Glass Cannon Mage Help!

I need some help. I'm building a "glass cannon" mage. It's a mini-challenge for me. My goal is to take INT to 44 (initial damage boost to all sorceries and eventual use of crystal soul spear). Only THEN will I level up anything else (I lie... I did level up STR to 10 and DEX to 12 for the Estoc and Attunement up to 19 for the slots). What to do with weapons? Elemental I assume. But I need to keep one regular for buff. Ideas? I have accumulated a few longswords. I was thinking of using them as my elemental base. What's the best weapon to use crystal magic weapon? I was told something that hits quick. Dagger? lol.

Thanks in advance.

You should see my post below this one with my mage...take int straight to 50, and pick up the bandit's knife then take it to Enchanted +5...it will blow away anything in NG and pretty much most of NG+ by itself without needing castings especially when you hit the BS/Ripostes. Get the Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring and the Crown of Dusk as soon as you can to up all of your spell damage and use Great Soul Arrows, you can pick up like 2 castings at least in NG from Big Hat and his buddy and I THINK rickert sells it. Also, Sorcerer's Catalyst is the best catalyst through the whole game hands down, I wouldn't even waste time getting the manus catalyst unless you plan on investing in Str or going straight dark magics. Just use his soul to pick up pursuers which at 50 int/ Sorc Cata(226 Adj) does ~1300 dam

My Mage

You should really try to stay out of range as a glass cannon. Even with an buffed weapon you'd still die before your opponent does.



http://mmdks.com/217v - SL 55 version

-Max magic adjustment

-Use of dusk ring/Crystallization catalyst cancels eachother out while improving your adjustment even more. If you don't like that then you can always switch back to Logan's catalyst/red tearstone ring.

- Magic rapier is stronger than lightning/chaos rapier(but seriously don't use it)

- Composite bow does high damage

- Obligatory lightroll/dusk crown/bellowing dragoncrest ring


http://mmdks.com/218d - SL 120 version

- Same exact base as the SL 55 version

- 45 dex for fastest possible cast time

- Pyromancy flame added for AoE

- Power within increases damagge by another 40%

- Increased stamina to hold kite shield which blocks 100% physical damage

- Added strength to increase composite bow damage

I don't think 120 is typical stopping point anymore is it?

*not a hardcore pvp so don't know*

As far as I know, the stopping points are 55 99 120 and 150. 150 is too high of a level for me and too easy to build a build for. So I went to 120 and 55 so he could figure out the middle-point himself if he want to stop at 99.

Edit: Unless of course I'm such a genius that how exactly I would make a sl 99 is important enough for you to want to know <3

^_^ good deal, also, did NOT ever think of adding dusk ring to manus catalyst to cancel it out....damn that's neat, thanks for that tip

Yea. It's not really THAT viable of an option though. With the crystallization/dusk ring combo, you have more health, but I'm pretty sure it's less damage compared to Logans catalyst/red tearstone ring. I just use it for simplicity and stealth so I don't have to deal with getting my healthdown and I don't have the red aura.

For stealth: Chameleon :p...nothing like seeing a big jar cast a soul spear or walk around with little black orbs floating above it lol

Thank you all for your tips! I think I'm on the right track. I guess I just need to let go of my melee tendency! That is, again, why I started that challenge. I also need to you Great Soul Arrow more. I went straight from Soul Arrow to Heavy then Great Heavy. Cast times are SOOOOO slow.

Is this for PvP, or PvE?

Because if it's for pvp then great heavy and heavy soul spears won't hit anything. absolutely useless. Stay away

http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?c=264529892434381414

PvE. I'm not a PvP person. I love to co-op though. Nothing wrong with White Dragon Breath. Funny thing is as I've reviewed the available sorceries, I saw Dragon Breath and am tempted to go to 50 INT but that's a lot.