Ok so amongst us we're put a fair few hours into the game now so with all that accrued experience, which spell was the most useless?

I think I'd vote for telekinesis. I got it and thought it could be quite good, but there's not been a single case where it's helped out. I was imagining pulling levers at a distance etc.

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

the speak n spell. i had one as a kid... rubbish.

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

Actually I found it extremely helpful when I didn't know how to find a path to a mountain top.

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

Clairvoyance. You have waypoints in this game. What possible use could clairvoyance have?

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

@FreakAche said:

Clairvoyance. You have waypoints in this game. What possible use could clairvoyance have?

Dungeons with multiple floors.

the mage light spell you fire at walls

@imsh_pl said:

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

Actually I found it extremely helpful when I didn't know how to find a path to a mountain top.

same, running around a mountain trying to figure out where the entrance is for a certain cave or path... it's a time saver.

I havnt discovered all that much but it would be cool if they made a super dark dungeon where light spells or torches would be necessary to use.

I never had any of the problems everyone has seem to have had with finding stuff without Clairvoyance.

@bitterninja said:

the mage light spell you fire at walls

I don't have much experience with using Clairvoyance yet but this still is true! And I barely used my low-level Candlelight since even that is barely relevant even without brightness adjustment. I see just about everything just fine with the default settings most of the time.

@Phoenix778m: Yep, I loved that in Morrowind. Always made a light/ nightvision spell as soon as possible to get rid of torches and nonsense like that. I enjoy it for atmospheric reasons, but it probably is too much of a hassle for a lot of gamers, which is fine too.

@The_Laughing_Man said:

@Marz said:

@imsh_pl said:

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

Actually I found it extremely helpful when I didn't know how to find a path to a mountain top.

same, running around a mountain trying to figure out where the entrance is for a certain cave or path... it's a time saver.

Only part that urks me is that you gotta keep the button held.

And I can't use it from my horse. I mean, I should probably be on a road anyways, but if my horse and I just want to take a ride on the plains to feel the rain on our skin, it's kinda messed up that I have to dismount, cast Clairvoyance to see the next, oh, 5 meters of my path, mount up, then do it all over again once I've gone a bit in the indicated direction.

But then again, I'm an idiot child when it comes to this type of game. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy it!

The first conjurable wolf? Dies in one hit...

@Baal_Sagoth: Telekinesis was BROKEN in Morrowind. Sneak and lockpick from a distance to get into the House Vaults? Easiest way to get glass armor in the game.

On topic, I haven't used any spells besides the basic destruction magic and healing spells(sneaky longbow wood elf FTW!). I have picked up spells like candlelight and magelight from spellbooks I found and don't use them.

Healing is the most useless spell. We shall all die...so says Lord Dagon. 

@Marnox said:

The first conjurable wolf? Dies in one hit...

Still good as a distraction though.

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

This. It is also very inaccurate, especially in mountainous areas.

repel lesser zombie. When the hell do you ever need or want to make a level 6 or lower zombie run away?

I found a spell that turns silver ore into gold ore and visa versa. I don't smith so its useless to me.

If you do not upgrade, healing is a pretty useless spell in the later game. I find it more of a pain in the ass to walk around in real time trying to self heal then just to go into the inventory and eat one of the million cheese wheels I have stored.

I went out of my way to buy Clairvoyance when I got fed up with trying to find the path to the Shouty Dudes. Worked as advertised.

Telekinesis was a bit gimmicky but still cool to mess around with. Clairvoyance is actually pretty helpful when navigating tricky terrain or multiple paths. The transmute spell which converts iron into silver or gold ore is great to make some easy money. However on my full mage I have never used any of the repel undead spells. I usually just smoke 'em on sight.

That people actually use Clairvoyance blows my mind. Compass and waypoints already makes pathfinding a damn cake walk, just as in Oblivion. It's not like the game is filled with labyrinths. Finding paths around mountains? Nah, just jump up that shit if you get impatient. So, yes, Clairvoyance is probably one of the most useless spells in the game.

I have found clairvoyance incredibly helpful. Even with way points finding the path to the top of a mountain can be a pain in the ass, I no longer have that problem.

Nah, just jump up that shit if you get impatient.

@wolf_blitzer85 said:

@Chemin said:

Nah, just jump up that shit if you get impatient.

Ah yes the time honored tradition of glitching your ass up the side of a mountain by mashing the jump button and going up slopes at the right angle. Something every elder scrolls player should be accustomed to. It takes time, but it's less dirty than just submitting and turning noclip on.

Works like a charm. Of course, in Morrowind you didn't have to glitch most of the time, you'd just jump up and over the mountain in one fell swoop because of your acrobatics skill being through the roof.

Well, not that illusion spells are useless... just find it dumb that almost all the illusion spells are the exact same, just work on slightly higher level characters. Could they really not come up with any other ideas? What about holographic forms to distract the enemy. I have gone up against lots of enemies with that ability. Why not make it a player spell also? What about changing your appearence for a short time when you are on the run to trick them into thinking you are someone else? I have tons of ideas for fun and useful illusion spells. I give Skyrim two thumbs down for their lack of creativity in illusion spells. (Just the illusion spells though. lol Skyrim is still a great game)

@imsh_pl said:

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

Actually I found it extremely helpful when I didn't know how to find a path to a mountain top.

This is actually a very good use. I often have the issue of finding the way I'm supposed to traverse the terrain because I can't find the path, so I'm gonna start using this spell.

Thanks duder!

only time i used clairvoyance it actually helped me as i was running in circles... most useless spell i can think of is also that stupid light rune. i like the realism so id keep it dark so id have to use a torch or candlelight, but just dont see the purpose of using it like a rune. cool idea, like a thrown flare, just dont need it.

@Nux said:

I found a spell that turns silver ore into gold ore and visa versa. I don't smith so its useless to me.

That spell is super useful even if you don't smith. As soon as I got that spell, I never worried about encumberance again because i didn't need to pick up junk to sell anymore. That spell is free money.

@Rongaryen said:

Clairvoyance... Useful if you don't want to look at the map or compass. I haven't found any reason for that spell to exist.

But...you just gave a reason in the first sentence.

The first summon familiar spell you get is surprisingly useless. Whatever you summon usually dies in one or two seconds from normal enemies, so it's not even worth the magicka or the time to cast it.

I found magelight to be quite useful. I don't like carrying around torches, as they always run out. I don't want to use candlelight because then everyone can see me coming a mile away and I can't stealth, so magelight is perfect when I'm searching a room for an elusive switch :)

@NickL said:

@Nux said:

I found a spell that turns silver ore into gold ore and visa versa. I don't smith so its useless to me.

That spell is super useful even if you don't smith. As soon as I got that spell, I never worried about encumberance again because i didn't need to pick up junk to sell anymore. That spell is free money.

Exactly that. I don't even use magic so whenever I'm walking around I'll just make sure I have a heavy stock of Iron Ore at hand and just casually turn it into gold ore. Then a couple seconds at a smelter = $. Want more $? Turn that iron ore into jank ass jewelry.

Also most useless spell....Conjure sword. Those fucking things are all over the place wtf u you need to conjure one? Theres one right there. You're probably carrying one on accident right now just use it.

Magelight is a puzzlingly useless spell, especially when I've been 'rewarded' with two staffs with this ability. Like getting socks at the end of a quest.

Clairvoyance is amazingly useful. Sure, I could jump up the side of the mountain and leave my followers to die to a Snow Bear while they try to figure out how to follow me, or I could pop the spell a few times and find the road leading straight to where I'm going. I've found it especially useful in providing a path that your followers can stay on, instead of you hopping a 2 foot step and turning around to see them running 20 feet in the opposite direction trying get to you. I've also found it handy in Dwemer ruins, especially on the way to and through Blackreach.

Fury might be the most useless skill, or perhaps Courage. Both of those require such specific situations. I can see having some fun with Fury, but I can't think of really any situation where it would be useful. Courage might help when escorting someone.

candle light

I think what we can all take away from this is that there are a a whoooole lot of useless or near useless spells in Skyrim.
Combine it with the fact that magic is way less customizable then melee system and you can no longer create your own spells.
Yeah...
Magic fucking sucks in Skyrim.

@bitterninja said:

the mage light spell you fire at walls

you can use that to give other dudes the same floaty thing as candlelight gives you.

you mean by hitting them with it?

Detect Life/Detect Dead

Aura Whisper makes both of those essentially useless. Not only does it detect EVERYTHING but it's a single cast that lasts for a reasonable amount of time, allows you to move properly through dungeons, and reserves mana for more important engagements. If Detect Life/Detect Dead were like they were in Oblivion I wouldn't have a problem with them, but as of right now they both kinda suck the big one.

@TehBuLL said:

@NickL said:

@Nux said:

I found a spell that turns silver ore into gold ore and visa versa. I don't smith so its useless to me.

That spell is super useful even if you don't smith. As soon as I got that spell, I never worried about encumberance again because i didn't need to pick up junk to sell anymore. That spell is free money.

Exactly that. I don't even use magic so whenever I'm walking around I'll just make sure I have a heavy stock of Iron Ore at hand and just casually turn it into gold ore. Then a couple seconds at a smelter = $. Want more $? Turn that iron ore into jank ass jewelry.

Also most useless spell....Conjure sword. Those fucking things are all over the place wtf u you need to conjure one? Theres one right there. You're probably carrying one on accident right now just use it.

I use conjure sword all the time, it frees me of the need to carry a sword around and as a pure mage everytime I use it it helps boost my conjure. I find it pretty useful.

@animathias said:

Clairvoyance is amazingly useful. Sure, I could jump up the side of the mountain and leave my followers to die to a Snow Bear while they try to figure out how to follow me, or I could pop the spell a few times and find the road leading straight to where I'm going. I've found it especially useful in providing a path that your followers can stay on, instead of you hopping a 2 foot step and turning around to see them running 20 feet in the opposite direction trying get to you. I've also found it handy in Dwemer ruins, especially on the way to and through Blackreach.

Fury might be the most useless skill, or perhaps Courage. Both of those require such specific situations. I can see having some fun with Fury, but I can't think of really any situation where it would be useful. Courage might help when escorting someone.

I find the Fury/Frenzy/Mayhem spells to be quite useful. Playing as a dedicated stealth character, those spells can prove invaluable for clearing out rooms with multiple people in them. Took out a whole band of powerful necromancers by casting it once and sitting in the shadows watching the fools kill each other. Then when there is only one left standing, I sneak up behind him and slit his throat. There's something to be said for a spell that can make your enemies to your work for you. ;)