lol-old picture
I used to be a level 11x F/P Mage in Scania. I'm still awesome. Currently, I have quit my mage, but I still retain the massive volumes of knowledge of the F/P Mage (or, at least, I'd like to think I do). As such, I have changed this guide from Pre-BB to Post-BBPost Ascension. You're welcome.
Disclaimer
Spoiler!
You are not allowed to copy my guide. You are not allowed to steal off PARTS of my guide. You can ask me via PM if this guide is sexy enough to warrant copying, and I will most likely say yes. Still. You have to PM me.
Oh right. This guide won't look 100% original because there are a lot of other F/P guides (even on HS). I'm not copying anything though (neither should you).
This guide also uses manymanymanymanymany abbreviations/acronyms/etc. If you get confused, refer to the Acronym List.
If you disagree with something and want your thoughts heard, post here, thanks. Minimize PMs as much as possible.
You might notice this is pretty text heavy. Sorry. I like to write a lot.
Another thing is that this guide grows/changes as I level up. If there's something missing in the AM section, feel free to submit your own ideas (if you're an AM).
Regarding F/P Wizards/Mages/AMs
Thanks to the new Damage Over Time formulas, you can no longer sit at Skelegons waiting for them to kill themselves. This means that 1~120 is a billion times more brutal than it was before Big Bang. Please do not post in this thread saying "OMG DIS GUIDE SUX Y CANT I LEVL FASTR", because F/P mages generally get out DPS'd and out-leveled by their I/L counterparts. However, they are still quite unique, and have manymanymany DoT skills, which make them very effective at training, and, with the addition of Mist Eruption, excellent party members at LHC.
Builds
not a reference to Assault
[statbild]
Stat Builds
Normal LUK / High LUK
Spoiler!
Relatively easy build. When you start off after your first job advancement, put 7 points into your LUK (for a grand total of 11 LUK). Throw the rest into INT.
You raise your LUK so that it's [YOUR LEVEL] + 3.
Everything else goes into INT.
Eventually you'll probably stop putting points into LUK, and it'll be too late (ie, 95 base LUK fails). You'll probably be pissed off.
Notes: Don't do this build unless you have some sort of fetish with magician clothing. Even then, don't do it.
Low LUK
Spoiler!
You pick a cap for your LUK (a level in which after you stop putting points into LUK). Morgana has a great guide for capping LUK. Possibly outdated, but it's the place to look.
Notes: I chose this build. My LUK is capped at 32.
LUKless
Spoiler!
You just don't put points into LUK. A simple build, really. Throw all your AP into INT. It maximizes damage and MP growth. Even if you're planning on going Low LUK, I recommend you start off as a LUKless simply because of the MP growth and easier training in the early levels.
Notes: I gave up being LUKless at 35-ish. I put 28 straight points into LUK (from a base of 4, for a total of 32). I don't recommend you do that. If you're going to start off LUKless, you may as well go LUKles until past 100, since there are tons of LUKless staffs/wands out there for you. The MP difference will be a LOT bigger (especially if you use a Maple Warrior mule for leveling).
Other
Spoiler!
Sort of encompasses "Blood" or "HP" mages (useless, IMO), STR mages (also quite impractical), pure MP mages (yeah, really), etc.
Notes: I don't endorse any of those. I endorse Low LUK Wizards. LUKless are ugly, and the builds in this section are stupid.
[begsuks]
Beginner Skills
Skills
Spoiler!
Put your 6 points into 3 Snails and NoobHaste. HP recovery is utterly useless.
Where's Max MP Boost???
-With the coming of Big Bang, levels 8~30 on a Magician has gotten easier. Because they removed the "Max MP Boost" skill and put in a new skill that passively raises your MP by a % (20%), as well as changing Magician MP gain formulas (without need of a skill), you can go straight into Magic Claw and all your important stuff. If you didn't know this, you're from the pre-BB era, and you really need to read the other guide first.
Why Poison and not Fire???
-Once you hit 4th job, you'll see, but for now, just think of it as planning for the future. Poison Breath also hits 6 monsters (double Fire Arrow), which is a new (awesome) change.
Max Mist
Max Explosion
Max Teleport Mastery
Max Elemental Decrease
Max Booster
Max Amp
11 Seal
Max Burning Magic
Max Fire Demon
Notes;
Spoiler!
No Seal?
-Seal is pretty useless now. Yes, it locks down mobs, but it doesn't work on bosses, and if you're training at LHC then everything is tagged "Boss", to my knowledge. So disregard Seal, you'll never use it. If you really want to get it, I'd recommend either leaving Explosion or Booster at 11. The other skills are basically indispensable.
Mist late??
-You don't use it primarily to train. Well I mean, you do, but it's not your primary training skill. Explosion was buffed heavily and sped up, so it's your main attack until 4th job when you get Paralyze (8 mob <3)
Fire Demon? Whyyyy
-Because of DoT stacking. More on that in 4th job.
[4jobroks]
4th Job Skill Builds
The Archmage (Fire Poison)
Note: I haven't actually hit 4th job, so this is almost entirely speculation. Feel free to put points into what you think is better. My reasons will be listed at the end.
Build;
Max Paralyze
Max Mist Explosion
Max Arcane Aim
Max Buff Mastery
Max Ifrit
Max Big Bang
Max Infinity
29 Maple Warrior
Max Meteor
Notes;
Spoiler!
The "build" only takes you to 153, as you can see. That's basically the point where your training potential will be maximized.
I grab points into basically everything first; Paralyze, for the instant damage/mobbing, Mist Explosion for the damage (for Monster Park + LHC), and Arcane Aim as it works well with Paralyze (which attacks 3 times now, instead of one strong hit). Big Bang and Meteor are taken solely for the DoT they provide (which will increase your ME damage).
Next, it depends on how you're training. If you're primarily training at LHC, you may want to grab ME first, over max Paralyze/Arcane Aim. The build I listed is for pure "grinding" purposes, ie, not training at LHC/MP. Grab Buff Mastery for the free M.ATT and extended buff times (which is great).
Arcane Aim, as it works great with Paralyze, is taken next; if you are prioritizing ME, get Paralyze next.
Then, max the 3rd major skill, whether it be Arcane Aim or ME.
After that, it really doesn't matter where your priorities lie. You're going to be DoT stacking a ton in order to maximize ME's damage, so you might want to get Big Bang, though Infinity would probably raise your damage more overall. At this point you should probably be training exclusively at LHC/Monster Park, so you probably won't need MW early on (not till like 160-170+ anyway).
Feel free to comment on the 4th job build, since I've not actually reached it on an F/P yet.
29th September 2011, 09:36 AM
blankaex
Ascension guide out before Ascension. Always on top of things, eh?
Didn't have enough time to read all of it but I did skim over it and it looks pretty good so far. Random font size tag on the bottom (above 4th job skill build).
29th September 2011, 10:08 AM
emailbox
Oops. Must've deleted the close tag. Will fix.
29th September 2011, 10:48 PM
Arcslayer
You forgot to add the High Wisdom total in the summery.
---------- Post added at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 AM ----------
Also, what's the advantages to maxing slow? Before Jump and BB I only had 1 pt in slow and never used it except for shiites & giggles...or accidental presses.
29th September 2011, 10:55 PM
blankaex
Because Fire Arrow is near-useless, I guess. Though I still would've saved Slow for last and put MP Eater before it.
29th September 2011, 11:25 PM
emailbox
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcslayer
You forgot to add the High Wisdom total in the summery.
---------- Post added at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 AM ----------
Also, what's the advantages to maxing slow? Before Jump and BB I only had 1 pt in slow and never used it except for shiites & giggles...or accidental presses.
Fixed, thanks.
Some monsters are decently fast, and a large chunk of your damage comes from (Mist) Eruption past 4th job. Slow basically ensures they sit in the cloud and let you attack them without getting hit.
Fire Arrow, on the other hand, isn't used past 2nd job.
Note that Slow only costs 10 SP, so even if you didn't max it you'd be stuck at 11 Fire Arrow which doesn't solve anything.
Also I put Slow before MP Eater so you could use it at Toy Room, since those Jesters are really damn fast.
23rd October 2011, 01:54 AM
Nick Turner
Hey! Good job so far. Any updating anytime soon? Just wondering cause the guide has done me well till now, and I really wouldn't want to switch to another one 4th job. Thanks!
23rd October 2011, 09:37 PM
emailbox
Hmm I suppose I could, since I have a little free time this afternoon. Will look into it.