The Complete Wizard Arcanist DPS Build – Neverwinter Mod 24 Northdark Reaches

Welcome to our Wizard Arcanist Guide, updated for Mod 24: Northdark Reaches.

For the latest Neverwinter news, go to the MMORPG.GG Neverwinter Hub.

In Neverwinter, the Wizard Arcanist is a powerful damage dealer that can easily take down enemies. In this guide, we will discuss some tips and tricks to help you maximize your damage output and deal as much damage as possible.

We’ll also cover some of the best gear and abilities for maximizing your DPS. So if you’re looking to unleash some serious arcane fury on your opponents, read on!

The purpose of our class guides is not just to show you a build that you can copy and use on your character, but to show you a base build and teach you the mechanics and stats of the game, so you can understand and play your class to its fullest capabilities.

Try different gear, feats, and powers, and learn to tailor your own build for your playstyle. See our guide to making your own build for more info.

1. Basic Arcanist Info
   1. Best Arcanist Races
   2. Ability Score Priority
   3. Stat / Rating Priority
2. Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation
   1. Combat Powers
   2. Feats
   3. Rotation
3. Boons
4. Weapons & Gear
5. Artifacts
6. Enchantments
7. Consumables & Buffs
8. Companions
9. Mounts

Basic Wizard Arcanist Info

Below is all the basic information for the Arcanist, from race choices to stats.

Other Wizard Builds

• Wizard Thaumaturge Build
• All Neverwinter Class Builds

Best Arcanist Races

What race you play doesn’t play a huge role, but will give you a small boost. Generally, I would advise you to play a race that you enjoy.

1. Metallic Ancestry Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any two Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
2. Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
3. Human – 1% Bonus to all stats – +3 To any Ability Score
4. Tiefling – 5% + Damage to targets below 50% health – +2 Cha and +2 Con or Int – 10% to reduce damage of target for 5 sec by 2.5%
5. Gith – 5% Combat Advantage – +2 Dex and +2 Str or Int – 5% Stamina Regen
6. Half-Orc – 5% Crit Severity – +2 Dex and +2 Con or Str – 10% Movement Speed for 3 sec when entering combat

Arcanist Ability Score Priority

Put all your available Ability Scores into Intelligence and Charisma.

Arcanist Stat / Rating Priority

The Combat Rework introduced major changes to how stats and item level work, for more info see the official post.

Your cap for each stat is based on your item level. To cap a stat, the numbers of the stat needs to be equal to or higher than your item level.

If your stat number is higher than your item level, you are wasting stats and should try to allocate stats differently.

For every 1000 points, a stat is lower than your item level you lose 1% in that stat.

You won’t be able to easily cap all stats, but capping your power is quite easy.

Wizard Arcanist Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation

This part is all about optimizing the Arcanist with the best feats, powers, and boons.

Wizard Arcanist Combat Powers

At-Will Powers:

• Ray of Frost
• Storm Pillar

Encounter Powers:

• Repel (ST) or Icy Terrain (AoE)
• Entangling Force or Steal Time (AoE)
• Disintegrate
• Ray of Enfeeblement (Spell Mastery)

Daily Powers:

• Arcane Empowerment (ST)
• Arcane Singularity (AoE)

Class Features:

• Storm Spell
• Chilling Presence (ST) or Evocation (AoE)

Wizard Arcanist Feats

• Spell Twisting
• Snap Freeze
• Chaos Magic
• Striking Advantage
• A Step Above Mastery

Wizard Arcanist Rotation

Single Target Rotation:

Ray of Frost to get stacks of Chill > Ray of Enfeeblement > Entangeling Force > Disintegrate > Repel > Use daily when available

Wizard Arcanist Boons

You should always choose boons based on what stats you currently need. Therefore a selection of several viable boons is available to you for each tier.

Tier 1 Boons

• Recruit’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Critical Strike – 0.2% Critical Strike Per Rank
• Critical Avoidance – 0.2% Critical Avoidance Per Rank
• Cultist Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Cultist Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. Cultists.

Tier 2 Boons

• Squire’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Armor Penetration – 0.2% Critical Severity Per Rank
• Defense – 0.2% Defense Per Rank
• Demonic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Demonic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. demons.

Tier 3 Boons

• Knight’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Combat Advantage – 0.2% Combat Advantage Per Rank
• Awareness – 0.2% Awareness Per Rank
• Dino Bulwark – 0.2 HP Per Rank
• Dino Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. dinos.

Tier 4 Boons

• Captain’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Accuracy – 0.2% Accuracy Per Rank
• Deflect – 0.2% Deflect Per Rank
• Necrotic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Necrotic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. undead.

Tier 5 Boons (Choose 2)

• Masterclass – 1% Forte per rank
• Quick Turnaround – 1% Recharge Speed

Master Boons

• Blood Lust 3/3

Guild Boons

• Offense – Power or Critical Strike Bonus
• Defense – Defence or Hit Point Bonus

Wizard Arcanist Weapons & Gear

If you are new to Neverwinter and need to know how to get better gear and increase your item level, check out our Gearing Up Guide.

Note that the best in slot for your build might vary depending on what stats you have.

The best way to gear up in Neverwinter is by making a lot of Astral Diamonds, check out our Astral Diamond Guide to learn all the secrets of AD farming.

Head

• The Dark Maiden Assault Hood
• Serene Hood of the Dragon Hunter
• Goristro’s Horns (Avernus Hunts)
• Blessed Whisper’s Hood of Quiet (Avernus Hunts)

Armor

• Tactful Leathers of the Dragon Hunter
• Mighty Cuirass of the Dragon Hunter
• Blessed Bone Devil’s Ribcage (Avernus Hunts)

Arms

• Tactful Gloves of the Dragon Hunter
• Wristguards of Precipitation
• Spiked Defenders Vambrace

Feet

• The Dark Maiden Resolution Greaves (Temple of the Spider)
• Wasteland Wanderers
• Rusted Iron Leggings (Avernus Rare Monsters)

Weapons

• Stormforged Set (AOE)
• Masterwork Set
• Lionheart Set
• Scalebreaker’s Wrath

Main Hand Modification:

• Ray of Frost

Offhand Modifications:

• Forte

Rings

• Eilistraee’s Elegance + Elistraee’s Beauty (AOE)
• Soothsayer’s Ring of Absolution
• Waywatchers Ring of Precision
• Waywatchers Ring of Punishment
• Mightbreaker’s Ring of Elegance
• The Red Eye’s Glare
• Band of Air

Neck & Waist

• Demogorgon’s Wrath Set: Heart’s Twine& Sinous Chord
• Star Set: Starshard Choker & Twinkle of the Stars (Trickster’s Gift)

Shirt

• Mighty Dwarven Body Pattern
• Shirt of the Dragon Cult

Pants

• Mighty Dwarven Limb Pattern
• War-Worn Pants
• Velvet Pants +1

Wizard Arcanist Artifacts

Primary Artifact

• Demogorgon’s Reach
• Envenomed Storyteller’s Journal
• Wyvern-Venom Coated Knives
• Decanter of Atropal Essence

Secondary Artifacts

Choose secondary artifacts based on the stats you are lacking.

• Mythallar Fragment
• Neverwinter’s Standard
• Jewel of the North
• Demogorgon’s Reach

Or choose 2 Storyteller’s Journals for the bonus

• Frozen Storyteller’s Journal
• Flayed Storyteller’s Journal
• Darkened Storyteller’s Journal
• Envenomed Storyteller’s Journal

Other Artifact Choices

• Arcturia’s Music Box
• Trobriands Ring
• Staff of Flowers
• Halaster’s Blast Scepter
• Shard of Orcus’ Wand

Wizard Arcanist Enchantments

When getting enchantments, always get the ones with the stats you are lacking in with your gear, boons, etc in mind.

For example, if you’ve capped Crit with your gear and boons, don’t get azure enchantments for your offense slots.

If you still need to refine your enchantments, see our Refinement Guide for tips on how to farm refinement.

Offense Enchantments

• Cobalt Enchantment
• Garnet Enchantment
• Citrine Enchantment
• Amethyst Enchantment
• Jade Enchantment

Defense Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Utility Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Bonus Enchantments

• Recharge Bonus

Combat Enchantments

• Poisoned Thorn
• Cursed Burn

Overload Enchantments

• Rage of Flames or Devil’s Precision
• Various Marks from Stronghold Vendor
• Corrupt Black Ice / Lethal / Piercing
• Black / Red Dragon Glyph

Armor Reinforcement Kits

• Critical Strike or Severity / Accuracy Kit

Jewelry Reinforcement Kits

• Combat Advantage Jewel

Wizard Arcanist Consumables & Buffs

Consider getting VIP for the Power of VIP HP buff if you aren’t already. Also always stand in campfires to get the +1 ability campfire buff.

Pick one from each of the categories below depending on the stats you are lacking.

Invocation Blessing: Grace of Battle / Gift of Awareness / Righteous Boon / Gamber’s Fortune

Stronghold Food: Seared Tuna / Prime Rib / Ratatouille

Event Food: Watermelon Sorbet / Hotwings / Squash Soup / Mochi

Elixir: Wild Storm Elixir

Potion: Superior Flask of Potency +1

Reusable Item: Awakened Forger’s Box > Empowered Chain of Scales > Adorable Pocket Pet > Tymora’s Lucky Coin

Wizard Arcanist Companions

Summoned Companion

Augment Companion Choices

• Owlbear Cub
• Bulette Pup
• Deepcrow Hatchling
• Ioun Stones
• Quasit

Active Companion Choices

• Pseudodragon
• Honey Badger
• Tomb Spider
• Spined Devil
• Kuo-Toa
• Wayward Wizard (AoE)
• Regis (AoE)

Enchantment Power

• Potency
• Acute Senses
• Potent Precision
• Precision

Companion Powers

Below is a selection of viable companion powers.

Offense Powers

• Wulfgar (Wulfgar’s Wrecking) – 4.7% Combat Advantage & Accuracy
• Drizzt (Drizzt’s Devestation) – 4.7% Critical Change & Severity
• Neverwinter Knight (Neverwinter Knight’s Discipline) – 7.5% Outgoing Damage
• Wild Hunt Rider (Wild Hunt Discipline) – 2/3/5% chance to increase damage by 10% for 5 seconds.
• Siege Master (Siege Master’s Discipline) – Combined Rating – Increases the power of your At-Will powers by 11% (Doubled on Stronghold Map)
• Black Dragon Ioun Stone (Black Dragon’s Insight) – 7.5% Critical Chance
• Staldorf (Staldorf’s Presence) – 7.5% Combat Advantage
• Razorwood (Twigblight’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Accuracy
• Hawk (Hawk’s Insight’s) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Critical Chance
• Armored Orc Wolf (Orc Wolf’s Instincts) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Accuracy
• Batiri (Batiri’s Wisdom) – 11% Damage Versus Bosses
• Misc (The Bigger They Are) – More damage against big mobs (bosses)
• Dancing Blade (Dancing Blade’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Combat Advantage
• Flame Sprite (Flamesprite’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Accuracy
• Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight’s) – 7,5% Combat Advantage

Defense Powers

• Phasespider (Phasespider’s Presence) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
• Fire Archon (Fire Archon’s Insight) – 10% on At-Will use to increase Combat Advantage for 10 seconds

Utility Powers

• Alchemist Experimenter (Alchemist’s Discipline) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
• Book Imp (Bookimp’s Presence) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage

Companion Equipment

Double offense slotted “Of the Companion” gear

Companion Enchantment

• Companion Enchancement

Wizard Arcanist Mounts

Bolster

When it comes to mounts, you should focus on getting them all to Mythic quality to increase Bolster.

Bolster Contribution depends on the quality of the mount, with Mythic mounts contributing 10% Bolster, this again increases the values of your Equip Power and Combat Power.

Mount Insignia Bonuses

All classes and specs should consider using Wanderer’s Fortune and or Traveler’s Treasures before you have refined all your gear and enchantments, for extra refinement every day.

Insignia bonuses are mostly down to preference. Some boost damage a bit, and some boost survivability, while others add utility.

Insignia Type

• Insignia of Dominance
• Insignia of Brutality
• Insignia of Aggression
• Insignia of Skill

Mount Collars

• Sturdy Crescent Collar
• Wayfaring Barbed Collar
• Unified Crescent Collar
• Supportive Crescent Collar

Wizard Arcanist Mount Powers

Mount Equip Power:

• Ferocious Predator (Power & Critical Severity)
• Armor Breaker (Critical Severity)
• Rapid Accuracy (Accuracy)
• Precision (Critical Strike & Severity)
• Ruthless Efficiency (Critical Strike
• Dominant Force (Power)

Mount Combat Power:

• Golden Touch (Golden Warhorse)
• Divine Intervention (Celestial Wings)
• Tunnel Vision (Several)
• Cauldron Fumes (Hag’s Hexing Cauldron)
• Giant Toad Tongue Lash (Giant Toad)

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Neverwinter Wizard Arcanist guide, please leave a comment below!

More info about the Wizard class can be found in the Wizards of Neverwinter Facebook group.