Armor Rating.

Wards act like magic shields. They provide defense against magic damage, while also boosting armor by 40 points. The cast button needs to be held for this spell not to wear off, much like Destruction's Flames / Frostbite / Sparks spells.

List of Ward spells

 * Lesser Ward
 * Steadfast Ward
 * Greater Ward

Spell Tome locations

 * If Lesser Ward has not been learned before joining The College of Winterhold, Tolfdir provides one free of charge if the Dragonborn participates in his Ward lesson.
 * Colette Marence in the Hall of Countenance sells Ward Spell Tomes, depending on Restoration level.

Strategy

 * For players interested in being pure mage characters, defense and armor are indeed serious issues, as pure mages do not invest in health and do not wear armor. To date, the most powerful confirmed Mage-armor Spell is Ebonyflesh, which provides 100 armor for 60s. Alongside with Greater Ward, armor goes up to 180, but activating Ebonyflesh every 60s may prove to be magicka costy, and timing Greater Ward activation with incoming blows may prove to be tricky for new players. Luckily, there are Perks that improve Ebonyflesh up to 300 points, enlarge its duration and halve its cost (proof that Perks are very important in the game). On the Greater Ward side, its cost can also be halved, allowing for less magicka consumption and thus a somewhat looser timing. We also highly recommend Restoration's Recovery and Ward Absorb Perks. Alongside with enchantments, armor could go as high as 400 with these Adept-level spells, value higher than the Dragonscale Armor full set itself, but for a limited and magicka-consuming time.
 * Enemy mages frequently use Ward spells, preventing mage characters from striking them. To counter this tactic, cast Ebonyflesh or another appropriate Mage-armor spell and strike them up close with a physical weapon or a Bound weapon. Bound weapons such as Bound Sword cut through Ward spells.