Recently, Torchlight 3, the latest in the action role-playing game (ARPG) series was released in Early Access. This colorful, cartoony steampunk adventure takes place hundreds of years after the events of Torchlight 2 and features a new continent for the player to explore.
There are four classes in Torchlight 3: the Sharpshooter, the Railmaster, the Forged, and the wielder of light and dark magic: the Dusk Mage.
Using Light and Dark Magic in Torchlight 3
Though Dusk Mages can be played in a solo campaign, they really shine (pun intended) in a multiplayer party. Their Light skills will benefit not just themselves, but other nearby party members as well. Consecration is a Light skill that creates a circle benefiting everyone standing in it. Adding more points into Consecration makes the circle bigger, which doesn’t much help solo players. However, certain Dark spells target an area that will damage enemies, such as Dark Spears, and more points will make the spell last longer and do more damage.
Unique to the Dusk Mage are the light and dark bars. Using Light skills charges the dark bar while using Dark skills charges the light bar. Once one of the bars are full, using a skill of the same type will cause the Dusk Mage to have a Holy or Unholy Charge. The Holy Charge adds a 75% energy regeneration, which means the player will have more mana for casting spells, and the Unholy charge buff does 50% extra damage. As such, it is crucial to have skills in both Light and Dark magic to maximize the abilities the Dusk Mage offers.
The Benefits of Legendary Skills in Torchlight 3
Having the gear that best fits the player is important, but do not forget the importance of Legendary skills. Unlike class skills that require respect points, the Legendary Skills can be changed at any time, provided the player is at the appropriate level. Though it might take some time to get, using the ability the Celestial Cuirass gives, which adds 1 skill level to light skills is a nice benefit. It means players will get those tier benefits sooner, and more points can be put into other skills. For lower-level Dusk Mages, Quicksilver might be useful. Being able to quickly move is crucial for a class that does not enjoy getting hit.
As Torchlight 3 is still in Early Access, a lot can change between now and when the game is officially released. The way in which skills interact with each other may change as well. Part of the fun of ARPGs is experimenting with different builds and finding what works best for the player’s preferred playstyle. If something does not work effectively, the player can use the respec option, and put skill points into other areas. One final piece of advice: as is the tradition in popular fantasy, mages are not the best in close combat, preferring to attack at range. Take positioning into consideration as to not get surrounded. Also, invest at least a point into Shadow Step, which will allow the Dusk Mage to teleport away from enemies.
Torchlight 3 is available now in early access on PC.
