Magic: hard to master, easy to counter

[Jaume]

Am I right? Or am I just really bad at playing damage-based magic runs?

After a complex magic-focused run and leveling up stats, if your opponent has 75% magic resistance + some artifact, what are you supposed to do with magic?

I think there might be a need for more tools to allow a magic-focused wielder to penetrate magic resistance. Otherwise, what's the point of it all?

[[GIP] EZIC]

The sabotage spell (Destruction essence) reduces the magic resistance and defense of all enemy troops

[Bumc]

There isn't much complexity in leveling magic -- you level up essence skills, essence drain and essence powers (burst is the best, 1/turn is acceptable).

Don't spend skill points on channeling if you can avoid it, damage magic is there to help you roll over neutrals and snowball the map.

Sabotage isn't a real counter to MR, even after spending 16 destruction your nukes barely do half of what they are supposed to do, and with what essence?

The thing is that magic is also just better at physical combat than physical skills.
I.e. Arleon mage with 3 Order 3 Creation can turn 1 Invigorate and run across the battle map as a bootleg Rana player (but with far less investments).

Loth arcana essence goes into surrounding enemies and repelling for free hits, Barya destruction becomes multiple hits and damage buffs and Vanir raven eats your heart out with multiple casts of blind rage.

[LexGeneralis]

Also keep in mind you can increase the amount of spell damage to counter resistance - that said, if you only want to damage units.
There are many options for manipulation. And Justice doesn't care about anything.

[Bumc]

Increased spell damage does not counter the 90% magic resistance (maxed skill + 1 item already hits the cap).

[LexGeneralis]

It does not? Alright, the more you know.

[Bumc]

With +100% spell damage you're hitting for 20% instead of 10% of initial numbers, still not enough to justify actually using those spells.

[Jaume]

After seeing your responses, confirm my statement: Difficult to master and easy to counter.

A bit disappointed with damage magic. Control and support magic are vastly superior in both ease of use and ease of obtaining with essence.

[Imry von Larisch]

Magic resistance is hard capped at 80% max I believe. With destruction level 3 you can sabotage -30% again to level up field somewhat? But it also helps your units in the combat as it lowers enemy defences as well. And to all enemies which might help somewhat. Magic is damaging only when you don't expect it. Otherwise it's better to use it more as utility, especially arcane and chaos magic, other is for buffs.