Mage Robes within the Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is perfect if you are the type to wield fireballs at bandits and you want to look awesome while doing it. They may not be as flashy as Dragonscale armor, nor do they offer any kind of protection, but mage robes still have a lot to offer.

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With plenty of magic-related perks, including helping your magika regenerate faster, robes are the preference armor if you want to play as a mage character. Mage Robes can be found all over Skyrim and have many different perks and styles for you to choose from.

Updated December 24, 2021 by Jamie Pellikaan: More and more people are re-discovering their love of Skyrim after the tenth-anniversary edition has been released. And whether you are a life-long fan or re-igniting your passion for Skyrim, you know that being a mage requires the best gear at all times. But, don't worry about hunting down the best robes for spellcasting as we have assembled a list of the best robes in Skyrim and where you can acquire them.

13 Thalmor Robes

Ondolemar wearing Thalmor Robes inside Markarth in Skyrim

Thalmor robes can be seen worn by obnoxious Thalmor agents. While they only offer a 12 percent reduction on the casting of destruction spells, this can be extremely useful to those who have not invested within the destruction skill tree.

One unique thing about Thalmor Robes is the protection they offer an Altmer character during the questline Diplomatic Immunity. The robes can be found on a table within the Embassy during the quest and if you are a high elf and you put the robes on, you can walk past the guards without having to fight them.

  • You can dress like a Thalmor Wizards either by taking robes during the main questline or you can take them by force from Thalmor agents you encounter in Skyrim.

12 Cultist Robes

Skyrim Cultist Robes Worn By Cultists inside Ivarstead

Cultist Robes are the choice apparel for the cultists of the Dragonborn DLC and come in handy for those who find their magika reserves depleting too quickly. The cultists are the followers of the Dragon priest Miraak and prefer to wear these robes when trying to kill you and enslave the entire island of Solstheim.

The robes give you 75 percent faster magika regeneration but offer no spell cost reduction which means you will still need to carefully monitor your magika when flinging spells at enemies. If you are having problems finding Adept Cutlitists, however, you can get Telvanni Robes from Neloth after completing the Quest Old Friends. Keep in mind you will need the Dragonborn DLC for these robes, as well.

  • You can find these robes at the start of the Dragonborn DLC when two cultists attempt to kill you. This occurs either after you visit High Hrothgar for the first time.

11 Mythic Dawn Robes

Skyrim Mythic Dawn Robes worn by Silas Vesuius inside the Mythic Dawn Museum in Dawnstar

The Mythic Dawn cult may be more closely related to the Elder Scrolls Oblivion than Skyrim, but you can still wear their robes 200 years after their attempted takeover of Tamriel.

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The robes grant you 75 percent magika regeneration making them a suitable choice to wear when casting spells that quickly depletes your reserves. However, there is no spell reduction effect.

  • You can find this robe set on Silas Vesuius in Dawnstar during the quest Pieces of the Past that becomes available to the player at level 20.

10 Shrouded Robes

Skyrim Shrouded Robes worn by Festus Krex inside the Falkreath Sanctuary

The mage equivalent of the Dark Brotherhood's Shrouded Armor, these robes aid you in any assassinations you wish to undertake using magic. The Shrouded Robes specialize in boosting your destruction magic as it makes destruction spells 15 percent less to cast, but fails to strengthen your magika regeneration.

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This means you will be able to sling more fireballs before you run out of magika.

  • Knowing how to get past the Black Door is essential since these robes are found in the Falkreath Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary on the shelf when you first enter.

9 Taron Dreth's Robes

Skyrim Taron Dreths Robes

Worn by the Dunmer Taron Dreth, these share the same style as the Master Robes and offer both a boost to magika regeneration and make destruction spells 15 percent less to cast. This is a lesser bonus than traditional Master Robes, but still beneficial if you don't want to pay the Master Robes' steep price.

These robes are useful if you want to dabble in destruction magic, but are unsure if you want to commit to it all the way. To obtain these robes you will need to have the Dawnguard DLC installed.

  • They are obtainable after you complete the questline Lost to the Ages when Taron Dreth will appear as a random encounter.

If you don't have the Dawnguard DLC, the Apprentice Robes of Destruction offer the same effects as Taron Dreth's Robes.

  • You can purchase Apprentice Robes of Destruction from various Merchants and in the College of Winterhold.

8 Master Robes

Skyrim Master Robes

These robes may seem plain in style, but they offer some of the best effects of the non-unique robes in Skyrim. Master Robes increase magika regeneration by 150 percent so you can continue casting spells to your heart's content. Master Robes also come in variations that reduce the cost of spells by 22 percent in different schools of magic.

Combined with different perks, this effect can greatly reduce the cost of spells making it even easier to cast multiple spells in a short amount of time.

  • The Master Robes and its variations can be bought at the College of Winterhold once you reach level 32.

7 Miraak's Robes

Skyrim Miraak's Robes

Worn by the first Dragonborn himself, Miraak's robes are unique in the effects it grants you. Instead of boosting magika regeneration, Miraak's Robes will give you the ability to absorb 15 percent of all spells and dragon's breath damage. Since robes don't grant their wearer any armor protection, this effect is extremely useful in fights as you can take more damage without having to stop and heal yourself.

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In addition, every time you take damage there is a chance to spawn a tentacle explosion which will damage your foes.

  • If you want to spawn tentacles at random, these robes can be looted off Miraak's body upon completion of the Dragonborn DLC's main questline.

6 Archmage's Robes

Skyrim Archmage Robes worn by Savos Aren inside the College of Winterhold

Resembling the Master robes in appearance, these robes offer the most effects to you making them the most practical robes to wear in combat. Not only do you receive a 15 percent cost reduction in all spells, but you also receive an extra 30 magika and a magika regeneration rate of 100 percent.

The Archmage's Robes are the best at conserving your magic during fights, especially with the extra base magika granted. The robes allow you to cast the most spells without waiting a long time for your magika to come back.

  • The Archmage's Robes can be yours by completing the College of Winterhold quest The Eye of Magnus.

5 Black Mage Robes

Skyrim Black Mage Robes inside The Hag's Cure in Markarth

Black Mage Robes may seem like low-level robes you don’t want to waste your time with, but they are a versatile piece of clothing that is easily acquired no matter your level. These robes come with an enchantment that regenerates your Magicka 50 percent faster.

While other robes can increase this speed, the Black Mage Robes don’t have a hood attached meaning you are free to wear a circlet to add extra benefits to your armor.

  • These robes are found on almost all low-level elemental mages and novice conjuration mages across Skyrim.

4 Necromancer Robes

Skyrim Necromancer Robes by the Ritual Stone in Whiterun Province

Similar to the Black Mage Robes with the addition of a green skull emblazoned on the front, the Necromancer Robes don’t offer much in the way of magical protection. But, if you decide to put them on, you will quickly see that some NPC’s will treat you differently and may even refuse to talk to you for wearing such an offensive piece of clothing.

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This is a nice detail from the developers and adds more depth to the stigma surrounding necromancy in the game’s lore. When worn these robes will increase your Magika regeneration rate by 75 percent.

  • Necromancer robes are found on any hostile necromancer or can sometimes be looted out of drawers and chests in various dungeons.

3 Telvanni Robes

Skyrim Telvanni Robes worn by Neloth

Being a Telvanni Wizard is a status symbol in Morrowind and these robes declare that status loudly to all who gaze upon them with their design and added enchantments. The robe design changes based on your Dragonborn’s gender and cannot be replicated via crafting in the game.

Wearing the robes grants you 75 percent faster Magika regeneration speed, but despite the basic enchantment, these robes are some of the rarest in the game.

  • You can only acquire these robes after completing the quest Old Friends from the Dragonborn DLC.

2 Temple Priest Robes

Skyrim Temple Priest Robes worn by Galdrus in Raven Rock on Solsthiem

Another rare set of robes from the Dragonborn DLC, the temple priest robes can be found worn by the caretakers of the Raven Rock Temple on the island of Solstheim. Galdrus Hlervu and Elder Othreloth are the only two NPC’s seen wearing these robes in the game.

While they only boost your Magicka regeneration by 75 percent, their unique design and overall novelty make them an excellent addition to any mage’s wardrobe.

  • Since these robes are not available for sale or found in any dungeon the only way to acquire them would be killing or pickpocketing the robes from either Galdrus or Elder.

1 Adept Robes

Skyrim Adept Robes worn by Mirabelle Ervine inside the Mage's College

Not as powerful as the expert or master level robes, adept robes can be just as efficient and practical to use. This is especially true for players who don’t use magic as their only means of defense and don’t want to waste septims are more expensive gear.

Adept robes can reduce the cost of spell casting for a specific school of magic by 15 percent and all adept robes can regenerate Magicka by 100 percent. Since they cost less than expert robes, you can buy adept robes to dismantle them and learn new enchantments.

  • Adept Robes can be bought either at the College of Winterhold or from Farengar Secret-Fire in Whiterun once you reach the adept level in any school of magic.

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