How are Spellswords supposed to work?

[pyremind]

Something that's been bothering me - I use sword and shield (so they are quickslotted) have 2 combat abilities, and a slot for pots, which leaves me 1 or 2 slots for ALL magic.

On top of that, if I want to do any rune magic, I assume I need 4 quickslots just to be able to use those combos.

So it seems really weird to me that Spellsword is even a thing in this world - when you can't practically use much magic if you're going to also melee. I'm sure people have workarounds in their builds so.. prove me wrong!

[Strat Caller Larry]

Yeah the amount of action bars is dumb low for a game about using so many types of magic, items, and equipement

[Blarker]

My solution is to ignore rune magic entirely. I have a slot for the warm buff, a slot for the infuse fire buff, and the skill that throws an elemental bolt of whatever my weapon enchantment is. those are my go to magicy skills. if i feel like im about to fight a tougher enemy i quickly hop into my skill list and apply discipline and rage, but im fine with those being a bit more awkward since i dont want to cast them for every fight anyways.

[avil]

It's much simpler than you think. You use spellsword only to get a breakthrough and ability to infuse your weapon. Removing infusion with a finisher move isn't reliable, pretty weak and expensive, but having constant fire infusion and extra stats for awakening mana is good enough. You can make both infusion AND a boon for effectivity (add shaman bonus here). Basically, you're a normal melee character, but with constant EXTRA magic weapon. Combine it with a weapon that has another very high elemental damage and keep two boons for it at all time, add buffs for melee impact and other melee bonuses, and you'll rock everything on your way.

[shiftygemini]

Actually Spellsword is pretty strong when coupled with the right skill trees. I destroy everything with Spellsword teamed up with Warrior Monk and Hunter. Here you have 2 ways you can go:
1. Wear the spell cost reduction light armor, which leaves you taking high damage unless you're good at dodging and blocking
2. Wear heavy armor like a regular warrior and chug mana pots like an addict
3. Get the runic armor (full set of heavy armor that gets you -35% spell cost) and take the hit on losing extra stamina to get a higher mana pool.

You can further reduce mana costs by finding the "Jade Sword" which is a random drop in Hallow Marsh which gets you -10% Spell cost
You can get the Magic Tent, which after sleeping gives you -15% spell cost (In Levant)
Lastly, spellsword buffs don't stack with the prefix lexicon runic magic skill. The additional buffs granted by prefix aren't overwritten by the elemental buffs from spellsword. This Means you MUST take internalized lexicon and use regular weapons (meaning runic magic is only useful for the shield, heal, and light) or you're forced to use the 2h weapon runic weapon and the elemental ranged attack only (from spellsword).

Runic Magic stacks really well with wind magic and Philosopher, or wind magic and mercenary, where you use prefix lexicon weapons for melee and fall back on your pistol for ranged and kiting attacks that can heal you as well (blood bullet uses mana and iron pieces).

[Lambchopz]

Originally posted by avil:

It's much simpler than you think. You use spellsword only to get a breakthrough and ability to infuse your weapon. Removing infusion with a finisher move isn't reliable, pretty weak and expensive, but having constant fire infusion and extra stats for awakening mana is good enough. You can make both infusion AND a boon for effectivity (add shaman bonus here). Basically, you're a normal melee character, but with constant EXTRA magic weapon. Combine it with a weapon that has another very high elemental damage and keep two boons for it at all time, add buffs for melee impact and other melee bonuses, and you'll rock everything on your way.

Pretty much this. I would pick up monk to further increase your melee abilities and survivability. The dash attack skill (forget what it's called) from monk is quite good with a fairly low CD and doesn't consume your discipline buff.

Other than that I did Mercenary because the movespeed bonuses and such are pretty nice and I didn't see a point in investing into any other kind of magic.

With all the buffs going and good heavy armor my character is now stupidly tanky and ♥♥♥♥♥ out damage due to the infusions and discipline being up almost all the time.

As an aside if you want to do rune magic you should pretty much be building your character around it -- it's too involved to just be a supplementary skillset, and some of it just doesn't work with a spellsword at all.

[Valor]

+1 for elemental infusion with fire and the bolt throwing. I use a 2h for this and chunk everyone I fight.

I have discipline boon and rage to help out.

Just dodge and block a lot.

[Blarker]

Also, as long as you have eaten some food for mana regen I have had no issues with how much mana I have, even without mana cost reduction. As longa s you always have some food on hand I feel like you don't need to invest in a massive mana pool or a ton of potions or special armor or anything.