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Help me make a really beastly mage build?
gradii
Posts: 11,717 Arc User
I've never had a mage themed character at level 40 before, and decided that Magic Mya, my level 30 or so mage would be the one I take to 40 first.
she's a young, but extremely talented mage, still in school IC.
I'd like suggestions on how to best make a good mage build.
some requirements:
Must use eldritch blast r3 and eldritch shield r3.
Must not use guns or ranged weapons. preferably no weapons at all.
she's a young, but extremely talented mage, still in school IC.
I'd like suggestions on how to best make a good mage build.
some requirements:
Must use eldritch blast r3 and eldritch shield r3.
Must not use guns or ranged weapons. preferably no weapons at all.
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I hope it helps
Alexandra.
By the way, Brimstone with the Wizard's Staff skin is kinda awesome visually as well, though it might be hard to fit it in. Assuming you'd be okay with the staff.
On the mechanical side, Guardian Mastery and Aura of Arcane Clarity might be something to look at if you want to use Eldritch Blast often but don't want to be tied to critical hits.
but i think a dps mage could be built around shadow form or seraphim. there are a few good attacks in there maybe borrow some ego attacks as well like mind break
It's really hard to get good dps out of arcane. Believe me, I've tried. Great debuffing to make it work better is your best option.
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AoED? Def wanna try a pet build then- Sorcery has tons of pet powers available. Its prob the best dmg option Sorcery has for single-targets, actually. If using Eldritch Blast then Overseer would be good for rolling Trapped. Overseer/Commander I guess.
And to be clear, ya mean 'mage' as in arcane/mystic? Not an elementalist?
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
First thing, an AoE attack to compliment Eldritch Blast. Energy Projection has several nice AoE maintains to consider. Skarn's Bane is pretty much the only candidate in Sorcery (unless PBAoEs are considered). It's horridly unoriginal as a general power pick but it's good DPS and can be paired with Arcane Vitality since they're both 50 feet AoE cones which I'm sure something can be worked off that...
...which brings up the whole why not just use a hybrid Celestial power for that. Celestial Conduit and Illumination (especially with Advantage) gets pretty good results as well.
On Next Hit powers can be used to lace Eldritch Blast (and whatever chosen AoE power) with extra effects for some added versatility without visual theme issues. Magic beams that shrink and stun targets!
Sorcery has 4 unique power types (Aura, Sigil, Circle, and Ritual) and 4 branches (Arcane, Ebon, Primal, and Radiant). Take each of those power types and pair them with one of the branches. Though in my opinion, the Ritual summons are somewhat overshadowed by Tyrannon's Familiar since it's an awesome summon and its energy accumulation ability is kinda cool.
In place of the traditional roving swarm of pets, use the temporary pets Summon Shadows, Summon Nightmare, and March of the Dead. No energy penalty for whatever follows after. It's also possible to do something similar for the "untargetable pets" (really just fancy DoTs) such as Ball Lightning and Fire Snake. But those are less efficient without playing off some other power(s). Either way, Circle of Arcane Power and/or Dark Transfusion would likely be required since those powers are expensive and such a tactic would mean going through many of them quickly.
Sorcery Aura + IDF + 2 spec auras (+ radiant sigils and circle?) = radiating fountain of power?
Planar Fracture is pretty both visually and with its debuff generation, but has little else going for it. Speaking of extradimensional holes, Ebon Rift is a nice choice for an AoE power due to its herding ability.
I take this quote from a review that I agree with.
"customisation is so linear; everyone is after the optimal dps:survivability ratio with 0 reliance on other players = autonomous gameplay... Players don't need each other anymore... which in my opinion is a bad thing."
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Presence (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Grimoire
Level 6: Showmanship
Level 9: Shrug It Off
Level 12: Ascetic
Level 15: Lasting Impression
Level 18: Wordly
Level 21: Quick Recovery
Powers:
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Eldritch Blast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Aura of Ebon Destruction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Concentration
Level 11: Tyrannon's Familiar (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Ritual of Arcane Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Lightning Storm (Rank 2, Stolen Thunder)
Level 23: Circle of Arcane Power
Level 26: Hex of Suffering (Rank 2, Rune of Lethargy)
Level 29: Arcane Vitality (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Sigils of the Primal Storm (Rank 2)
Level 35: Eldritch Shield
Level 38: Divine Renewal
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Mystic Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Teleportation
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
AoED + 2 pets should help ya be a decent dps- the charge siphon from the familiar is additive dmg, but its 'free' for having the pet out so mine as well. Hex and the storm sigils can do good damage over time, and ya got Trapped to proc from Hex and the blast for more dps. LS is ur main AoE. MSA could work for the build over CoAP, but then ya may want Int PSS over Ego. Could replace the res w/ Palliate/absolve too.
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
The weapons powers are for show. Using the awesome Wizard Staff from the W&W costume set.
Switch over some advantages and go rolling with the synergy scattered around the build which is made around E.Blast: Crits,Trapped, Mastery etc.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Morganna Le Fay
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Squall
Level 6: Field Ops Training
Level 9: Survival Training
Level 12: Sniper Training
Level 15: Jack of All Trades
Level 18: Martial Training
Level 21: Covert Ops Training
Powers:
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Eldritch Blast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Sigils of the Primal Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Circle of Arcane Power (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Guard
Level 20: Earth Splitter (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Hex of Suffering (Rune of Lethargy)
Level 29: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 32: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 35: Rebirth
Level 38: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Teleportation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Millennial Flight
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Make It Count (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Impact (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Mastery: Guardian Mastery (1/1)
My Characters
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Presence (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Impulse
Level 6: Lasting Impression
Level 9: Investigator
Level 12: Negotiator
Level 15: Prodigy
Level 18: Diplomatic
Level 21: Amazing Stamina
Powers:
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Eldritch Blast
Level 6: Compassion
Level 8: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Seraphim (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Force Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3, Force Sheathe)
Level 17: Arcane Vitality (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 23: Overdrive
Level 26: Protection Field (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Hex of Suffering (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ego Surge
Level 38: Divine Renewal
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Teleportation
Specializations:
Presence: Repurpose (3/3)
Presence: Grandeur (2/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
Sentinel: Genesis (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Tenacious (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Presence Mastery (1/1)
His gear at present (he is the most well-geared of any of my characters, please don't laugh) is Heroic Gloves of Healing w/ Sentinel's Brooch 7, Heroic Breastplate of Defense w/ Impact Prism 7, Legion's Helmet of Efficiency w/ Gambler's 7x2, Vigilante's Rejuvenating Belt, Enduring Bracers, and Vigilante's Efficient Eyepiece. Mods are Int 7x2, Pre 7, Con 7, Ego 7, and Rec 7.
You mentioned wanting to use one of the Auras, so I'll give you what feedback I can, having tried all of them except for AoAC. First, I didn't find much real benefit to AoED (thought I hear it's good for pet builds, as I think has been mentioned). As a self damage boost, obviously there are better options, and, as a team boost, I ran into two problems: 1) when teaming with lowbies or characters that aren't well-built, the issue the team is facing isn't going to be getting in more damage but just staying up and 2) when teaming with well-built 40's, you're going to (I believe--I don't know what bonuses fall into what "layer" here) hit diminishing returns buffing anyone with an offensive passive, who are generally going to be your heavy-hitters anyway.
AoRP, on the other hand, I liked very much. W/ lowbies and such, it really helps to keep them up, esp. when combined with Sentinel Aura, and it gives extra durability to good teams, as I don't think that you'd see diminishing returns problems on any chars except maybe those running Defiance. In any case, I've seen the difference, in the amount of active healing I've had to do, between lair runs and alerts where I've had it and ones when I haven't. I've only really played with it in support, but you can get pretty good numbers for the self resists running in guardian, comparable to Defiance if statted high enough. If you want to use Eldritch Shield, the Imbue with Power advantage while running AoRP is also kind of nice, as it will proc for a small HoT.
AoPM seems to be the aura of choice, as I see it far more than the other three, in random alert groups (though usually on characters running in guardian w/ 10 Pre). I really like this one as well. It also runs into diminishing returns when teaming with well-built characters, who will generally have the stats they need for their build modded up high enough, but has at least something for everyone, in that pretty much any build can always use a little more HP. And, usually, ppl aren't so maxed out that the boosts to the other stats won't help in some way, too. With less well-built characters, AoPM really helps to bring them up, and the damage boost to lowbie alert teams actually seems to be effectively more than with AoED, I think b/c the extra Int, End, and Rec helps them with their energy management and lets them attack more. The boost to your own character with AoPM is also nice and helps open up your statting options. You can also combo it with a full Armadillo set if you want the resistance buff without feeling too much like you're missing the gem slots (depending on the build; the one above is an energy hog).
I hope that these half-informed ramblings have been in some way helpful.