Restoration Spells
The Restoration school of magic in The Elder Scrolls VI is dedicated to healing, protection, and the manipulation of life force. While often seen as a support discipline, Restoration spells are vital for survival, offering the ability to mend wounds, ward off harm, and even turn the undead against their former masters.
The core function of Restoration is healing. Spells like 'Healing', 'Fast Healing', and 'Close Wounds' restore health to the caster and allies. Higher-tier spells, such as 'Greater Healing' and 'Grand Healing', can mend sificant damage and are essential for surviving prolonged combat or recovering from critical injuries. Beyond direct healing, Restoration offers spells that bolster defenses, such as 'Oakflesh', 'Stoneflesh', and their more powerful variants, which temporarily increase armor ratings.
Turning Undead: A unique and powerful aspect of Restoration is its ability to combat undead creatures. Spells like 'Turn Undead' can cause weaker undead enemies (skeletons, zombies) to flee in terror, effectively removing them from combat. More potent spells can even cause them to explode or become allies for a short duration.
Magicka Management: Like other magic schools, Restoration spells consume Magicka. Investing in the Restoration skill tree provides perks that reduce Magicka cost, increase healing effectiveness, and unlock new abilities. Enchanting gear with Magicka regeneration or cost reduction is also beneficial for consistent spellcasting.
Key Restoration Spell Types:
- Healing: Spells that restore health to the caster and/or allies. (e.g., Healing, Fast Healing, Close Wounds)
- Ward Spells: Spells that create a magical barrier to absorb incoming spells. (e.g., Lesser Ward, Greater Ward)
- Protection Spells: Spells that temporarily increase armor rating or provide other defensive buffs. (e.g., Oakflesh, Stoneflesh)
- Turn Undead: Spells that cause undead enemies to flee or become hostile to their allies. (e.g., Turn Undead, Circle of Protection)
- Stamina/Magicka Restoration: Some Restoration spells might also offer benefits to stamina or magicka recovery, though this is less common than health restoration.
A character proficient in Restoration is not only self-sufficient but can also be an invaluable asset to any adventuring party. The ability to sustain oneself and control the flow of combat through healing and defensive magic makes Restoration a cornerstone of any well-rounded character build, particularly for those who prefer a more defensive or supportive playstyle.