Conjuration remains one of the most versatile and powerful schools of magic in the Imperial Province. Whether you are looking to summon a Daedric lord to tank damage for your squishy mage or need to conjure a full set of weightless Daedric armor in a pinch, mastering the planes of Oblivion is essential for high-level survival.

In the current landscape of Cyrodiil, especially with updated mechanics in the remastered versions, the efficiency of your magicka-to-damage ratio is more important than ever. This breakdown covers the essential spells every conjurer needs to keep in their spellbook.

The Three Pillars of Conjuration

Conjuration magic is generally categorized into three functional types:

  1. Creature Summoning: Bringing Daedra or Undead from Oblivion to fight by your side. Only one summoned creature can be active at a time.
  2. Bound Items: Creating weightless, high-quality Daedric weapons and armor that bypass encumbrance issues.
  3. Undead Manipulation: Spells designed to make ghosts, skeletons, and zombies flee in terror.

Novice and Apprentice: Building Your Foundations

At the start of your journey, Conjuration is primarily about utility and early-game distractions.

  • Summon Scamp (Apprentice): The Scamp is the workhorse of the early game. While fragile, its ranged fireball attacks can disrupt enemy spellcasters. It’s an excellent way to safely level your skill from a distance.
  • Bound Dagger (Novice): For mages who find themselves in close quarters, a weightless Daedric dagger provides a significant damage boost without the stamina drain of heavy steel.
  • Summon Skeleton (Apprentice): Skeletons are surprisingly durable for their cost and are perfect for drawing aggro in tight dungeon corridors.

Journeyman and Expert: The Power Spike

Once you reach 50 and 75 in your skill level, you gain access to the true "heavy hitters" of the Daedric realms.

  • Summon Flame Atronach (Journeyman): The Flame Atronach is highly mobile and immune to fire. In the lava-filled planes of Oblivion, this is your most reliable ally. Its ability to hover also prevents it from getting stuck on terrain.
  • Summon Clannfear (Expert): Often considered the best physical attacker in the Expert tier, the Clannfear has a powerful leaping attack and high reflect-damage capabilities. It can solo many lower-level enemies with ease.
  • Summon Daedroth (Expert): A massive tank that uses a mix of physical strikes and shock damage. If you need a front-line defender while you cast Destruction spells, the Daedroth is unrivaled.
  • Bound Shield (Expert): One of the most efficient spells in the game, providing a high armor rating for 120 seconds, allowing mages to maintain high mobility while staying protected.

Master Tier: The Lords of Oblivion

Reaching the level of Master allows you to summon beings that can single-handedly clear entire rooms of enemies.

  • Summon Dremora Lord: Wielding a powerful two-handed Greatsword, the Dremora Lord is the pinnacle of melee summoning. Note that Volanaro in Bruma is the primary seller of this spell; ensure you purchase it before progressing too far into the Mages Guild questline.
  • Summon Storm Atronach: The ultimate elemental summon. It has high health, deals massive shock damage, and is immune to most non-magical weapons. It is the perfect counter for enemy mages.
  • Summon Xivilai: A versatile summon that can cast high-level shock spells and wields a heavy axe. Xivilai also possesses spell absorption, making them extremely difficult for magical enemies to take down.

Leveling and Optimization Strategies

To reach Master level quickly, focus on low-cost spells like Summon Skeleton. Since Conjuration levels based on successful casts in combat (or near hostiles), casting a cheap summon and then immediately dismissing it or replacing it with another is the fastest path to growth.

Another advanced tactic involves the Soul Trap exploit. Since your own summons can be soul trapped, you can use them as a renewable resource for filling Soul Gems, allowing you to level both Conjuration and Mysticism simultaneously.

Shivering Isles Additions

If you have traveled to the Shivering Isles, you gain access to unique summons that behave differently from standard Daedra. The Summon Golden Saint and Summon Dark Seducer spells offer high-level martial support, while the Summon Flesh Atronach provides a massive HP pool that can endure significant punishment from bosses.

Final Verdict for Modern Players

In the current meta, the Summon Clannfear remains the most cost-effective mid-game summon, while the Dremora Lord is the gold standard for late-game combat. Always keep a Bound Bow spell ready if you find yourself running low on physical arrows, as it provides infinite ammunition for its duration. By balancing your magicka pool and choosing the right summon for the right environment, you can master the arcane arts and rule the wilds of Cyrodiil.