Question(s) about magic.

• dragonxx21 wrote on 2014-03-29 22:16
  Just came back to mabi less than a week ago after being on break for two years, and when I quit I was starting to train up magic. I was continuing that plan but with all the new skills I'm starting to wondering if magic is outdated and not as useful as it once was. Is magic still relevant in the current meta or is it simply outclassed by the newer skillsets?
  
  Next up is a question that is only relevant if the answer to the first question was "yes". What is currently the standard for magic user sets? Are wands still the supreme rulers or have staffs started to dominate the scene?
  
  As for armor/clothing sets, is one better of going with a magic based set such as a Karis Set or something tankier in order to offset the squishiness of using a staff?
• Toriningen wrote on 2014-03-29 23:11
  http://mabination.com/threads/77941-How-is-magic
  This might help a bit on the first question, not sure on the others.
• Chihaya wrote on 2014-03-30 01:08
  For the second question, the Merlin Knuckle's probably the best since it can use every magic skill along with fighter skills. Versatility is best.
  
  Then the next best is probably the Hermit Staff, followed by Savage Wands if you're only going to use one type of magic + blaze.
  Other weapons are probably not worth it. (Yes, I just dissed you, Shyllien Knuckle)
  As for equipment, anything that raises magic attack/int (Enchant Wise). Karis or any set that gives you mana reduction for the equipment itself.
  
  Mana Shield is also at your disposal if you want tankiness, and I do believe the Magic School Uniform offers Mana Reduction if you can't afford Karis.
  
  If being a mage, it's probably a good idea to have a homestead farm of herbs and a good potion making rank to supply yourself.
• dragonxx21 wrote on 2014-03-30 02:08

  Quote from Chihaya;1211041:

  For the second question, the Merlin Knuckle's probably the best since it can use every magic skill along with fighter skills. Versatility is best.
  

  
  
  Interesting.. I think the Merlin Knuckle wouldn't be bad except for the insane price tag included.
• cloudiixx3 wrote on 2014-03-30 02:08
  why not shyllien knuckles?
• dragonxx21 wrote on 2014-03-30 02:39

  Quote from cloudiixx3;1211049:

  why not shyllien knuckles?

  
  
  I think mostly because of the fact that you need to elementally charge it to use int magic.
• arochia246 wrote on 2014-03-30 02:39

  Quote from cloudiixx3;1211049:

  why not shyllien knuckles?

  
  
  Shyllien knuckles don't allow you to use intermediate magic without charging the elements beforehand. The most you can do is use fusion bolt.
• Perfectio wrote on 2014-03-30 02:43

  Quote from dragonxx21;1211010:

  Just came back to mabi less than a week ago after being on break for two years, and when I quit I was starting to train up magic. I was continuing that plan but with all the new skills I'm starting to wondering if magic is outdated and not as useful as it once was. Is magic still relevant in the current meta or is it simply outclassed by the newer skillsets?

  
  
  Magic is very strong but very party dependent as well. You either need a puppeteer or a team that's good at mob positioning. You also have a nice single target nuke that can compete with Magnum Shot/Fighter/etc, though can take a while to max out. Of course, with the Crisis/Ice Spear/Blaze combo you can flat out solo things like NPC. However, if you're starting magic, then make sure you're committed. You're looking at a 6-7k AP commitment, not to mention gear. And equipment is actually a weak point of magic - you don't have a lot of viable options to improve your character via gear compared with melee, range, puppet, etc. And for the strong equips and reforges that magic does get, you're paying more to get less (magic doesn't have anything that compares to a 55% damage amp in regards to reforges, though it probably doesn't need it)
  
  

  
  Next up is a question that is only relevant if the answer to the first question was "yes". What is currently the standard for magic user sets? Are wands still the supreme rulers or have staffs started to dominate the scene?

  
  
  Hermit Staff is pretty much the king of magic right now. I really think the Merlin Knuckle is a gimmick that no serious mage would use. Your offhand would either be a CC Firebolt Wand (Savage Fire or Ego wand - Savage Fire wand is easier to get but Ego Fire Wand outscales Savage Fire Wand starting at about 21 Social and the disparity only gets worse, and an ego wand lasts forever) or a Savage Ice Wand for Ice Spear/Blaze combos.
  
  

  
  As for armor/clothing sets, is one better of going with a magic based set such as a Karis Set or something tankier in order to offset the squishiness of using a staff?

  
  
  Endgame magic should generally lean towards the Hebona set and maximize their bolt damage. You can wear armor with the Hebona Set, however Firebolt needs crit from enchants for higher end content (especially since spells do not take into account wand crit so your actual crit is a good deal lower than your base crit) and armor doesn't have good crit enchants (in contrast, clothing offers Restored White Horse)
• kaozking wrote on 2014-03-30 02:56
  For the first question, magic still does really well and works with a lot of parties.
  
  Now as for the second question, it depends on what you want to do. I don't recommend any of the magic knuckles simply because the two skill sets are entirely stronger by themselves and if the switching between the weapons is a problem, mabi has an option that switches to the off hand weapon when pressing a skill.
  
  Example : Have a staff and knuckles off hand and instead of switching then pressing charging strike just press charging strike and it will switch for you.
  
  Magic independently goes to what you want to do the most. Do you want to be a blaze user or use fireball, ice spear, thunder, hail storm, etc. or be a firebolt spammer. For blaze just make a savage ice wand and (I prefer) a spell book for the extra mana and less mana consumption. For the intermediate and advanced magic, a hermit staff would be your best bet and then for firebolt spamming either get a firewand ego and raise its levels or make a savage fire wand.
  
  And for equipment, I never stressed much about it. Here is my equipment, but it is horribly incomplete.
  [SPOILER="My current gear"]

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7OXli.png]

  
  
  

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7OXmD.png]

  
  
  

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7OXoC.png]

  
  
  

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7OXpS.png]

  
  
  

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7OXv9.png]

  [/SPOILER]
  
  I just focus on int/m att giving enchant/gear and reforges because our actual clothing doesnt do much
• dragonxx21 wrote on 2014-03-30 03:18

  Quote from Perfectio;1211055:

  
  
  Hermit Staff is pretty much the king of magic right now. I really think the Merlin Knuckle is a gimmick that no serious mage would use. Your offhand would either be a CC Firebolt Wand (Savage Fire or Ego wand - Savage Fire wand is easier to get but Ego Fire Wand outscales Savage Fire Wand starting at about 21 Social and the disparity only gets worse, and an ego wand lasts forever) or a Savage Ice Wand for Ice Spear/Blaze combos.
  
  

  
  
  Are Ego's still viable? Will it still beat a properly upgraded/reforged wand? Would you suggest a Savage Fire Wand or the Ice Wand as the offhand? Or would you carry both and just inventory switch depending on the situation? In the long run what would have the most usability. I'm kind of leaning towards the CC fire wand but having the option to use a fully charged blaze might be nicer for single target fights.
• Lukshad wrote on 2014-03-30 23:20
  I actually signed in today to post a thread about Blaze usage, but this seems like an appropriate place for it. I recently bought some Merlin's, and instantly fell in love with their ...versatility, as Chi put it. I've used the vast majority of this weekend's triple ap event to raise my magic skills since my fighter ones are already capped, but as for Blaze... I only put in enough effort to acquire the skill itself. I've played around with it just a tad bit, but to be honest I don't quite understand how it works, or when exactly is an ideal time to use it.
  Anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?

  [Image: http://puu.sh/7Q6gj.jpg]
• Justified wrote on 2014-03-30 23:57
  Blaze, Firebolt, Fireball, and Ice Spear are usable in the "meta", in that order.
  Thunder, Lightningbolt, Meteor, and Bolt Fusion are decent but not really strong.
  
  [SPOILER="Weapons"]Staves (including Hermit Staves) are bad weapons for Mages and should only be used for Meteor/Hailstorm. Or if you want to be 'fancy' and cross-cast Intermediate Magic without switching wands, which is rarely useful. Staves have no speedcasting, no chaincasting, reduced Blaze damage, reduced Intermediate Magic range, and no shield for higher defense/charge.
  Merlin Knuckle's share all of those drawbacks but with even lower magic damage. It's decent for Fighters since the melee damage isn't bad, but Mages will prefer a Wand for most fights..
  
  The current weapon tier is
  1. Damage Savage Ice Wand
  2. Chaincast Savage Fire Wand
  
  3. Speedcast Phoenix Fire Wand
  4. Damage Hermit Staff
  
  5. Chaincast Savage Lightning Wand
  6. Mana Reduction Crystal Lightning Wand[/SPOILER]
  
  [SPOILER="Armor"]Hebona Set provides a very small boost because of Magic Weapon Mastery and the damage formula. Generally it is not necessary since it also only helps one good skill.
  Karis Set is outclassed by the Trinity Set or enchants. Only good if you can get it very cheap.
  Trinity Set is decent if you plan on healing. Works wonders at Dragon Raids, but generally not very useful since everybody uses Mana Shield.
  The best gear to use for magic is either Defense Heavy Armor or Critical Clothing. Armor+Shield provides more useful tanking than Mana Shield in most scenarios (since Mages actually need their MP), if not only because HP pots are more abundant.
  All other gear should be MATK/INT/MP/HP oriented. It's also viable to just enchant for your auxiliary skillset because Magic enchants bonuses are minuscule.
  
  1. Critical Clothing (Restored White Horse or better)
  2. Defense Armor (Defensive Imp or better)
  
  3. Trinity Set (Critical or MP)
  4. Melee/Ranged equipment[/SPOILER]