Alteration scrolls in Skyrim each contain one spell from the Alteration school and reproduce its effect when read. Rather than dealing damage, they bend the world around you: they harden your skin, light up dark places, let you breathe underwater, reveal living creatures through walls, pull distant objects into reach, or freeze enemies on the spot. They are useful for any character who wants a defensive buff or crowd control without training the school.
All Alteration scrolls
| Name | Effect | Value | Weight | Form ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scroll of Candlelight | Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds. | 25 | 0.5 | 0009659B |
| Scroll of Oakflesh | Improves the caster’s armor rating by 20 points for 60 seconds. | 25 | 0.5 | 0009659C |
| Scroll of Magelight | Ball of light that lasts 60 seconds and sticks where it strikes. | 50 | 0.5 | 000965A2 |
| Scroll of Stoneflesh | Improves the caster’s armor rating by 25 points for 60 seconds. | 50 | 0.5 | 000965A3 |
| Scroll of Ironflesh | Improves the caster’s armor rating by 30 points for 60 seconds. | 100 | 0.5 | 000A449B |
| Scroll of Waterbreathing | Can breathe water for 60 seconds. | 100 | 0.5 | 000A449C |
| Scroll of Telekinesis (Dawnguard) | Can pull an object to you from a distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it. | 100 | 0.5 | 02014042 |
| Scroll of Ebonyflesh | Improves the caster’s armor rating by 35 points for 60 seconds. | 250 | 0.5 | 000A449E |
| Scroll of Dragonhide | Caster ignores 80% of all physical damage for 3600 seconds. | 250 | 0.5 | 000E0CD6 |
| Scroll of Paralyze | Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds. | 250 | 0.5 | 000A449D |
| Scroll of Mass Paralysis | All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds. | 500 | 0.5 | 00021876 |
| Scroll of Detect Life | Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra, can be seen through walls. | 500 | 0.5 | 001019AE |
Where to find them
Court wizards sell several of these, including Ironflesh, Magelight, Paralyze and Mass Paralysis, and the cheaper flesh scrolls and Waterbreathing can be bought from Tolfdir at the College of Winterhold. Dragonhide is sold by various College wizards and in stores, and Ebonyflesh is offered by the Arch-Mage once you reach level 38. Random loot in chests and caves accounts for many more. Fixed placements include:
- Candlelight – on a bedroom table in Calcelmo‘s laboratory, and on a workbench in the Tower of Mzark.
- Detect Life – the Grand Cavern of Irkngthand, and Waking Dreams, Chapter IV in Apocrypha (Dragonborn).
- Paralyze – Mzulft, and The Hidden Twilight, Chapter VII in Apocrypha (Dragonborn).
- Mass Paralysis – Filament and Filigree in Apocrypha (Dragonborn).
- Dragonhide – random tables throughout Apocrypha (Dragonborn).
Highlights
- Dragonhide makes the reader ignore 80% of physical damage – the strongest defensive scroll of the school.
- Mass Paralysis freezes every target in the area that fails to resist for 10 seconds, turning a crowded fight in your favour; Paralyze does the same to a single foe.
- Detect Life shows nearby living creatures through walls, though undead, machines and daedra stay hidden.
- The flesh scrolls – Oakflesh, Stoneflesh, Ironflesh and Ebonyflesh – add 20 to 35 armor rating for a minute, a quick boost for a lightly armored mage heading into combat.
- Telekinesis (Dawnguard) pulls an object to you from a distance so you can take it or throw it.
- Candlelight, Magelight and Waterbreathing are cheap utility scrolls for dark ruins and underwater exploring.
