The Wizard is one of the most powerful classes you can field in Solasta: Crown of the Magister thanks to a lot of spells with a large area-of-effect. Blasting your opponents, or just casting a bunch of utility spells to aid in exploration, make it an ideal pick for your party. Here’s our guide to help you with the Wizard class and builds in Solasta: Crown of the Magister.
Note: For more information, check out our Solasta: Crown of the Magister guides and features hub. Likewise, please be reminded that this guide is based on my experience with a full campaign completion on Authentic difficulty. My party was comprised of a Cleric, Paladin, Ranger, and Wizard.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister – Wizard class and builds guide
Starting out
- Race: High Elf
- Weapon change: None
- Arcane Tradition (level 2): Shock Arcanist
- Background: Acolyte
- Ability Scores and Skills: I used dice rolls and optimize. You can see the results in the image below.
Class Features
- Starting Cantrips (one race cantrip and three class cantrips) – Fire Bolt (long-range damage), Light (illumination), Shocking Grasp (melee damage and daze), and Chill Touch (prevent undead targets from healing).
- Starting Spells (you can pick six during character creation) – Burning Hands (frontal cone AoE), Jump (exploration), Mage Armor (defense), and Magic Missile (triple hit damage). You can also take Detect Magic and Identify to help you check items. They are ritual spells, so just click on the ritual tab in your action bar to cast them so you don’t spend a spell slot.
Leveling up
| Level | Unlocked Class Features, Extra Spell Slots, or Special Choice | Prepared Spells (Personal Preference) |
| Level 2 | Arcane Recovery – Recover expended spell slots based on half your Wizard level when you do a short rest; once per day +1 spell slot (1st) Arcane Traditions: Greenmage, Loremaster, and Shock ArcanistTip: I chose Shock Arcanist here. I’ll explain more below. | You can pick two more rank 1 spells. Here are some decent options: Shield Sleep |
| Level 3 | +1 spell slot (1st) +2 spell slots (2nd) | You can select two rank 2 spells. I’d go with: Misty Step (teleport; useful for exploration) Scorching Ray (quadruple hit spell) |
| Level 4 | +1 spell slot (2nd) +1 cantrip Choose: Increase ability score or a bonus feat Tip: Increase your INT by +2 points | Cantrip choice: Ray of Frost (useful vs. fire-based targets) Spell choice (pick two): Blindness Flaming Sphere Ray of Enfeeblement Spider Climb |
| Level 5 | +3 proficiency bonus High Elf cantrip – 16 save DC; +8 spell attack Wizard spells – 16 save DC; +8 spell attack +2 spell slots (3rd) | Fireball Fly |
| Level 6 | Arcane Fury – Add proficiency and INT bonuses to your evocation spell damage for one minute; recharged after a long rest +1 spell slot (3rd) | Slow Haste vs. Lightning Bolt vs. Counterspell |
| Level 7 | +1 spell slot (4th) | Black Tentacles Ice Storm |
| Level 8 | +1 spell slot (4th) Choose: Increase ability score or a bonus feat Tip: Assuming your INT is already at 20, you can take the Flawless Concentration feat | Wall of Fire Pick a suggested rank 3 spell that you didn’t get earlier (i.e., Haste) |
| Level 9 | +4 proficiency bonus High Elf cantrip – 17 save DC; +9 spell attack Wizard spells – 17 save DC; +9 spell attack +1 spell slot (4th) +1 spell slot (5th) | Cone of Cold Conjure Elemental vs. Mind Twist |
| Level 10 | Arcane Shock – Overcharge your mana and become restrained until the end of your turn. If you cast an attack spell, the damage rolls are always above average. Make a CON saving throw and take psychic damage if you fail. +1 spell slot (5th) +1 cantrip | Cantrip choice: Any Spell choice: Pick the rank 5 spell that you weren’t able to get earlier. You can also select one more from any rank. |
Is the Shock Arcanist Wizard good?
I mean, look at that long list of spells? Can you imagine making them even more powerful? But, I’m getting ahead of myself. The other options for the Arcane Traditions subclass are:
- Greenmage – You can unlock Ranger-type spells such as Goodberry and Hunter’s Mark. You can even get Faerie Fire, as well as gain proficiency in Light Armor and Bows. Sadly, this subclass is a bit pointless if you already have a Ranger in your squad.
- Loremaster – You gain bonuses to Arcana, History, and Investigation checks. Likewise, it’s easier for you to copy scrolls to your spellbook, and crafting potions/scrolls tends to be faster. What a waste, eh?
As for the Shock Arcanist, it basically allows certain spells to be cast one level higher than the default selection. For instance, if you expend a level 2 slot to cast something like Magic Missile, it’s as though you cast the level 3 version. Long story short, some spells will deal more damage, so what’s not to like?
Here are the affected spells: Magic Missile, Thunderwave, Burning Hands, Acid Arrow, Scorching Ray, Flaming Sphere, Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Ice Storm, and Cone of Cold. Since we picked most of these, you can expect higher burst and AoE damage. Moreover, if you took the Flawless Concentration feat, it’ll be harder to break your concentration when Black Tentacles or Conjure Elemental is active.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is available via Steam. For more information, check out our guides and features hub.
Published: May 26, 2021 09:45 pm