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Primate Murder -> RE: Character Rating Mage (11/7/2020 7:57:11)
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Let's see if I can help...
First of all, the stat cap has been raised to 250. You'd probably want to max out your Int (as it gives as much accuracy as Dex + damage +mp), followed by Dex (for accuracy). Most FO mages go for 250 Int/Dex/Luck in the endgame.
Secondly, a number of subraces have been revamped to have a full 10 skills. As an FO mage, you'd probably want to go Vampire, as it has an Int drive, a quickcast (doesn't cost a turn) stun and an Evolved Form with high damage, lifesteal and a sustainable upkeep. After you complete the advanced subrace quest in Darkovia (and become a guardian), you'll gain a second no-drop in the form of your subrace transformation. Safiria's shop has alt-element variants of the armor.
Next, I suggest you check out Commonly Used Strategies, particularly the Purple Rain loop. The basic idea of the modern meta is to stun-lock the monster, then crush it with powerful ele-comped skills. Maximum damage at minimum risk.
Weapons
After you guardianize, I suggest going for the Staff of Awe upgrade and attuning your special to PWD for a 3% chance of instantly killing the monster. For the element, I suggest switching to Darkness - while it has some nifty stuff, other elements have better weapons, so you want to leave them a weapon slot.
By far the best spellcasting weapon is Arcane Cutlass of Combustion, giving all your fire spells (and spell-type skills) +28% damage. If you don't want to spare a UR, Blazing Bloodzerker Blade (Rare GGB) and Pyromancer's Bloodblade (coming to the Void in ~2 months) pay hp for a boost to your weapon attacks and fire spells.
I would suggest picking up the Kindred sword for water, as having an autohit weapon can really save your bacon in certain situations.
Arcane Cutlass of Gales (wind copy of Combustion Cutlass) is BiS wind spellbooster. If you lack a spare UR, Haunted Dragonlord's Insight heals some mp on every hit.
Arctic Athame provides a nice damage boost to your ice spells. If you don't plan on getting Cryomancer Bloodmage anytime soon, however, Cryomancer Bloodblade (ice copy of Pyromancer's; Rare GGB) would serve you better.
Terra Bloodzerker blade gives an hp-costing damage boost to your weapon attacks and earth spells. If you don't have a spare Rare GGB, you can choose between Arcane Troll Club (toggle to increase weapon damage at expense of accuracy) and Mutant King Club (compresses an elelocked earth armor with a skill).
Dynamancer's Bloodblade is the best energy weapon available.
Arcane Cutlass of Radiance to boost your light spells. Lumenomancer's Bloodblade if you don't have a spare UR.
Armors
Once you guardianize, I suggest upgrading to Insightful Armor of Awe. It has a qc mana shield that remains even if you switch armors.
The meta focuses on armors with powerful elecomped skills. As such, the best mage armors would be the Bloodmages - 50% extra spell damage for an hp cost and a compressed spell with a high elecomp. Pyromancer comes to the Void in ~2 months, and Hydromancer, Cryomancer and Dynamancer are in UR GGBs. Until you get enough URs, War's Legacy, WHEEL, Taladosian and Horo Show are powerful f2p alternatives.
Haunted Dragonlord Armor from this week's quest has the strongest (non-premium) wind skill in the game.
Terra Bloodzerker is the best available earth armor, with an hp-costing damage bonus to weapon attacks and a 2x damage elelock toggle. It is a UR, though. If you don't have one to spare, either Mutant King Form (from the Mutant King Club) or Cthonian Count (alt-element vampire) are good enough options.
For maxed out 1st turn damage there's Lumenomancer Bloodmage, but I really suggest checking out Paladin first. It's the only modern class in the game, with 20 (20!) skills, including healing, ressurection, a variety of effects and light nukes. It's great for bossing and killing undead.
Once you guardianize and complete the advanced subrace quest, your vampire no-drop should cover your darkness armor.
Shields
After guardianizing, upgrade your no-drop shield to UltraGuardian. It heals some sp each time you're hit.
Once you level up your Knight class and pick Stormfallen, Avenger's Bulwark will slowly charge up a free EleShield.
Celtic Wheel remains the best option for nuke mages. If you want a little extra mp, Kindred shield charges up a qc mana regen.
The new MC shield can make you borderline invincible with PR shenanigans. For a more offensive shield, use Fujin - its Dex drive will increase the accuracy of all your attacks and spells.
Pies has a Cha drive to enhance your damage by boosting Poes.
Golem Guard has a small damage reduction toggle. At Harvest Fest you can get Serenia's Guard, which heals a bit of mp each time you're hit.
Umazen Aspis is a -26 energy shield.
Scarab Shell has a toggle to lower monster MRM, increasing the accuracy of all your attacks and spells.
Spells
Your armor nukes, as a rule, will be stronger than any generic spell. As such, there are only a few damage spells worth looking at:
- Warmaster's Burst and your D-Burst deal +50% damage for an hp cost.
- Sizzler 'Splosion sacrifices some damage, but autohits - useful against high MRM wind mobs.
- Knife to Meat You is a qc, 1/battle earth damage spell. Only available at Mogloween.
- Archmage Research or Runic Binding give you a source of Harm damage.
Poelala guest provides a notable boost to the damage of your weapon attacks and spells.
Gandolphin (from your Vault) is a great substitute for Endurance (especially with Rejuvenating Necklace). It gives a qc Mana Shield, one that's even more powerful with Generalist Robes (imbue toggled).
Purple Rain is one of the most useful meta spells, to the point where there's an entire strategy build around it (see Purple Rain Loop in Commonly Used Strategies linked above). It acts as a save point - cast it once to save your current sp/mp/hp, then cast all your buffs (like Moonwalker's Grace and SFP) and debuffs (like Mesmerize), then cast Purple Rain again to return your sp/mp/hp back. Here are some spells you can cast inside the PR loop:
- Moonwalker's Grace. Qc Dex booster.
- Edoc Imanok. Qc MRM boost, enhances your blocking.
- Angry Trobble. Accuracy boost for several turns. Not qc.
- Dragonguard Invocation. Makes your next attack an automatic Lucky Strike. Not qc.
Pets
At 0 Cha, you have little reason to use anything except Poelala. The only exception I can think of is the Kindred pet, as it can gather charges for the Kindred weapon/shield.
Miscs
After you guardianize, pick up Essence Orb first thing. The misc allows you to turn your hp into sp, fueling a wide variety of nukes and effects.
Rejuvenating Necklace gives mp based on damage dealt. A great way to ensure you always have mana to cast a spell.
Shadowfeeder Pendant is one of the best meta enablers - by clicking on it, you can get qc celerity; great synergy with Purple Rain and any elecomped nukes. Love Potion is another great meta misc (qc control), but it only comes back at Snugglefest.
Goggernaut Helm gives +10 bth to every attack on the field, without the usual /2 for spells.
Grakma Warhorn's Berserk gives a notable damage bonus (not /2 for spells, making it the strongest spell booster), but at the expense of accuracy. Eye of Osiris (Int and bth) or Murderator Gauntlet (Int and control chance) are some nice alternatives.
Taladosian Pendant gives Mental Potence, increasing your chances of inflicting Vamp's Mesmerize.
Bell Shell heals a bit of your hp based on damage dealt. The heal is less than CoRS', but it also doesn't reduce your damage, making it an overall better choice for FO builds.
Morningstar Helm gives immunity to paralysis. If you want something a little more sp-efficient, Blood Ruby and Liquid Courage give resistances to paralysis and fear respectively.
Hope the info's useful and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
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