Compiled from public guides and creator videos, not our own testing. Each card's “Based on” line says whether its source used the October demo or Early Access. Numbers may change with patches.
Quick pick by use
Only uses that a cited source names are filled in. A cell stays at Not reported yet until a source covers it.
| Use | Cited builds |
|---|---|
| Solo leveling | Fire Mage leveling |
| Groups and dungeons | Not reported yet |
| PvP | Not reported yet |
| New players | Not reported yet |
All 3 cited Mage builds
Elemental Staff 2 cited
Fire Mage levelingReported· RaidDex
Good for Solo leveling
Based on: RaidDex leveling build (marked checked for Early Access, Nov 4), which it calls a fire mage for safe solo leveling; Retain and Shooting Star from Nerd Bird's class video.
- Intelligence
- Constitution
Stats Intelligence first, Constitution second. RaidDex's level-40 spread: 64 Intelligence, 50 Constitution.
Rotation- Flaming Blossom, Wall of Fire and Arcane Fount for damage.
- Retain to chain spells; Shooting Star after building up 10 Energy Cores.
- RaidDex's opener: Flaming Blossom (hold light attack), Dual Resonance (heavy attack) retains it, R casts it again, then Molten Fireball.
Traits Fire path, plus Max HP and Untouchable Veil to stay alive.
Updated
Thunderbolt (lightning Elemental Staff)Reported· RaidDex
Based on: RaidDex editorial build, marked checked for Early Access (Nov 4). One guide site, not our testing.
- Intelligence
- Constitution
- Talent
Stats Talent to 33 for Wrathful Tyrant's Scale, the rest into Intelligence, plus Constitution as a buffer.
Rotation- Ignition three times (20 s of higher Crit Hit Rate), then Lightning Pillar comes out instantly on heavy attack.
- Dual Resonance (light attack) retains the pillar. R casts it again, then Lightning Surge and Bolt Sequence; on a crit, another one right away.
- Lightning Spear via Elemental Overload (hold heavy attack, press R at level 1) hits without aiming.
- At 10 Energy Core, Shooting Star sits on R.
Traits Elemental Staff (53 points) choice nodes: Lightning Pillar - Flurry and Lightning Pillar - Amplify, Control - Lightning Storm and Overload - Lightning Spear, Overcharged Mana Blast and Trigger Signal, Lightning Speed and Thunderflash. Arcane Fount fully restores SP whenever you inflict Shock or Burn (at most every 5 s). Wavesword (46 points) as the emergency weapon: hold R for Ice Crystal, a shield based on Max HP. Early Access regions hold 92 of the 100 Trait Points, so RaidDex says to leave out 8 points of perks for now.
Gear Starter: Inheritor's Staff. Midgame: Thunderstruck Staff. Endgame: Wrathful Tyrant's Scale with Thunder Dash Lunastone (+10) and Rampaging Bloodthirster.
Updated
Wavesword 1 cited
Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword)Reported· RaidDex
Based on: RaidDex editorial build, marked checked for Early Access (Nov 4). One guide site, not our testing.
- Strength = Intelligence
- Constitution
- Talent
Stats Talent to 33 for Wrathful Tyrant's Scale. Rampaging Bloodthirster hits with 80% Physical ATK and 20% Magic ATK, so Strength and Intelligence get about the same; Constitution is the buffer.
Rotation- Q to the staff: Wall of Fire and Fire Blast; Retain keeps the wall for R.
- Q to the sword and leap in with Tidal Slash II. It costs no SP, and a crit grants 5 stacks through High Tide.
- If Ethereal Cleave crits, heavy attack triggers Frost Blossom Flurry: Ice Crystal, Freeze and, with Vengeful Resonance, 10 stacks.
- Then hold R for Thundersnow, which has no cooldown for 6 s after a Freeze (Shatter).
- Lunar Eclipse crits open Rushing Tide, then Phantom Wave, Frost Shard and Frost Shard - Breakthrough.
Traits Wavesword (46 points) choice nodes: Frost Blossom Flurry with Arcane Elevation (20 s of more Magic Crit and damage), Tidal Slash II, Frost Shard - Breakthrough and Vengeful Resonance. From midgame the Elemental Staff is only the opener; it takes the other 53 points at endgame. Early Access regions hold 92 of the 100 Trait Points, so RaidDex says to leave out 8 points of perks for now.
Gear Midgame: Centurion's Wavesword. Endgame: Rampaging Bloodthirster with Frozen Anguish Lunastone (+10) and Wrathful Tyrant's Scale (+5).
Updated
The six stats
| Stat | What it does | Per-build pick |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Raises physical attack | Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword): Priority 1 (tied) Reported |
| Agility | Boosts crit chance and some physical attack | Sealed |
| Constitution | Increases HP and crit resistance | Fire Mage leveling: Priority 2 Reported Thunderbolt (lightning Elemental Staff): Priority 2 Reported Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword): Priority 2 Reported |
| Intelligence | Raises magic attack | Fire Mage leveling: Priority 1 Reported Thunderbolt (lightning Elemental Staff): Priority 1 Reported Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword): Priority 1 (tied) Reported |
| Talent | Supports magic attack, reduces equipment penalties | Thunderbolt (lightning Elemental Staff): Priority 3 Reported Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword): Priority 3 Reported |
| Endurance | Increases stamina and defense | Sealed |
Stat effects: Official· XLGAMES / Steam One point always buys one stat. Point spreads come from the cited build, not our testing. Fire Mage leveling: Intelligence first, Constitution second. RaidDex's level-40 spread: 64 Intelligence, 50 Constitution. Thunderbolt (lightning Elemental Staff): Talent to 33 for Wrathful Tyrant's Scale, the rest into Intelligence, plus Constitution as a buffer. Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword): Talent to 33 for Wrathful Tyrant's Scale. Rampaging Bloodthirster hits with 80% Physical ATK and 20% Magic ATK, so Strength and Intelligence get about the same; Constitution is the buffer.
What sources agree on
Taken from our Mage class page and tier board, with the sources for each line. These are reported by the sources, not our testing.
- Elemental Staff: a creator tier list rates it A for PvE and S for PvP, held back from S overall by fragility and its dependence on casting. Nerd Bird found it decent in the demo but weak in solo boss fights, because you get interrupted while ramping up. (Sources: ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube) , Nerd Bird (YouTube) )
- Wavesword: the same tier list rates it A for PvP and B for PvE, B overall. (Sources: ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube) )
- Stats disagree: RaidDex's Staff builds go mostly Intelligence plus Constitution, while Kybuza suggests about 2:1:1 Intelligence, Agility and Talent on the Staff. (Sources: RaidDex , RaidDex , Kybuza (YouTube) )
- No tier placement yet: we do not rank the Mage on our tier board, because the sources disagree and the Early Access ones are single build guides, not two independent weapon ratings.
- New players: Massively Overpowered found the Mage more forgiving than other classes for players who do not want complex combos. (Sources: Massively Overpowered )
Gear and dungeon setups
Gear is shown on each build card above where its source names it. Dungeon setups: Not reported yet; we add it once a guide site or patch note covers it.
Mage build FAQ
What is the best Mage build for PvP?
Cited Mage builds tagged for PvP: Not reported yet. A creator tier list rates the Elemental Staff S for PvP and the Wavesword A for PvP, but that rates the weapons, not a build.
Reported· ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube)What is the best Mage build for leveling?
Cited builds tagged for solo leveling: Fire Mage leveling. RaidDex's level-40 spread for it is 64 Intelligence and 50 Constitution.
Reported· RaidDexWhat stats should a Mage build use?
Each cited build lists its own stat order: Fire Mage leveling: Intelligence > Constitution; Thunderbolt (lightning Elemental Staff): Intelligence > Constitution > Talent; Frost Moon (melee frost Wavesword): Strength = Intelligence > Constitution > Talent. One point always buys one stat. Point spreads come from the cited build, not our testing.
Reported· RaidDexWhich Mage weapon should I start with?
The only cited leveling build is on the Elemental Staff. A creator tier list rates the Staff A for PvE and S for PvP, and the Wavesword B for PvE and A for PvP. Our class page suggests the Staff to stay back and the Wavesword to stay close.
Reported· ArcheAge Chronicles PVP Guide (YouTube)Sources
- Leveling Build: Mage with Elemental Staff to Level 40
- Thunderbolt: Mage with Elemental Staff
- Frost Moon: Mage with Wavesword
- Do NOT Pick the Wrong Class in ArcheAge Chronicles!
- Don't Pick the WRONG WEAPON! ArcheAge Chronicles Tier List
- ArcheAge Chronicles: How to Build the PERFECT Mage (PvE & PvP)
- First Impressions: Is ArcheAge Chronicles the next home for New World players?