Shadow Spells for Witches and Hagravens
⚪ Last updated 2022⚠️ Install Order · 7 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.7% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #12 of 19 Magic - Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
This simple mod distributes most spells from Shadow Spell Package to Witches, Hags, Hagravens and all other (mod-added) members of the Hagraven Faction with SPID. I primarily made this because Coven adds over 60 enemies to that faction and in the comments someone mentioned adding Shadow Spells to them.
Distribution of Spells
The mod is inspired by the distribution of Shadow Spells in EEOS. If you're already using EEOS, this mod isn't of much use to you. It handles the distribution differently though. The spells are only distributed to all members of the Hagraven Faction and which spells are assigned to them is based on the Destruction, Alteration and Conjuration levels of those NPCs instead of their character level.
For example, the Apprentice version of Shadowbolt is distributed to NPCs with a Destruction skill between 25 and 49, while the Adept version is distributed to NPCs with a Destruction skill between 50 and 74. Lastly, the Expert version of Shadowbolt is given to those with a Destruction skill of at least 75. These levels are based on the vanilla spell cost reduction perks.
Distribution of Perks
By default, some perks are distributed as well. Most notably, Dark Arts. NPC's with a Destruction skill under 60 will get the version of that perk that increases the damage of Shadow Spells by 25%, while those with a Destruction skill of at least 60 will gain the version that makes them 50% stronger. If you don't want to have these perks distributed, you can simply delete the file ShadowSpellsPerks_DISTR.ini.
Caveats
Most Shadow Spell Destruction spells seemed to break the Hagraven's AI, causing them to not cast anything during my testing. So Hagraven's only get Shadowbolt and Crushing Darkness, while others also get spells like Drain Soul and Sear.
It also won't remove spells NPCs are given automatically, so they'll still cast Firebolts and stuff. But at least their spells will be more varied. From my testing, human/mer enemies benefited more from this mod than Hagravens. For a proper enemy overhaul, you're better off with SRCEO that also gives Hagravens Shadow Spells.
Final notes
The mod won't work without Shadow Spell Package, as it doesn't contain its assets. I recommend using this alongside a mod that adds higher level members to the Hagraven Faction, such as the aforementioned Coven (or something like High Level Enemies Redux).
This mod uses SPID to distribute spells from the Shadow Spell Package to Witches, Hags, Hagravens, and other Hagraven faction members, including mod-added enemies. It was created to enhance the Coven mod's enemies. A niche but functional magic gameplay tweak with 131 endorsements.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-tested with 131 endorsements and nearly 20k downloads.
- Works with mod-added enemies thanks to SPID, so it scales with your load order.
- Fills a real gap: makes hags and witches actually use the cool Shadow spells.
⚠️ Cons
- Requires both Shadow Spell Package and SPID as dependencies, so it's not a drop-in mod.
- Last updated in January 2022, so it may not be compatible with the latest game patches or newer mod versions.
- Niche appeal: if you don't use Coven or similar enemy-overhaul mods, the impact is limited.
For Skyrim players who want enemy spellcasters to be more dangerous and varied, especially those using the Coven mod. If you're a magic enthusiast who enjoys seeing NPCs use modded spells, this is for you. Skip if you prefer vanilla enemy behavior or don't use the required dependencies.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure you have SPID installed and properly configured, as this mod relies on it to distribute spells.
- Load this mod after Shadow Spell Package and any enemy overhaul mods to ensure the distribution works correctly.
- If you're using a mod manager, let it handle the file placement to avoid overwriting issues.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- Bas
- Version
- 0.2
- Downloads
- 19,917
- Endorsements
- 131
- Category
- Magic - Gameplay
- Created
- 10/28/2021
- Updated
- 1/13/2022
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