Best pre-hardmode mage armor?

[Spooky Will]

What is the best armor for a pre-hardmode mage? I currently have the magic hat and robes (from the travelling merchant) and meteor leggings.

[Peachninja]

i would say the meteor sets

[Spooky Will]

Originally posted by Peachninja:

i would say the meteor sets

Ok, thanks. I've heard that jungle armor and diamond robe is better but I think meteor has higher defence rating.

[Dr. McWeazel]

The Meteor Armor only holds 1 point of defense over the Jungle Armor/Ancient Cobalt Armor. If you aren't using a Space Gun nigh-exclusively, Jungle Armor/Ancient Cobalt Armor would be better, since it gives 60 bonus Mana and a reduced Mana cost on all Magic weapons, rather than 0 Mana Cost on the Space Gun exclusively.

[Spooky Will]

Originally posted by Dr. McWeazel, PhD:

The Meteor Armor only holds 1 point of defense over the Jungle Armor/Ancient Cobalt Armor. If you aren't using a Space Gun nigh-exclusively, Jungle Armor/Ancient Cobalt Armor would be better, since it gives 60 bonus Mana and a reduced Mana cost on all Magic weapons, rather than 0 Mana Cost on the Space Gun exclusively.

Ok. I use water bolt and magic missile so I think jungle armor would be better.

[Dr. McWeazel]

Under those circumstances, that is definitely the case. If you have a Shadow Key, delve into the Underworld with that thing on you. Given some time, you'll probably find a Flamelash, which is about the same as the Magic Missile, but it does more damage and can set stuff On Fire! (no joke, that's the name of the debuff) for a few seconds.

While you're down there, look out for a Demon Scythe. Does damage on par with or even better than some hardmode Magic weapons.

[Spooky Will]

Ok. Not actually been into underground jungle or underworld yet but I think I have a shadow key.

[jiink]

the traveling merchant doesnt sell robes. and the sets i reccomened for mage is jungle armor (for more mana and lower mana usage), metior armor (for infinite space gun usage) or you can mix up sets (ex. emerald robe, magic hat, jungle leggings)

[Dr. McWeazel]

Well, you've been into the Dungeon. It's definitely possible.

Don't rush yourself. If you can get Meteor Armor, go with that first, then venture into the Underground Jungle. You could end up in a situation that you can't handle if you aren't careful.

Originally posted by CorruptedVirus:

the traveling merchant doesnt sell robes.

Travelling Merchants can sell ♥♥♥♥♥ Robes.

[jiink]

Originally posted by Lord Llama:

Ok. Not actually been into underground jungle or underworld yet but I think I have a shadow key.

you get the shadow key from the dungeon ;)

[Daisu]

As a mage my first and the only/last armor on pre-hardmode is Meteorite Armor with Space Gun. This way I don't need to 'farm' stars 'cause I don't need mana and it's a P E R F E C T magic weapon vs pre-hardmode mobs, also go farm that Demon Scythe until you defeat WoF, I also recommend getting all the mana stars till hardmode and using Demon Scythe if you find one, it's a nice weapon, I'd say one of the best magic weapons on pre-hardmode.

[Dr. McWeazel]

Originally posted by Mike21Daisu:

As a mage my first and the only/last armor on pre-hardmode is Meteorite Armor with Space Gun. This way I don't need to 'farm' stars 'cause I don't need mana and it's a P E R F E C T magic weapon vs pre-hardmode mobs, also go farm that Demon Scythe until you defeat WoF, I also recommend getting all the mana stars till hardmode and using Demon Scythe if you find one, it's a nice weapon, I'd say one of the best magic weapons on pre-hardmode.

I think you mean the best Magic Weapon in pre-Hardmode. Pierces 5 times, does the same damage as the Cursed Flames (which means it does more than both the Golden Shower and the Crystal Shards), and it drops from the fairly common Demons.

[jiink]

Originally posted by Dr. McWeazel, PhD:

Originally posted by Mike21Daisu:

As a mage my first and the only/last armor on pre-hardmode is Meteorite Armor with Space Gun. This way I don't need to 'farm' stars 'cause I don't need mana and it's a P E R F E C T magic weapon vs pre-hardmode mobs, also go farm that Demon Scythe until you defeat WoF, I also recommend getting all the mana stars till hardmode and using Demon Scythe if you find one, it's a nice weapon, I'd say one of the best magic weapons on pre-hardmode.

I think you mean the best Magic Weapon in pre-Hardmode. Pierces 5 times, does the same damage as the Cursed Flames (which means it does more than both the Golden Shower and the Crystal Shards), and it drops from the fairly common Demons.

i think the demon scyth is a pretty decent weapon, but its defentntly not better than the golden shower or crystal shards. the golden shower can decrease anythings defense by 20 while doing constant damage ( you can kill the destroyer VERY easily with it ). crystal storm can bounce off walls, spraying your enemies, and has an extremley low mana cost. Like i said, the demon sythe is a good weapon for prehardmode (and possibly very early hardomode), but you cant compare that to mid-hardmode weapons

[Dr. McWeazel]

Originally posted by CorruptedVirus:

Originally posted by Dr. McWeazel, PhD:

I think you mean the best Magic Weapon in pre-Hardmode. Pierces 5 times, does the same damage as the Cursed Flames (which means it does more than both the Golden Shower and the Crystal Shards), and it drops from the fairly common Demons.

i think the demon scyth is a pretty decent weapon, but its defentntly not better than the golden shower or crystal shards. the golden shower can decrease anythings defense by 20 while doing constant damage ( you can kill the destroyer VERY easily with it ). crystal storm can bounce off walls, spraying your enemies, and has an extremley low mana cost. Like i said, the demon sythe is a good weapon for prehardmode (and possibly very early hardomode), but you cant compare that to mid-hardmode weapons

Yes, the Golden Shower will reduce most enemies' defense by 20. Doesn't do that to the Destroyer, though, as 1.2.3 made it immune to all debuffs, including ichor. Against the Destroyer, the Demon Scythe is better.
EDIT: Actually, the Demon Scythe is just better, period. The Golden Shower only does 22 damage, but it reduces enemy's defense by 20, right? That means it works as though it did 32 damage, which is still less than the Cursed Flames and the Demon Scythe, which both deal 35 damage.

The Crystal Shards have a prohibitively low Per-hit damage. Against an enemy with low defense, it works well. Against almost any boss? Not-so-much.

[Daisu]

Alright then! Since we went into hardmode here I have a question. What should my early hardmode weapon be? By early I mean vs the Destroyer and/or all of the other mechanical bosses, should it be Demon Scythe? Frost Staff? Magic Dagger? or Poison Staff?

I'd go for Poison Staff 'cause it has quite good drop chance and is easy to get, tho I would take Magic Dagger if it dropped from mimics...

[jiink]

Originally posted by Dr. McWeazel, PhD:

Originally posted by CorruptedVirus:

i think the demon scyth is a pretty decent weapon, but its defentntly not better than the golden shower or crystal shards. the golden shower can decrease anythings defense by 20 while doing constant damage ( you can kill the destroyer VERY easily with it ). crystal storm can bounce off walls, spraying your enemies, and has an extremley low mana cost. Like i said, the demon sythe is a good weapon for prehardmode (and possibly very early hardomode), but you cant compare that to mid-hardmode weapons

Yes, the Golden Shower will reduce most enemies' defense by 20. Doesn't do that to the Destroyer, though, as 1.2.3 made it immune to all debuffs, including ichor. Against the Destroyer, the Demon Scythe is better.

The Crystal Shards have a prohibitively low Per-hit damage. Against an enemy with low defense, it works well. Against almost any boss? Not-so-much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBVLRMOYmtw crystal storm is good