Elden Ring Mage Build: Weapons, Spells, Tips

You will get to have one of the best Mage builds in Elden Ring through this guide. From what Keepsake, Ash of War, to weapons and spells, I will go through what my personal experience has provided us and let you guys in on the fun as well. Because I know it takes a considerable amount of time and spending hours in the game to develop and figure out the best spells, strategies, weapons, and even builds. That is why I am most confident that this guide will help you solve your problems in Elden Ring.

Mage Build Overview

For an early and powerful Mage build in Elden Ring, selecting the right class is crucial. Among the available options, the Astrologer class stands out as the ideal choice. Here’s why:

1. Exceptional Starting Abilities: The Astrologer class offers two outstanding starting abilities that complement the Mage build, giving you an advantage from the beginning.
2. Highest Intelligence: Among all the classes, the Astrologer boasts the highest Intelligence attribute, which is essential for a Mage-focused character.

And the stats that the game offers to you for the Astrologer are as follows;

Stats	Value
Dexterity	12
Mind	15
Soul Level	6
Faith	7
Intelligence	16
Endurance	9
Strength	8
Vigor	9
Arcane	9

The Mage has a magical resistance due to the use of Glintstone Sorcery, along with a variety of different spells it can cast. Another thing you should know is that the Astrologer class can offer players to cast more spells along with a variety. Before I get into the build, you should know the following steps you need to consider.

Choosing the Best Keepsake

For your Elden Ring Mage Build as an Astrologer, you have two excellent Keepsake options to choose from:

1. Crimson Amber Medallion: This keepsake provides you with additional HP, which is a significant advantage early in the game. It enhances your survivability, allowing you to withstand more hits from enemies.
2. Golden Seed: Opting for the Golden Seed grants your character an extra flask, which is highly beneficial for maintaining a sufficient FP pool for casting sorceries. The additional flask also serves as a healing option in critical situations.

Both options have their merits, so consider your playstyle and preferences when making your choice. You can refer to the “Top 5 Best Keepsake” guide for the Astrologer class to help you decide.

Leveling the Important Stats

For an effective Mage build in Elden Ring, prioritizing your stats is crucial. Here’s where you should focus:

1. Intelligence: Your primary stat should be Intelligence. It allows you to cast numerous sorceries with ease, making it the backbone of your Mage build.
2. Vigor: Invest in Vigor to increase your HP. This added health will improve your survivability in battles, ensuring you can endure more hits from enemies.
3. Mind: Leveling up Mind is essential as it boosts your FP, which is vital for casting sorceries. More FP means you can cast more spells, increasing your combat effectiveness.
4. Dexterity: While not as critical as the above stats, consider putting some points into Dexterity. It slightly reduces spell casting time, but this aspect may not be a major concern for most players.

Mage Build Playstyle

When playing your Mage build in Elden Ring, you start with two spells, Glintstone Pebble and Glintstone Arc. These spells serve as decent starting options. Glintstone Pebble allows you to target a single enemy, while Glintstone Arc deals area-of-effect damage, making it effective against multiple foes. You can manipulate enemy positioning to maximize the effectiveness of Glintstone Arc.

However, the goal is not to spam these two spells repeatedly. To cast more spells efficiently, you should acquire more than two memory stones. You can find three memory stones in different locations, as mentioned in various guides. These stones enable you to learn and purchase new spells and incantations from vendors and NPCs throughout the game.

Be discerning in your choices, as not all spells offered will be useful. Avoid wasting your FP on ineffective spells and seek alternatives that better suit your Mage build.

Mage Build Weapons & Powerful Spells 

You can discover more potent spells for your use in the game. The initial options are the two mentioned earlier, but alternatives are available. Here are some of the most powerful spells for your mage build in Elden Ring.

Rest assured, the game offers valuable spells and items beyond useless ones. With my Elden Ring Mage Build guide, you can become powerful by focusing on Intelligence Stats for the Astrologer. Additionally, you can exchange scrolls with various vendors to acquire top-tier spells. For example, the Royal House Scroll is a great choice for getting the following spells.

Carian Slicer

The Glintblade Phalanx and the Carian Slicer are your Mage Build’s most valuable spells, especially the Carian Slicer, costing only 4 FP while dealing significant damage to enemies. Despite its low FP cost, it requires close or melee range, which contradicts mage playstyle preferences. However, the spell boasts a favorable casting time and range, allowing you to efficiently eliminate groups of enemies and maximize damage output.

Glintblade Phalanx Spell

The Glintblade Phalanx Spell has a similar range to other spells but lacks significant damage. It’s useful when mounted on a horse, allowing you to activate the spell to evade enemy attacks. When activated, it surrounds you with small swords that damage enemies in your direction, taking advantage of your movement speed.

The spell can also lock onto enemies, making it easier to hit them. Mounting a horse reduces the locking animation and allows you to move between casts, dodging enemy attacks. Consider incorporating this spell into your mage build for versatility.

To enhance your mage build, you’ll need additional tools and items, including a staff available later in the game.

Meteorite Staff

You can acquire this staff early in the game near the Inner Aeonia Site Grace by destroying four poisonous flowers inside a small tower. The staff offers decent damage and enhances spells like the Rock Sling Spell. However, it can’t be upgraded for more power, but it’s still a valuable addition to your mage build due to reduced cast times. Its Dexterity and Faith scaling further enhance its usefulness.

Rock Sling Spell

The Rock Sling spell, which deals high damage and has low FP consumption, can be found at the Aeonia Swamp Site of Grace, near where you obtained the Meteorite Staff. After acquiring the spell, speak to Molina and return to the Church of Elleh to obtain two more items for your mage build: the Spirit Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes Summon from Renna.

The summoned wolves can distract and tank enemies, allowing you to prepare for a counterattack or healing. Next, equip powerful long-range spells in your secondary slot. To do this, head to Caria Manor at the map’s end, defeat the guards, and collect the Lazuli Glintstone Sword they drop.

Lazuli Glintstone Sword

The Lazuli Glintstone Sword scales with Intelligence and offers decent damage. Unlike other swords in the game, it doesn’t have any specific Strength, Dexterity, or Faith requirements, making it accessible as soon as you obtain it. This makes it a great choice, as you won’t need to invest points in any stats to use it.

After getting the sword, head upward on the Caria Manor map, ignoring the giant to your right, and make your way toward Loretta.

All in all, why should you consider taking this sword? Well, compared to any other sword that scales with Intelligence, it has the lowest requirements to wield, so you only need; 

Stats	Value
Strength	8
Dexterity	9
Intelligence	13

It means that the Astrologer class can use it effectively at the start of the game, and my mage build can use it without wasting any points on Strength or Dexterity like the other magical weapons. It makes the Lazuli Glintstone sword one of the best close combat weapon choices for the Mage Build throughout the game. The real reason why this sword is great is its move set and skill ability.

How to use

When wielding the Lazuli Glintstone Sword in your right hand, you can use its special skill, which fires a Glintstone Pebble directly from the sword without using a memory slot. Additionally, the sword has a hidden attack: if you fire a Glintstone Pebble and then perform a power attack, you’ll execute a powerful lunge that impales enemies on the blade. This attack has an impressive range and can often stagger your enemy, allowing you to follow up with a guard break critical.

Loretta’s Greatbow Spell

To test the power of your Mage build, you can take on the Royal Knight Loretta with just two items and spells. Start by summoning your wolves to distract her while you use the Rock Sling spell. This combination is effective against larger enemies and even bosses. With the meteorite staff, you can deal significant damage, and Loretta will be preoccupied with the summoned wolves.

Defeating her will reward you with Loretta’s Greatbow, a valuable addition to your mage build. This spell is excellent for boss encounters due to its range. What sets the Greatbow apart is its charge mechanic, which deals more damage the longer you hold the button, and it has an impressive AOE effect, capable of wiping out groups of enemies in a single hit.

Carian Greatsword

To obtain it, you will need to go to the Church of Vows and talk to the turtle lying inside the ruin. Buy both the spells that he has on him, for which you will need 10k for the Carian Greatsword. The Carian Greatsword is like an upgraded Carian Slicer.

However, the range of the sword is a great up point for you and you can still use it while running away from enemies or mounted on a horse, because the range and the length of the sword is amazing. So, it’s much easier to attack enemies with it than the Carian Slicer, and it looks pretty cool along with its damage output.

Related: Best Elden Ring Greatswords

Unlock Additional Memory Slots

Having a surplus of spells but insufficient memory slots can be frustrating. To address this, you’ll need to acquire three memory stones located in different towers. 

1. Return to Caria Manor, where you defeated Loretta. Navigate through the woods to reach Renna’s Tower. At the tower’s summit, you’ll find a chest containing a memory stone.
2. Proceed to Seluvis’s Tower and reach its pinnacle. Once again, locate a memory stone inside a chest.
3. Head to Oridys’s Rise and complete the mini-quest involving the three turtles. Enter the tower and retrieve a memory slot from a chest at the top.

After that, go outside again and climb to the top to pick up another memory slot. You’ll also get a memory slot from killing the first main story boss, and memory stones can also be bought from the the NPC at the Round Table Hold.

Now that you have additional memory slots, you will be able to cast all your new spells and have a good variety of them at your disposal.

Flask of Wondrous Physick

Finally, you need to pick up a flask of Wondrous Physick. These potions help you get an edge in your fights and they mostly increase your HP and FP potions. You need HP and FP to cast more spells and have enough health to prolong the fights. It would be best to mix the potion using an Opaline Bubbletear and an Intelligence-Knot Crystal Tear.

Both of these tears can be obtained from Erdtree Avatar Boss and Caria Manor, by killing Loretta. Once you mix these potions, you will be able to dodge enemy attacks. It will trigger a bubble on your character that protects you from incoming damage. But, it can only be used one per strike.

Moreover, it will raise your intelligence so you can deal huge damage to the enemies. 

Allocating Flasks

As an Elden Ring mage, prioritizing your HP and increasing your FP is essential. Start by using the Golden Seed keepsake early in the game to boost your FP capacity. Having higher FP and HP allows you to cast more spells and endure challenging battles.

To support your expanded spell repertoire, ensure you carry an ample supply of FP flasks. Following the advice provided in the Mage Build Guide will help you become formidable early in the game.

Raya Lucaria Academy Gate

The place has two main story bosses, so you have to go to Main Academy gate anyways, and by using this build, you won’t have to worry about a lot. You can progress through the game to get to this part and kill the bosses like they’re just random small-time enemies. In addition, the place is filled with useful stuff for a mage, so it deserves its section in my guide, and I would recommend that players explore this area intensively as it will help them a lot.

Graven-School Talisman

The Talisman is a unique and powerful item that significantly boosts your damage output, making it an excellent addition to your mage build. To obtain it, follow these steps:

1. Start at the School-House Classroom grace.
2. Take a right turn and move upwards.
3. At the first available right turn, continue moving upwards.
4. You’ll come across an illusionary wall concealing the Talisman.
5. Pass through the illusionary wall and climb the stairs.
6. Descend down a hole twice to reach a room where you can collect the Talisman.

Radagon Icon Talisman

In addition to the Talisman, you can also obtain the Radagon Icon in the same room, which is an excellent choice for your mage build. This icon reduces the casting speed of your spells, significantly improving the performance of spells that have longer cast times.

To acquire the Radagon Icon:

1. Start at the Debate Parlor grace.
2. Head outside and make a sharp right turn.
3. Jump off the balcony and ascend the ladder at the end.
4. After climbing the ladder, enter one of the broken windows to find the Radagon Icon.

With both the Talisman and the Radagon Icon in your possession, you’ll experience a significant power spike, enhancing your mage build’s effectiveness.

Azur’s Glintstone Staff

To obtain Azur’s Glintstone Staff in the Raya Lucaria Academy Gate area, follow these steps:

1. Begin by exploring the rooftops in the area until you come across a house with open windows.
2. Enter the house through one of the open windows and drop down a level.
3. You will now be on the upper level of the church.
4. In one of the far corridors of this area, you’ll encounter an enemy. You can make this fight easier by using the Loretta Greatbow, which offers exceptional range and damage.
5. At the end of this location, you’ll find a shiny pickup, which is Azur’s Glintstone Staff.

Twinsage Glintstone Crown

To obtain the Twinsage Glintstone Crown, follow these steps:

1. After getting Azur’s Glintstone Staff in the Raya Lucaria Academy Gate area, make your way to the other side of the upper-level location.
2. Look for a large wooden platform in the area.
3. Cross the platform to reach the other side, where you will find an object with shiny crystals on it.
4. Destroy this object, and it will drop the Twinsage Glintstone Crown.

This crown is a valuable helmet that provides a significant +6 boost to your Intelligence. It’s an essential item for enhancing your mage build in Elden Ring, so be sure to equip and keep it for your character.

Carian Knight Armor Set

Before leaving the Raya Lucaria Academy area, it’s a good idea to obtain the Carian Knight Set to bolster your defenses.

Follow these steps to acquire the set:

1. Travel to the Church of the Cuckoo.
2. Enter the graveyard and head to the right side.
3. Continue until you come across a bridge, which you’ll cross.
4. Stay on the right side after crossing the bridge and go up.
5. Jump down from the platform you reach at the end.
6. You’ll find the Carian Knight Set surrounded by enemies. You can pick it up without engaging in combat, as they won’t attack you.

Focusing on leveling up your defenses while staying within the medium load category is crucial for your mage build. This allows you to maintain good defensive stats while still being able to perform a medium load roll, which is more advantageous than a heavy load roll.

Ensure your equip load doesn’t exceed 70 to stay agile. The Carian Knight Set is an excellent choice as it provides well-rounded stats and high resistance to physical attacks, which are more prevalent in many areas of the game compared to sorcery-based damage.

Elden Ring Mage Build Tips

Here are some additional tips to enhance your Elden Ring Mage Build:

1. Maintain Distance: Always keep your distance from enemies and use your summoned wolves to distract them while you cast long-range spells. Being mounted on a horse allows you to evade attacks more efficiently and use spells like Carian Slicer effectively.
2. Beware of Restricted Areas: Be aware of areas that don’t allow you to use summons or spirits. Avoid these places whenever possible, as it can simplify your gameplay since this build heavily relies on summons.
3. Upgrade Your Spirits: Visit the Round Table Hold and upgrade your spirits and summons to make them even stronger. Provide the NPC with items you find in dungeons to enhance their abilities.
4. Glintstone Stars: Consider using Glintstone Stars to inflict substantial damage, particularly against mobile bosses like the wolf in Raya Lucaria. The Swift Glintstone is ideal for precise attacks from horseback and can be effective in both PvE and PvP scenarios as an Astrologer.

Final Words

The following guide may not have everything for a Mage Build In Elden Ring, but following this particular build and having this set of spells, memory slots, summons, etc., will make you incredibly powerful even at the start of the game. Also, the build is a lot more engaging and fun than spamming the Glintstone Pebble.

The best thing about it is that you only need to get a few additional Intelligence points to cast all these spells as an Astrologer. There are, however, more spells in the game that will unlock when you get to 30-50 Intelligence, and that’s something for the late game.

Moreover, some of those spells will be insane, which I will have to wait to see later on in the game. Most people rely on Carian Slicer and Glintstone Pebble, which is not an effective way to progress. However, once you read the guide, you will understand most of the concepts and reasons to go with this particular Mage Build. You will also diversify your attacks and increase your damage combos.