True Warlock Tweak
This build is a tweak of the "True Warlock" build posted here by @Halkaun.
The changes are designed for play on Adept/Expert.
Spell absorption has been removed; instead, the build relies on the healing power of the Staff of Magnus, Histskin, and Vampiric Drain to sustain mana via Equilibrium.
The melee aspect has been dropped in favor of a purely arcane focus.
No mods, no CC needed.
Thanks to the author of the original build for such magnificent work.
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More: Mage builds, Minion builds, Roleplay builds
The College of Winterhold should be the top priority—both for the player, to acquire the necessary items, and for the character, for role-playing reasons. An incessant seeker of power would likely start with the College of Winterhold, wouldn't they?
Once a day, those under the sign of The Ritual can reanimate nearby corpses to fight for them.
Condition
Loadout
Most pieces of equipment are obtained quite quickly during the game. Gloves can be enchanted with a respectable level of Magicka using a Fortify Enchanting potion (sold at alchemy shops) and a Black Soul Gem.
Absorb 20 Magicka per second. If the target is out of Magicka, absorb Health instead.
Summons a Flame Atronach for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing.
If target dies within 60 seconds, fills a soul gem.
Convert 25 points of Health into Magicka per second. Caster can be killed by this effect.
Improves the caster's armor rating by 100 points for 60 seconds.
A blast of fire that does 60 points of damage. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Increases your Magicka by 70 points.
Increases your Magicka by 30 points.
All spells cost 15% less to cast, increases Magicka by 50 points, and Magicka regenerates 100% faster.
Increases Shock Resistance by 40%.
While wearing this ring, you will receive 100 extra Magicka as well as regenerate Magicka faster.
Increases your Magicka by 50 points.
Powers
Your Argonian blood gives you 50% resistance to disease.
Your Argonian lungs can breathe underwater.
Invoke the power of the Hist to recover Health ten times faster for 60 seconds.
Raises all dead around you to fight for you for 200 seconds.
Reanimate a dead body to fight for you for 180 seconds.
Your Vampiric blood gives you 50% resistance to Frost.
Your Vampiric blood gives you 50% weakness to Fire.
Your Vampiric blood gives you 100% resistance to disease.
Your Vampiric blood gives you 100% resistance to poison.
Illusion spells cast by a Vampire are 25% more powerful.
Vampires are 25% harder to detect when sneaking.
Health, Magicka, and Stamina do not recover while in Sunlight and are reduced by 60 points.
Improved night vision for 60 seconds.
Absorb 5 points of Health per second from the target.
Reanimate a very powerful dead body to fight for you for 60 seconds.
Creatures and people up to level 8 won't fight for 30 seconds.
Vampire is invisible and has improved night vision for 180 seconds.
All spells cost 10% less Magicka. Enchantments are 10% more powerful.
Spells cost no Magicka for 30 seconds.
Fully restores your Health, Magicka, and Stamina.
Summons a Dremora merchant for 15 seconds.
Your Vampiric Drain spell absorbs Magicka and Stamina from your victims for 3 days.
Secret of Arcana allows us to dual-cast the Dragonhide spell; combined with the Necromage perk and a Fortify Alteration potion, this provides extremely high protection for approximately three minutes. It also enables us to spam spells like Fire Storm or Incinerate, as well as Atronach Thrall or Dead Thrall.
I feel this reinforces the original concept: a mage lacking natural talent who relies on "great powers," such as those of Hermaeus Mora.
Shouts
Durnehviir! Hear my Voice and come forth from the Soul Cairn. I summon you in my time of need.
Your Thu'um cuts through flesh and shatters soul, commanding the will of the fallen.
Feel free to add other Shouts (and any other changes you like are fine for your playthrough). Drain Vitality, Mark of Death, and Fire Breath are probably good choices. I like Become Ethereal as a panic button and to buy time when casting Master-level spells.
I like roleplaying the character as an incessant seeker of power, so "gotta catch 'em all" is a good goal when it comes to Dragon Shouts. A great source of power.
Consumables
Potions, food and drink you find or buy. Their buffs are counted into your stats.
For potions you plan to brew yourself, just pick the effects you want. Their strength follows this build's Alchemy skill, perks and gear. For the actual ingredients and bottles, use the Alchemy calculator below.