wizard vs battle mage skills

[emitfudd]

I started putting a few points into the wizard tree since I have decided to use wands and staffs instead of the typical sword and shield that I usually use in most games. I noticed the battle mage tree and am now wondering which is the better option? I know I can respec skills at any time.

[nazerick]

Battlemage is centered around wands. Wands are very strong for defensive fighting. it's worth investing in it as a backup to the staff or even a main attack method. You should have more than enough points to invest multiple trees.

[william_es]

You will want both, eventually. There are skills in the wizard tree that boost magic damage, and just provide other sources of damage that help you out when using wands.

At the end of the wizard tree are "chain hit" and "mass destruction", both of which can be triggered by wand blasts. Chain hit is especially useful, since the shock blasts triggered by it have MUCH longer range then the wand shots do. Plus they can be triggered by shooting objects like walls and doors. I killed the first Fell Sicklescythe in the sun temple by shooting at a closed set of doors. The chain hit shock blasts would zap the sicklescythe, which killed it eventually.

"radiant aura" and "sun aura" are fun abilities too. Constant damage over time to any "fell" (evil) creatures. In low level areas, I just kill stuff by running around it in circles. And the damage aura helps wipe out the insect swarms.

I haven't purchased "necromancer", but it summons a fire wisp from some enemies. There are fire wisp summon scrolls so you can use one to see what a fire wisp does.

[Bongoboy]

I use Wands mostly in close quarters fighting, one reason being you have a shield and can parry. Battlemage skills have that one skill that gives 30% chance to shoot 2 projectiles, that is pretty strong, so is the other skill where sustained damage does 20% more.

The Wizard skills increase damage types, pretty much like what the Warrior has, also good with a Wand.
I found the couple points I put into heal not bad either. People say the water aura is weak and got nerfed... I never got hit more then once and then for quite some time not and I find out I am full after killing my enemy every time. So it is good... as well as the 3 Int more lol.

[Bongoboy]

Originally posted by william_es:

"radiant aura" and "sun aura" are fun abilities too. Constant damage over time to any "fell" (evil) creatures. In low level areas, I just kill stuff by running around it in circles. And the damage aura helps wipe out the insect swarms.

Yeah a friend told me "You gonna have issues as Mage VS those small insects that come in groups"... Sun Aura and all I do is blocking... they die fast enough.

[bourland]

Both Wizard / Battle Mage with Double Jump and Updraft perks. I'm too new to offer how many points remain, maybe someone can say.