The Diadem of the Savant is a unique circlet that the game counts as light armor. It has 7 base armor rating, weighs 4, and makes Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Restoration and Illusion spells all cost 5% less to cast. Small numbers, but it covers every school at once, which few early items do.
How to get it
There are two ways, depending on how much hiking you fancy:
- Shalidor’s Maze: inside Labyrinthian, solve Shalidor’s Maze. After the Trial of Conjuration, a Dremora mage appears – the diadem is on his body once he is dealt with.
- Froki’s Shack: the game files also place one copy at Froki’s Shack, high in the mountains. It sits on the wood chopping block next to the hut, and according to the sources it respawns after a few days.
Froki’s Shack is the easier route for low-level characters, while the maze gives you a nice puzzle and a bit of lore.
Is it worth wearing?
For an early mage, yes. A 5% discount on every school adds up, and unlike most circlets it also gives armor rating. Later on you will probably enchant your own headgear with a stronger Fortify spell school effect for the school you actually use, and this one cannot be disenchanted, so you cannot learn its effect at an Arcane Enchanter. It also cannot be improved at a workbench even though it is classed as light armor.
Good to know
- It is the only circlet in the game that adds armor rating.
- When struck it trains Light Armor, and merchants treat it as armor, not jewelry.
- It does not break the Alteration Mage Armor perk – the game counts it as clothing there.
- If you kill the Daedra in the Trial of Conjuration too fast, it may not follow you out, leaving the diadem out of reach.
Stats
| Item | Slot | Type | Armor | Weight | Value | Enchantment | ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diadem of the Savant | Head | Light | 7 | 4 | 505 | Alteration spells cost 5% less to cast.; Conjuration spells cost 5% less to cast.; Destruction spells cost 5% less to cast.; Restoration spells cost 5% less to cast.; Illusion spells cost 5% less to cast. | 000F9904 |
Stats from the Skyrim game files (Skyrim.esm and the official add-ons): base values before Smithing and perks. Where several versions exist (leveled copies), all are listed.
