Elden Ring Mage Build: Weapons, Armor, & Spells

There are various builds in Elden Ring; all are unique and different from one another, offering different advantages. Speaking of builds, perhaps I can interest you with our Strength build, Dexterity, Faith build, Frenzy, Intelligence build, and even Let Me Solo Her build guides. 

Before I begin, here is a quick summary of the Mage Build:

Mage Build Stats 

If you’re going for the Best Elden Ring Mage build, your starting class should be Astrologer, and your stats should look like the ones mentioned in the image above.

Now, the stats you need to focus on are Intelligence and Mind because most of the weapons you will be using will scale with Intelligence, and some spells will require a hefty amount of Intelligence. Of course, you will need FP to use those spells, and FP is increased by levelling up Mind.

Endgame Stats

To further enhance your Mage build, you must equip the proper talismans, which are discussed later in this guide.

Best Mage Armors 

Here is a quick look at all of my Armor picks for the Mage Build:

SpellBlade Set

SpellBlade set is a battle-oriented set, and it also looks great if you’re only wearing armor for fashion. The SpellBlade set boosts the damage of Cold or Magic-based Ashes of War by 2% per piece; however, it does not boost any sorcery spells.

Spoiler: This armor set is dropped by Sorcerer Rogier at the Roundtable hold after he dies.

Battlemage Set

The Battlemage armor set offers decent resistance for physical, magic, and elemental damage. The helmet of the battlemage set gives 2 extra points for both Strength and Intelligence, thus allowing you to invest some of your ruins in other stats.

This armor set is dropped by certain Battlemage enemies located at the west of East Windmill Pasture or the East of West Windmill Pasture.

Carian Knight Set

The Carian Knight set is one of this list’s most fashionable armor sets. It offers a balance good balance between Physical and Magical Defense.

Aside from being fashionable, It is also relatively very easy to get and offers a good amount of damage resistance, having more physical damage resistance and similar magical damage resistance compared to the Battlemage set. It is located in the Raya Lucaria Academy in the graveyard section.

Queen of the Full Moon Set

The Queen of the Full Moon armor set is a light weighted armor set offering decent resistance to physical but a good amount of resistance to magical and elemental damage. The helmet of this armor set increases your Intelligence by 3,, thus allowing you to invest some of your ruins in other stats.

This armor can be bought from Enia after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. If you still can’t beat her, consider reading our Elden Ring Rennala Cheese Method guide.

Best Mage Weapons

Let’s now look at the Best Weapons for a Mage Build in comparison:

Meteorite Staff

The Meteorite Staff is the ideal staff to have in the early game, and it can also quite easily be considered one of the best staff in Elden Ring. It primarily scales with Intelligence and can’t be upgraded.  This staff also boosts the damage of gravity sorceries by 30%.

The Meteorite staff is located at the Street of Sages Ruins in Swamp near Sellen Crystal Tunnel in Caelid.

• Required Stats: Str 6; Int 18
• Scaling: Str D; Int S

Carian Regal Scepter

Although, not exactly a staff. It still offers the same uses as a staff. The Carian Regal Scepter can easily be considered the best staff in Elden Ring. It also boosts Full Moon Sorceries. I would recommend switching to this staff as soon as you get the required stats to wield it.

To get The Carian Regal Scepter, you must defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, and draw out the weapon from Enia through the Remembrance of the Full Moon Queen.

• Required Stats: Str 8; Dex 10; Int 60
• Scaling: Str E; Dex E; Int S

Moonveil

The Moonveil offers Blood loss build-up, and its ash of war is quick to use and can greatly damage your foes; it primarily scales with Intelligence.

You will need to equip the Prothesis Wearer Heirloom talisman to use the Moonveil. To obtain this talisman, you must complete Gowry’s quest and return to Millicent. The Moonveil can be obtained in the early game; It is obtained after defeating the Magma Wyrm in the Gael Tunnel- Caelid.

• Required Stats: Str 12; Dex 18; Int 23
• Scaling: Str E; Dex D; Int C

Dark Moon Greatsword

The Dark Moon Greatsword or Moonlight Greatsword in Elden Ring primarily scales with Intelligence, making it perfect for a mage build. It also offers Frost build-up, and its ash of war allows you to hit enemies from afar while still doing the poise damage.

The Dark Moon Greatsword can be found in the Cathedral of Manus Celes after completing Ranni’s quest, We have this detailed guide here to walk you through Ranni’s Quest.

• Required Stats: Str 16; Dex 11; Int 38
• Scaling: Str D; Dex D; Int C

Best Sorceries

Of course, the mage build can’t be complete without sorceries. Sorceries are a type of magic in Elden Ring. They mostly depend on Intelligence and staff is required to perform sorceries, I consider these as a few of the best spells in Elden Ring for a mage build.

Glintstone Pebble

Not exactly the strongest or the flashiest type of sorcery, but the Glintstone Pebble is great in the early game. It is great at chipping away HP of your enemies from a distance. It only costs 7 FP, and it consumes 1 slot. I would recommend using this sorcery only in the early game.

It is a starting spell of the Astrologer class. It can also be purchased from sorceress Sellen at Limgrave: Waypoint Ruins or from Thops at the Church Of Irith for 1000 ruins.

• Required Stats: Int 10

Rock Sling

The Rock Sling is the ideal sorcery in the early game; It allows you to launch rocks from the ground to nearby enemies. It does a decent amount of physical and poise damage, making it ideal to be used against bosses or tough enemies to stagger them quickly. Its FP cost is 18, and it consumes 1 slot.

The Rock Sling sorcery is found in a chest in an underground cellar north of the Street of Sages Ruins near the Meteorite Staff.

• Required Stats: Int 18

Loretta’s Greatbow

As the name suggests, The Loretta’s Greatbow summons a greatbow in hand that fires a projectile. It can be further charged to increase the damage. It can be great for damaging your enemies from afar. Its FP cost is 28, and it consumes 1 slot.

Loretta’s Bow sorcery is obtained in the Caria Manor after defeating the Royal Knight Loretta.

• Required Stats: Int 26

Carian Greatsword

The Carian Greatsword is one of the best melee sorceries in Elden Ring. It summons a greatsword with quite a lot of range, and can be used repeatedly. It works extremely well against Black Knife Assassins type enemies because the Carian Greatsword can stagger them very quickly, and their side steps cannot dodge the Carian Greatsword; its FP cost is 14 and consumes 1 slot.

The Carian Greatsword is available for purchase from Miriel, Pastor of Vows, also known as “dog” in the Elden Ring community.

• Required Stats: Int 24

Meteorite of Astel

The Meteorite of Astel sorcery allows you to summon meteors out of the void and launch them toward the enemy. This spell is useful against multiple enemies and is extremely useful against massive enemies such as dragons.

Its FP cost is 60 initially, but the spell can last indefinitely until your FP runs out. You can also use the Cerulean Hidden Crystal Tear in Elden Ring to remove all FP consumption briefly. This spell consumes 2 slots.

The Meteorite of Astel Sorcery is obtained after defeating Astel, Stars of Darkness, in the Yelough Anix Tunnel.

• Required Stats: Int 55

Comet Azur

The Comet Azur can easily be considered one of the best sorceries in Elden Ring. It creates a giant comet that deals a huge amount of damage to enemies from afar. It is able to end the health of even end-game bosses within seconds with the right build.

If you are interested, consider reading our Elden Ring Comet Azur build guide. Its FP cost is 40 initially but can be used indefinitely until your FP runs out. You can also use the Cerulean Hidden Tear to remove all FP consumption briefly. This spell consumes 3 slots.

Getting the Comet Azur is lengthy; consider our reading Comet Azur location guide.

• Required Stats: Int 60

Best Mage Talismans

Talismans are accessories that can be equipped. They work similarly to Rings in Dark Souls. Some of the best talismans in Elden Ring can offer different advantages for the players while some are a trade-off. They can be obtained by defeating enemies, looting from chests, and purchasing from Merchants.

We consider these the best talismans for a mage build in Elden Ring.

Cerulean Amber Medallion

The Cerulean Amber Medallion increases your maximum FP by 7/9/11%, depending on the variation of this medallion. There are 3 variations of the Medallion (base, +1, +2).

The Base talisman can be obtained after defeating the Bloodhound knight in the Lakeside Crystal Cave. The +1 variant is found in Castle Sol, on a corpse hanging by the wooden ledge. The +2 variant is found in the Lunar Estate Ruins. It is found in a treasure chest in an underground room northwest of the runes. One Stonesword key is required.

Stargazer Heirloom

The Stargazer Heirloom increases your Intelligence by +5, making it perfect for mage builds. It allows you to reach the required stats for end-game sorceries quicker, and it also allows you to invest some of your ruins in other stats.

The Stargazer Heirloom is found on a body lying on top of the Divine Tower of Liurna. The Carian Inverted Statue is required to obtain this talisman. You obtain the Inverted Statue during Ranni’s Quest.

Radagons Icon

The Radagons Icon talisman shortens spell casting time, thus making you quicker when using sorceries and saving you time.

The Radagons Icon is in the Raya Lucaria Academy, found in a treasure chest on the second floor of the Debate Parlor Site of Grace.

Erdtree’s Favour

You don’t have to be a mage to appreciate the Erdtree’s Favour because it works well with every build. It is considered one of the best talismans in Elden Ring as it increases the maximum HP, Stamina, and Equip load thus allowing you to invest some of your runes in other stats. There are 3 variations of the talisman. 

• The Base talisman is located in the Fringefolk Hero’s Grave, next to the Stranded Graveyard Site of Grace. Two Stonesword Seals are required.
• The +1 variant is found in the boss room after the boss fight with Mohg, The Omen. 
• The +2 variant is found in Leyndell, Ashen Capital, accessed after defeating Maliketh, the Black Blade.

Moon of Nokstella

Being able to equip more spells is never a bad thing, and the Moon of Nokstella talisman helps with just that. It increases memory slots by 2, allowing you to equip more spells.

The Moon of Nokstella talisman is found in a chest underneath the massive throne in Nokstella, Eternal City.

Marika’s Soreseal

Marika’s Soreseal can easily be considered one of the best talismans for a mage build in Elden Ring. It greatly increases attributes, but it also increases damage taken. It increases attributes such as Mind, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane by +5. It also increases the damage taken by 15%, but the trade-off is worth it.

The Marika’s Soreseal is found on an Altar in a sealed room in the southeast lower levels in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. A Stonesword key is required.

Since Marika’s Soreseal is located in one of the end game areas. A great alternative to this talisman is Marika’s Scarseal. The Scarseal increases the attributes by +3, and the damage taken increases by 10%.

Marika’s Scarseal is found on a corpse at the base of the waterfall found at Siofra River.

Memory Stones

Collecting Memory Stones is compulsory for a mage build because memory stones increase the number of sorceries the player can equip at a time.

• Roundtable Hold: Purchaseable for 3000 runes from Twin Maiden Husks. The Memory Stone will not be available for purchase until players have defeated Godrick The Grafted and restored his great rune.
• Oridys’s Rise: The Oridys’s Rise is located in the southern section of Limgrave, near the Crater-pocked Glade Site of Grace.
• Converted Tower: The tower is located on the east side of Liurna. Players will need the Erudition gesture to climb the tower, acquired after giving the spare Academy Glintstone Key to Thops.
• Testu’s Rise: Located north of Raya Lucaria Academy. Like the Oridys’s Rise, you must find and kill 3 wise beasts to enter the tower.
• Raya Lucaria Academy: Memory Stone will drop after defeating the Red Wolf of Radagon boss.
• Seluvis’s Rise: Located north of Liurna, It can only be accessed after players have started Ranni’s Quest.
• Lenne’s Rise: Located on the eastern side of Caelid. The Memory Stone is located in the chest at the top of the tower.
• Mt. Gelmir: Obtained after defeating the optional boss, Demi-Human Queen Maggie. She is located northeast of Hermit Village.

My Take On Mage Builds

Mage Builds are not my cup of tea, but they can definitely be the most powerful builds in Elden Ring. You can single-phase a boss with one spell in just one attack if you have the proper buffs, which is why I don’t like Mage Builds. While the damage is high, it just makes your game way more effortless.

I have played Elden Ring for months upon months, and I think Mage builds make Elden Ring way easier. You can just get the Comet Azure, the right Talismans, Cerulean Hidden Tear, and Terra Magica. It will ensure you one-attempt bosses with the right amount of buffs, such as Golden Vow, Flame Grant Me Strength, or Howl of Shabriri. However, if you want to have fun in Elden Ring with the Mage Build, I recommend getting the Dark Moon Greatsword.

Next: Elden Ring best Rune Farming Methods