The Problem with the Mage...

[Precache]

Is that he's basically a nerfed version of One-arm.

Yes, he starts out with the two burn items. But those are arguably the easiest cc method to get in the game.

His damage penalties means he has to do all his damage through fire(which doesn't stack). In essence he has no weapon, but 33% extra fire.

Now, if you look at One-arm, he gets a 100% increase to fire damage, plus a weapon that's at least 3X as damaging as a normal. So more fire damage AND good weapon damage. Yeah, he needs to get the two fire items to due so, but in this game you have to get lucky anyway. AND he has a lot of other cc combos that are possible.

To address this, I'd give the Mage a 75% bonus to fire damage, I'd increase the speed of his fire ticks by 30%), and I'd give him +10 starting speed (because he's always running away.) And maybe throw in a 25% xp bonus to boot (Mages are wise after all.)

[midori]

Dude mage is like the easiest win in the game, even on d5. Get outa here lol. Much easier than one-armed d5.

[Eggplant]

Originally posted by Precache:

His damage penalties means he has to do all his damage through fire(which doesn't stack). In essence he has no weapon, but 33% extra fire.

What? You do realize there are weapons that scale with Elemental Damage, right? You don't have to do all your damage through the burn DoT...

[thunda]

Originally posted by midori:

Dude mage is like the easiest win in the game, even on d5. Get outa here lol. Much easier than one-armed d5.

One-Armed is easier with Slingshot/Shotgun, but yeah theyre both easy

[Precache]

Originally posted by Eggplant:

What? You do realize there are weapons that scale with Elemental Damage, right? You don't have to do all your damage through the burn DoT...

That's true... but on the other hand, I played the mage a dozen times today and never once had the flamethrower even show up.

[Drifter]

He is actually really strong as long as you can get your hands on a flamethrower. If you can't full on taser build (maybe with a thunder sword) also works, but is more risky. He really doesn't need any buffs, he is perfectly balanced.

Start with taser, buy every taser, elemental damage and good item you come across (buy all snakes you see). When you see flamethrower in shop, buy it and have 2 flamethrowers + 4 tasers. Get a little bit of lifesteal together with some attack speed and some health/armor and you are close to unkillable.

[thunda]

Originally posted by Precache:

Originally posted by Eggplant:

What? You do realize there are weapons that scale with Elemental Damage, right? You don't have to do all your damage through the burn DoT...

That's true... but on the other hand, I played the mage a dozen times today and never once had the flamethrower even show up.

Dont need Flamethrower, Dodge, or lifesteal/regen. Started with Shivs and never picked anything else.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2890033503

But I agree on the issue about the special weapon RNG, its really annoying, talked about it here.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1942280/discussions/0/3548301990167411646/

Originally posted by Drifter:

He is actually really strong as long as you can get your hands on a flamethrower.

He is strong with Shivs too, like I just showed.

[Mr. J.D. Gumby]

Originally posted by Eggplant:

What? You do realize there are weapons that scale with Elemental Damage, right? You don't have to do all your damage through the burn DoT...

6 Tasers are basically Easy Mode - and becomes trivial with even a single extra Scared Sausage.

(edit: My favorite, though, is 4 Lightning Shivs + 2 Torches to kill stuff in his face. Torches get replaced by Thunder Swords, of course, if they show up)

[Eggplant]

Originally posted by Precache:

Originally posted by Eggplant:

What? You do realize there are weapons that scale with Elemental Damage, right? You don't have to do all your damage through the burn DoT...

That's true... but on the other hand, I played the mage a dozen times today and never once had the flamethrower even show up.

You don't need to wait for the Flamethrower to show up, there are several starter weapons that scale with Elemental Damage.

[Catpuppy]

I like mage, but I would like more elemental weapons honestly. All of the starting ones feel a little boring (except for the thunder knife) and flame thrower is (afaik) the only one outside of starting weapons (Which I've yet to ever actually acquire on an elemental build!)

[Mr. J.D. Gumby]

Originally posted by Catpuppy:

and flame thrower is (afaik) the only one outside of starting weapons (Which I've yet to ever actually acquire on an elemental build!)

Oh, there are more. The Thunder Sword, Plasma Sledgehammer and Nuclear Launcher are all quite nice. Also surprised you haven't seen the Flaming Brass Knuckles, which are only blue and unlocked from the start (though no one starts with them).

[Catpuppy]

I didn't know of the first three, but I've seen the flaming brass knuckles. Didn't really remember they were elemental, though. I'd like more ranged ones!