| Build summary | A powerful PVP focused mage that relies on cloak, backstabbing, melee skills, and cunning. |
| Recommended starting class(es) | Royal |
| Recommended Soul Level | |
|
Recommended stats (Leave at default (**) if not raised) |
|
| Vitality | 25 |
| Will/Intelligence | 35 |
| Endurance | 26-30 |
| Strength | 18 |
| Dexterity | ** |
| Magic | 35-40 |
| Faith | 18? |
| Luck | ** |
| Recommended equipment |
Head- Silver Circlet Armor- Any that does not impede stamina regen and allows you to run/roll fast (e.g.- black leather, Binded set) Weapon 1- Crescent Kilij +5 Weapon 2- Fatal Estoc +5 Shield- Knight's Shield +10, Rune Shield +5 Left hand- Talisman of Beasts Ring 1- Thief's ring, Cling Ring Foe's/ Friend's Ring if you are brave) Ring 2- Graverobber's ring (when defending) |
| Recommended spells/miracles |
Cloak (a MUST for invading) Second Chance |
| Gameplay tips and progression |
This is my favorite build for PVP. I invade, immediately cast cloak, then I find my target and assess the situation (e.g. what sort of build I am up against,how many blue phantoms…). Patience is essential. You want to try and position yourself in a hard to see spot that your target will pass by (e.g. behind a corner, in the shadows). Once you are behind them, target lock, rush in, and backstab, followed immediately by Plague Cloud. After that, switch to your shield and your kilij, then run and and take a few slashes. If your victim is alone s/he will probably panic and try and run away and heal (good luck finding that Widow's Lotus while dodging my kilij!). When they run away, try and get in a backstab. If they want to fight you at close range, raise your shield and attack when their stamina is spent. Homing Soul Arrow is great at keeping attackers away and will likely finish them off if all the arrows connect . Before you first attack it is important to re-cast cloak once it wears off! You can tell when it wears off because if you have your catalyst equipped and the cloak spell selected, it will glow when it is ready for use again. Make sure run away a little from your target before casting the spell as they might hear the sound. The most ideal situation is to catch your target unaware with a well-placed backstab that sends them off a cliff or something to their hilarious death. I have done this on several occaisions in Stonefang 2-1. When a player sees that you have invaded they will usually come back to the archstone to face you. However, with your cloak applied they won't be able to see anything! Their confusion and fear will quickly rise, making them skittish as they realize they are being hunted by an invisible foe! Lastly, DO NOT USE REGEN EQUIPMENT (e.g. Adjudicator's Shield, Fragrant Ring, ect.) as a Shadowmage because the blue, green, or gold aura will be visible to your enemies DESPITE your cloak! This is the ulitmate noob thing to do. |
Shadowmage
Des, good for a first attempt. I have a few criticisms and suggestions, as always, and I won't rate it either way just yet.
Firstly…I don't think it makes much sense as a build. Using cloak and stealth tactics is better with a Dex build optimised for Fatal weapons, rather than running a Fatal weapon or a less effective Crescent one on what is essentially a Spellsword/Battlemage variation.
If you want to try a Dex build instead with a pretty much identical playstyle but more versatile weapons and less spells. just PM me or ask on vent and I can give you some pointers, should you need them.
If we get past that basic criticsm on point of principle, I have a few changes I'd make to the stats if you are determined to stick with that character.
Firstly, the Vitality is a little low. I know you don't intend to get hit much, but in this day and age (sad to say, I know EWGF would agree with me), jumping has become much more common and if you want to be able to stand a chance in a straight-up fight you are going to need at least 35, possibly 40 Vit.
As for the Int, I believe you need to decide if you want 5 or 6 slots. Getting 35 Int is a waste, as if you only want 5 slots you have wasted 5 SLs worth of points for a small amount of MP. If you want the 6 slot option, it'd be obviously better to go to for 40.
Endurance is a hard thing to decide for a Spellsword variation, some people are advocates of low End and with your weapon choices it would be reasonaly practical. I myself usually go for 40 on any character I intend on using melee with, but it's really personal preference with that stat.
One question…why 18 Strength? I don't see any item on your equip list that requires it, and with 18 surely a Crescent or Moon Uchigatana would be superior to the Kilij? You could even bring the Str down a little and twohand either of them.
Your Magic and Faith are fine, perhaps a little more Magic (but that comes with the territory as you level.) Just don't go over 50, or the crippling diminishing returns will make you waste points for paltry damage gains.
Hopefully that'll give you a few ideas to play around with, I'll be watching this one. Also, I want to see you use cloak. xD.
DSWiki Admin, Site Administrator,
Demon's Souls EU Strategy Guide Author, Namco Bandai Community Team Member;
That guy with the Kilij in all those Tournaments.
ILKARRRRR! I CHALLENGE YOU!!!!…. nah just kiddin.
Thanks for the advice! Yeah, some things like strength have misallocated points. And yeah, I plan on getting 6 magic slots (7 with ring of magical nature) with 40 int.
Stooge, what a great idea for a tournament! I will be ready soon with a slightly revamped Shadowmage build :D
And another thing…
I might consider raising my dex and lowering my magic…. however I would still want 7 magic slots in the end. Mmm…. but lowering magic would give me less homing soul arrows… Having 5 of those is awesome.
I think the most sure way of killing when invading is with melee attacks rather than pure magic force (i.e. firestorm). Plague sets them up and melee kills.
You can't really go both ways, if you know what I mean. If you want to use HSA and maybe Firestorm, then go pure magic and don't get Dex.
If you want to use clouds, cloak and Fatal weps, go Dex and get like…18 Int for 3 spellslots.
DSWiki Admin, Site Administrator,
Demon's Souls EU Strategy Guide Author, Namco Bandai Community Team Member;
That guy with the Kilij in all those Tournaments.
Like Ilkar, I have a few suggestions…
- He is right about how the concept would be better suited as a Dexterity build, but I'll assume you're sticking with this one.
- With Vitality, I would say 30 should help you survive a few hits. However, if you're planning on doing any serious melee, 35-40 would be better.
- I would leave Intelligence at 30. The bonus from 30 to 40 is actually pretty good (80 MP, extra spell slot), but a bit too costly with hybrid builds. 5 spell slots will allow you to carry Cloak, Death Cloud and Homing Soul Arrow; no room for Firestorm even if you go to 40, so ave yourself some stat points.
- If you are planning on using a Kilij, 30 Endurance or maybe even 25 should be enough. With Uchigatanas, though, you'll need at least 30, and even that is a tight squeeze.
- I recommend at least 45 Magic. I'm pretty sure at 41 Magic you get the 5th Bolt for Homing Soul Arrow, and you'll need the spellpower anyway.
Hope this helps ^_^
- I saw the ? next to Faith, so in case you weren't sure, definitely use Talisman of Beasts. It will overpower the Wooden Catalyst with your stats.
PSN: Nick1Nintendo
Ask my anything. About Magic, that is.
Thanks for the suggestions! I am in the process of raising vit and int right now.
I think the cloaking effects don't stack, so why use cloak, thief's ring and graverobber's ring, since only one of them (the highest) is going to matter?
Just so you know…don't use Thief's Ring or Graverobber's Ring. Their effects don't stack with Cloak or Hidden Soul. Besides, the two spells have slightly more powerful stealth effects anyway, and are cheap enough to keep active without much trouble.
PSN: Nick1Nintendo
Ask my anything. About Magic, that is.
Keep in mind that anything that gives an aura will give your location away as cloak doesn't hide your aura. Things like crescent weapons and second chance.