Are wands as bad?

[*Yuki*]

Heard lot of bad words about wands. But are they as bad, actually?

[Yal]

IMO the main issue is that it takes forever to get magic that's more powerful than melee attacks, so using magic isn't really worth it until pretty far in. (So it's not good at all for your first few playthroughs)

[*Yuki*]

Originally posted by Yal:

IMO the main issue is that it takes forever to get magic that's more powerful than melee attacks, so using magic isn't really worth it until pretty far in. (So it's not good at all for your first few playthroughs)

Dunno about few: beat basic game as mage, rogue and reaper, plus NG+ as swordsman. Now goes nude playthrough as sort of sworcer (swordsman with focus on weapons, scales with magic) and think, that some range skills may be handy (well, elemental summons arent as good, as they looks, sadly. And didnt notice any difference between wep buffs from pots and wep buffs with spells)

[TheDoctor]

staffs are way better for magic. Don't fall on the trap of magic sword, sure they are powerful now but later they get really really weak.

[*Yuki*]

Originally posted by TheDoctor:

staffs are way better for magic. Don't fall on the trap of magic sword, sure they are powerful now but later they get really really weak.

I just wanted hybrid character. There are not as much weps with B+ wisdom scale, so - I went magic :/

[Mr. Kitty Saves The World]

Originally posted by Yal:

IMO the main issue is that it takes forever to get magic that's more powerful than melee attacks, so using magic isn't really worth it until pretty far in. (So it's not good at all for your first few playthroughs)

You must have done it wrong, then.
I invested every level into the Magic tree, got myself a Scrimshaw Staff, Lightning Barrage, and Lightning Bolt, and used those right up until the end of the game. (Switched to Flame Barrage for a few bosses, namely Carsejaw and Skourzh.)
Easiest playthrough to date. Magic absolute melts this game.

[Mr. Kitty Saves The World]

Originally posted by Zeropoint:

Using sword+magic build right now. First loadout - a sword and a wand with lightning bolt works well against small enemies[also this loadout allows a fun combo-oriented playstyle]. Second - a staff with lightning + fire barrage(fireball early game) which melts bosses [just don't forget about switching fire/sky to keep balance]

//I'd use a wand against bosses, but i still prefer the clay mask(storm ring effect) which forces me to keep elemental balance and it's a pain to switch loadouts to change main element.

I used the Link of Fire and Sky. Kinda annoying to lose a ring slot, but having that freedom with my spells was a necessity for me.

[Yal]

Originally posted by Mr. Kitty Saves The World:

Originally posted by Yal:

IMO the main issue is that it takes forever to get magic that's more powerful than melee attacks, so using magic isn't really worth it until pretty far in. (So it's not good at all for your first few playthroughs)

You must have done it wrong, then.
I invested every level into the Magic tree, got myself a Scrimshaw Staff, Lightning Barrage, and Lightning Bolt, and used those right up until the end of the game. (Switched to Flame Barrage for a few bosses, namely Carsejaw and Skourzh.)
Easiest playthrough to date. Magic absolute melts this game.

Trying out miracles + greathammers right now, and as long as you keep an eye out for stunlocking mooks it's incredibly powerful. I've beat a lot of bosses on my first try (including Witch of The Lake and Murdiella Mal) by using healing-over-time effects to tank attacks instead of trying to dodge them.

[TheDoctor]

Originally posted by Zeropoint:

Originally posted by Mr. Kitty Saves The World:

I used the Link of Fire and Sky. Kinda annoying to lose a ring slot, but having that freedom with my spells was a necessity for me.

The Link of Fire and Sky ring is not only about losing a ring slot, but also about losing that nice little 50% magic damage buff from Storm ring(clay mask)

ding ding ding... Besides elemental imbalance is not that "hard" to handle. Just put one thunder spell on one button and a fire on the other... Using the two barrages work wonders :D

[*Yuki*]

fire, lighting... both ♥♥♥♥ - all, you need, is arcane magic. 110% OP.

But question wasnt about this.
Just like... whats actually difference between staves and wands, except for number of active spells? Cast speed? Maybe mana (or how it calls here) usage?

[TheDoctor]

Originally posted by Zeropoint:

Originally posted by *Yuki*:

...
Just like... whats actually difference between staves and wands, except for number of active spells? Cast speed? Maybe mana (or how it calls here) usage?

>Number of active spells.
>Staves can block, while wands cannot.
>Wands can cast immediately after sucessful sword attack[tested only on elemental magic]. Also after that spell the caster is moved a bit away from target(like a backwards roll maybe).

Everything else is the same as far as i noticed

that staff block is a life saver on some situations

[Haetae_Soymilk]

According to wiki:
Saira's Staff(Class 5 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII-107.9 attack.
Channeler's Rod(Class 3 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII-94.6 attack.
Scrimshaw Cane(Class 1 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII- 84.5 attack.

Cocoon Battledore(Class 5 wand): at 50 magic, tier VII-77.3 attack.

See?

[*Yuki*]

Originally posted by Haetae:

According to wiki:
Saira's Staff(Class 5 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII-107.9 attack.
Channeler's Rod(Class 3 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII-94.6 attack.
Scrimshaw Cane(Class 1 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII- 84.5 attack.

Cocoon Battledore(Class 5 wand): at 50 magic, tier VII-77.3 attack.

See?

Nah, I can live with it

[Haetae_Soymilk]

Originally posted by *Yuki*:

Originally posted by Haetae:

According to wiki:
Saira's Staff(Class 5 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII-107.9 attack.
Channeler's Rod(Class 3 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII-94.6 attack.
Scrimshaw Cane(Class 1 staff): at 50 magic, tier VII- 84.5 attack.

Cocoon Battledore(Class 5 wand): at 50 magic, tier VII-77.3 attack.

See?

Nah, I can live with it

Yeah, but that's why people say wand sucks. You'll see a lot of dmg up if you change to staff.

[*Yuki*]

Originally posted by Haetae:

Yeah, but that's why people say wand sucks. You'll see a lot of dmg up if you change to staff.

As I said - thinkin now about hybrid build. Yeah, I can always get staff in one loadout and greatscissor in second, but... Isnt katana + wand more fun? (somehow like rogue, but without requirment to spend all gold on bullets)

Ik, speaking about hybrids, crusader (swordsman with prayers) could be better, but I didnt find any wep, scales with it for somehow good (A/S) :/

[Haetae_Soymilk]

Originally posted by *Yuki*:

Originally posted by Haetae:

Yeah, but that's why people say wand sucks. You'll see a lot of dmg up if you change to staff.

As I said - thinkin now about hybrid build. Yeah, I can always get staff in one loadout and greatscissor in second, but... Isnt katana + wand more fun? (somehow like rogue, but without requirment to spend all gold on bullets)

Ik, speaking about hybrids, crusader (swordsman with prayers) could be better, but I didnt find any wep, scales with it for somehow good (A/S) :/

Hmm, I never played with katana, but I'm getting enough fun with greatscissors(I'm using Saira's staff with Fire Barrage and Lightning Arc in one loadout, and Northern Cross in the other), and staff+greatscissors build is actually a hybrid, too. Though, you can use katana+wand if you think it's more fun, but I'm sure it will make your damage down a lot. That would be harsh if you are playing NG+7..