ESODecoded

Skeletal Mage

Necromancer · Grave Lord · Active — base skill and all 2 morphs, exact values.

data retrieved 2026-08-23 · datamined via UESP

At a glance

Class / categoryNecromancer
Skill lineGrave Lord
Skill typeActive
Morphs2
Base cost2970 Magicka
Unlocks atLevel 30

Base skill & morphs

BASE Skeletal Mage2970 Magicka · unlocks lvl 30

Unearth a skeletal mage from the dirt to fight by your side for 20 seconds, while granting you Major Brutality and Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. The mage attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 462 Shock Damage. Creates a corpse on death if you are in combat.

MORPH Skeletal Arcanist2970 Magicka · unlocks lvl 30

Unearth a skeletal mage from the dirt to fight by your side for 20 seconds, while granting you Major Brutality and Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. The mage attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 478 Shock Damage to them and all other enemies nearby. Creates a corpse on death if you are in combat.

MORPH Skeletal Archer2525 Stamina · unlocks lvl 30

Unearth a skeletal archer from the dirt to fight by your side for 20 seconds, while granting you Major Brutality and Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. The archer attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 463 Physical Damage. Each time the archer deals damage, it deals 15% more damage than the previous attack. Creates a corpse on death if you are in combat.

Morph differences

What each morph changes relative to the base skill — exact datamined text only, no recommendation of which to pick.

Skeletal Mage BASE

Unearth a skeletal mage from the dirt to fight by your side for 20 seconds, while granting you Major Brutality and Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. The mage attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 462 Shock Damage. Creates a corpse on death if you are in combat.

Skeletal Arcanist MORPH

Changes vs base: The mage attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 478 Shock Damage to them and all other enemies nearby.

Skeletal Archer MORPH

Changes vs base: Unearth a skeletal archer from the dirt to fight by your side for 20 seconds, while granting you Major Brutality and Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. The archer attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 463 Physical Damage. Each time the archer deals damage, it deals 15% more damage than the previous attack.

Champion Points that modify Skeletal Mage (7)

Matched by us from the datamined text on both sides — the star's own condition and this skill's own damage — not a relationship the game ships. Universal stars (Precision, Piercing, Fighting Finesse, Backstabber) apply to every damaging ability and are left out on purpose.

StarWhenThe star saysMatches because this skill…
Thaumaturgeonly while slotteddamage done with damage over time effectsdeals damage over time
Master-at-Armsonly while slotteddamage done with direct damage attacksdeals direct damage
Biting Auraonly while slotteddamage done with area of effect attackscan hit more than one enemy
Deadly Aimonly while slotteddamage done with single target attackshits a single target
War Magealways activeWeapon and Spell Damage to Magical attacksdeals Physical, Shock Damage (Magical)
Mightyalways activeWeapon and Spell Damage to Martial attacksdeals Physical, Shock Damage (Martial)
Wrathful Strikesonly while slottedWeapon and Spell Damage to your damaging abilitiesdeals damage

FAQ

What are the morphs of Skeletal Mage?

Skeletal Mage has 2 morphs: Skeletal Arcanist, Skeletal Archer.

What's the difference between the Skeletal Mage morphs?

Skeletal Arcanist: The mage attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 478 Shock Damage to them and all other enemies nearby.

Skeletal Archer: Unearth a skeletal archer from the dirt to fight by your side for 20 seconds, while granting you Major Brutality and Sorcery, increasing your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20%. The archer attacks the closest enemy every 2 seconds, dealing 463 Physical Damage. Each time the archer deals damage, it deals 15% more damage than the previous attack.

How much does Skeletal Mage cost?

2970 Magicka.

Where does Skeletal Mage come from?

Necromancer · Grave Lord skill line.