Are these types of spells all he can do with magic? I mean instead it being all he can do with magic, why can't you just let him use magic to manipulate the elements but those spells are the current skills/techniques he can use with the elements.
phantasmal killer from d&d it an illusion so real that if the target think it real it will kill him/her or you can go illusion route to get more versatil spells. some enchantement spell or rune spell could be good too .