Recommended Sage Builds

[UmbreonMessiah]

Does anyone have some recommendations? I've tried a few things (Like Land Mark and all projectiles) and summons, but those weren't all THAT effective in my mind. Does anyone else have any ideas what to do with the Sage?

[Error404]

I know for fact that Transfixition is excellent on Sage, even to start with. Haven't looked too hard into starting with Phantom Needles, but believe that is good as well.

If you have completed the stage in question already, you can also start with two abilities rather than one, but the 1st will be your main weapon.

[CY13ERPUNK]

the obvs ezpz strat is to give Karl the merc mark then pick phantom needles 1st
honestly anything works for your 2nd choice
feel free to pick anything u like but i would focus on atk spd and multistrike as priorities and the things worth 2x on potentially
for the most part this ends up off-screening the enemies with needles and bombs

personally i prefer running the sage with the necro mark and going full summons , i pick spirit warriors 1st and then spectral fists 2nd , with the summon gloves and shaman necklace and both rings , it is a sight to see around the 15 min mark , and if u are lucky enough to get the rare items its even moreso

[Schizophriend]

I somehow beat the new stage with the sage on Agony mode, on my 3rd try. I found that Phantom Needles as your starter weapon works pretty well, then I tried getting more spells that scale with crit, like Lightning Strike which is normally a pretty bad weapon. I also picked Radiant Aura, Morning Star and Flame Strike to have some protection for anything in close range.

The run was VERY close, I had to use 2 extra lives early on and I was constantly on the brink of dying, but I somehow made it through and even beat the boss at the end. Your damage with the sage becomes quite insane towards the end, but until you reach that point it is quite the dangeorus ride.

[Moldredd]

I heard somewhere that the old man is always cranky and loves to throw huge blue fists at things. You should try it. 😉

[UmbreonMessiah]

Originally posted by Moldredd:

I heard somewhere that the old man is always cranky and loves to throw huge blue fists at things. You should try it. 😉

I'm trying to get the Spectral Fists Quest done, but I didn't know if it was a good idea to take Spectral Fists as the Sage's main weapon, considering it doesn't benefit from attack speed or multistrike.

[🌺💗Tazzamorous💗🌺]

Sage with Archers mark. Then take any ability that benefits massively from +base attack speed (Level 40, Weapon IV, +0.15/s Base Attack Speed). Use Arcane Rifts to offset the harder early game.

Sage with Cleric mark. Then take any ability that benefits from +area%.

Sage with Exterminator mark. Then take any ability that benefits from +attack speed%.

Sage with Archer/Beast Huntress mark. Then take any ability that benefits from +crit/bonus.

[Kaivo]

One of my best runs so far with Sage was actually.. Radiant Aura, of all things. with Archer's Mark. Lots of attack speed and crit, doubled Quickdraw IV and Ethereal Shift for magic attack speed. Some attack speed items. Notably I used the Mask of Madness/Holy Relic/Warrior's Fervour combo. The multistrike gained from MoM is wasted, though.

I ended up getting the attack interval down to like 0.45 seconds, to about 0.35 seconds with Warrior's Fervour up, and further down to about 0.25 if I happened to get the attack speed drop from Duality Holy Relic in addition to the healing.

For any build though, know your abilities well and what stats they do and do not benefit from. Some times some of the Concentrate stance traits offer no or negligible downside making them an excellent pick. Some times the Spread proficiency line is not really helpful. Etc.

I also very frequently use the MoM/Holy Relic/Warrior's Fervour combo. Its a big boost early on, and I find Sage to be a bit of a slow start, so it really helps.

[Ulyaoth]

The HoT Sage
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3161698014

Mark of Exterminator
Hellfire
Conflagration + Elements
rest is free choice

Ruby Circlet - Warrior's Fevour -
Holy Relic - Guiding Star (exchange with Uncommon Holy Relic) -
Sparking Tips - Blazing Shell - Firewalker Boots

1st - Meteor Strike - Shower > Frequency > Area
(Fireball Upgrade at Tier III, free choice at Tier VI)
2nd - Dragons Breath - Agony > Coverage > Reach (IX)
(Refined Flame Upgrade at Tier III, Stream of Fire Upgrade at Tier VI)
3d - Transfixion - Deadliness > Cadence > Spread
(Painful Incision Upgrade at Tier III, Crippling Cuts Upgrade at Tier VI)
4th - Radiant Aura - Haste > Strength > Blessing > Force (IV)
(Punitive Light Upgrade at Tier III, Sacred Flame Upgrade at Tier VI)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3161698069

[iHypno]

Originally posted by Ulyaoth:

The HoT Sage
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3161698014

Mark of Exterminator
Hellfire
Conflagration + Elements
rest is free choice

Ruby Circlet - Warrior's Fevour -
Holy Relic - Guiding Star (exchange with Uncommon Holy Relic) -
Sparking Tips - Blazing Shell - Firewalker Boots

1st - Meteor Strike - Shower > Frequency > Area
(Fireball Upgrade at Tier III, free choice at Tier VI)
2nd - Dragons Breath - Agony > Coverage > Reach (IX)
(Refined Flame Upgrade at Tier III, Stream of Fire Upgrade at Tier VI)
3d - Transfixion - Deadliness > Cadence > Spread
(Painful Incision Upgrade at Tier III, Crippling Cuts Upgrade at Tier VI)
4th - Radiant Aura - Haste > Strength > Blessing > Force (IV)
(Punitive Light Upgrade at Tier III, Sacred Flame Upgrade at Tier VI)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3161698069

This is the way to go, 220mil burn damage on my last run!

[shadowmagus]

Originally posted by Ulyaoth:

The HoT Sage
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3161698014

Mark of Exterminator
Hellfire
Conflagration + Elements
rest is free choice

Ruby Circlet - Warrior's Fevour -
Holy Relic - Guiding Star (exchange with Uncommon Holy Relic) -
Sparking Tips - Blazing Shell - Firewalker Boots

1st - Meteor Strike - Shower > Frequency > Area
(Fireball Upgrade at Tier III, free choice at Tier VI)
2nd - Dragons Breath - Agony > Coverage > Reach (IX)
(Refined Flame Upgrade at Tier III, Stream of Fire Upgrade at Tier VI)
3d - Transfixion - Deadliness > Cadence > Spread
(Painful Incision Upgrade at Tier III, Crippling Cuts Upgrade at Tier VI)
4th - Radiant Aura - Haste > Strength > Blessing > Force (IV)
(Punitive Light Upgrade at Tier III, Sacred Flame Upgrade at Tier VI)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3161698069

This worked like a charm, GG! :)

[Bopper]

Phantom Needles has always been my bread and butter for a solid offensive starting ability, and Sage just makes it that much better. Pump attack speed, multistrike, crit rate, and damage and you'll quickly become untouchable.

[Error404]

Is Phantom Needles the only ability in-game that can actually take advantage of Both Ethereal Shifts? Last run, I did exactly that and got Phantom Needles to attack 26 times a second.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3165600110

[🌺💗Tazzamorous💗🌺]

Originally posted by Error404:

Is Phantom Needles the only ability in-game that can actually take advantage of Both Ethereal Shifts?...

Also:
* Arcane Splinters.
* Ring Blades (but -400% dmg).
* Transfixion.
* Summon Golem.
* Spirit Warrior.
* Morning Star (but -400% dmg).
* Spectral Fists.

[Error404]

Originally posted by Tazzunda:

Originally posted by Error404:

Is Phantom Needles the only ability in-game that can actually take advantage of Both Ethereal Shifts?...

Also:
* Arcane Splinters.
* Ring Blades (but -400% dmg).
* Transfixion.
* Summon Golem.
* Spirit Warrior.
* Morning Star (but -400% dmg).
* Spectral Fists.

Good to know, thanks.

[SilentOrb.X]

i have every hero unlocked except the Sage. does anyone know how to unlock him? everyone's been talkin about him but i can't find any posts on how to unlock him. even the official Halls of Torment wiki doesn't say anything about how to unlock the Sage.