Restoration alchemy without the loop—viable pure healer builds?

[RiftenWanderer]

I keep hearing about the restoration alchemy exploit, but I'm trying to do a cleric playthrough on Switch where I actually earn my gear instead of breaking the game by level 15. Problem is, pure healing feels useless in combat past like level 20, and I don't see many guides that treat Restoration as a primary damage tool. Is there a perk combo or playstyle that makes healing-focused actually work, or am I just gimping myself? Playing on Adept if that matters.

 

[WhiterunModder]

Pure healing is honestly a trap for solo combat on Adept and up - you're right to feel that itch. But there are a few things that actually work if you commit to the playstyle instead of trying to DPS with Restoration.

First, the perks matter way more than people admit. Get the one that lets you dual-cast spells for increased effect (not sure of the exact name, but it's early in Restoration), then stack the ones that reduce casting cost. Once you're not bleeding magicka dry, healing becomes viable as your main action. Pair that with the perk that makes healing spells work on allies at range - that's your actual combat role. You're not soloing dungeons; you're keeping followers alive while they do the work.

Second, don't sleep on Restoration's other half. Cure Disease, Cure Poison, paralysis removal - these aren't flashy but they trivialize entire enemy types. Combine that with heavy armor and a shield, and you become unkillable. You're playing a tank-cleric, not a DPS.

Third, Restoration scales with Restoration skill, not Magicka, so leveling it actually makes you stronger. Get that Necromage perk from the Dawnguard questline (the one where you side with vampires) - it's like a 25% damage boost to all magic if you're a vampire. Broken in the best way.

On Switch you're stuck with vanilla perks, which is rough, but the core idea holds: commit to support, grab followers who can actually fight, and use Restoration to enable them. You won't feel useless if you're the reason they're alive.

 

[DragonbornVet]

Yeah, that's solid advice. I'd add that the follower thing is key - pick someone who actually scales, not just a random merc. Aela or Vilkas level up with you and can carry fights if you keep them healed. Farkas is tanky enough to soak damage while you top him off.

But honestly, if you want to feel more active in combat without breaking into alchemy loops, lean into the tank angle harder. Heavy Armor perks like the one that reduces damage taken when wearing a full set, plus Mage Armor from Alteration (works the same way but for robes), means you can stand in melee range and not get deleted. You're not healing yourself to death - you're just... not taking that much damage in the first place. Throw a shield on and bash stuff that gets close. It's boring compared to blasting people with Destruction, but it works and it feels like you're doing something besides casting heal 47 times per fight.

Also don't underestimate how much Restoration skill-ups help. Spamming healing on yourself or a follower levels it stupid fast, and unlike Destruction where you're capped by enemy health pools, you can always heal more. Get to like 50-60 Restoration and suddenly your heals actually land for real numbers instead of band-aids.

The Necromage thing is real if you can stomach being a vampire, but that's a whole other commitment. Vanilla Skyrim doesn't make it easy to stay vampire-adjacent without the downsides eating you alive.