What is the best mage build?

The mage can really dominate all three traditional trinity roles. I generally play mine for DPS, and then there's a couple spells i generally use: Blood wound, Tempest, Cone of Cold, Blizzard, Spellmight  Mana clash, death cloud and all four hexes.


Storm of the century: Tempest, blizzard and spellmight generally kills all hostiles in a room; if you play on higher difficulties you either have to lock them in a room, cast Force Field on your tank. or stay at a distance and keep them in place with blood wound.  This spell is sometimes redunant next to blood wound-- if you've got enough spellpower and you can get them clustred enough.


Mana clash:  Basically kills all mages in a room, otherwise it leaves them vulnerable. When fighting a boss, it can be coupled with Affliction and/or vulnerability hex.

Entropic death: Cast Death cloud on a area; load your target up with affliction and vulnerability hexes-- then cast death hex, if you've got multiple mages it's nice to cast several.  It's a great boss killer!

Blood wound:  Maybe the most powerful mage spell; does very solid damage, and immoblizes your target.  A useful tactic is pulling aggro on your tank,  then using Blood Wound. It won't do enough to kill a boss, but i's great for killing weaker enimies. 

Cone of cold: This skill is bugged, and actually freezes all targets. Even High Dragons. Does very noticeable coned damage and cc's your target.


With your other skills you can really grab whatever you want; fireball and the walking bombs can be really awesome to combine with blood wound for increased damage.  I generally pick up arcane Warrior,  to wear cooler armor.

As for equipment; i'd reccomend picking up anything that gives you more magic and/or spellpower. Get this stat as high as possible. Spellpower is basically damage incarnate.


When you get to awakening, i'd pick up Elemental Mastery, Attunement and Hand of Winter. Also; the ring Spellbound is superb!