Best mage build?

[Shac0le]

Hey im completly new to Dragon Age and started playing a Mage this morning,but there are so many talents. What are the talents that you guys recommend? I got Lifesteal and Lifestealing from Dead enemies,frost trap and having a bigger Lightning Strike spell

[fauxpas]

I like Arcane Warrior / Spirit Healer, although I think Arcane Warrior / Blood Mage is more powerful if you build it right.


As for spells, Forcefield is a gem that gets overlooked due to its sheer versatility.


Be careful of AoEs as friendly fire exists on most difficulty settings, but sometimes it is worth taking the damage anyways.

[ADEC Inc]

Arcane Warrior + Blood Mage if you want to tank. Spirit Healer + Blood Mage for anything else.

Ice and lightning spells are good. Mana Clash, Haste, Sleep, Death Hex, and Misdirection Hex are great, to name a few. Mind Blast is nice unless you're tanking. Getting at least a basic Heal on any mage is always a good idea.

[fauxpas]

Mana Clash is a must have in my opinion as it turns some of the hardest fights trivial.

[Ilja]

Mana Clash is great, despite that I rarely ever used it.

The earlier spell (Mana Cleanse) in the chain is bugged, so remember to grab fix, if you take that route. Few other spells (and talents) are bugged as well, but there are fix packs linked to them in Fandom DA:O Wiki.

[gerald2]

that depend what you want do with your mage ,for CC ice spells and spirit cage are great also sleeps paralyse horror ,i often upgrade mage to arcane warrior later so he can be usefull even when lacks mana ,same i do with Morigann's shapeshifter.
If u want more damage dealer then i think fire/energy spells

[Ilja]

Originally posted by gerald2:

i often upgrade mage to arcane warrior later so he can be usefull even when lacks mana

I also almost always did that, because stamina regeneration or negative fatigue in armor equals mana rengeneration / negative spellcasting fatigue.

I usually just opened it, so my main caster could swing spells around with less mana cost and increased mana regeneration.

In last game I played assassin. My main healer rarely ran out of spells to cast in the end.

[Redman]

Mage is incredibly versatile, so best can be a number of things. I would say it can be summarized by 5 play styles.

Damage-type: Just going for maximizing elemental damage with Mage. Vulnerability and Affliction hexes are a must while you use Fireball, Blood Wound and Chain Lightning(with fix) against multiple enemies and Winter's Grasp, Life Drain and Sleep + Horror combo on single targets.

Crowd Control-type: My favorite. Using Glyph of Paralysis, Repulsion and their awesome combo Paralysis Explosion to knockdown and paralyze opponents as you/allies bombard them and take them down from afar with the same damage spells mentioned above. You can use other CCs like Weaken and Miasma to slow down enemies and reduce their attack and defense making them easy-pickings for your party. Blood Control is an excellent and underrated CC&DoT spell that can be cast on Elite to Boss enemies with high success rate to turn them into allies for a good amount of time.

Support-type: Mage that takes the back line and heals and buff allies while the others take care of actual fighting. You can actually construct a very MMO-Healer Mage by focusing on Creation spells like Heal, Regeneration, Heroic Offense, Heroic Defense and Glyph of Warding. Haste is a must-have if you're intending only on supporting your allies.

Melee-type: This one requires Arcane Warrior specialization and allows the Mage to use Strength-based gear by changing the requirement to Magic for mages. Basically, you get to be a Magic Knight from Dragon's Dogma and just as powerful. The damage and accuracy of your melee attacks scale with your Magic attribute. And since Mages do indeed rely on the Magic attribute for everything else, the switch to this style is done with zero disruption.

Shapeshifter: Only style that has the least synergy with the traditional Caster role of a mage and is therefore the least popular. But that doesn't mean it's not viable. This style of play relies on the Shapeshifter specialization which is fairly easy to acquire and probably the first that one can get. Allows you to change into a spider, bear or bee swarm. Each shape has its own upsides and downsides but the swarm is the most popular due to its high defense and ability to shift damage taken from health to mana. Can't say more about it cause I have rarely used it myself.

[Shac0le]

Ok i stopped playing mage i cant manage to survive the Redcliffe Invasion on the easiest difficulty for some reason all my mates die so fast even if i try to heal them...well trying "Warrior" now and its pretty fun so far. Im currently on the grey warden Quest with him. I hope i have more luck with that :D but i will for sure try mage again,didnt thought Dragon age is gonna be that fun

[gerald2]

Originally posted by MrRedman:

Mage is incredibly versatile, so best can be a number of things. I would say it can be summarized by 5 play styles.

Damage-type: Just going for maximizing elemental damage with Mage. Vulnerability and Affliction hexes are a must while you use Fireball, Blood Wound and Chain Lightning(with fix) against multiple enemies and Winter's Grasp, Life Drain and Sleep + Horror combo on single targets.

Crowd Control-type: My favorite. Using Glyph of Paralysis, Repulsion and their awesome combo Paralysis Explosion to knockdown and paralyze opponents as you/allies bombard them and take them down from afar with the same damage spells mentioned above. You can use other CCs like Weaken and Miasma to slow down enemies and reduce their attack and defense making them easy-pickings for your party. Blood Control is an excellent and underrated CC&DoT spell that can be cast on Elite to Boss enemies with high success rate to turn them into allies for a good amount of time.

Support-type: Mage that takes the back line and heals and buff allies while the others take care of actual fighting. You can actually construct a very MMO-Healer Mage by focusing on Creation spells like Heal, Regeneration, Heroic Offense, Heroic Defense and Glyph of Warding. Haste is a must-have if you're intending only on supporting your allies.

Melee-type: This one requires Arcane Warrior specialization and allows the Mage to use Strength-based gear by changing the requirement to Magic for mages. Basically, you get to be a Magic Knight from Dragon's Dogma and just as powerful. The damage and accuracy of your melee attacks scale with your Magic attribute. And since Mages do indeed rely on the Magic attribute for everything else, the switch to this style is done with zero disruption.

Shapeshifter: Only style that has the least synergy with the traditional Caster role of a mage and is therefore the least popular. But that doesn't mean it's not viable. This style of play relies on the Shapeshifter specialization which is fairly easy to acquire and probably the first that one can get. Allows you to change into a spider, bear or bee swarm. Each shape has its own upsides and downsides but the swarm is the most popular due to its high defense and ability to shift damage taken from health to mana. Can't say more about it cause I have rarely used it myself.

upgraded spider and bear forms are also great ,cause they can disable enemy on the ground and damaging him for some time ,same way as werewolves or dragons do to our party sometimes :)

[Desert Orchid 1]

Originally posted by Shac0le:

Hey im completly new to Dragon Age and started playing a Mage this morning,but there are so many talents. What are the talents that you guys recommend? I got Lifesteal and Lifestealing from Dead enemies,frost trap and having a bigger Lightning Strike spell

Blood Mage build - maximum spellpower mage

Before starting
This build works for the main character. However, Morrigan can also definitely use this, as she also has many skills in elemental tree

Elves are the best starting race in terms of starting attributes for mages.

If you use it on the main character do Circle of Tower first to get 16 Cunning (I recommend doing this on all characters)

You will need to have a healer in your party like Wynne to keep your tank with high HP (more on that later on)

For this build to work you will need to have a strong tank that can ensure that you are not being hit. Because you will have low hp and you will use it to cast spells

Get pickpocketing talent to unlock additional side quests in Denerim


Magic – attribute which will increase your spell damage. This is all that you need for this build

Contrary to thinking that blood mage needs constitution you should avoid it. Your mana pool will be your HP + MP. Due to this you will be able to cast spells easy without any big limitations

Skills
DAO blood mage skills

Pickpocket - Level 1 (if you are the main character)
Combat Training - Level 4
Tactics - Level 4
If you have any other points left invest based on your preference.

Specializations
dao blood mage spirit healer

You will use two main specializations: Blood Mage and Spirit Healer. I suggest getting the latter one second at level 14 and Blood Mage at level 7. This will increase your casting pool early in the game.

NOTE: you can also take Arcane Warrior and invest 1 ability point into Combat Magic. This will allow you to use Helm of Honnleath, the best helm in the game giving +2 to all stats. Otherwise, if it is being used by others you can skip it

How to unlock Blood Mage?
To unlock this specialization you will need to do the Arl of Redcliffe story quest. You will need to be a mage and enter the Fade.

Once you reach the last Demon it will show its true form. You will then have a conversation with it. If you are able to strike a deal one of the rewards will be the Blood Mage specialization.

Spells
For this type of build, you will want to use all the spells that scale Spellpower.

Level 1 - 7
At the beginning of the game, we want to build the offensive capabilities of the mage,

Winter's Grasp – great single-target spell, freezing enemies

Frost Weapons – progression spell, to get the next talent

Cone of Cold - area of effect skill, petrifying enemies (even though it looks like they are frozen)

Heal – good to have at a start until you will have a dedicated healer.
Flame Blast

Flaming Weapons

Fireball - an area of effect crowd control skill that knocks back enemies. Great when dealing with weaker enemies.
Spell Wisp - provides a moderate bonus to spellpower
Level 7-14
Get Blood Mage specialization at level 7. If you do not have it unlocked do Redcliffe castle's main quest to obtain it. You can also wait till level 14 and just take the Spirit Healer specialization.

Your strongest crowd control skill will only be available on the Blood Mage tree at level 14. So before that, you will want to have unlocked Blood Sacrifice

Blood Magic – allows using hp to cast spells
Drain Life - does not do much damage but can be used to quickly regenerate some of hp.
Death Magic - this is optional, but you can use it to recover HP. It synergizes well with Blood Magic.
Curse of Mortality - great damage over time ability. Scales with spellpower
Death Cloud - an ability that deals a lot of damage and can trigger Entropic Death. Be careful how you use it, as Friendly Fire is possible
Blood Sacrifice – your main healing spell, which you will use to take HP from your tank
Level 14+
Get the second specialization either Spirit Healer or Blood Mage

Blood Wound – tremendous skill, allowing to paralyze living enemies in a wide area with fast casting. It also has a low cooldown and deals damage over time.
Vulnerability Hex
Affliction Hex
Misdirection Hex
Death Hex - Cast this on enemies when they enter the Death Cloud area. The result will be an Entropic Death combination. This is the biggest damage-dealing spell combo in the game.
Mana Drain - can be used to recover some MP
Mana Cleanse
Spell Might - this sustained ability will allow you to further maximize your spellpower.
Mana Clash - this ability will allow you to one-shot almost all enemy mages in the game
If you have any points left feel free to put them into Waking Nightmare, Arcane Mastery or any other spell that looks interesting or useful to you.

In the end, you should have all of these abilities at your disposal:

NOTE: you need to have at least one item with “Improved Blood Magic” status:

Blood Ring

Robes of Avernus

Sash of Forbidden Secrets

NOTE: if you will be using equipment that boosts Elemental Damage, for example, +10% fire damage, there is a cap of 30% for that element. So, having Wilhelm's Magus Staff and Dalish battery will reach that limit, and equipping ring Twitch ( with a 5% increase to electric damage) would have no effect

As this build is low on Hp and uses hp to cast spells, play it with your main character. However, it can be used both by Wynne and Morrigan.

You should apply all the buffs: Spell Wish, Blood Magic and Spell Might to maximize your damage dealt.

Use Heal to heal your tank after Blood Sacrifice (if you do not have a healer or she is out of MP)

Constantly use Blood Wound as it has a short cooldown and allows to control the battlefield

To deal maximum damage use Death Cloud + Death Hex.

Conclusion
The build deals tremendous damage, the Blood Wound will paralyze most of the enemies and if you are not being attacked by archers, there should be no troubles dealing with other opponents.

Just always have a lookout on your HP as you can drain it fast.

[Baiter]

https://gamestegy.com/post/dragon-age-origins/424/red-wizard-blood-mage-build-with-160+-sp
follow this guide

[Zanuffas]

Originally posted by DESERT ORCHID 1:

Originally posted by Shac0le:

Hey im completly new to Dragon Age and started playing a Mage this morning,but there are so many talents. What are the talents that you guys recommend? I got Lifesteal and Lifestealing from Dead enemies,frost trap and having a bigger Lightning Strike spell

Blood Mage build - maximum spellpower mage

Before starting
This build works for the main character. However, Morrigan can also definitely use this, as she also has many skills in elemental tree

Elves are the best starting race in terms of starting attributes for mages.

If you use it on the main character do Circle of Tower first to get 16 Cunning (I recommend doing this on all characters)

You will need to have a healer in your party like Wynne to keep your tank with high HP (more on that later on)

For this build to work you will need to have a strong tank that can ensure that you are not being hit. Because you will have low hp and you will use it to cast spells

Get pickpocketing talent to unlock additional side quests in Denerim


Magic – attribute which will increase your spell damage. This is all that you need for this build

Contrary to thinking that blood mage needs constitution you should avoid it. Your mana pool will be your HP + MP. Due to this you will be able to cast spells easy without any big limitations

Skills
DAO blood mage skills

Pickpocket - Level 1 (if you are the main character)
Combat Training - Level 4
Tactics - Level 4
If you have any other points left invest based on your preference.

Specializations
dao blood mage spirit healer

You will use two main specializations: Blood Mage and Spirit Healer. I suggest getting the latter one second at level 14 and Blood Mage at level 7. This will increase your casting pool early in the game.

NOTE: you can also take Arcane Warrior and invest 1 ability point into Combat Magic. This will allow you to use Helm of Honnleath, the best helm in the game giving +2 to all stats. Otherwise, if it is being used by others you can skip it

How to unlock Blood Mage?
To unlock this specialization you will need to do the Arl of Redcliffe story quest. You will need to be a mage and enter the Fade.

Once you reach the last Demon it will show its true form. You will then have a conversation with it. If you are able to strike a deal one of the rewards will be the Blood Mage specialization.

Spells
For this type of build, you will want to use all the spells that scale Spellpower.

Level 1 - 7
At the beginning of the game, we want to build the offensive capabilities of the mage,

Winter's Grasp – great single-target spell, freezing enemies

Frost Weapons – progression spell, to get the next talent

Cone of Cold - area of effect skill, petrifying enemies (even though it looks like they are frozen)

Heal – good to have at a start until you will have a dedicated healer.
Flame Blast

Flaming Weapons

Fireball - an area of effect crowd control skill that knocks back enemies. Great when dealing with weaker enemies.
Spell Wisp - provides a moderate bonus to spellpower
Level 7-14
Get Blood Mage specialization at level 7. If you do not have it unlocked do Redcliffe castle's main quest to obtain it. You can also wait till level 14 and just take the Spirit Healer specialization.

Your strongest crowd control skill will only be available on the Blood Mage tree at level 14. So before that, you will want to have unlocked Blood Sacrifice

Blood Magic – allows using hp to cast spells
Drain Life - does not do much damage but can be used to quickly regenerate some of hp.
Death Magic - this is optional, but you can use it to recover HP. It synergizes well with Blood Magic.
Curse of Mortality - great damage over time ability. Scales with spellpower
Death Cloud - an ability that deals a lot of damage and can trigger Entropic Death. Be careful how you use it, as Friendly Fire is possible
Blood Sacrifice – your main healing spell, which you will use to take HP from your tank
Level 14+
Get the second specialization either Spirit Healer or Blood Mage

Blood Wound – tremendous skill, allowing to paralyze living enemies in a wide area with fast casting. It also has a low cooldown and deals damage over time.
Vulnerability Hex
Affliction Hex
Misdirection Hex
Death Hex - Cast this on enemies when they enter the Death Cloud area. The result will be an Entropic Death combination. This is the biggest damage-dealing spell combo in the game.
Mana Drain - can be used to recover some MP
Mana Cleanse
Spell Might - this sustained ability will allow you to further maximize your spellpower.
Mana Clash - this ability will allow you to one-shot almost all enemy mages in the game
If you have any points left feel free to put them into Waking Nightmare, Arcane Mastery or any other spell that looks interesting or useful to you.

In the end, you should have all of these abilities at your disposal:

NOTE: you need to have at least one item with “Improved Blood Magic” status:

Blood Ring

Robes of Avernus

Sash of Forbidden Secrets

NOTE: if you will be using equipment that boosts Elemental Damage, for example, +10% fire damage, there is a cap of 30% for that element. So, having Wilhelm's Magus Staff and Dalish battery will reach that limit, and equipping ring Twitch ( with a 5% increase to electric damage) would have no effect

As this build is low on Hp and uses hp to cast spells, play it with your main character. However, it can be used both by Wynne and Morrigan.

You should apply all the buffs: Spell Wish, Blood Magic and Spell Might to maximize your damage dealt.

Use Heal to heal your tank after Blood Sacrifice (if you do not have a healer or she is out of MP)

Constantly use Blood Wound as it has a short cooldown and allows to control the battlefield

To deal maximum damage use Death Cloud + Death Hex.

Conclusion
The build deals tremendous damage, the Blood Wound will paralyze most of the enemies and if you are not being attacked by archers, there should be no troubles dealing with other opponents.

Just always have a lookout on your HP as you can drain it fast.

Seems like this was taken from my site, that Baiter already linked. I would appreciate credits or giving a link to it next time :)