Mage Build Solo w/ Defender Mercenary

Hello guys, it is my first time sharing a build...
I have not capped my character yet also not all emblem cleared so let me make do with this. (My max is only lvl 153)
I am also poor(can't save spina) so you may not see the best of the build here.
I also have no pet and no food buff (yet)
Hopefully it is not a repost of available build, okay so here it goes.

This is not a build meant to deal highest damage possible.
This is not a build meant to get 1st ranking.
This is not a build meant for cappers (yet).
This is not a build meant for breaking (tap tap) (possible but risky).
This is a build which may be used for leveling spare character solo for free reset purposes (up to lvl 145 solo)
This is a build which may be used if you are tired leveling from side quest (i.e. NC, Free from infester, etc)
This is a build which may be used to carry (a hard to level) character (i.e. pure supporter, below 150 cap character, etc)
This is a build meant for those who feel that toram is empty and cannot find party.
This is a build meant for leveling via bosses solo with mercenary.
This is a build meant for spamming finale (almost) without care.
This is a build meant for those lacking resources.
This is a build meant for skipping MQ early in the game.

Requirements:
- Have a defender mercenary(preferably assist) with the following recommended requirements: Lvl: 140 or up, Barehanded, DEX > VIT, and ASPD >=1000, and gears that benefit mercenary stats. (in general, any character with the right gear setup can be used as defender merc in this build regardless of the 5 base stats as long as they can hit often enough)

Spoiler: My Defender Merc

Lvl: 140; 255 STR, 130 DEX (can switch between Attacker and Defender merc)
Weapon: Barehanded or Super Niello Sword III(NPC) +C
Armor: Fortuita Vestibus (NPC)
Additional: Yashiro Azuki's Dad's Mask, xtal: ASPD+100
Special: Bow Thimble
Note: This is enough for me to solo w/ merc Cerberus Ulti (137) in under 6 minutes within leveling range

- Have unlocked T4 Skills for Mage (edit: you need the finale and maximizer skill)
- Have all levelling(exp) ticket (Recommended (saves a lot of time) but optional)
- Have anti aggro gear @ -100% aggro total (Recommended but there may be better choice than this build)

MAGE:
Weapon n Sub: Staff w/ Shield
Stats: 255 INT, 40~70 VIT (depends), rest DEX
We only need 1000 CSPD from DEX to reduce some casting speed of non-Finale skill.

Skills:
Magic:
Impact 7
Finale 10
Magic Mastery 10
MP Charge 10
Power Wave 5
Maximizer 10

Shield:
Force Shield 10
Magical Shield 10
Protection 10
Aegis 10

Knight:
P. Defense 1

Survival:
HP Boost 10
MP Boost 10

Support:
Recovery 5
Heal 10
Brave Aura 10

Battle: (optional before lvl 150)
Magic Up 10
Increased Energy 10

Spoiler: Skill Priority

Finale>Maximizer>HP/MP Boost>Heal>Shield Skill>P.Def>Brave Aura>Battle Skill

Combos:
1. Impact -> Finale(smite) -> closer(depend on Max MP)
if Max MP capped then P. Def (cons/swift)
if Max MP < 1500 then any skill with 300MP (smite)

2. Impact -> Finale(swift)
For low level leveling or annoying boss

3. Protection -> Aegis(swift)
use at start of high level boss battle after first bait

Equipments:
Weapon:
Abracadabra Cone III (player) or better with +C refine or higher
INT+7%, MATK+7%, CSPD+15%, Aggro-10% (or better stats)
Xtal (recommended): Evil Crystal Beast (or better xtal for -aggro stat)

Shield:
Harmony Shield or any with +E refine or higher

Armor:
Holy Robe (player) or any with +E refine or higher
INT+7%, MATK+7%, CSPD+15%, Aggro-10% (or better stats)
Xtal: Ornlarf (or anything like it if you don't want VIT stat) and/or Mum Fluck (or just MP+250 if you are like me)

Additional:
Yashiro Azuki's Wife's Mask with +E refine or higher (Must have)
Xtal (optional): Eidenliebe (for -aggro stat) or any

Special:
Dark Knight Amulet (must have)
preferably with 1s for mp+250 or any
​

For this build, I have used cc for planning and other things.
I have also been inspired by a few posts here (forgot which ones)
So the last boss I have done for solo leveling w/ merc, with at most +7 than boss level, is Cerberus Ultimate with clear time on average about 4-5 minutes
With this build you are a DPS and support, support tank with recovery and heal if needed. Cast finale combo after defender tank got aggro. (I will explain/edit many things later)

Spoiler: Possible FAQs

1. Why Solo?
A: Difficult to find party at certain bosses (i.e. scrader, BKOD, etc)
2. Why a defender merc?
A: Always available whenever you are online, easy to manage aggro w/ this build, and have very high resistance compared to a normal player tanker
3. Why a mage?
A: The best there is to pair with a defender merc(cmiiw): long range, high mp, fast mp recovery, cheap to build, no worry for crit, can make a full use of aggroless build, can be tanky, etc.
4. Why use -aggro gear instead of sneak attack?
A: Good question... Basically its all about saving sp(ina) if you get what I mean and also sneak don't work on support skills (cmiiw)
5. Why -100% aggro is required?
A: Cuz of finale... Even leaving a little bit of aggro could gain you about 100 aggro. But of course it's not like finale is safe from all aggro either... If I am not wrong, with -100% aggro, finale only generate 300 aggro per cast due to special aggro effect during casting.
6. Why a shield sub and not dagger sub?
A: Although dagger sub can add a physical proration, this is a solo build so it is meant to make you survive throughout boss battle, which means you need to be able to survive a stray shot or any large AOE.
7. Why a VIT stat is needed?
A: This is a poor man build who don't have food buff and good armor xtal so 40 VIT being the minimum to last against most of Cerberus Ulti skills, while 70 VIT is predicted from cc to have at least 10000 HP by level 200 w/o armor hp xtal
8. Why a DEX to reach 1000 cspd is needed?
A: I don't like to spend spina for items that can only be used for half an hour. Main reason being a support to the mercenary so casting supportive skills are a must. The skills have their own casting speed so having 1000 CSPD helps halve the casting time (cmiiw) and MP charge cast time is also affected (cmiiw)
9. Why P.Def instead of Backstep?
A: Cmiiw, but backstep can only be used to move from AOE so it does not work for full field AOE (I'm talking about you Grass Dragon Yelb) while P.Def works for all and negates DMG to zero but slow cast animation and low invincibility time.
10. Why battle skill is optional before 150?
A: Cuz from cc stat simulator I saw that Battle skills only add MATK by a little bit, less than 100 at that level so lower level should be even lower (cmiiw)
11. Why not just use a Staff with -100% aggro?
A: Cuz its either event staff or low weapon ATK
12. Can I use other equipments aside from here to use this build?
A: You can as long as the aggro stacks up to -100%
13. Why is the additional and special a must have?
A: Cuz additional gives -50% aggro while special gives -25% aggro
14. Can I use this build with a party?
A: Of course, although this is meant to be a solo build, it can be played with a party as well...Its just that you can only use finale as dps if you use this build to party
15. Why don't I see any breaking (tap tap) skill except Magic: Impact? Why not spend some sp on shield cannon?
A: For the 1st Q, it is simply cuz there are not many long range breaking skill available for mages. As for the 2nd Q, obviously is the problem with shield cannon being a physical skill. Since I have mentioned somewhere up there that mage won't care about crit(yet) that means for non crit resistant boss, there is only a quarter chance for the skill to hit if we are disregarding HIT stat completely (and there is also evasion)

Spoiler: Leveling Guide

Lvl 1-37: MQ until Mochelo
Lvl 37-47: Gespenst NM
Lvl 47-57: Flare Volg Normal
Lvl 57-67: Flare Volg Hard
Lvl 67-77: Flare Volg NM
Lvl 77-84: Masked Warrior Hard
Lvl 84-87: Masked Warrior NM
Lvl 87-97: Flare Volg Ulti
Lvl 97-102: Scrader Hard
Lvl 102-112: Scrader NM
Lvl 112-114: Masked Warrior Ulti
Lvl 114-124: Cerberus NM
Lvl 124-130: Scrader Ulti
Do MQ until BKOD
Lvl 130-135: BKOD Ulti
Lvl 135-145: Cerberus Ulti
Next should be Bexiz Ulti but haven't tested yet
Note: This is my personal opinion based on easier boss to solo

Spoiler: Why some boss not included?

Miniboss in general have low exp compared to bosses of same level
(unless the difficulty of boss becomes impossible to do)
Grass Dragon Yelb Ulti: Resistant to DMG without Armor break (cmiiw) also far location
Nuretoth Ulti: Annoying minions and far as well
Bexiz Ulti: Annoying moxiz and stray shot
Imitator Ulti: Annoying burn skills at about less than half life
Imitacia Ulti: Annoying burn skills and move too much thus reducing ranged resistance of merc

Hopefully I didn't miss anything important.
I would appreciate it if you guys can give me any feedback, critics, suggestions. (within limits if possible else just post anyway)
Thank you! and sorry for the lack of color and editing.
EDIT: current cap is 145 since this is a leveling build (cuz I am stuck after Cerberus ulti :/)
EDIT: Sorry for the lack of videos and images as well

​

 

Noice, looks similar to what I posted but almost all staff + shield builds are gonna look somewhat same for now
Good job though! ♥️

 

Thanks! I did look at your guide though for the formatting. The idea is there before I look at your post. But yeah the main difference between yours and mine is that you use real player tank while I use NPC tank

 

Updated: Added a possible FAQs
Additional Notes:
- Will silently clean up the main post
- Any big change will reply to this post as updated
- May stop updating once impossible to solo anymore or people don't really care (JK)

 

I can see why you use this style, and why it would work. Cool. Not my kinda gameplay. But it works.

 

I think solo mage without 100% ailment resist isn't a good idea, specially for higher level bosses which throw cc randomly or even direct at you, because you got the aggro anyway even with -100% aggro coz there is a little aggro generation from finale 3s cast (100 aggro per second, 50 if you have 1000 cspd, I think) and that can't be reduced by -aggro stat, so if you spam finale, you mercenary may won't be able to hold.
IMO, sneak attack is better than -100% aggro when you're pairing with mercenaries, because it allows you get gears with more offensive/defensive stats.

 

Thanks for the feedback! But I would like to answer a few of your concerns...

1. Why not ailment resist at 100%?
A: Cuz it require a lot of MTL stat even with ailment resist gear (I've tried) and it doesn't protect from magic flinch. Also the only ever dangerous ailment for this build or any is stun>tumble>knockback>flinch since the rest can be removed with recovery. I also know what you're saying with random cc thrown, I have experienced it first hand with Bexiz Solo Ulti w/ merc and it is simply too difficult impossible to clear

2. Defender merc can't hold the aggro?
A: It actually depends on boss evasion/dodge and how often the merc hits the boss. It should be more than enough to generate enough aggro while casting finale. Castiing impact >finale (smite) >ender will take about 5 seconds plus the rest of mp for situational healing then need mp charge + maximizer which is another 5 sec. Defender merc gain 150 aggro per connected hit according to mayam which is just about right. So total time per finale casting should be about 10 sec... how much aggro do you think the merc can generate in this 10 sec? (while finale is only at most 300 aggro per cast)
edit: I know there are some factors as well such as merc being crowd controlled but the simple thing is as I have mentioned

3. Why aggro gear and not sneak?
A: I know it is just your opinion, but do read the FAQs section(under spoiler tag). Simply put sneak does not work for support skill and this build need you to heal your def merc so that's extra aggro generated (CMIIW).
edit: Also if the merc died then you revive it back, it will be harder for the merc to take back the aggro as you have additional aggros from casting sneak (400 per cast)

 

will wizard skill help on your build ?

 

Thank you for giving a possible suggestion
Is it the stone barrier?
If yes, then I don't know (yet) since I have tried only blizzard and that mana crystal
If no, then which skill are you talking about and help in what aspect exactly?
Thanks in advance!

 

Updated: Added a spoiler under leveling guide: reason for bosses not included

 

You definitely need to get Stone Barrier I use it as a core part of how I play.

 

A lot of issues you pointed is due your low max level. You should consider leveling to cap.

While it doesn't protect against magic flinch, it protects from every other cc. Every finale not canceled by theses "others" ccs is a huge impact on mage's dps. Yes, requires 255 MTL, but at 190+ you can achieve 255+ int, 255 mtl.

I thought you were using 2 finales before mana charging due all these +250mp on your build (isn't it meant to reach 2k mp?). Also, I don't know which kind of boss you're fighting, but they usually cc and flee/evade a lot, so your merc definitely won't generate 150 aggro per second (which is the case if it has 1100+ aspd and always hit).

I'm aware of how sneak attack works, thanks. Although, I didn't say sneak attack excludes a need for -aggro. Some good xtals and gears naturally come with -aggro and there is -aggro food to reduce it even more, so casting few support skills won't completely mess merc's aggro. The main problem is indeed finale hit's aggro (1600 aggro), but like I said, sneak reduces it without need of high -aggro requirements. I know you don't have good equips and food, but you should consider this option as you progress in the game.

 

Stone skin is one of the option, but I have a experience using chakra in solo combat, it’s...not so effective.I’m thinking maybe the 1MP blizzard skill can be a good opener for your combo, but the familiar is quiet troublesome when it’s escape.

 

Ah so thats what you mean... I am also not in favor of stone thingy due to low duration and need more sp (at least 20 more). As for the opener why do you think that blizzard is a better opener? Impact is instant cast cost 2 mp and the only downfall being tumble for non tumble boss. While blizzard cost 1 mp but cast time is not instant cmiiw. Unless it is for proration, I can't think of anything better for opener.

 

Because other than impact, Blizzard is the only 1MP skill that without cast time and long range, beside impact basically will give to finale in combo setting.

blizzard>storm(smite) may good on clear all the minion or use on boss that have damage cap like P.Avatar and Iron Empress last phase.

well it’s just a theory, I never actual try it yet.

 

Thank you for your feedback!
While it is true that my limit is my cap but I can use stat simulator from cc to help me plan ahead.

255 INT and 255 MTL is fine but I need CSPD to help reduce some casting.

I try to find boss at ulti which can be completed under 6 minutes top. (I don't know above lvl 150 yet tho)

I am not using 2 finale since I don't have max mp yet... If you notice I actually don't use Mom Fluck but only MP 250 so my max MP is only about 1500. My build is not a cap build it is meant as a leveling build. As for what boss I am fighting, you can see under leveling guide spoiler. The chance for aggro loss is there but it is quite low. Also even with 2000 MP I still cannot use 2 finale due to the situational merc healing.

Flee is fine if merc use barehanded but evade is kind of a problem. Also I never said aggro generation of 150 per sec but just enough to spam cycle of finale and maximizer. So as long as merc can generate 300 aggro per spam cycle that is fine.

Unfortunately about food it takes time to obtain and level. And yes xtal and good gears can change a lot of things but they are expensive as in more than a million a piece.
I know you might say but eidenliebe cost more...Unfortunately I don't have and don't use it but I use its counterpart(handmade cookie) Most of the thing I have cost less than a million a piece and no I don't use 2 slotted armor. Sorry for bad formatting that makes you misunderstand many things...
I will fix if I have time.
I will also consider your feedback once I get to higher cap.
Also sorry for messy reply as Im using my phone to type.

 

There is bitter gelatin (drops from jelly on eb map), which gives 800 cpsd. It plus base cspd, easily achives 1000 cspd.

I can't really figure out how much MP you have just looking at your build. I think any finale mage, solo or no, should aim for 2k mp. Like I said, if you didn't go for -100% aggro, you build would be much more flexible to achieve these finale mage benchmarks.

I was talking more about Neo Maton Sword v:

 

Haha and I am not talking about your xtal. I mention Eidenliebe cuz I place it on my build while mentioning that more than a million spina is expensive so kinda contradicting myself (no offense there)

I think you are right...any character should aim for 2000 MP but at what expense? I could also reach almost 2000 MP exchanging 250 mp xtal with mum fluck with this build at level 200 if I am not mistaken maybe just a little bit more with bushido. But how much spina to spend? and btw I have answered in the FAQs section already that no need to follow this build as long as aggro reaches -100%(just me trying to make it flexible while not giving the answer outright...). I have also already mentioned somewhere up there that this build is meant for those lacking resources (Figures my daily income from selling random thing is only 100k). I know you came here trying to help better this build... I am trying not to complain and I may not be so obvious about it but try giving suggestions within possible limits of this build (i.e. spina limit, cap limit, etc). But yeah I could consider those outside the limits in the future. Maybe I could try what you have mentioned once I capped (cannot be done in short time > 1 month)

Well I suppose that can help v: thanks for the info!

 

Update: Added My Defender Merc spoiler