The An Average Campaign Mage is the INT caster of the seven base classes. It starts with a Simple Staff and a free Flame Bolt, then works up to Lightning Strike, which hits every enemy. You can turn it into Bloodkin Warlock in the Forest, Artificer in the Dwarven Mines or Necromancer in the Dungeon, each through one encounter. Most Mage boon setups start with Mage Birthsign.
Brand new? Read the beginner guide first. This page uses the official Trello cards (last edited November 2025 to April 2026), the Roblox game page and player-documented notes for AAC Alpha v0.5.1, checked 2026-10-20. Alpha numbers change often, and where Trello is older, we give the newer value.
01
Mage base kit: spells, energy and INT
| Ability | Level | Energy | Cooldown | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flame Bolt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 Fire damage, 1 Burn |
| Mana Surge | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 turns of Overflow (1.5x damage) |
| Lightning Strike | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 Lightning damage to all enemies, undodgeable, Crippled |
Lightning Strike has 12.5% Precision, so it hits harder when fewer than five enemies are left. By the formula players have documented, a lone boss takes 1.5x damage. The Trello card still lists a 6-turn cooldown and 2.5% INT scaling; current notes list 5 turns and 2%. The basic loop is Flame Bolt while you build energy, then Mana Surge, then Lightning Strike while Overflow is active.
All three spells scale only with INT. Community testing puts each INT point at +0.2% Energy Gain (the chance of extra energy at the start of your turn), +0.075% crit chance and +0.10% crit damage, where the older Trello card says +0.15% crit damage. See stats for the rest.
02
Mage skill tree
Each Prestige level gives three skill points. A node needs 3 of its 5 ranks to open its neighbors, and resetting refunds points without lowering Prestige. The Trello card lists 25 Prestige levels to max a tree, or 1,625 Cealts to buy every level.
- Left: Counterspell (1.5% more outgoing and 1.5% less incoming Force damage per rank) and Strategic Mind (2% more damage per rank against enemies weak to your damage type).
- Middle: Archmage Ascension (2% total INT per rank), HP (+2 Max HP per rank) and Stat Points (+1 starting stat point per rank).
- Right: Proficient Conjuration (2% summon damage per rank) and Reinforced Summoning (3% summon HP per rank).
Our pick (editorial): fill the middle first, since Archmage Ascension multiplies every later INT bonus. Add the right branch for summons, or the left branch if your damage is mostly Force, as with Bloodkin Warlock.
03
Mage subclasses and how to unlock them
| Subclass | How to unlock (as Mage) | Playstyle | Key abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodkin Warlock | Forest, An Upsidedown Individual | Bleed yourself for damage and lifesteal | Gore Shrapnel, Bloodkin Hex, Sanguine Surge |
| Artificer | Dwarven Mines, A Kobold Inventor: "Yep I came to work", then learn under the kobold | One turret that gains moves from your side stats | Craft Turret, Project Barrier, Artificer Infusion |
| Necromancer | Dungeon, A Travelling Necromancer: speak with her, ask for tutelage, accept her offer | Summons and death prevention | Summon Lesser and Greater Undead, Maintain Worldly Form, Baneflame |
You reach the Mines from the Elven Camp encounter by fighting the Dwarves. Artificer (added in v0.4.1) gains a turret module for each non-INT stat at 25 or higher (v0.5.1.1 lowered this from 30). It can use a Staff or the Pyrrhite Revolver, and v0.5.1 added Infusions that change the turret's damage type.
Occultist is not a Mage subclass. It is a Priest subclass from the Cult Ritual in the Sewers. See the Priest guide and all classes.
04
How to become Bloodkin Warlock
- As Mage, find An Upsidedown Individual in the Forest, a man hanging upside down from a tree.
- Choose "Approach the strange man", then "What kind of offer?".
- Choose "Allow him to take some of your blood". You lose 10 HP and gain 2 stat points, or keep the HP if Vampiric Bloodline is equipped. Attacking him starts an Ancient Vampire fight instead.
The kit scales with INT and CHA. Gore Shrapnel deals 10 Force damage with 20% lifesteal and applies Bleed and Siphoning Mark, but it also makes you bleed. Bloodkin Hex adds Fractured, so the target takes 1.3x damage. Sanguine Surge (Level 6) bleeds you, and in return you deal 25% more damage to bleeding targets and every ability applies Bleed. v0.5.1 lowered Hex Bleed from 4 to 3 and Sanguine Surge from 30% to 25%. The Trello card still shows the kit from before v0.4.
Bloodkin Warlock has two advancements in the Dungeon: Proletarius Nox (make a pact in An Ancient Envoy) and Proletarius Ferrum (make a pact in Crimson Forge).
05
Necromancer: summons and v0.5.1 changes
Only one summon can be out at a time, and summons always act last.
- Summon Lesser Undead: Skeleton by default. Shards swap it for an Undead Mage or Death Knight (dropped by those enemies) or a Zombie (from the Halved Soul).
- Summon Greater Undead: Undead Knight by default. You can unlock Plainarm, Valus and Two Gun Thomas with their shards.
- Maintain Worldly Form (Level 6): 2 turns of Maintained on an ally (cannot drop below 0.1 HP), plus 1 turn on you.
- Baneflame (Level 8): 6 Dark damage to every enemy with 20% lifesteal. It also applies Banefire, a burn that poisons and cannot be cleansed.
v0.5.1 (September 15, 2026) added the extra summons, replaced Spew Unlife with Baneflame and made Maintained tick last, so damage over time can't kill a Maintained target. The Halved Soul drops from Necromancer Marceline if you attack her instead of accepting her offer, and v0.5.1.1 made that fight easier solo.
06
Best boons for Mage
Editorial, as of Alpha v0.5.1 (October 2026). You have five slots, and each boon is unlocked by an achievement, then bought from the Tavern Master with Cealts. See boons for the full list.
| Boon | Slots | Unlock | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mage Birthsign | 3 | Equip a spell scroll | 1.1x INT and a free scroll, but you take 1.1x damage (Trello says 15% more physical) |
| Energy Cascade | 2 | Have 6 energy | Lightning Strike's 4 energy gives 3 stacks of 10% damage for your next hit |
| Summoner Supreme | 2 | Become Necromancer | Summons get 1.25x HP and 1.1x damage |
| Shielding Module | 2 | Become Artificer | Spells that cost energy give you a shield |
| Vampiric Bloodline | 2 | Kill a vampire, become Bloodkin Warlock | 5% lifesteal, but 1.25x Fire and Holy damage taken |
| Force of Will | 1 | Defeat Undead Mage | Survive one fatal hit per encounter |
Suggested sets: base Mage takes Mage Birthsign plus Energy Cascade. Necromancer swaps Energy Cascade for Summoner Supreme, Artificer for Shielding Module and Bloodkin Warlock for Vampiric Bloodline. Skip Destined, because it assigns your stat points at random and pulls them away from INT.
07
Best Mage build, gear and spell scrolls
Editorial build: put almost every point into INT. Bloodkin Warlock also wants CHA, and Artificer wants 25 in a second stat. A little CON (1 Max HP per point) helps, since base Mage has no healing spell.
Staff upgrades, with v0.5.x stats from player notes:
- Ancient Staff (10 INT): adds Fireball. It comes from the Wizard Tower.
- Skull Staff (12 INT): crafted from the Halved Soul.
- Void Staff (16 INT, minus 6 CON and FTH): from the Void Interloper or The Unblinking Eyes shop.
- Idol of Toxins (18 INT): from the Sewer boss.
Tomes are Priest weapons, not Mage ones. For armor, Wizard Hat and Necromancer's Robes add INT. See weapons for more.
How to use a spell scroll: equip it and you gain its spell as an extra ability; community notes say only Mage can use scrolls. The Forest's Wizard Tower is the best early source. Ask for magical goods to get a random item, or rob him with a DEX check that the Wizard Tower card puts at minus 10% plus 3% per DEX point. A successful robbery can give Magic Missile, Wind Burst or Ray of Frost. If the check fails, you fight the Angered Wizard.
08
Solo Mage tips
- Solo runs lower enemy dodge and block chance by 5%, according to player notes.
- Use summon scrolls or Necromancer undead as meat shields, as the Trello Mage Birthsign card suggests.
- Save Lightning Strike for single targets when you can, since that's where Precision gives the biggest bonus.
- Each death gives you a stack of Exhaustion (minus 15% Max HP and 20% damage), so Force of Will and a self-cast Maintain Worldly Form are worth it.
09
FAQ
How do you become Bloodkin Warlock in An Average Campaign?
As Mage, find An Upsidedown Individual in the Forest, approach him, ask about his offer and let him take your blood. It costs 10 HP unless you have Vampiric Bloodline.
What are the best boons for Mage in An Average Campaign?
Our pick is Mage Birthsign plus Energy Cascade. Swap Energy Cascade for your subclass boon: Summoner Supreme, Shielding Module or Vampiric Bloodline.
How do you get Necromancer?
As Mage, find A Travelling Necromancer in the Dungeon, ask for tutelage and accept her offer.
Is Occultist a Mage subclass?
No. Occultist is a Priest subclass. Mage's subclasses are Bloodkin Warlock, Artificer and Necromancer.