Actually Expose Vulnerabilties is considered one of the crucial spells. Not only for PotD where you have problems with dealing damage, but in general the pure math behind this spell is crazy. Not only you hit enemy more often, but also it makes all the abilities/spells that hit multiple time much better. Single party member will deal about ~20 more damage to a single affected enemy and you have 6 party members and the spell is AoE.
Level 1 spells: Minoletta's Minor Missiles - While the game says they do Crush/Corrode damage, even with the Corrode damage boost talent, I have never seen them do Corrode damage. This might be a typo in the game? Thrust of Tattered Veils - Even at higher levels, timing this spell to get that possible interrupt is difficult. It's just not worth it compared to slapping an enemy with slicken, for example. Level 2: Arcane veil vs Grimoire Slam vs Blast - G.S. will knock them back just to have them walk back into melee. Not worth it. Arcane veil is a massive boost to deflection, and can easily save the wizard, even if you aren't focusing on melee damage. Important to note that firearms tend to ignore arcane protection, though! Blast is nice, but early on, it can too easily draw aggro your wizard doesn't want. Curse of Blackened Sight - It has one advantage over Chill Fog: It's a Foe AoE, so if your melee lines are mixed, it's a safe spell to drop on the enemies. Necrotic Lance - It's really hampered by targeting Fortitude. If you're planning on casting it, cast Eldritch Aim first.
More than any other class, if you aren't planning on being a spellsword (melee wizard), I don't like the AI. It never seems to cast the spells I would want it to cast. Even the spellsword is only great for self-buffing when the fight starts, when it comes to assigning targets, you're smarter than the computer.
Good video as always :) You describe Ironskin as if it's removed after getting a single hit/crit. It is actually removed after getting 10 hits/crits; it is not bad on wizard with good deflection.
Combusting Wounds was a part of the dirty team iirc. The one where everyone focus on different, often AoE, CC and then just throw at them all persistent damage.. Because the thing is that damage of this spell bypasses DR, all or most of it. Personally though I have never used this tactics so I need someone to confirm.
Interesting class, it is still among the top 3 of classes i am considering for my playthrough, but your concerns about the reactivity with the wizard in the game is well taken. The hunt for grimoires and grimoires with unique spells sounds very fun, so i definitely have some things to think about before i start my playthrough 😆but thank you alot for the series, it has really helped me get an idea about which classes i am going to play 😃❤
Do what I did, I couldn't pick between Cipher, rogue or wizard, so I rolled a Cier and hired a custom rogue and a custom wizard! Still leaves 3 slots for story companions. Let me just say, PotD is a cakewalk early on with 2 wizards and a cipher.
A essential class for CC and debuffs. The grimoire swapping was never useful in my experience. Fan of Flames does very high damage and can be used with good positioning. Incredibly useful for the temple in Gilded Vale for killing spirits.
Great video as always. I think you could also cover unlockable talents as well like when you pick up arcane veil there is a next level one that you unlock
Deleterious Alacrity+minor blightsand blast is a game changer! Especially when you add in Essential Phantom As combusting wounds is weak, and chill effects put out fires, casting combusting wounds on top of chill fog works and does great AOE damage!
@SlanderedGaming Aloth is killer with this combo, even with mediocre stat spread, but a custom wizard would easily outshine! Where Aloth really shines is Deadfire. I built him as a Wiz/fighter tank with buffs and he easily ended up outclassing Eder by level 10. Eder and Aloth in either game, never leave my party.
Mmm Wizard I always gravitate towards arcane casters in fantasy and the Pillars Wizard is one of the best with its sheer versatility there's several playstyles that are all viable. Control? ✅ Damage?✅ Melee? Hell Yeah! And with Aloth being great double Wizard! And there's enough spell variety you don't need to overlap except for the essential spells.
I finished this game with a wizard character, but hearing your analysis I missed a lot of the systems and apparently played it much less effectively. Still fun though 😄 AlthoughI like wizards, in PoE the psycher was for me the most fun and unique class.
Yeah, it's a disappointing consequence of the vancian magic system. Since spell slots are so limiting, high efficiency spells like CC and debuffs are preferred.
Aloth and his lackluster attributes, primarily used for utility, regularly has the most damage dealt in my party throughout an entire playthrough. If they were any more focused on damage, no class would be able to compete in any fashion. They're already the best tank and crowd controller. 🤷♂️ Edit: PotD difficulty with a lot of meta gaming and min/maxing.
Actually Expose Vulnerabilties is considered one of the crucial spells. Not only for PotD where you have problems with dealing damage, but in general the pure math behind this spell is crazy.
Not only you hit enemy more often, but also it makes all the abilities/spells that hit multiple time much better. Single party member will deal about ~20 more damage to a single affected enemy and you have 6 party members and the spell is AoE.
Yup looks like my reading for that was off and it actually is useful. I'll have to try it out more when I play this game again.
Level 1 spells: Minoletta's Minor Missiles - While the game says they do Crush/Corrode damage, even with the Corrode damage boost talent, I have never seen them do Corrode damage. This might be a typo in the game?
Thrust of Tattered Veils - Even at higher levels, timing this spell to get that possible interrupt is difficult. It's just not worth it compared to slapping an enemy with slicken, for example.
Level 2: Arcane veil vs Grimoire Slam vs Blast - G.S. will knock them back just to have them walk back into melee. Not worth it. Arcane veil is a massive boost to deflection, and can easily save the wizard, even if you aren't focusing on melee damage. Important to note that firearms tend to ignore arcane protection, though! Blast is nice, but early on, it can too easily draw aggro your wizard doesn't want.
Curse of Blackened Sight - It has one advantage over Chill Fog: It's a Foe AoE, so if your melee lines are mixed, it's a safe spell to drop on the enemies.
Necrotic Lance - It's really hampered by targeting Fortitude. If you're planning on casting it, cast Eldritch Aim first.
More than any other class, if you aren't planning on being a spellsword (melee wizard), I don't like the AI. It never seems to cast the spells I would want it to cast. Even the spellsword is only great for self-buffing when the fight starts, when it comes to assigning targets, you're smarter than the computer.
Awesome thank you for the notes.
Wall of many colors ticks often, paralyzing or petrifying foes like crazy. These afflictions also override lesser ones like stunned.
Good video as always :)
You describe Ironskin as if it's removed after getting a single hit/crit. It is actually removed after getting 10 hits/crits; it is not bad on wizard with good deflection.
Oh nice okay thanks for calling that out.
THEY LOVE CASTING SPELLS
I mean... I think so
SHADOW WIZARD MONEY GANG
Combusting Wounds was a part of the dirty team iirc. The one where everyone focus on different, often AoE, CC and then just throw at them all persistent damage.. Because the thing is that damage of this spell bypasses DR, all or most of it. Personally though I have never used this tactics so I need someone to confirm.
Yeah seems like it may be more useful than I gave it credit for.
Best class in the game, both in terms of gameplay due to its diversity and from a roleplaying point of view, especially if you have a certain DLC.
Wizard is indeed fantastic.
Interesting class, it is still among the top 3 of classes i am considering for my playthrough, but your concerns about the reactivity with the wizard in the game is well taken. The hunt for grimoires and grimoires with unique spells sounds very fun, so i definitely have some things to think about before i start my playthrough 😆but thank you alot for the series, it has really helped me get an idea about which classes i am going to play 😃❤
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!
Do what I did, I couldn't pick between Cipher, rogue or wizard, so I rolled a Cier and hired a custom rogue and a custom wizard! Still leaves 3 slots for story companions. Let me just say, PotD is a cakewalk early on with 2 wizards and a cipher.
A essential class for CC and debuffs.
The grimoire swapping was never useful in my experience.
Fan of Flames does very high damage and can be used with good positioning. Incredibly useful for the temple in Gilded Vale for killing spirits.
4:28 I just take ghost blades, basically burning hands, but can't hurt your mates.
Great video as always. I think you could also cover unlockable talents as well like when you pick up arcane veil there is a next level one that you unlock
I cover those in this video as well.
@@SlanderedGaming Sorry I don't know how I missed that!
Hi ma man your videos are always a great help to me for choosing classes for pillars of eternity
Thank you! Glad you enjoy them.
Deleterious Alacrity+minor blightsand blast is a game changer! Especially when you add in Essential Phantom
As combusting wounds is weak, and chill effects put out fires, casting combusting wounds on top of chill fog works and does great AOE damage!
Yeah I didn't realize how great the blights are during my original playthrough. If I play Pillars again I'll definitely use it a lot more.
@SlanderedGaming Aloth is killer with this combo, even with mediocre stat spread, but a custom wizard would easily outshine!
Where Aloth really shines is Deadfire. I built him as a Wiz/fighter tank with buffs and he easily ended up outclassing Eder by level 10. Eder and Aloth in either game, never leave my party.
Mmm Wizard I always gravitate towards arcane casters in fantasy and the Pillars Wizard is one of the best with its sheer versatility there's several playstyles that are all viable. Control? ✅ Damage?✅ Melee? Hell Yeah! And with Aloth being great double Wizard! And there's enough spell variety you don't need to overlap except for the essential spells.
I finished this game with a wizard character, but hearing your analysis I missed a lot of the systems and apparently played it much less effectively. Still fun though 😄
AlthoughI like wizards, in PoE the psycher was for me the most fun and unique class.
Nice glad you enjoyed your playthrough. Yeah Cipher was a TON of fun.
U should make builds for this game i been looking for updated builds but theres none
9:51 Ahh yes. The Succ spell
😂
Amazing video! Please tell me u will be going over pillars 2
Absolutely! I am going to take a little break to make a couple of other videos but yes I definitely plan to cover Deadfire.
@@SlanderedGaming dude hell yea🤘
14:40 KABOOM
2024 here Larian better make a pillars 3
Obsidian made Pillars
in a lot of CRPG's that are d&d inspired, mages are used for buffs, debuffs and controls but never for damage...and it sucks ! 😒
Yeah I am not a fan of that.
Yeah, it's a disappointing consequence of the vancian magic system. Since spell slots are so limiting, high efficiency spells like CC and debuffs are preferred.
Aloth and his lackluster attributes, primarily used for utility, regularly has the most damage dealt in my party throughout an entire playthrough. If they were any more focused on damage, no class would be able to compete in any fashion. They're already the best tank and crowd controller. 🤷♂️
Edit: PotD difficulty with a lot of meta gaming and min/maxing.