Up-to-date Magician Guide?

[FungusTrooper]

I read that Mage solo exp got nerfed at some point, and I'm having trouble understanding how to fight at low levels as a Mage. A lot of the guides seem really rushed, or really out-of-date, or don't cover how to fight, just where to fight.

I'm having a ton of fun levelling up my druid, because I found guides on how to root rot, quad, etc - is there a similar one explaining the mechanics for Mages? I just ground my way to level 4 (man, magician 3-4 has been the worst 3-4 yet lol), and am looking forward to leveling my Mage, but I don't really understand how.

Thanks!

[feniin]

Summon Water Pet
Cast Burnout
cast Damage shield
/Pet attack
Hit it with your nuke after 2-3 taunts.
Sit/med
Repeat steps 3-6 forever.

[FungusTrooper]

Okay, I'm glad it's still good to use the water pet, at least. I don't have the damage shield or burnout, yet. Guess I'll just slowly crawl to 8 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.].

[zerp]

pick elf
points in str
drop pod book on ground
turn in note
put on dress
scribe, mem spells
equip dagger
stab and flame level 1 things
loot junk until overburdened
sell junk to nearest merchant
buy milk, muffins
repeat until cracked staff
crack level 1 things until level 4
buy fire pet, malachite
summon fire pet
/pet attack low blue mob
if pet almost dead, summon new pet, dismiss old pet
repeat until ding x4
buy next pet, gate, bind, invis, summon companion, lev ring, rod, coth, pearls, velocity maybe
repeat until epic
goof off with epic pet for a day or two
park in good coth spot
rip mage

FAQ:
Q. Isn't that only 50% xp per kill?
A. Yes.

Q. Isn't that bad?
A. No.

Q. Should I summon again to get a higher level pet?
A. No.

Q. This is an elite strat, my pet dies too fast, I can't do it.
A. Fight lower blues.

Q. I have to sell all the time.
A. Save some bags.

Q. I still have to sell all the time.
A. Don't loot cheap/heavy junk.

Q. I still have to sell all the time.
A. Bind next to a merchant or near your camp.

Q. I still have to sell all the time.
A. Buy a port the other way.

Q. I still have to sell all the time.
A. Save up for some tink bags.

Q. I still have to sell all the time.
A. You're doing great.

Q. Error, fire pet not found. How do I research it?
A. Buy the water pet or the earth pet.

Q. Can I cast my damage shield on it?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. Probably not.

Q. Can I get a focus item?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. Probably not.

Q. Can I get a Burnt Wood Staff?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. Probably not.

Q. Can I get any other spells?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. Probably not.

Q. Can I wear/keep any other items?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. No.

Q. Can I join a group?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. Probably not.

Q. Can I join a guild?
A. If you want.

Q. Should I?
A. That's on you.

Q. Is there really nothing left to do after I get my epic?
A. You'll never actually get your epic.

Q. This is boring.
A. Reroll melee, go back to hitting things yourself, feel the pixel lust flow through you, hustle to pay for locket(s) so you can bind somewhere reasonable.

Q. Lol I just want to read nerd stuff.
A. Hope u enjoyed.

Q. Did you just describe what you did on your first mage as if you really think everyone else should do the same thing?
A. No my mage is only level 4 and I don't play any more.

Q. Wtf?
A. Burned out reading guides.

Q. Ur a lightweight dude.
A. Yeah.

Q. P99 ain't for chumps, dude.
A. True.

Q. So what now?
A. Porn.

Q. Sad.
A. That's showbiz.

[DMN]

I'd really try to find a duo partner. Doesn't even matter the class.

Failing that, there are two ways to go solo that I remember work. Someone mentioned already simply outdamaging your pet, works best with the damage shield as the damage of the shield is counted as a neutral source. The other is try to have it so your pet dies in some fashion while the mobs is at one nuke health and just finish it off. (consider using /pet get lost, which you will want to practice using for chain summoning pets anyway)

And you should have gotten your first fire damage shield at like level 8.

[Balimon]

For early levels (1-24) or so, letting your water pet kill mobs and losing 50% exp is fine solo. Duoing is another great option as well. Past 24 you can start chain summoning pets for exp, it's pretty easy and you'll get the hang of it pretty quick.

1. Attack mob with pet.
2. When mob is around 5-10% health, Reclaim energy or use /pet get lost.
3. Use a small nuke to finish off mob for full experience.

Fire pet works best for this 24-49 because of his awesome damage shield.

[NegaStoat]

If your character is good or neutral and was blessed with starting in Faydwer, doing the mail run from felwithe to kelethin in a straight line is faster than trying to outdamage your pet in melee. A necromancer killing guards in Felwithe will usually be cool about binding you inside, so once you get 4th and Gate + meditate, things speed up.

the down side is that your Defense skill will suck. The up side is that you'll have double or triple the cash you'll need for your spells. For 12th level.

[Chapelle]

Do yourself a favor and don't even start the epic.

[Troxx]

Most all levels best xp is:

-Find literally any partner lower level than you (preferably a priest ... ok if not)
-water pet or fire max summon
-buff it ...
-rape mobs for >50% xp without having to resummon

Or you can get a torch for fire focus and do the annoying thing of making a new pet for each fight and reclaiming it + nuking mob for full xp.

I always preferred the former. Keeping a max summon buffed pet with a partner that could keep it alive worked out to more total xp over time for me .... with the added benefit of not having to play with yourself all the time.

[tarkhis]

I started a high elf mage about a week ago and hit 32 last night. I have found the class very enjoyable so far and didn't follow the published guides as I didn't want to travel to the Karanas.

My system was as follows:
level 1-3 soloed outside Felwithe, basically nuke, nuke nuke buy level 4 water pet, burn and gate and head to orc hill to grind through level 4 with a group.

at level 5 head into CB summon pet and let pet knock mob down to 75% then nuke it down to 20% when it runs just let pet finish it off while you med, rinse and repeat collect every belt you can during this time as well.
level 8 beg for sow and run to Kaladim turn in belts and probably hit level 9 from turn ins.

gate back to faydark and buy water pet, shield of fire, renew elements, invisibility and flame bolt from money selling gear rewards for belt turn in.

head back to CB and invis to the corner camp near Taskmaster and summon pet, kill cents that wander through then start pulling the two slavers. Loot keys and hand to NPCs also collect belts off orcs. Stay at camp til level 12 using the following process, DS pet, sic on slaver, heal pet. I didn't worry about out dpsing pet because xp from key turn ins was greater then mob kills anyway.

Head back to kaladim turn in belts at 12 and gate back to kelethin, buy pet, burnout, and head back to same camp. Now with buffed pet and nukes you can own the whole camp, out dps pet on slavers but do heals and DS only on TM, turn in earing to any nearby slaves. By 14 I was pretty much clearing the wall area legos, TM and emmisaries. Pet really wrecks the mobs. at 15 I got level 16 water pet, 20 air pet and 24 earth pet and all other spells I could afford. Ran to kaladim turned in Shoulder pads and went in to unrest.

I soloed yard for a bit and moved into back room as that greened out and hit 20. I then began pulling hallways or MR mobs if that was open, bind at entrance and be ready to sacrifice pet and gate but is fun, same process DS pet, burnout , pet attack nuke nuke med and on to next mob.

At 22 I moved up to group at FP and at 24 I moved into basement where I'm still at. Groups are fun and I've been main tank and puller with pets etc. mages really can do a lot at these levels and careful use of spells and pets is great.

For pulling use burn to tag mob and run back through pet, sic pet on it, it will grab agro very quick and keep DS on pet, renew elements or summoning as needed and nuke away. Get chanters for crack and have fun