Int/dex Dual mage

[Dogmao]

Hi im pretty new in this game and however im lv 45... i saw sveral times mages with dex guns but changing to int stuff during a dungeon. i know u should have 127 int as well as dex. so my question:
should i change from pure int to int/dex? what r their pro and conts and do u hav exp with builds like that.
i usually play PVE, so dont talk about the importants in PVP games.

thx

Dog


PS: dont be afraid on my horrible language and grammar ^^

[Arterra]

well i only switched from str/int to dex/int because i didn't have full rift set, and void was cheap at the time.
personally i feel that since a keeper staff mage is already ranged and even has better aoe attacks, the only other thing i would want is a rushing/semi tanking build, which would be str.

i personally i cant do anything in pvp as dexmage, though maybe thats just my personal weakness.

[chrononh]

Dex Mage is fun to play, but it's pretty unspecialized in a way. It has better survivability in pve than pure int but not as good as pally. It has more damage than pally, but not as much as pure int.

It boils down to playing style preference.

Except for higher armor, I really hate farming as a pally because the weapons are too slow, you can never tank as well as a bear, and you run out of mana quickly if you like casting spells. Great for pvp, though.

With dex Mage, you can still run out of mana quickly if you spam spells too much. But again, you get to use the big guns with the long range.

When playing with two or more other mages, I switch to dex Mage because it really is fun to play. Most of the time while farming, though, I just play straight int.

P.S. I had a Thoth talon and used that a lot as a dex Mage from level 45 onwards until I got level 50 gear. Maybe a lower level, i.e. level 45, bowchantress can chime in.

[Ritualist]

should i change from pure int to int/dex? what r their pro and conts and do u hav exp with builds like that.


So far I've tried all the possible builds: dual Dex/Int, Pure Int, Pally, hardcore Dexchantress, other hybrids and right now I'm back playing as a dual Str/Int. Personally I find the dual Int/Dex the most stupid choice. No offense, but once you become one I don't see exactly any reason to switch my outfits since the stats are pretty much the same. You'll probably play an Int mage to clear the map and switch to Dex to kill or kite the boss at the end, I don't think it's worth it. Stats aside I always felt like whenever I was playing the Dex side it gave me the exact same results as I was playing the Int side. I'd rather just change my weapon choice to get more damage or more armor. I'd suggest you try out the pure Dexchantress to determine either it's something for you. At least when you're a full Dexchantress you feel like you make a difference with your gun. If you don't like it go back to Int or try something else.

Basically whatever you choose depends entirely on your game style. Dual builds are for people who like to play out of character. Pally's are survivors, they can make sure a low armor group doesn't just get wiped out and provide some awesome support. Pretty much all the Dexchantresses I know use a blaster of shotgun so I can say they die pretty easy when they go to the front lines, but the damage is usually worth it and since you're playing an Int mage atm I think you know what it is all about.

You don't need the best ingame armor to try out a class profession. You'll need some platina though.

I've no idea how this would work out in PvP btw.

[chrononh]

I have two mage characters. One is int/dex, the other is int/str. I'm posting the pics so you can see for yourself what's what, at least for level 50. All with set bonuses when applicable.

First, int/str, both with Shadow gear and with Rift:

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/intshadow.png

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/strshadow.png

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/strRift.png

As mentioned before, damage is lower with str, but you have almost 30 armor units more. Makes a big deal when fighting the Overlord or farming the Fridge. Shadow str gear is actually pretty decent compared to Rift with slightly higher armor and dps. (And if you have tried fighting with that scimitar, you will appreciate the higher dps... it's like wading through molasses otherwise.) Rift is better in PVP, though.

As for int/dex, first the two-handed weapons, i.e. Keeper staff and Shotgun:

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/intcosmoskeeper.png

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/dexshadowgun.png

Better armor and higher dps for dex but slightly lower damage. No splash AOE with the shotgun, though. Keeper staff is great for low level mobs like mummies and blue aliens. Not so good with yellow aliens (because you die) unless you are with a couple other mages or a good group, at least in my experience. (Wraith is slightly better, with both sunblessed bow or megablaster, but my bear is using them now, and I really don't feel like doing the switching. Lazy Sunday and all. :))

Finally, single-handed weapons with int/dex:

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/intcosmos.png

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/intcyber.png

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/dexcyber.png

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff447/chrononh/dexshadow.png

For int, cyber is better than cosmos all around. For dex, I prefer Shadow over Cyber, even with the Cyber set bonus for talon and wing. Also, dex has higher hit% and way more dodge than pally.

In the end, as I've already said, it's all about your playing style. I like dex with Shadow gear when I can get away with it. When I'm the only mage, I switch to int when with a good group because I spam heal. With a lousy group, I go with the higher armor (pally or dex).

[Dogmao]

thx guys and imm thinking now of making an int str not at last cuz of the pics ^^
overall: when i wanne play with gun: iv an avian...
and when i look so far: with int str u wont run out of mana when u chnge quick for 30 secs back to int without using spells except from healing


Dog