Mage ? Advace for beginner

[Matt Murdock]

I've seen recommendations from the developers themselves that mage is the best choice for a newcomer to the elden ring.
I guess it's also because he has a pretty big range and can farm runes.
I was never really attracted to the idea of playing mage because I didn't know if it was more of a dagger in the back when most bosses prefer melee attacks.
How's the dmg? And how well does the mage character play? I'd like to try something new. As for the bosses, I'm hoping that the spirit I summon will tank it for me and maybe some summon npc :D I still get goosebumps when I say mage and the capra demon from darksouls flashes through my mind, which as a mage I probably wouldn't want to meet :D

[LuckyCheshire]

Mages can be powerful, yes. Personally I don't care for that playstyle, sniping everything from a distance can get a little boring after a while. They have good dps, but you need to watch your fp (mana) a little more than some other styles. Elden Ring is really easy to customize your character in though, so you can definitely also have melee options, you aren't locked into exclusive ranged combat. As a mage, you still want to invest enough into your health that you can tank at least one hit though no matter what, that will make your build much more effective.

If you like the idea of spellcasting but want to have some more versatility, you could also try a Faith build. Faith (compared to Intelligence, the straight 'mage' stat) has a lot more of a utility and support focus, and has all of the healing and most of the buff spells. There are also some interesting options like the dragon spells that let you partially polymorph into a dragon and use breath weapons and such.

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

At the start focus on leveling Vigor.
You need around 22-25 for Limgrave and around 50 or even 60 at the end of the game.

Mage will not be powerful at the beginning.
You need spells, talismans and stats you will not have until late game.

Some of important mage stuff is hidden and easy to miss. Including quests.

You will still need to rely on melee weapon (with Cold affinity preferably)
for smaller, weaker enemies. Using spells on everything is not efficient.

But once finished mage is very powerful and capable of soloing any boss.
Capra Demon would be no match for mage in this game.

In fact in Liurnia you have similar boss, along with dogs, but not in small room :-)

[Matt Murdock]

Originally posted by Sc0rpiTr0n:

At the start focus on leveling Vigor.
You need around 22-25 for Limgrave and around 50 or even 60 at the end of the game.

Mage will not be powerful at the beginning.
You need spells, talismans and stats you will not have until late game.

Some of important mage stuff is hidden and easy to miss. Including quests.

You will still need to rely on melee weapon (with Cold affinity preferably)
for smaller, weaker enemies. Using spells on everything is not efficient.

But once finished mage is very powerful and capable of soloing any boss.
Capra Demon would be no match for mage in this game.

In fact in Liurnia you have similar boss, along with dogs, but not in small room :-)

Im lost always with distribute of skill points. Dont you know some good strategy how to use them well for "slight" usage of spells and defeating bosses trough levels ?

[SoundsOfNight]

Advice - don't play a mage as beginner. Start Vagabond and focus on weapons, melee and ranged. Then dabble in Int or Fth for support.

The high-end Mage stuff is gatekept behind many quests that can be quite long. Heck one is as long as the main story.

[LuckyCheshire]

Originally posted by Knight Without Sword:

Im lost always with distribute of skill points. Dont you know some good strategy how to use them well for "slight" usage of spells and defeating bosses trough levels ?

Some people have designed very detailed roadmaps for how to invest points, you can find some in the guides here on steam. The rule of thumb is that Vitality has exponentially better returns at low levels compared to damage stats. Because of how weapons are designed, until you level them up a few times, scaling just doesn't do all that much. So right at the beginning of the game get just enough Int/Fth/whatever to hit the minimum requirements for your spells/equipment, then put the rest into Vitality until it reaches at least 25, although 40 is better. You can also put a few points into Endurance if you need the weight. Once you reach 25/40 Vit, then boosting your damage stats is probably going to start actually being effective.

[Dirak2012]

Originally posted by DragonSoundxSG:

Advice - don't play a mage as beginner. Start Vagabond and focus on weapons, melee and ranged. Then dabble in Int or Fth for support.

The high-end Mage stuff is gatekept behind many quests that can be quite long. Heck one is as long as the main story.

I finished the game missing most of the quests, as long as you have high enough int, and a decently upgraded staff (and some good spirit ashes) you don't need anything more fancy than Rock Sling.

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Originally posted by Knight Without Sword:

Im lost always with distribute of skill points. Dont you know some good strategy how to use them well for "slight" usage of spells and defeating bosses trough levels ?

Level Vigor around 25 for Limgrave.

Level Intelligence for minimum required for spells you are using.
Add few points to Endurance and Mind.

Add points to Strength and Dexterity if you need to use some basic weapons.
Don't waste many points into Str and Dex if you're going to be pure mage.

In Liurnia level Vigor around 32-35. Keep adding levels to Intelligence.
Don't forget to upgrade staff as well. It is vital for spell damage.

For Caelid and Altus level Vigor around 40. And keep focus on leveling Intelligence.

By the end you should have around 50 Vigor, 70 Intelligence
and for Mind as much you can spare.

You will see for yourself what you need the most as you advance through the game.

But roughly your priority should be Vigor and Intelligence,
then Mind, minimal investment in Endurance and everything else close to minimum.

[jchaosmaster]

I will say from my experience wizard is honestly pretty good and there are a few different builds. Most importantly a wizard style character can be kitted out around the half way point of the game.

you Get the best wizard armor as part in the Lake area and you get a spell blade armor after you after you beat storm vile castle if you do a short quest. 3 of the best int weapons are out in the middle of no where and there are even build that use basic weapons.

For summoning for a wizard the best summon is the Crystalian Ashes. https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Crystalian+Ashes

[Matt Murdock]

Thanks to all! I will try find roadmap with all details and i will try to complete game with all quests done. You all give me courage to try it out.

[Matt Murdock]

Originally posted by DragonSoundxSG:

Advice - don't play a mage as beginner. Start Vagabond and focus on weapons, melee and ranged. Then dabble in Int or Fth for support.

The high-end Mage stuff is gatekept behind many quests that can be quite long. Heck one is as long as the main story.

I already made it to end of game on my first playtrough as melee with bloodfang when game came out. Now im returnin without any skills with smash and rolls ... I wanna try out some long range its why i made question here.

[SoundsOfNight]

Originally posted by Knight Without Sword:

Originally posted by DragonSoundxSG:

Advice - don't play a mage as beginner. Start Vagabond and focus on weapons, melee and ranged. Then dabble in Int or Fth for support.

The high-end Mage stuff is gatekept behind many quests that can be quite long. Heck one is as long as the main story.

I already made it to end of game on my first playtrough as melee with bloodfang when game came out. Now im returnin without any skills with smash and rolls ... I wanna try out some long range its why i made question here.

Well your topic states your a beginner, so that's a bit contradictory. But good luck!

[jchaosmaster]

Originally posted by Knight Without Sword:

Thanks to all! I will try find roadmap with all details and i will try to complete game with all quests done. You all give me courage to try it out.

I was trying to avoid spoilers thinking you were a new, new player. If you basically want some guides here you go.



Early build guide

https://youtu.be/ng6NTaP4fPs?si=41Ughvr26NryLDy5

Pure Magix night

https://youtu.be/Kc72udUgiX8?si=RrYtfHcw8fAO2Q8v

Sword of night and flame build.

https://youtu.be/UgUtOID6hOU?si=enBgZZDP362b91XA

Shadow mage build:
https://youtu.be/NTruxTsOFd4?si=Jxl2QtI-vHwUnPUO

Really wish there was a good summer build but really it would just be a faith build with a Commander's standard and the old lord talisman for increasing durations with a few of the healing spells. And what ever summons you have active. That or Mimic Tear Cheese.

[Ardbug]

Originally posted by Knight Without Sword:

I already made it to end of game on my first playtrough as melee with bloodfang when game came out. Now im returnin without any skills with smash and rolls ... I wanna try out some long range its why i made question here.

Mage is good fun, I would absolutely suggest you aim for enough FP to summon a good ash early on, and then just build that summon ash up as you go along.
I think I have 19 mind which gives me roughly 118 FP, that is perfect for most summons, you will want a melee summon like one of the big knights (you can get a few of those in Limgrave early) and avoid ashes like the headless Luthiel and later Tisch, they dont hold the aggro well, you dont need a damage dealer, you need a meatwall.

Oleg is a tank, but can be a little bit tricky to get since he is in fringefolk grave.
Engwall is almost too perfect for a mage, easy to get very early on in murkwater catacombs.

Later on you can aim for the dungeater, the single best tank buddy a mage could ever want, but it will require you to do a quest, so that will have to wait till you have access to the capital.

[jchaosmaster]

Originally posted by Ardbug:

Originally posted by Knight Without Sword:

I already made it to end of game on my first playtrough as melee with bloodfang when game came out. Now im returnin without any skills with smash and rolls ... I wanna try out some long range its why i made question here.

Mage is good fun, I would absolutely suggest you aim for enough FP to summon a good ash early on, and then just build that summon ash up as you go along.
I think I have 19 mind which gives me roughly 118 FP, that is perfect for most summons, you will want a melee summon like one of the big knights (you can get a few of those in Limgrave early) and avoid ashes like the headless Luthiel and later Tisch, they dont hold the aggro well, you dont need a damage dealer, you need a meatwall.

Oleg is a tank, but can be a little bit tricky to get since he is in fringefolk grave.
Engwall is almost too perfect for a mage, easy to get very early on in murkwater catacombs.

Later on you can aim for the dungeater, the single best tank buddy a mage could ever want, but it will require you to do a quest, so that will have to wait till you have access to the capital.

There is the cracked Tear that provides unlimited FP for 10 seconds so you can run a lower FP base and use that for the opening summon.

I agree with you on the summons but that is why I recommended the crystalise guy. He is only weak to bash skills and nearly No boss has that category. It deals next to no damage but for pulling aggro the thing nearly never dies until the nonsense after snowfield. But that's because the bosses are more likely to 1 shot the player before the slow crystalise guy can pull aggro.

[zab]

it's the worst for newcomers, makes the game too easy to the point you might as well not play it at all, do you really want to miss out on the game while playing it?