The Complete Wizard Arcanist DPS Build – Neverwinter Mod 29 Mountain of Flame

Welcome to our Wizard Arcanist Guide, updated for Mod 29: Mountain of Flame

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.

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.

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

Race

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. All the races below are viable choices.

• Human – 1% Bonus to all stats – +3 To any Ability Score
• Metallic Ancestry Dragonborn – Recieve 3% more healing and 3% more Max Hit Points – +2 to Any two Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
• Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
• Gith – 5% Combat Advantage – +2 Dex and +2 Str or Int – 5% Stamina Regen
• Wood Elf – 5% Critical Strike – +2 Dex and +2 Int or Wis – 20% Resistance to Slow
• 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%
• Half-Orc – 5% Crit Severity – +2 Dex and +2 Con or Str – 10% Movement Speed for 3 sec when entering combat

Ability Score Priority

Put all your available Ability Scores into Intelligence and Dexterity. Alternatively put a few points into Charisma instead of Dexterity depending on what you need.

Stat / Rating Priority

Your cap for each stat is based on your item level. To cap a stat, the numbers of the stat need 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, if a stat is lower than your item level you lose 1% in that stat.

Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation

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

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
• Arcane Conduit (Spell Mastery)

Daily Powers:

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

Class Features:

• Storm Spell
• Orb of Imposition

Feats

• Spell Twisting
• Assailing Force
• Chaos Magic
• Striking Advantage
• A Step Above Mastery

Rotation

Single Target Rotation:

Arcane Conduit > Ray of Enfeeblement > Entangling Force > Disintegrate > Repel > Use daily when available

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
• Lingering Medicine – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
• 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
• Lingering Fortification – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
• 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
• Lingering Power – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
• 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.

Advanced Boons

• Masterclass – 1% Forte per rank
• Quick Turnaround – 1% Recharge Speed
• Call of Power – 1% Action Point Gain

Master Boons

• Blood Lust 3/3
• Life Lessons 3/3
• Blessed Advantage 3/3
• Deathly Rage 3/3

Guild Boons

• Offense – Power/Accuracy/Critical depending on what stat you need.
• Defense – Defence
• Utility – Mount Speed or Movement Speed

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 currently 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

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthweave Cap (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Abyss Conqueror’s Healing Guard / Spellweaver’s Hood (Demonweb Pits)
• Serene Hood of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
• The Dark Maiden Assault Hood (Temple of the Spider / Menzoberranzan Campaign Store)

Armor

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthweave Coat (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Abyss Conqueror’s Spellweaver Robe (Demonweb Pits)
• Mighty Cuirass / Tactful Leathers of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)

Arms

• Best-in-Slot Abyss Conqueror’s Healing Mitts (Demonweb Pits)
• Enchanted Depthweave Sleeves (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Mighty Vambraces / Tactful Gloves of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)

Feet

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthforged Poulaindes (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon) Only in Fire Themed-Maps or Sharp Longboots of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
• Radiant or Ultraviolet Elven Poulaines (The Imperial Citadel)
• Starweave Slippers
• Abyss Conqueror’s Mauler Greaves
• The Dark Maiden Resolution Greaves (Temple of the Spider)

Weapons

• Living Magma Set / Encased Magma (Master of Flame Campaign Store)
• Demonweb Empowerment / Perfect Set (Northdark Campaign)
• Dark Matter / Solarium & Starcore Set (Adventures in Wildspace Campaign Store)
• Scalebreaker’s Wrath / Duergar Set (Dragonbone Vale Campaign)

Main Hand Modification:

• Ray of Frost

Offhand Modifications:

• Whatever stat you need

Rings

• Red Dwarf Ring of Xaryxis (The Imperial Citadel Master)
• Moondancer’s Binding of Precision (Wildspace)
• Platinum Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
• Sapphire Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
• Emerald Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
• Eilistraee’s Harmony + Elistraee’s Beauty (AOE) (Northdark Reaches)
• Soothsayer’s Ring of Absolution (Dragonbone Vale)
• Waywatchers Ring of Precision (Dragonbone Vale)
• Waywatchers Ring of Punishment (Dragonbone Vale)
• Mightbreaker’s Ring of Elegance (Dragonbone Vale)

Neck & Waist

• Masterwork of Menzoberranzan Set: Scintillant Sash & Amulet (Mastercrafted / From the Auction House)
• Unstable Drive Set (Detector’s Pendant & Detector’s Sash)

Shirt

• Ember Stiched Shirt (Lair of the Mad Dragon) Only in Fire-Themed Maps
• Ember Infused Shirt (Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Brilliant Starwoven Shirt (Wildspace Heroic Encounters)
• Shimmering Flarefiber Shirt
• Lolth’s Embrace (Narbondellyn Heroic Encounters)

Pants

• Ember Stiched Pants (Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Luminous Flarefiber Pants
• Lolth’s Embrace (Narbondellyn Heroic Encounters)
• War-Worn Pants (From the Auction House)

Artifacts

Primary Artifact

• Demogorgon’s Reach
• Mythallar Fragment
• Halaster’s Blast Scepter
• Wyvern-Venom Coated Knives
• Crystal of Soul’s Flight

Secondary Artifacts

Choose secondary artifacts based on the stats you are lacking.

• Jewel of Caldera
• Searing Conduit of Magma
• Astral Seed Tendril
• Portable Spelljammer Detector
• Macro’s Mystic Marker
• Xeleth’s Blast Scepter
• Scintillating Symbol of Water
• Rod of Pain
• Wand of Domination
• Marilith Mask
• Mystic Bolt
• Eye of Odran
• Assassin’s Dice

Enchantments

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

Offense Enchantments

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

Defense Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Utility Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Bonus Enchantments

• Recharge Bonus

Combat Enchantments

• Lightning Flash

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

• Accuracy, Power, or Critical Strike Kit +1, Depending on what stat you need.

Jewelry Reinforcement Kits

• Combat Advantage Jewel

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: Ratatouille / Seared Tuna
• Event Food: Watermelon Sorbet / Squash Soup
• Elixir: Wild Storm Elixir / Sunlord’s Gift Elixir
• Potion: Superior Flask of Potency +1
• Belt: Stone of Health / Dragonfire / Perfect Spider Totem or Forger’s Box

Companions

Summoned Companion

For your summoned companion you have the choice between using Augmented companions which will make it easier to cap stats or an active combat companion which will do damage. At the moment Active/Striker companions are usually better than augment companions.

Active Companion Choices

• Black Death Scorpion
• Etrien
• Tutor
• Blaspheme Assassin
• Wiggins the Undead Intern
• Mage Slayer
• Xuna
• Paranoid Delusion
• Tomb Spider
• Greenscale Bowman
• Regis (AoE)
• Wulfgar (AoE)
• Xaryxian Defector (AoE)
• Minotaur Mercenary(AoE)
• Rimefire Golem (AoE)

Enchantment Power

• Precision
• Potency
• Perfect Vision
• Acute Senses
• Potent 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
• 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

• Minsc (The Bigger They Are) – More damage against big mobs (bosses)
• 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

• Dark Dealer (Dark Dealings) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage
• Alchemist Experimenter (Alchemist’s Discipline) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
• Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight) – 7.5% Combat Advantage
• Book Imp (Bookimp’s Presence) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage

Mounts

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

Mount Powers

Mount Equip Power:

• Dominant Force (Power)
• Ferocity (Extra Damage)
• Opportunistic ( Combat Advantage)
• Ferocious Predator (Power & Critical Severity)
• Rapid Accuracy (Accuracy)
• Armor Breaker (Critical Severity)
• Precision (Critical Strike & Severity)
• Ruthless Efficiency (Critical Strike

Mount Combat Power:

• Bigby’s Hand
• Tunnel Vision (Several)
• Giant Toad
• Golden Warhorse
• Space Guppy School (For AoE)
• Pegasus (For AoE)

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.