Skyrim Magic Resist & Elemental Resistances Explained

The first part of this video explains how Resist Magic, Resist Fire, Resist Frost, and Resist Shock work in Skyrim. The math is explained, as well as how they stack. Resist stacking can reduce high damage spells into almost no damage at all. The remainder of this video covers ways to improve and cap your resists, including Agent of Mara from 'The Book of Love', Breton racial permanent magic resist, Dunmer and Nord elemental resists, The Lord Stone, Magical Resistance Alteration perks, and Enchanting Resist Magic and elementals.

While it is impossible to cover every build, a few ideas are shown for magic users, shield users, as well as a few generic builds. Your main goal should be maxing Resist Magic, since every spell in the game checks that before the elementals. Some races such as Breton have it much easier than others.

Take the time to plan out what you want to do, even if you are not ready to do it yet. Would it be easier for you to give up the enchant slots, or maybe spending the 5 perks is better? Are you willing to use the Lord Stone, or does your build require something else? Weigh the benefits of what works for you and figure out how to cap your resists without hindering your character in other ways. Keep in mind, elemental resists are applied after magic, so the return on investment for putting them on enchant slots is MUCH lower than magical resist. Maybe you can afford to take a few more damage from spells and put those slots to better use?


Absolutely every character should do 'The Book of Love' quest to get the permanent active effect 'Agent of Mara', which grants 15% resist magic. See my guide here:



If you have never worked with enchanting or Skyrim tradeskills before, learn how to get started with skills, perks, and enchanting loops with my starter tradeskill guide here:



If you want your enchantments to match the numbers in this video, watch how to go further with alchemy by stacking helmets here:



If this whole resist thing is too much to deal with, you can always be a cheater by abusing this restoration glitch:



Please leave a thumbs up if this video helped you learn more about resists. Thank you for watching!

[Random_Chiroptera]

If you use a Falmer helmet you can wear it WITH a circlet, using the head armor slot twice.

BTW, if you have Dawnguard DLC, the Aetherial Crown counts as a circlet, and will allow you to have two standing stone powers at same time.

Falmer Heavy Armor (not Hardened Armor) for some awesome possibilities.

[fatihaydogdu]

This is the only good explanation which I found. Thanks...

[ethanbrandt]

Dragon: Blasts Dragonborn with it's super breath
The Dragonborn with max resist to everything: "did you feel a breeze pass by?"

[playmadesimple]

resist magic is the most important, since it will cover nearly everything cast on you in this game

[joelmaster]

Coming back to play Skyrim SE years later during covid much thanks for helping me understand how this all works!

[ssky]

I'm sure someone said this before but you can get the Shield of Solitude and then disenchant. The max Magic Resist is at 25% instead of 20% without using potions when enchanting. You can stack both Magic Resist on a single item for a total of 45% plus any bonus you may get with alchemy used while enchanting. With your Breton build, Book of Love quest and one item with both Magic Resist you would have basically reached the cap.

[TheCasualObserver]

Thank you for such an excellent explanation on how the numbers work for magic resistance as it has really helped me with my own character. Thumbs up!

[vengervoldur]

My uncounted thanks for this video! I did a lot of crawling through forums and other sites to get confusing and unclear information about resists. This video provided a conclusive and concise answer to my questions. Again, thank you.

[jdproductions]

Thank you, Pms00. You've not only given us the knowledge to stay alive longer, but you've also changed the very way of playing the game. I commend you sir.

Also....if you're on PC, Left handed ring and Cap mods do wonders :)  

[playmadesimple]

@TheMegatraum - for stats: breton.

if you want to do the most damage possible, once per day: orc.

if you want the most unique responses from NPC's: khajiit.

[HotaruZoku]

I know you don't check messages and aren't even around anymore, but I owe you. Your videos got me investigating Skyrim, and ultimately helped motivate me to mod on my own.

Thank you. Fair wind, and calm seas.

That's an old sailors farewell.

[playmadesimple]

@kazuoua - people like to argue about whether or not it is a glitch. it probably wasn't thought about by the developers when they put it into place. the necromage perk description says it increases the effectiveness of spells against the undead, and since you are a vampire you are undead and everything gets boosted. so, technically that is working as designed and not a glitch, but it was certainly a development oversight.

doubt they'll change it at this point.

[jiggaman]

For standing stones I know it also works on the Lord Stone, not sure about the skill ones, but most likely yes. It works on a LOT of perks. I'm talking about all the augmented shock, flame, frost, the steady hand, power shot, critical shot, ranger, quickdraw in archery, the slow down time in block, it affects all dual casting spells and their durations, It affects all current enchantments and passive powers. It affects alchemy, and a few perks in enchanting.

[AddeDaMan]

Thank you soo much! Great video, very clear and instructive. You are an example to all. Thank you!

[playmadesimple]

@youluvana - fire traps check magic, too. the slots are: neck, finger, shield. you can also wear the saviors hide to get it on your chest.

[OG_McLovin]

Provided the exact information I needed. Thank you.

[zemitroso]

dude, great video. I've been searching for this info for about 1 hour! Very helpful!

One question: is this applicable on the latest version of Skyrim, 1.9 Legendary Edition?

And as advice for your youtube videos: think about narrating the text, that definitly atracts viewers!

[kelwdavicuddui]

I don't know how the ice spikes work, but without magic resist it'd always slow down my character like they were over-encumbered. That never happens on my characters with high magic resist.

[theunknownevil]

Best adviser in youtube so far I've found. Very detailed!

[sodaspiker]

there is a mask/helmet called Otar that gives 30% resistant against fire shock and frost. i forgot where i got it. i found while on one of the quests the graybeards give when looking for a word of power. great video