60vigor 70mind 50indurance 55strength 70dex 99int 99faith 7arcane Prince of death: 430 "I am a man who understands all sorcery and a true believer in the calling. The academy will never know true power of the unknown." -The Prince of Death
Great video and great information. I would like to add though that regardless of play style and the spells you use, it's not that often where you can spam attacks for 5 seconds straight without getting caught up. As a mage you will have to run and dodge quite a bit, so I personally feel the extra second or two saved from casting time will not come into play that often. I would say the Prince of Death Staff still has the edge, but this video definitely opens the debate up to how they can be comparable.
The correct answer to "Why wouldn't you dump 80 points into faith on a sorcerer build?" is "Because I need to get vigor, mind, endurance, strength, and dexterity all to the 40 to 60 range alongside that 80 intelligence to get the most out of the Moonlight Greatsword!"
Wing of Astel is a better option, especially when powerstanced with a second one or a magic infused shamshir and scales a bit with dex as well so that boosts cast speed. win-win
You need to compare the prince of death build to the Lusats staff with the extra points in mind and check the dps difference, I'm very curious to see which does more.
Meh...just get Lusat's it is the best once you are level 150+ you will have more than enough points in FP to not worry about the extra 50% spell cost using Lusat's and you have the definitive best damage staff.
People always sleep on the Regal Scepter ash of war. It can stun lock and shred those annoying Knights that block your spells in PVE and its also a good tool to use against people in PVP that try to rush you down. Also having the Radagon Icon and Azurs Glintstone staff in your other hand will max casting speed. No need to level dex.
Pfft. If you're putting all those points into dex or faith in addition to 80 int, you might as well put them into both. 80/80/70 Int/Faith/Dex, since casting speed apparently maxes at 70 Dex and use PoD. PoD wins. Goodbye!
@@The-Backlog Nope-- since we're being generous with RLs, put 60 into vigor and 40 into mind, and enough into endurance for whatever poise you want. And I forgot to mention, +10 Golden Order Seal for casting incants for the best scaling in that category. (For both PoD and GOS, swap in appropriate stave/seal in off-hand to focus appropriate magic school.) Ultimately, the only thing that beats this for casting power is *two* focus staves in a particular school. For example, two staffs of loss, one in each hand for focusing night comet, etc. But this kind of set-up is only available for new game plus for many staves/seals and will be a pita to play. (Incidentally I tested this very set-up on a level 713 char. I tested a +25 SoL in main hand and a SoL to focus in off-hand casting night comet vs. a +25 PoD plus a SoL in off-hand. The two SoL won, but barely. They only won by 20 damage or something!) My point is that you are arguing against PoD staff without assuming some kind of RL build limit. Without a RL limit, PoD is most powerful: you can't win. Every time you say points in something else would be stronger, I'll just say put them in both! Of course I agree that at lower to mid RLs other staffs win, and as you said in your video, play style is ultimately the deciding factor-- we don't really disagree. Another thing-- you keep talking about putting points into other areas being more helpful. But you are also ignoring the benefits from incantations. Having Blessing of the Erdtree running through a fight adds the equivalent of many HPs. Black Flame's Protection will save you hundreds of HPs of damage, (or Barrier of Gold, or Lord's Divine Fortification, or Golden Lightning Fort, depending on the fight, not to mention (the spell form of) Golden Vow and Flame Grant Me Strength). Additionally, one can use a cast of Ekzykes's Decay to rot enemies at the start of a battle adding massively to dps throughout the fight. There's also debuffs like Greyoll's Roar that can be used to increase enemy damage taken throughout. Finally, having the max incant scaling on GOS can help to reach max damage for one-shot kills with Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike (with Gravel Stone Seal in off-hand)-- that's a fun one to pull off on a boss or two!! You don't need to point out that for the incants above, only 38 Faith is needed (for Blessing of the Erdtree)-- but damage on incant spells, will be increased by maxing GOS, which like PoD, is soft-capped at: 80/80 Int/F, and using appropriate seal in off-hand. I guess my main point is that there are play-styles for which an 80/80 I/F build can be a lot of fun, and if someone enjoys grinding the levels, it might even be the most fun! And after some RL it will be the most powerful caster build, having access to all magics at max power, with the exception of people who want to be swap monsters-- and I'm sure there are some power-mongering masochists out there who play that way. It might be interesting to figure out at what RL, 80/80 I/F becomes the strongest caster build. I would guess in the 300s-- and that's only about half way to max level and I could see someone reaching that naturally during NG+ playthroughs. Ultimately, I don't think it's all about raw damage, it's about the versatility of having all incants and sorceries available on one's caster with high scaling on both focus items. Then 80/80 makes sense with PoD/GOS.
Question: I made my Astrologer character into a pure, 80 INT Mage, but I put a good amount of levels into both Faith and Arcane in order to use my other sorceries at will. Should I have instead just put those levels into DEX or Mind instead? Also, real quick, if you want an in game name for the INT/Faith build, that’s what a number of Fundamentalist Incantations need, so it’d make sense to call it a Fundamentalist Build. It’s a bit of a mouthful though…
It does depend on what you are going for. If you are planning on PvP then no, you need to specialize, as the level requirements make a PODs build REALLY Difficult to max. Whereas if you don't mind going up to level 250+ you might find PODs works better for your play style. But it depends on what spells you like to fling and how much mind and ex you have already and if you are fine with taking up a talisman slot for that one talisman that boosts spell speed.
60vigor
70mind
50indurance
55strength
70dex
99int
99faith
7arcane
Prince of death: 430
"I am a man who understands all sorcery and a true believer in the calling. The academy will never know true power of the unknown."
-The Prince of Death
I now need to play a Magic Pastor build...
Yup, and go smite some heretics!
Great video and great information. I would like to add though that regardless of play style and the spells you use, it's not that often where you can spam attacks for 5 seconds straight without getting caught up. As a mage you will have to run and dodge quite a bit, so I personally feel the extra second or two saved from casting time will not come into play that often. I would say the Prince of Death Staff still has the edge, but this video definitely opens the debate up to how they can be comparable.
I agree putting that much dex into a mage is stupid. The examples he showed are pointless and impractical as well.
And isn’t the casting speed cap available via talismans with minimal investment in Dex? I thought someone showed this a while ago.
@@micca903 atleaat radagon icon gives +30 dex speed
That hp bar is bigger than my tv
But hear me out… what about 99 faith, 99 Int AND 99 dex?
@@davidmthorley That's basicly a Chuck Norris build.
Prince of death staff and frenzy flame seal
been a faith int build eveer since the game came out and im on ng6 and just now finding out the death staff exsists
The correct answer to "Why wouldn't you dump 80 points into faith on a sorcerer build?" is "Because I need to get vigor, mind, endurance, strength, and dexterity all to the 40 to 60 range alongside that 80 intelligence to get the most out of the Moonlight Greatsword!"
No need for dex
Lvl str to 25 more than enough
Wing of Astel is a better option, especially when powerstanced with a second one or a magic infused shamshir and scales a bit with dex as well so that boosts cast speed. win-win
You need to compare the prince of death build to the Lusats staff with the extra points in mind and check the dps difference, I'm very curious to see which does more.
Still Prince because you can off hand a staff that buffs specific schools, and 430 scaling is high enough.
Meh...just get Lusat's it is the best once you are level 150+ you will have more than enough points in FP to not worry about the extra 50% spell cost using Lusat's and you have the definitive best damage staff.
People always sleep on the Regal Scepter ash of war. It can stun lock and shred those annoying Knights that block your spells in PVE and its also a good tool to use against people in PVP that try to rush you down. Also having the Radagon Icon and Azurs Glintstone staff in your other hand will max casting speed. No need to level dex.
Death Sorcerers do more stagger damage I find, that's the strength of death magic Int/fait builds.
Prince of Death Staff: This weapon can be infused with Ashes of War - shouldn't that add considerably to the flexibility factor you are comparing?
I have a very high level character and honestly this staff works perfectly as I already had 80 and 60 in intellect and faith
“Magic pastor” 🤣
Pfft. If you're putting all those points into dex or faith in addition to 80 int, you might as well put them into both. 80/80/70 Int/Faith/Dex, since casting speed apparently maxes at 70 Dex and use PoD. PoD wins. Goodbye!
Naw, they still help more to put them into mind, or even vigor.
Naw, they still help more to put them into mind, or even vigor.
@@The-Backlog Nope-- since we're being generous with RLs, put 60 into vigor and 40 into mind, and enough into endurance for whatever poise you want.
And I forgot to mention, +10 Golden Order Seal for casting incants for the best scaling in that category.
(For both PoD and GOS, swap in appropriate stave/seal in off-hand to focus appropriate magic school.)
Ultimately, the only thing that beats this for casting power is *two* focus staves in a particular school. For example, two staffs of loss, one in each hand for focusing night comet, etc. But this kind of set-up is only available for new game plus for many staves/seals and will be a pita to play. (Incidentally I tested this very set-up on a level 713 char. I tested a +25 SoL in main hand and a SoL to focus in off-hand casting night comet vs. a +25 PoD plus a SoL in off-hand. The two SoL won, but barely. They only won by 20 damage or something!)
My point is that you are arguing against PoD staff without assuming some kind of RL build limit. Without a RL limit, PoD is most powerful: you can't win. Every time you say points in something else would be stronger, I'll just say put them in both!
Of course I agree that at lower to mid RLs other staffs win, and as you said in your video, play style is ultimately the deciding factor-- we don't really disagree.
Another thing-- you keep talking about putting points into other areas being more helpful. But you are also ignoring the benefits from incantations. Having Blessing of the Erdtree running through a fight adds the equivalent of many HPs. Black Flame's Protection will save you hundreds of HPs of damage, (or Barrier of Gold, or Lord's Divine Fortification, or Golden Lightning Fort, depending on the fight, not to mention (the spell form of) Golden Vow and Flame Grant Me Strength). Additionally, one can use a cast of Ekzykes's Decay to rot enemies at the start of a battle adding massively to dps throughout the fight. There's also debuffs like Greyoll's Roar that can be used to increase enemy damage taken throughout. Finally, having the max incant scaling on GOS can help to reach max damage for one-shot kills with Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike (with Gravel Stone Seal in off-hand)-- that's a fun one to pull off on a boss or two!!
You don't need to point out that for the incants above, only 38 Faith is needed (for Blessing of the Erdtree)-- but damage on incant spells, will be increased by maxing GOS, which like PoD, is soft-capped at: 80/80 Int/F, and using appropriate seal in off-hand.
I guess my main point is that there are play-styles for which an 80/80 I/F build can be a lot of fun, and if someone enjoys grinding the levels, it might even be the most fun! And after some RL it will be the most powerful caster build, having access to all magics at max power, with the exception of people who want to be swap monsters-- and I'm sure there are some power-mongering masochists out there who play that way.
It might be interesting to figure out at what RL, 80/80 I/F becomes the strongest caster build. I would guess in the 300s-- and that's only about half way to max level and I could see someone reaching that naturally during NG+ playthroughs.
Ultimately, I don't think it's all about raw damage, it's about the versatility of having all incants and sorceries available on one's caster with high scaling on both focus items. Then 80/80 makes sense with PoD/GOS.
@@Blitnock this is great info, thanks!
Prince of DEATH staff. Its a death mage dingus. All death magic requires int and faith.
Yes, I do understand the lore behind it, and why they do that. I'm just saying that if you want you enemies to MEET death faster, don't use the PODS.
Question: I made my Astrologer character into a pure, 80 INT Mage, but I put a good amount of levels into both Faith and Arcane in order to use my other sorceries at will. Should I have instead just put those levels into DEX or Mind instead?
Also, real quick, if you want an in game name for the INT/Faith build, that’s what a number of Fundamentalist Incantations need, so it’d make sense to call it a Fundamentalist Build. It’s a bit of a mouthful though…
It does depend on what you are going for. If you are planning on PvP then no, you need to specialize, as the level requirements make a PODs build REALLY Difficult to max. Whereas if you don't mind going up to level 250+ you might find PODs works better for your play style. But it depends on what spells you like to fling and how much mind and ex you have already and if you are fine with taking up a talisman slot for that one talisman that boosts spell speed.
Ok, but if you have like 70 dex, and 80 fth and 80 int, you will still more damage with PoD staff... technically also str since it scales D with str.
But which looks cooler?
The regal scepter! hands down!!
So since I’m level 713 I go for prince of death😂
Lol. Sorry, Toby.
I'm not! Words mean things! You can't just use a word and make up it's Sandpants!