Skeles health and damage is based on your blood magic skill. They get more powerful the higher your skill. Magic is extremely powerful, but you really have to invest in skilling it up before trying it in the new content. My advice is whenever you do low-tier resource runs, get an Eitr Build (Eitr Eitr Stam is what I do) and chop down trees/mine iron in swamp with skele cover. Your Blood Magic skill will go up relatively fast, and you won't have to do much.

Skele last until they're dead (Well, deader) it's a very nice ability even if they didn't get strong enough to take on some current mobs. But some mobs they will always struggle with. Melee Skele basically can't do anything against troll. Just keep getting knocked back.

Someone already mentioned, but they do get your barrier (If you're close enough) though not your Forsaken power. Barrier + Skele = very goods.

Originally posted by Mr.Pessimism:

Frankly i find the cost of magical weapons to be to high in comparison to their usefulness in the mistland at the start. i mean i understand they get better with skill but if the skellies can't take down a seeker at the start then whats the point. i mean we just got magic. shouldn't i be able to use it to some degree in the current zone. not level it up in past zones just to be able to use it in the mist lands.

You can still use them in the mistlands. A good distraction is often just as useful as straight up damage. But if you're expecting them to carry a fight, it's never gonna happen, even when all stars align. They're still valheim mobs and their Engagement AI is simple. They aren't going to dodge roll to avoid a one shot kill. They're not going to flank a soldier and hit the weak spot. To be fair, it's a miracle their pathfinding is even as good as it is.