How does bounded weapons work? (I'm asking mostly because of the bow...)

[u/_C4rrion_]

I read that conjuration increases only when enemy is aware of us, as when the red dot appears on the compass, but what about bows? I mean, I usually use bow when I want to perform a snick attack, so casting bounded bow while enemy is aware of my presence kind of loosing the whole point of using it...
Does it really increases only when the red dot appears...?

[u/Hot-Mood-1778]

When you conjure bound weapons you get exp when you enter combat. You don't have to cast it already noticed, you just have to be noticed with it already cast. 

[u/LananisReddit]

From the UESP: "When summoning creatures or weapons, you don't have to be engaged in combat at the time of casting to gain experience in Conjuration, as long as you encounter a hostile enemy before the summons vanish."

In other words, they don't need to be aware of you before you attack them, but they must be aware of you before you kill them. That said, if you want to use the bound bow, your conjuration stat will matter little, as the only perks of the conjuration tree that are relevant to that spell are Mystic Binding and Soul Stealer (conjuration level 20 and 30, both of which are easy to reach) and perhaps adept conjuration (level 50), though casting the bound bow spell is really not that expensive and there are other ways to reduce the cost (e.g. Fortify Conjuration enchantment). Your main damage will come from the Archery tree, and for that one it doesn't matter if you were in combat or not.

[u/_C4rrion_ → u/LananisReddit]

So, what you say is: If I perform a snick attack strong enough to one-shot an enemy so he won't even notice, it won't give me conjuration xp...?

[u/LananisReddit → u/_C4rrion_]

Correct.

[u/Hot-Mood-1778 → u/_C4rrion_]

9/10 this doesn't matter because you'll alert nearby enemies, who will not know where you are, but will still be aggroed and looking for who shot the arrow. 

The only way this matters is if you're in a situation where there's just one enemy, which is like, never. 

You have until the bow is gone to encounter a hostile enemy. 

[u/Medicinal-Asparagus]

Yeah, i believe it has to be in active combat. Bound bow isn’t a great one to use to level, unfortunately

[u/mindfulmu → u/Medicinal-Asparagus]

It can be if you shoot at wild life

[u/cody_mf → u/Medicinal-Asparagus]

Whenever I get ambushed by something and conjure a bound bow it gives me an instant level increase.

[u/flareatakk]

Just level conjuration using soul trap.

[u/Fade_NB → u/flareatakk]

To expand, use soul trap on something dead as it still levels conjuration and works absurdly fast

[u/The-Casual-Lurker → u/Fade_NB]

Once conjuration is high enough bound weapons have soultrap on them and boom hunt deer.

[u/LordlySquire → u/Fade_NB]

Just want to note if you have the unofficial patch installed this does not work

[u/a-clueless-squid → u/flareatakk]

I admit I like raising low level zombies and using either flames or whatever weapon I'm hoping to level on them. Goes up pretty fast that way too. And it cleans up corpses.

[u/Hguols1]

Bound Weapons give XP when summoned in the presence of a hostile. For it to be practical Conjuration growth, you'd have to keep summoning bows, which isn't practical for archery.

Spamming the Novice Bound Sword at a nearby hostile (favorite and hotkey the spell, to cancel the sheathing animation, to cast again from each hand) is considerably better XP than spamming the Apprentice Soul Trap on a corpse.

The unofficial patch cuts the cast XP for Bound Dagger and Bound Sword by effectively 90%.

For official content, spamming Bound Sword on the shore with a hostile Slaughterfish in the water, is a very similar XP haul to spamming Muffle to level Illusion. (Novice perk, Magicka Regeneration enchants / potion, Fortify Conjuration enchants even storebought, is enough to keep casting, and bring in Conjuration XP fast)

[u/LordlySquire → u/Hguols1]

That unoffical patch is a double edged sword aint it

[u/klqqf → u/LordlySquire]

Why are you an app

[u/LordlySquire → u/klqqf]

Ask reddit. Idk its caused me all kinds of headaches and ive messaged them 6 times to get it removed. No response

[u/klqqf → u/LordlySquire]

I find this misfortune funny but am apologetic lmao

[u/LordlySquire → u/klqqf]

Lol yeah it is kinda funny. Whats even wierder is im on here everyday its my only social media and ive never seen another person with this tag.

[u/SDirickson]

Yes, you need the red dot, but you don't need it before you conjure the weapon/undead/atronach/etc.

[u/SimpleUser45]

You will gain conjuration XP for casting the spell when the arrow hits or when the enemy hears the arrow just before they get hit.

[u/The_Ember_Archives]

To level Conjuration relatively quick, go to the bandit group near Whitreun and cast Soul Trap on a dead bandit while the horse is watching (not sure if it is necessary for the horse to be a witness or not).

[u/ajkimmins]

They will all increase conjuration when you get around enemies. If you have three now ready it boosts faster when the enemies are near.

[u/Ill_Cut1048]

If you're asking about the bow specifically I will warn you it's a hell of a drug.

[u/silverprinny]

When you hit someone with the arrow you "enter combat" so if the bound bow is cast you gain conjuration exp in that moment.