How exactly am I supposed to play as a mage...

[GloriousZote]

.. when enemies just keep dodge-spamming my spells? I'm already weaker in defense than other builds, but now I also can't get a single spell in at some enemies, because they have infinite stamina, and can keep dodging my spells over and over and over.

[Cootswig]

I'm a mage aswell and I also had a hard time in the beginning (except bosses they are definitely easier as a mage, atleast the first couple bosses are)

I would advise getting the moonveil katana, it's pretty easy to get and it works fantastic for me. I believe it's a sword mainly used by mages but I could be very wrong. I feel it hits pretty hard for a class that specializes in throwing spells from a staff lol

Now I feel I'm a battle mage and it plays way cooler to be a badass with a katana and spells.

[Ecal]

You might try invisibility sorceries like Night Comet. Enemy a.i won't attempt to dodge them.

[nfinite.recursion]

Well, if the mages I typically co-op with are any indication, I'm supposed to solo the boss and when I get his health really low, you're supposed to snipe him from afar and draw his aggro, after which he one-shots you.

[Polaris]

Spells with slower projectiles or delayed effects can mess with enemy AI.

Great Oracular Bubble, Ranni's Dark Moon, Rennala's Full Moon, Rancorcall, Ancient Death Rancor, and Rock Sling all travel slower, so enemies react to the cast but end up getting hit by the projectile.

Carian, Glintblade, and Greatblade Phalanxes will trigger dodges but the projectiles don't fly immediately.

Stars of Ruin and Magic Glintblade also mess with enemies due to delay, Stars of Ruin also fires multiple shots.

I also find that Stars of Ruin, Magic Glintblade, Great Oracular Bubble, and Rock Sling (EDIT: forgot Ancient Death Rancor here) are good on horseback.

[Cootswig]

Originally posted by nfinite.recursion:

Well, if the mages I typically co-op with are any indication, I'm supposed to solo the boss and when I get his health really low, you're supposed to snipe him from afar and draw his aggro, after which he one-shots you.

That's strange, the couple I did I was doing most of the damage from far while the co op was only dancing around avoiding while getting the odd hit in here or there xD

[porkinator]

use carian sword spells

[Dr. Sinclair]

are you expecting them to just stand there and take it?

[Lenox]

• Use a different ranged sorcery.
  
• Use a melee sorcery.
  
• Use a melee armament.

[GloriousZote]

Originally posted by Dr. Sinclair:

are you expecting them to just stand there and take it?

I'm expecting them to dodge just a bit less, maybe be more aggressive instead of walking slowly towards me and dodging everything, balance it so that a mage can do something, but there's still a challenge.

[Dr. Sinclair]

Originally posted by GloriousZote:

Originally posted by Dr. Sinclair:

are you expecting them to just stand there and take it?

I'm expecting them to dodge just a bit less, maybe be more aggressive instead of walking slowly towards me and dodging everything, balance it so that a mage can do something, but there's still a challenge.

magic is already broken. Have you considered waiting for an opening before casting, instead of button mashing hoping it hits eventually?

[nfinite.recursion]

Originally posted by Cootswig:

Originally posted by nfinite.recursion:

Well, if the mages I typically co-op with are any indication, I'm supposed to solo the boss and when I get his health really low, you're supposed to snipe him from afar and draw his aggro, after which he one-shots you.

That's strange, the couple I did I was doing most of the damage from far while the co op was only dancing around avoiding while getting the odd hit in here or there xD

There are indeed some good mages out there. In my experience most of them simply aren't. Then again, this is what I get for co-oping with randos.

I suppose the biggest issue is hosts not understanding how to share aggro, or perhaps not even knowing how aggro works, rather than being an issue unique to mages.

[Anthreris]

This is actually a big issue, it renders many spells and incantations fairly obsolete. Since spells that always hit are simply better.

This problem is exacerbated in endgame since a hidden optional boss will dodge any ranged attack and then go into the most dangerous attack in the game, and probably the soulsborne series. Unless you continuously hit and stagger them with said spell.
This means that using your spells on some enemies will activate certain attacks spelling calamity for the caster.

I rest my case...

[la luot bang qua]

Originally posted by GloriousZote:

.. when enemies just keep dodge-spamming my spells? I'm already weaker in defense than other builds, but now I also can't get a single spell in at some enemies, because they have infinite stamina, and can keep dodging my spells over and over and over.

Play as a strength build then

[Sabaithal]

Learn to melee. That's really your only option unless you want to resort to spamming gimmick spells (which usually have terrible damage).

You're not supposed to be 100% melee or ranged in this game. Certain enemies and situations will, evidently, punish you if you try.

The best players know how to combine both melee and ranged options as the situation demands, so I would practice mixing things up a bit.

[GloriousZote]

Originally posted by Sabaithal:

Learn to melee. That's really your only option unless you want to resort to spamming gimmick spells (which usually have terrible damage).

You're not supposed to be 100% melee or ranged in this game. Certain enemies and situations will, evidently, punish you if you try.

The best players know how to combine both melee and ranged options as the situation demands, so I would practice mixing things up a bit.

Nah, as a melee you dont need anything else.