Is Magic worthwhile in this game?

[Tex Conway]

I haven't played in many years, and last time I ran a very melee oriented build. I remember the initial fireball spell provided to us felt weak, so I never invested in the magic. Is this one of those games where magic is super strong if learned properly? I'm thinking about doing a magic build this time around.

What do you guys think?

[Whispers of Winter]

Not all of the spells are worth the effort, but in general magic becomes very powerful and useful. (Especially Necromancy later in the game.)

[claudius]

I haven't found direct damage magic as good as attacking with weapons. If I do try direct damage it helps to first buff yourself a spell that increases the damage of next spell cast (one in fire magic and one in air magic). But non-direct damage is fantastic. For example Earth is very useful: Grapple Ivy locks all enemies in place so you won't get swarmed. Very efficient. Stacking good protective spells (many in earth) also good. Earth summons are very good tanks. Air is good early game with Bless and good late game with Strength of Gods. Water magic has a good summon: Scorpion and also a summoning aura that (if i rcall correctly) the next summon you cast doubles. So cast Summon aura and then a scorpion or an adamantium Golem and you get 2 of that type. I haven't experimented with Necro much but I think it is good from reading but can't remember specifics.

I thought of trying a mage that does not hold a weapon (always) and thereby has Air magic regeneration up constantly (that only works without anything in hands) and just build huge amounts of mana and life and not really use strength or dexterity much. I never completed that project. You would need to use buffing spells to help direct damage spells I think (air and fire) but that buffing spell only works until the next spell cast so not an easy spam spam spam gameplay. If that mage encounters something immune to its magic he could cast bless and strength of Gods to temporarily raise strength/dexterity. Also alchemy can make some strong temporary potions. For example make some wolf tongue tea and make 100s of potions that raise your life pool HUGE temporarily then grind/loot/kill some heavy hitting monsters that you would ordinarily (without wolf tea) get one shotted if you messed up your step back dodge.

[Sinbad]

I used the following Air and Earth spells:

Blessing
Heal
Destroy Undead
Strength of God

Chains
Iron Skin
Reflection Shield

[Wandering Mania]

Fireball + Overpower + Heavy plate armor + Magick shield = God. At level 35 only the Necromancers at the towers can do any damage to me. My stats included in the picture and that is with no cheats used:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1845013963

[[MOSS]-BurningUp]

The magic is garbage when you start out except for the op Heal spell that gets you through the early game. it's more of mid to late game thing. I'm working on a Death Knight build right now that will specialize in Necromancy and a few other spells, rest will be melee combat.