In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, there are some tricks to help you level Alteration a little quicker than normal. Sure you can run around casting Candlelight over and over, but that won’t get you any skill points very quickly.
For any of these tips, I suggest equipping as much Magicka Regeneration equipment as you can, as well as items that reduce the cost of Alteration spells. The cheaper and faster you can cast spells obviously, the faster you’ll level up.
Level Alteration With Spell Stasis
There is a spell book you can find in Labyrinthian called Equilibrium. Labyrinthian can be found south-east of Morthal, on the path from Whiterun to Morthal. Equilibrium depletes your health and turns it into magicka. If you equip Equilibrium in one hand, and Healing in another creating a stasis where your health is going down about as much as your magicka is going up. You’ll be gaining skill points in both Alteration and Restoration at the same time. Alternatively you can use Equilibrium while striking with a weapon enchanted with Absorb Health for a similar effect.
Level Alteration With Certain Spells
Detect Life is a good way to level up Alteration as well. Go to a well populated area, like an inn at night, or the market area in Whiterun during the day and cast the spell. The more life is detected by the spell, the more you gain toward your skill points.
Continually casting Telekinesis on objects works for getting quick skill points. You can even hold an object in the air with Telekinesis to gain skill points, though it may not be as effective as the above methods.
Casting Oakflesh and the like kind of armor spells while you’re out adventuring is a good way to level up your Alteration as well, though it only applies to your skill if you’re in combat. There is a caged wolf in Tolvald’s Cave that you can cast spells near to get credit for them. Tolvad’s Cave can be found in the mountains north-east of Shor’s Stone, which is North of Riften.
Level Alteration With Pickpocketing
If you’re ok using a rather “cheap” method to level Alteration extremely fast, then simply find an Alteration skill trainer, buy a skill point, then pickpocket the money back. Tolfdir in The College of Winterhold is an Alteration trainer.
This trick is only effective up to 51 skill points unless you have a pickpocketing skill of 100, since after 51 skill points the cost is increased by 1000 gold, making pickpocketing much more difficult.
