Conjuration Spells & Summons

Harness the power of the arcane to summon otherworldly allies and banish your foes with Skyrim's Conjuration magic. This school of magic allows you to call forth Daedra, Atronachs, and the undead to fight by your side, or to bind them to your will. Mastering Conjuration offers a unique tactical advantage, turning the tide of battle with summoned reinforcements.

Conjuration spells are incredibly versatile, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities. Whether you need a powerful Daedric warrior to tank damage, an elemental Atronach to unleash devastating spells, or an undead minion to overwhelm your enemies, this school of magic has you covered. This guide will explore the various summons available and how to effectively use them in combat.

Types of Summons

Conjuration spells primarily fall into several categories, each offering distinct advantages in combat:

Daedric Summons: These are powerful entities summoned from the planes of Oblivion. They are generally the strongest and most versatile summons available, often equipped with potent weapons and armor.
Atronach Summons: Elemental beings of pure energy, including Flame, Frost, and Storm Atronachs. They are excellent for dealing specific elemental damage and have unique resistances and attack patterns.
Undead Summons: Spells that reanimate corpses to fight for you, or summon spectral warriors. These are often more readily available and can be useful in a pinch, especially when paired with the right perks.
Bound Weapons: While not strictly summons, bound weapons are a core part of Conjuration, allowing you to conjure powerful weapons that are often superior to what you can find early in the game.

Key Conjuration Spells and Their Uses

The following table details some of the most impactful Conjuration spells, their effects, and how to acquire them. Mastering these spells, especially with the right perks, can fundamentally change your approach to combat.

Spell Name	Summon Type	Effect	Location/Acquisition
Conjure Familiar	Spirit Wolf	Summons a loyal Spirit Wolf that fights for you. It's a basic, but reliable companion for early game combat and exploration, capable of distracting enemies and dealing minor damage.	This is a starting spell for all characters who choose to learn Conjuration. It can also be purchased from court wizards in major cities like Whiterun, Solitude, and Riften, or found as loot in various dungeons and enemy inventories.
Conjure Flame Atronach	Flame Atronach	Summons a Flame Atronach, an elemental being that hurls fireballs at enemies. It deals significant fire damage and is particularly effective against enemies vulnerable to fire, such as frost trolls and draugr.	Can be purchased from court wizards such as Farengar Secret-Fire in Dragonsreach (Whiterun) or Wuunferth the Unliving in the Blue Palace (Solitude). Also commonly found in dungeons and magical locations.
Conjure Frost Atronach	Frost Atronach	Summons a Frost Atronach, which attacks with icy blasts that deal frost damage and can slow down enemies. It is highly resistant to frost damage and excels against enemies vulnerable to frost, like many dragons and fire mages.	Available for purchase from court wizards. It's also a common find in Nordic ruins and other cold environments where frost magic is prevalent.
Conjure Storm Atronach	Storm Atronach	Summons a Storm Atronach, a powerful elemental that unleashes bolts of shock damage. Its attacks can chain to nearby enemies, making it excellent for crowd control and dealing with groups of foes. It is resistant to shock damage.	This spell tome can be acquired from court wizards. It's also frequently found in Dwemer ruins and areas with high magical activity.
Conjure Dremora Lord	Dremora Warrior	Summons a Dremora Lord, a formidable warrior from the planes of Oblivion. They wield a Daedric sword and shield, engage in melee combat, and possess high health and damage output, making them superb frontline fighters.	The spell tome for Conjure Dremora Lord is a reward from the quest "The Mind of Madness" in the city of Solitude, specifically obtained after speaking with Sheogorath. Alternatively, it can be purchased from Phinis Gestor at the College of Winterhold.
Raise Zombie	Reanimated Corpse	Reanimates a nearby corpse to fight for you for a short duration. This is a basic undead summoning spell, useful for quickly bolstering your forces with minimal magicka cost.	This is a starting spell for Conjuration. It can also be purchased from court wizards and is commonly found as loot.
Reanimate Corpse	Reanimated Corpse	Reanimates a nearby corpse to fight for you for a longer duration than Raise Zombie. This allows your summoned undead to remain in combat for a more significant period.	This spell tome can be purchased from court wizards. It's also found in various dungeons, particularly those with a high concentration of undead enemies.
Dead Thrall	Reanimated Corpse (Permanent)	Permanently reanimates a powerful humanoid corpse to fight for you indefinitely. The reanimated thrall retains their original equipment and skills. This is the ultimate spell for creating a permanent undead army. Requires a high Conjuration skill.	The spell tome for Dead Thrall is obtained as a reward from the quest "Ill Met By Moonlight" if you choose to spare Sinding and side with him. Alternatively, it can be purchased from Neloth in his tower on Solstheim in the Dragonborn DLC. For players without the DLC, the quest reward is the only source.
Conjure Ash Guardian	Ash Guardian	Summons an Ash Guardian from Solstheim. This powerful construct deals ash damage and can explode upon death, dealing area-of-effect ash damage. It's particularly effective against enemies vulnerable to ash. (Dragonborn DLC required)	The spell tome can be found within the Temple of Miraak on Solstheim during the quest "The Path of Knowledge". It can also be purchased from Neloth after reaching a certain point in his questline.
Conjure Ash Spawn	Ash Spawn	Summons an Ash Spawn from Solstheim. These creatures are fast and deal ash damage. They are useful for overwhelming weaker enemies or providing a distraction. (Dragonborn DLC required)	This spell tome can be found in various locations on Solstheim, often within Nordic ruins or guarded by cultists. It can also be purchased from Neloth.
Conjure Spectral Assassin	Spectral Assassin	Summons the Spectral Assassin, a powerful, spectral warrior who deals significant damage and is immune to most forms of damage. This summon is tied to the Dark Brotherhood questline.	The spell tome is obtained during the Dark Brotherhood questline, specifically after completing "The Cure for Madness" and speaking with Astrid. It's a unique summon tied to this faction.
Bound Sword	Bound Weapon	Conjures a Daedric sword that lasts for a set duration. This weapon is often more powerful than early-game swords and has the added benefit of soul trapping enemies.	Purchased from court wizards, particularly from Faralda at the College of Winterhold.
Bound Bow	Bound Weapon	Conjures a Daedric bow, complete with Daedric arrows. This is an excellent early-game bow, especially for stealth archers, as it deals significant damage and soul traps.	Purchased from court wizards, often from Lukewarm in the Hall of Attainment at the College of Winterhold.
Bound Axe	Bound Weapon	Conjures a Daedric axe. Useful for characters who prefer one-handed combat and want a powerful, readily available weapon.	Purchased from court wizards, often from Neloth in the Dragonborn DLC.

Expanding Your Undead Army

While Raise Zombie, Reanimate Corpse, and Dead Thrall are the primary spells for manipulating the dead, several other mechanics and items can enhance your undead forces:

Necromancy Perks: The Conjuration skill tree features perks that directly benefit undead summons. "Novice Conjuration" through "Master Conjuration" reduce magicka costs. "Dark Souls" (at Conjuration 70) makes your reanimated undead stronger and last longer. "Twin Souls" (at Conjuration 90) allows you to have two undead active simultaneously, making Dead Thrall incredibly potent.
The Ritual Stone: Located north of Whiterun, this Standing Stone grants the ability "Ritual Aura," which reanimates all nearby dead bodies to fight for you once per day. This is a powerful, albeit temporary, way to create a massive undead horde.
Necromancer Robes and Amulets: Certain enchanted items, often found on Necromancers or crafted, can boost your Conjuration skill, reduce magicka cost, or increase the duration of your summons.
Dragonborn DLC - Ash Spells: As detailed in the table, Conjure Ash Guardian and Conjure Ash Spawn are unique to the Dragonborn DLC and function similarly to undead summons, but with ash-based damage and effects.

Other Daedric Summons

Beyond the Dremora Lord, Oblivion offers several other powerful Daedric entities that can be summoned, though some are rarer or tied to specific quests or DLCs:

Dremora Churl: A less powerful but still formidable Dremora warrior, often encountered in the wild or summoned by lesser mages. While not a direct spell, they can be encountered and sometimes manipulated.
Dremora Markynaz: A very powerful Dremora encountered in specific Daedric quests and dungeons. While not directly summonable via a standard spell, their presence highlights the power of Daedric beings.
Conjure Daedric Lord (Modded Content): For players using PC mods, there are often custom spells that allow summoning of even more powerful Daedra like Daedric Princes or their direct servants, though these are not part of the base game.
Summoning Circles: Certain Daedric quests, like the one for Azura's Star or the Daedric quest involving the Skull of Corruption, may involve interacting with summoning circles or entities that are akin to powerful summons.

Conjuration Perks

Investing in the Conjuration skill tree unlocks powerful abilities that enhance your summoned allies and your overall effectiveness:

Novice Conjuration (25): Conjuration spells cost 50% less magicka.
Apprentice Conjuration (50): Conjuration spells cost 50% less magicka.
Adept Conjuration (75): Conjuration spells cost 50% less magicka.
Expert Conjuration (100): Conjuration spells cost 50% less magicka.
Master Conjuration (100): Master-level Conjuration spells cost 25% less magicka.
Summoner (30): Summoned creatures are stronger and have more health.
Atromancy (50): Your summoned Atronachs last 50% longer.
Elemental Potency (70): Your summoned Atronachs deal 50% more damage.
Twin Souls (90): You can have two summoned creatures or reanimated undead active at once. This is a game-changer for combat, allowing for maximum battlefield presence.
Necromancy (70): Reanimated undead are stronger and last longer.
Dark Souls (100): Reanimated undead are significantly stronger and last longer.

Tips for Effective Conjuration

Summon at a Distance: Always try to cast your summoning spells from a safe distance before engaging in direct combat. This gives your summoned ally time to establish itself and draw enemy attention.
Use Summons as Tanks: Let your summoned creatures, especially Dremora Lords or powerful reanimated undead, draw enemy aggro. This allows you to attack from a safe position, flank enemies, or focus on spellcasting.
Exploit Elemental Weaknesses: Pair your Atronachs with the enemies' weaknesses. Flame Atronachs against frost-based foes, Frost Atronachs against fire-based foes, and Storm Atronachs for crowd control against groups.
Twin Souls is Essential: Once you have the 'Twin Souls' perk, always aim to summon two creatures or reanimate two powerful undead. The combined damage and distraction capabilities are immense.
Manage Magicka: Conjuration spells can be magicka-intensive, especially at higher levels. Ensure you have sufficient magicka regeneration through enchanted gear, potions, or by investing points into Magicka.
Reanimate Strategically: Reanimating powerful enemies you've already defeated can be a great way to bolster your forces without expending magicka on a summon. Prioritize reanimating tough warriors or mages.
Location Matters for Summons: While most summons are versatile, consider the environment. Storm Atronachs are excellent in tight corridors or open areas where their chain lightning can hit multiple targets.
Bound Weapons for Versatility: For characters who don't want to carry a large arsenal, bound weapons are invaluable. They are conjured with high stats, soul trap, and disappear when the spell ends, saving inventory space.
Dead Thrall Strategy: For permanent undead companions, seek out powerful humanoid corpses. Draugr Deathlords, Forsworn Briarhearts, or even powerful bandits can make excellent permanent thralls once you have the 'Dead Thrall' spell and perk.

Daedric Artifacts and Conjuration Synergy

Certain Daedric artifacts and items can significantly enhance your Conjuration playstyle:

Savior's Hide: This unique light armor, obtained from the quest "Boethiah's Calling," offers high armor rating and poison resistance, indirectly aiding your survival while your summons fight.
Spellbreaker: A shield obtained from the quest "The Break of Dawn," Spellbreaker can absorb spells, providing excellent protection against enemy mages while your summons engage them.
Conjurer's Robes: Found on Necromancers or crafted, these robes often provide enchantments that reduce Conjuration magicka cost or increase magicka regeneration, crucial for sustained summoning.
Staff of the Flame Atronach / Staff of the Frost Atronach / Staff of the Storm Atronach: These staves, often found in dungeons or sold by court wizards, allow you to cast Atronach spells without expending magicka, albeit with a limited number of charges.

The Conjuration skill is a powerful tool for any Dragonborn, offering a unique and effective way to dominate the battlefield through summoned allies and bound weaponry. Mastering its spells and perks allows for a highly adaptable and potent combat style.