Is it worth it for an archer to level magicka to use a bound bow?

[FallingOut]

My character (archer, level 15) just acquired the bound bow spell but he doesn't have enough magicka to cast the spell. Currently he is at 147 Magicka, 170 Health and 140 Stamina and the best bow he has is a Dwarven bow (not enchanted). Is it better to invest points in Health and simply wait to get a better physical bow than to diverting points into magicka?

[Zsrai]

If it's the only spell you're using? Probably not. The Bound Bow is damn good, but you need to perk out the Conjuration tree for it to really shine. If you're not much of a spellcaster then it'll be better to just take the slower power curve (working up through materials) and use Smithing and/or Enchanting to improve your bows beyond what a Bound Bow can do.

If you're playing more of an Arcane Archer type that is using spells heavily and the Bow instead of relying on Destruction? Then yeah I'd grab it ASAP. I'd probably also just skip Smithing and work on dropping more perks into your spell schools.

[GrimCat]

Always nice to have a weapon that can't get shouted out of your hands.

[FallingOut]

Originally posted by Zsrai:

If it's the only spell you're using? Probably not. The Bound Bow is damn good, but you need to perk out the Conjuration tree for it to really shine. If you're not much of a spellcaster then it'll be better to just take the slower power curve (working up through materials) and use Smithing and/or Enchanting to improve your bows beyond what a Bound Bow can do.

If you're playing more of an Arcane Archer type that is using spells heavily and the Bow instead of relying on Destruction? Then yeah I'd grab it ASAP. I'd probably also just skip Smithing and work on dropping more perks into your spell schools.

That gives me something to think about... I actually love to use magic, but in Skyrim I haven't found a way to change my equipped weapons quickly with a hotkey, so it is painful to have to keep going into a menu (like Q) and manually selecting the weapons/spells I want to use.

[MysticMalevolence]

Originally posted by FallingOut:

That gives me something to think about... I actually love to use magic, but in Skyrim I haven't found a way to change my equipped weapons quickly with a hotkey, so it is painful to have to keep going into a menu (like Q) and manually selecting the weapons/spells I want to use.

Open Q menu. Select weapon. Press a number 1-8 on your keyboard. This will assign that weapon to the number key 1-8. Gets tricky and confusing with dual wielding.

With SkyUI you can assign more specific loadouts to the F1-F12 keys.

[dogshocker]

I think I'd wait to find a better bow....probably won't be long. Also, you can upgrade 'average' bows (Steel, wood, draugh, etc.) so that they can become as good as 'high end' bows (elven, ebony, etc.), via Smithing.

[casualsailor]

You don't actually have to put a lot of points in Magicka to use the Bound Bow. You can get quite a bit from gear: Novice Hood, Necromancer's Amulet both are fairly easy to get.

So you can get the Bound Bow and use it as early as you like while you are leveling up smithing and enchanting to make your own bow.

Here is a handy guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyypnNgeYNs

[FallingOut]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

[FauxFurry]

A bound weapon can be used in prison. No need for shivs.
Well, unless one uses this mod:
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/15791/

[casualsailor]

Originally posted by FauxFurry:

A bound weapon can be used in prison. No need for shivs.
Well, unless one uses this mod:
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/15791/

This is true. I don't think the Draugers can knock it from your hands either like they can with a normal weapon.

[jreese46]

You can level your conjuration without increasing your magicka pool. 147 (odd number) magicka is enough to cast a flame atronach. Keep casting them in combat and you'll be able to put a few perks in to your conjuration tree, so that a bound bow will cost considerably less to cast. If it doesn't fall below 147, it won't take much away from you to increase your magicka a tiny bit to meet it. But don't start increasing magicka, at the expense of health, to meet the higher cast cost of a low level, low conjuration skilled, character.

[FallingOut]

Originally posted by jreese46:

You can level your conjuration without increasing your magicka pool. 147 (odd number) magicka is enough to cast a flame atronach. Keep casting them in combat and you'll be able to put a few perks in to your conjuration tree, so that a bound bow will cost considerably less to cast. If it doesn't fall below 147, it won't take much away from you to increase your magicka a tiny bit to meet it. But don't start increasing magicka, at the expense of health, to meet the higher cast cost of a low level, low conjuration skilled, character.

That was a great tip! With the Novice Hood and the points I got from casting the Astronach spell, I am able to summon the bound bow.

By the way, I found the spell tome for the Bound Bow in Fort Amol (I think), but upon entering Morthol for the first time I discovered that the wizard there sells the spell.

[Aghyzuth]

Okay so, I know you allready got your answer and stuff, but, I still want to give my opinion on this...

Yes, it is worth it to invest in magicka for the bound bow, especially if you are not going for smithing or such skills, as without smithing/enchanting, if you take the mythic binding perk, the bound bow IS the best bow in the game and it gives you an "infinite supply of the second best arrows in the game...
But if you are going for smithing, Zephyr or another good bow can easily surpass the bound bow...

TLDR: If you are using other wizord stuff as well, go for it, it's good if you can expend a perkpoint for mythic binding, but not if you are not going for a wizard/conjurer or you are leveling smithing, it's only really worthawhile for earlygame

[casualsailor]

Originally posted by FallingOut:

Originally posted by jreese46:

You can level your conjuration without increasing your magicka pool. 147 (odd number) magicka is enough to cast a flame atronach. Keep casting them in combat and you'll be able to put a few perks in to your conjuration tree, so that a bound bow will cost considerably less to cast. If it doesn't fall below 147, it won't take much away from you to increase your magicka a tiny bit to meet it. But don't start increasing magicka, at the expense of health, to meet the higher cast cost of a low level, low conjuration skilled, character.

That was a great tip! With the Novice Hood and the points I got from casting the Astronach spell, I am able to summon the bound bow.

By the way, I found the spell tome for the Bound Bow in Fort Amol (I think), but upon entering Morthol for the first time I discovered that the wizard there sells the spell.

Yeah, check out the vid I linked. It will show you how to use the Fury spell to set the two wizards against one another long enough to run in and grab the spell from Fort Amol.

Also don't forget the Necromancer Amulet. +50 magicka and -25% to cost of Conjuration Spells.

And you only need the magicka to cast the bow. So you can hot key amulet and hood to give you the requisite magicka, cast the bow then hot key another amulet which benefits archery or sneak or whatever.

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Necromancer_Amulet_(Skyrim)