Wizard | Character classes Sword Coast Legends Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Wizard is another character class available in the game. The wizard has many abilities that are useful on the battlefield. In addition to the regular curses and summoning spells, the wizard has also a set of elemental spells, such as cold, fire or lightning. The wizard, similarly to a warrior, can be played in two ways at once. This character is controlling the battle by casting various curses and dealing high damage to a single opponent and a whole group of enemies. As the wizard you don't have high defense, so remain behind the warrior who will focus all the damage on himself. The most important statistic when playing as wizard is intelligence which has a direct impact on the number of damage you deal. Below you will find a list of few principles which you should have in mind when playing as wizard:

Wizard is not a warrior - The wizard should remain at the back, next to the cleric. Don't use him in direct confrontations with the enemy, he isn't well armored. Your defense factor will not allow you to receive damage unless you use the abilities that increase resistance to damage. When playing as the wizard, try to help your team during breaks between dealing damage. By using such game style you will fully realize the potential of this class and the synergy between the members of your team will be on high level.

Your robes and staffs are your equipment - Try to dress your character in dresses and assign staffs to him as the main weapon. Such equipment is assigned to the wizard character by default. These weapons and clothes offer bonuses that are useful mostly for mages.

Wizard doesn't deal the greatest amount of damage - Don't use the wizard as a killing machine. He is more useful to control the center of the battle. Instead of buying various offensive abilities, consider some weakening spells and curses. One sleep or stun curse eliminates large numbers of enemies from the battle, allowing you to eliminate them much faster. Using the rogue in this tactic will increase the synergy between your characters even more.

Have at least two sets of weapons - Sometimes you will face an enemy that has complete immunity to your elemental attacks. This completely excludes your character as damage dealer and reduces the synergy between the party members. Because of that, you should have a spare weapon that deals damage of different type.

Character development

When gaining new level, try to maximize your intelligence, this will directly affect the number of damage you will deal. Below you will find one of many available combinations of skills for wizard character:

Flame

Fire Bolt	A continuous skill assigned to the staff. It deals fire damage. Level four is required for maximum effect.
Meteor Swarm	An ability that deals great number of damage to enemies and allies that are in its area of effect. This skill has a very long reload time.

Manipulator

Sleep	An ability that, if successful, puts enemies in its area of effect to sleep for a specific amount of time, eliminating them from the battle. The enemy will wake up if he is hit. Second level is required for maximizing the effect and increasing the chance for success.
Confusion	Ability with area of effect that causes confusion among enemy forces. Enemy that is affected by this curse is unable to think rationally and he is usually attacking the closest person available, including his allies. Level three is needed for maximizing the effect and increasing the chance for success.
Charm	Ability with area of effect that, after successfully affecting the enemies, will cause them to join your side and temporary fight against your enemies. Level two needed for maximizing the effect.

Transmuter

Haste	This ability increases the speed of actions of selected ally. Perfect synergy for the rogue. Level three needed for maximizing the effect.
Stoneskin	This ability increases the defense against piercing and slashing damage for a limited time. Level three needed for maximizing the effect.

Summoner

Conjure Animal	Summons an animal avatar to the living world. The avatar is fighting for you and your party. Level three is needed for maximizing the effect.
Hold Monster	A curse that creates paralyze on selected area. Enemies that are affected become helpless for 60 seconds, giving you a great advantage on the battlefield.

Game style

Wizard's game style is very similar to the one used when playing as cleric. The wizard should remain at safe distance from the center of the battle and he should cause chaos among enemy forces. You shouldn't also forget about offensive skills, which wizard has plenty of. The most important and the strongest ability is the Meteor Swarm. Since this ability reloads for a very long time, use it only against bosses. In synergy with rogue and his Endanger skill, after a success this skill deals similar number of damage as rogue's Deathstrike. Remember to avoid aiming this skill at your allies, as combined with damage dealt by enemies it could quickly kill them. Summoning the animals that are fighting on your side should be also considered as damage dealing. These animals, especially the bear, though not able to deal much damage, have great resistance. What's important, they can focus some enemy damage during battle on them.

In addition to damage dealing, the wizard specializes in controlling the center of the battle. The wizard decides who should be removed from the battle for a specific amount of time, who should be forced to join your side and who should be put to sleep. By casting such curses, you must watch out for friendly fire. Very frequently, the center of the battle will be focused on your warrior who can be also affected by the curse. Because of that, it is important to miss your allies when casting spells with area of effect.

During the battle, use buffs as well. Leave the Stoneskin skill for some urgent enemies, when your warrior will lose large numbers of health points or when the enemy will attack the cleric. This will help you contain the situation. Cast the Haste skill mostly on the rogue. The synergy between the two of you will be so strong that, combined with constant attacks from hiding, you will eliminate the enemies in few seconds.

Equipment

As for wizard's equipment, give him robes and a staff. It is definitely the best possible combination available for this class. Robes of Archmagi is one of the best robes, it can be collected from the body of a killed Lord of Illithids. However, it is so late in the game, that first you should find something else for yourself. Since the armor can be used by you during the whole game, try to buy it once and for good. The rest of the equipment should have bonuses related to intelligence and reducing the reload time of your skills.

As for the jewelry, focus on intelligence and reducing the reload time of skills.

As for the weapon, you can obtain the legendary staff - Staff of Explosions - by collecting three pieces and forging them at the blacksmith. If you don't have enough money, Necromancy Staff which can be obtained by killing Cyrana will be good as well.