The Apprentice ' s Assistant Content . The Apprentice ' s AssistantAdvice from Valenwood ' s most prestigious spellcaster No doubt you have heard tales of my adventures . Stories carried from province to province , all of Tamriel in awe of my feats of magical prowess . More than once , I am sure , you have thought " if only I had Aramril ' s ability . Then I too could seek fame and fortune in magic duels ! " It is true , of course . Great fame and limitless fortune await those who are successful . But to be successful , one needs to learn from the best . That is why you have purchased this book , so that I may teach you . I am , of course , the best . Here , then , is my advice . Follow it , and you too can make a name for yourself throughout Tamriel . 1 . To know your opponent is to know his weakness . Infinitely more versatile than a simple blade of steel , a good mage has a wide array of spells at her disposal . More than that , she knows when to best use them . She knows that frost spells can stop a charging beast , or keep a savage brute from swinging his sword . She knows that shock spells can drain her opponent ' s magicka . She knows that illusion spells can set a group of enemies against each other ( should she find herself in a less than fair fight , an all - too - common reality when her opponents know they cannot win in single combat ) and that there are spells that can save her in a moment when all seems lost . 2 . To know yourself is to know your limits . Even the best mage has a finite reserve of magicka ; none born yet have been graced with Magnus ' infinite reserves of power . And so a good mage does not over - extend herself . She makes sure she always has enough magicka to keep herself safe . Failing that , she makes sure she has a sizable supply of potions at the ready . Failing that , she makes sure she always has an escape route . Not that the Great Aramril has ever fled a fight , but of course you do not necessarily share her superb natural ability . That is why you must practice . 3 . Wards can kill ( you ) There is no question that wards are an essential tool of any aspiring mage . They can block incoming spells , negating your opponent ' s attack and wasting his magicka . A good mage knows , however , to not rely too heavily on her ward . Keeping a ward readied for too long will leave a caster drained of magicka , unable to retaliate , and at worst unable to maintain the ward and therefore completely defenseless . 4 . Two hands are not always better than one Any advanced spellcaster has learned to cast spells with both hands , dealing more damage . There are certainly times when this is to your advantage , such as when an opponent is already weakened , or when it is likely to draw a bigger reaction from the crowd that has no doubt gathered to watch you . It is not always the best strategy , however . Concentration spells , for example , can often be used on the ground when an opponent is especially nimble . In that instance , using both hands independently can cover more ground at the same time . A mage throwing fireballs with both hands cannot immediately raise a ward to defend herself , or heal while she continues to attack . 5 . Always rise to a challenge , especially when you know you can win Remember that your first priority is , of course , to stay alive . Following closely behind , though , is your need to please the crowd . You are , after all , depending on their generosity to fund your adventures . Here , then , more than magic comes into play . If you can gain a sense of your opponent ' s ability before the duel begins , you can enter into the event with confidence . Knowing that you outclass your opponent is of great importance , as it means you can confidently give the crowd a better show . Likewise , knowing ahead of time that you could very well lose a duel , you are afforded an opportunity to suddenly find yourself engaged elsewhere , and be unable to attend the event . ( By no means do I suggest that I have ever done such a thing ; I simply find that my great fame occasionally means I am unable to respond to every single request for a duel ) Keep these few things in mind , keep your wits about you , and you too can make a name for yourself by putting on great displays of magical prowess . Take care , though - for if you become successful enough , you may find yourself facing a challenge from me !