Facebook
Reddit
Email
Discover how to create the best Mage build in Avowed, with recommendations for skills, attributes, weapons, companions, and leveling progression!
Avowed is a first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, the game takes place in the Living Lands, where you uncover a secret mystery. Wizards can access various spells, allowing for offensive attacks and defensive maneuvers. With abilities like Grimoire Mastery, Flurry of Blows, and Arcane Seal, you can harness elemental powers to inflict status effects.
Mage Build offers a unique and dynamic gameplay experience centered around spellcasting and elemental manipulation. This build largely depends on your playstyle and how you want to approach combat. Players can wield weapons in one or both hands, use spells dynamically, and customize their character’s abilities and playstyle. In this guide, we aim to tell you about all the elements of a Mage build and how to get the best start in the game.
This build has been updated for the Patch 1.2.2 version of Avowed.
Everything You Need To Know About Mage Build Guide in Avowed
Our Mage build focuses on attributes and abilities that boost combat effectiveness and survivability. The Mage build focuses on leveling core attributes like Intellect, Perception, and Resolve. Wizard is all about blasting, while the Fighter is about attacking, and Ranger is about shooting and stabbing. Focusing on Intellect increases spell effectiveness and Essence capacity, making your spellcasting more potent. Use some points on Resolve to improve concentration and reduce the chances of spell interruption during combat. Perceptions allow you to boost accuracy and critical hit chance.
Wizard offers a dynamic and strategic combat experience, dealing damage and providing utility through various spells. To cast higher-level spells contained in Grimoires, you can unlock Grimoire Mastery. The spellcaster playstyle allows you to deal raw damage during close-range or ranged combat. Our best primary weapon for Mage build is Minoletta’s Conduit, which increases attack damage and maximum Wand range.
The Long Touch is your beginner bow, and Ancient Alacrity is your best bow for ranged combat that slows the hit enemy. Combine Wizard skills with Ranger skills like Steady Aim, Quick Switch, and Flurry of Blows to make your character more effective in combat. However, casting spells consumes Essence, which can deplete rapidly during intense battles. To balance spell selection, Essence management, and equipment choices adds a layer of complexity to the Wizard class.
| Mage build Pros | Mage build Cons |
|---|---|
| Versatility in Combat | Resource Dependency |
| Elemental Mastery | Complex Gameplay |
| Essence Management |
Mage Build Features & Mechanics
Below are the essential best Mage build features and mechanics for Avowed:
- Background: Arcane Scholar
- Attribute Points: Intellect, Perception, and Might
- Weapon Choices: Wands, Grimoires, and Bow
- Best Skills: Grimoire Mastery, Flurry of Blows, and Blizzard
- Recommended Companions: Giatta, Marius
- Best Consumables: Burned Lady, Charming Libation, and Essence Potion
Background
Arcane Scholar is the best background for Mage build in Avowed, granting unique dialogue options, knowledge-based advantages, and potentially a starting boost to magical skills. Background plays a pivotal role in shaping your role-playing experience. It affects your dialogue options and determines your starting weapon during the tutorial. Your initial allocation of attribute points across six stats is also influenced. However, they do not restrict your access to any equipment or abilities as the game progresses.
Regardless of your background, you can use any equipment and abilities. Avowed enriches your character’s backstory and provides initial attribute distributions and dialogue options by selecting the background. Arcane Scholar works well with the hybrid spellcasters who mix magic with another skill set. Compared to other Backgrounds in the game, the Arcane Scholar focuses more on knowledge and efficiency rather than brute magical force.
Attribute Points
Intellect, Might, and Perception are the best attribute points for the Mage build because these attributes make your character stronger. Intellect helps with max essence, while perception increases ranged and critical hit chance. Finally, Might is helpful for increased damage.
At a max level of 30, you can select 27 attributes, not including passive permanent bonuses given by companions. Below is our recommended attribute points selection for the Wizard build:
- Might: 10
- Constitution: 2
- Dexterity: 0
- Perception: 4
- Intellect: 10
- Resolve: 1
Weapon Choices
Wands and Grimoires are the best weapons for the Mage to build because they give you ranged damage and spell casting. The Wand is one-handed in your main hand is used to attack at a medium range. Grimoires is the off-hand weapon that deals heavy damage in combat. This weapon-type grant allows Wizards to expand their magical repertoire by equipping different tomes. A grimoire may determine which spells are available at a given time. However, some grimoires may offer buffs like faster casting speed, reduced mana cost, or elemental resistances.
Wands are your primary weapon for Mage build. It provides a range of magical attacks, passive bonuses, and unique spellcasting effects. The wand offers elemental damage, giving spellcasters offensive options and a unique playstyle. Pairing it with a grimoire allows for a mix of ranged attacks and spellcasting for a balanced mage playstyle. The wand is a good option for a magic-focused build, especially for players tired of weapons like greatsword or axe.
You can swap the weapons at any level, giving you more flexibility in the game. The best secondary weapon for pure changed spellcaster is a Bow. You can aim and hit weakpoints as well as surprising enemies. Feel free to change your secondary weapon, but especially at the start, Bow does massive damage without any passives.
Skill Selection
The game allows you to unlock skills at each level, starting at 2. One level gives you one more skill point to place in one of three skill trees. You can mix and match skill trees, but Wizard and Ranger synergize. Moreover, you can reset skills at any time with gold, though it gets more expensive the more levels you increase.
Levels 1-10 Skills
The most important skills at this level are Minor Missiles, blast, Finesse, and Steady Aim. Invest skill points to gain the skills that can keep you alive in the initial stages of the game. Passive skills are used to increase damage or survivability, while active skills require essence, and you can’t use them due to their cost.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Wizard Build for Avowed from levels 1 to 10:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | ||
| 2 | Minor Missiles Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons three magical projectiles that seek out enemies, dealing large amounts of damage to nearby enemies on impact. |
| 3 | Survivalist Rank 1 | Ranger | Food restores 20% more Health and Essence, and bonus effect durations are increased by 20%. |
| 4 | Arcane Veil Rank 1 | Wizard | Invokes a powerful arcane shield for 20 seconds that makes your spell casting Uninterruptable and increases your Damage Reduction by 50%. |
| 5 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 1 | Ranger | Unlock level 5 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 10%. |
| 6 | Constant Recovery Rank 1 | Fighter | After taking damage, slowly regeneration 50% of the last amount of health |
| 7 | Parry Rank 1 | Ranger | Time a perfect Block against a melee attack to knock the enemy back and gain an immediate counter-attack. |
| 8 | Evasion Rank 1 | Ranger | Reduces the stamina cost of Dodge by 25% |
| 9 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 2 | Wizard | Unlock level 10 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 15%. |
| 10 | Blood Magic Rank 1 | Wizard | When Essence is depleted, you may continue casting by reducing your Health by 150% of the Essence cost. |
Levels 11-20 Skills
Increase your damage potential from level 11 to 20. Select the skill potential from levels 11 to 20. Skill like Survivalist Rank 2 allows you to unlock recipes for strong healing foods. Grimoire Mastery Rank 2 is another best skill to unlock because it unlocks level 15 Grimoire spells.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Wizard Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Blizzard Rank 1 | Wizard | Unlocks Blizzard |
| 12 | Bounce Rank 1 | Wizard | Power attacks with wand bounce to nearby enemies |
| 13 | Blast Rank 1 | Wizard | Power attacks with wands explode on impact |
| 14 | Survivalist Rank 2 | Ranger | Unlock recipes for strong healing foods. |
| 15 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 3 | Wizard | Unlock level 15 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 18%. |
| 16 | Pull of Eora Rank 1 | Wizard | Pulling 2 nearby enemies and suspending them in the vortext |
| 17 | Bear Ally Rank 1 | Ranger | Summon a ber ally to aid you in battle for 30 seconds |
| 18 | Bear Ally Rank 2 | Ranger | Pulling 2 neary enemies and suspending them in the vortext |
| 19 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 4 | Ranger | Unlock level 20 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 20%. |
| 20 | Flurry of Blows Rank 1 | Ranger | Pulling 2 nearby enemies and suspending them in the vortext |
Levels 21-30 Skills
At levels 21-30, you want to increase your elemental damage and increase survivability. Unlocking Bristling Frost helps reduces damage and helps do damage back at enemies. Moreover, lean into frost passives so you can crowd control in a massive area.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Wizard Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Blood Magic Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Shock Accumulation you deal by 20%. |
| 22 | Flurry of Blows Rank 2 | Ranger | Flurry Of Blows grants lifesteal to your weapon damage. |
| 23 | Secret of Rime Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Frost Accumulation you deal with by 20%. |
| 24 | Blizzard Rank 2 | Wizard | Reduces cast time |
| 25 | Survivalist Rank 3 | Ranger | Unlock recipes for foods with powerful effects |
| 26 | Blizzard Rank 3 | Wizard | Increase duration by 6 seconds |
| 27 | Bristling Frost Rank 1 | Wizard | Unlocks Bristling Frost |
| 28 | Bristling Frost Rank 2 | Wizard | Incoming melee damage creates AOE of frost |
| 29 | Bristling Frost Rank 3 | Wizard | Reduces cooldown and increases damage |
| 30 | Secret of Rime Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases frost accumulation by 35% |
Best Wizard Skills Explained
The best skills for Mage build in Avowed are Grimoire Mastery, a flurry of Blows, Survivalist, and Blizzard. Grimoire Mastery is a passive ability within the Wizard class that enhances your spellcasting capabilities by unlocking higher-level grimoire spells. The flurry of Blows allows for a rapid succession of attacks and, after rank 2, gives healing on each attack. Survivalist provides you the ability to cook at camp with overpowered consumables. Lastly, the Billzard spell with Secret of Rime passive helps do area damage and trigger frost status effect. Below are the best skills for a Mage:
- Blizzard: massive area damage of frost that is your multi-kill spell.
- Grimoire Mastery: This allows you access the higher-level grimoire spells.
- Flurry of Blows: It increases mobility, enabling swift positioning and evasion. Also, provides you with a rapid succession of attacks.
- Survivalist: This skill increases your character’s efficiency with consumables and unlocks advanced recipes.
- Secret of Rime: It increases your proficiency with frost-based attacks by increasing the amount of Frost Accumulation you inflict on enemies.
- Bristling Frost: greats AOE damage shield of frost that helps kick off melee attackers.
Companions
Giatta and Marius are best companions for a Mage build because Giatta can heal while Marius can root, discover treasures, and burst single targets. Each of these companions brings unique abilities and backgrounds to your journey. Giatta joins your party during the main story quest, “The Animancy Method.” Marius becomes available after the main story quest, “An Untimely End.”
Create a balanced and formidable party by including Giatta’s support and healing skills with Marius’s offensive and tactical prowess. Use Giatta Barrier to provide protective shields to allies and Marius Heart Seeker’s ability to increase damage dealt to low-health enemies. Giatta Acceleration skill can increase movement and attack speed, while Marius Wounding Shot can damage enemies over time.
However, use Kai at the start of the game until you unlock the Ranger Bear Ally. With two ranks, the Bear can act as a tank. However, until then swap out Giatta or Marius if you need a tank.
Giatta
Use Giatta for healing and damage reduction skills and upgrades. Use bubble (barrier) prior to jumping into tough encounters. Below are her sklls and recommended upgrades:
| Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purification | Barrier | Acceleration | Reconstruction |
| Essence Shielding | Greater Barrier | Evade Attacks | Overcharge |
Marius
With Marius, use the Heart Seeker for burst damage and Binding Roots for immobilization. Shadow Step can be used as an execute when enemies are below 50% health.
| Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binding Roots | Heart Seeker | Shadow Step | Wounding Shots |
| Thorny Roots | Quick Draw | Devastating Blow | Exposing Shots |
Mage Gameplay & Tips
Use companions like Giatta and Marius to complement your Mage build. Giatta provides healing and support spells, while Marius offers ranged attacks and crowd control. Focus on attributes like Intellect, Perception, and Resolve to increase your Wizard’s capabilities. Choose Wand as your primary weapon and Grimoires as your Off-Hand weapon. Use the advanced bow as your secondary weapon to deal damage from a safe distance.
Mastering combat techniques is essential to enhance your combat effectiveness. It’s best to combine Wizard skills with the Ranger skills for a multiclass playstyle. Use the grenades to deal damage over time. Equip a bow and start from stealth by crouching and shooting an arrow at the highest damage-producing target. Invest in skills like Grimoire Mastery, a flurry of Blows, Survivalist, and Arcane Seal to deal devastating damage and increase your survivability in intense fights.
Weapons and Armor
Beginner Weapon and Armor
Here’s the best beginner gear for the Avowed Mage Build Guide:
| Slot | Item | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon 1 | Common Wand | Physical Damage 11 Stun 8 Stamina 8 Crit chance 6% |
| Off-Hand | Anextli’s Grimoire | Ability Cost -20% Cooldown -15% |
| Secondary Weapon | The Long Touch | +5% damage against full health enemies |
| Armor | Arcanist’s Gambeson | +15% AOE damage |
| Gloves | Arcanist’s Gloves | +20 Essence |
| Boots | Boots of the Bricklayer | +10% dodge distance |
| Trinket | Night-Mistress’ Favor | Restores Essence near companions |
| Ring | Arcanist Ring | +1 intelligence |
| Ring | Wayfarer’s Ring | +20% restoration from consumables and potions |
- Common Wand: use to upgrade to Superb Wand before you reach Shatterscarp. From here, travel to Great Sand Sea and get Whipser of Exiles wands
- Anextli’s Grimoire: This can be looted from a skeleton north of Ivona’s Threshold in Dawnshore, just northwest of Watermill.
- The Long Touch: Purchased from Merchant in Militia headquarters in Dawnshore, Paradis Hightown.
- Arcanist’s Gambeson: Looted from the chest found inside one of the houses at the Yellowband Camp in Dawnshore, due east of Paradis.
- Arcanist’s Gloves: Found in the Shrine of Woedica in Dawnshore, to the north.
- Boots of the Bricklayer: Located in Pagrun Cache in Dawnshore behind breakable wall north by Pilgrim’s Path.
- Night-Mistress’ Favor: Complete the side quest a lady never tells, speak with Concerned Couresan north of Pearl District in Paradis Dawnshore.
- Arcanist Ring: Can be looted from a lock box that is located on Castol’s Folly in Dawnshore, the southeastern section of the map.
- Wayfarer’s Ring: Can be found from a skeleton south of Runyd’s Home in Dawnshore to the west of Shrine of Woedica.
Endgame Weapon and Armor
The following table presents the best end-game gear for the best Avowed Mage Build Guide:
| Slot | Item | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon 1 | Whisper of Exiles | Hits deal extra frost damage |
| Off-Hand | Eilara’s Grimoire | Unlocks Meteor Shower |
| Secondary Weapon | Ancient Alacrity | Attacks slow enemies |
| Armor | Robes of Surpassing Brillance | +15% AOE damage |
| Gloves | Ninagauth’s Gruesome Grasp | +20% Frost damage |
| Boots | Warmage’s Boots | 10% essence on dodge |
| Trinket | Stoneheart | Summons a blight to fight with you |
| Ring | Ring of Greater Overseeing | +20% area of effect damage |
| Ring | Sigil of the Arcane | +20% ability cast speed. -20% ability Essence cost. |
- Whisper of Exiles: Found near Dreamscourge-covered rocks in the Great Sands Sea within Shatterscarp.
- Eilara’s Grimoire: To the right of the altar in the praying room of the Living Archives, Northwest of map, in Galawain’s Tusks.
- Ancient Alacrity: To the west of Shrine to Galawain, within the Solace Lava Tubes sub-area.
- Robes of Surpassing Brillance: found in Ancient Lakebed chest South west part of map just north of Shrine to Wael in Shatterscarp.
- Ninagauth’s Gruesome Grasp: Quest reward in Galawain’s Tusk from Petru for freeing him in the Side Quest Homecoming.
- Warmage’s Boots: found in chest at paradisan rebels camp in Riverside Cave of Emerald Stair.
- Stoneheart: complete a Cure for Rage given by Grakohr in Galawain’s Tusks.
- Ring of Greater Overseeing: Inside locked chest at top floor of Northern Warden Tower behind locked gate.
- Sigil of the Arcane: Found in Shatterscarp inside a lockbox inside a puzzle door at Shark’s teeth.
Consumables
Burned Lady is a consumable that grants you 7 Essence Regeneration and seven health Regeneration. Charming Libation grants five essence regeneration and +6 to all attributes while in conversations for 300 sec. Essence Potion restores 70% of your Maximum Essence for 300 sec. You need to take three points into the survivalist skill in the ranger tree. Once unlocked, you can craft advanced food and buffs that drastically increase your survivability, damage, and regeneration.
FAQs about Mage Build in Avowed
What is the best Mage build in Avowed?
The best Mage build uses a one-handed weapon (Wand), Grimoire, and a ranged bow. It grants you high-level spell-casting ability, survivability, and damage within a range.
Which is the best Background for a Mage build?
Arcane Scholar is the best background for a Mage because it gives you range spellcasting weapons early in the game.
Which are the best skills for Mage build?
Grimoire Mastery, Flurry of Blows, and Arcane Seal are the best skills for the Mage build. These abilities not only allow you to deal massive damage but also provide more survivability in the game.
Looking For More About Avowed?
Thank you for reading the Best Avowed Mage Build Guide. We provide the latest news and create guides for Avowed. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!
