Spellhowler: Player Guide
The dark wind mage: spells, spellbooks, leveling and PvP
A player guide to the Spellhowler, the Dark Elf mage specializing in wind and death magic. Below: Dark Mystic base stats, a breakdown of spells, a table of spellbooks and the monsters that drop them, leveling spots, gear, and tactics for PvP, mass battles and party play.
A bit of history
Originally there was a single elf race. After bloody wars it split: among the Wood Elves the Brown Elves stood out, insisting on continuing the struggle for power even with forbidden black magic. Having learned Dasparion's dark magic, they declared Gran Kain their patron, while Einhasad remained the patron of the Wood Elves. At the decisive moment the Brown Elves used a deadly black magic spell to destroy the Wood Elves, but the dying Wood Elves managed to lay a curse that turned the Brown Elves into a race of darkness - the Dark Elves. More in History of the Lineage 2 world.
Dark Elf Mystic base stats
| Stat | Value | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 95 | Health pool - the lowest among mages |
| MP | 58 | Mana pool |
| Speed | 125 | Movement speed |
| Load | 62,000 | Maximum carry weight - the lowest among mages |
| STR | 23 | P.Atk |
| DEX | 23 | Attack speed, accuracy, critical rate, evasion, run speed, shield block chance |
| CON | 24 | Weight limit, max HP and HP regen, breath under water, stun and bleed chance - the lowest among mages |
| INT | 44 | M.Atk - the highest in the whole Lineage 2 world |
| WIT | 19 | Casting speed, magic critical chance, resistance to debuffs and to Hold, Sleep, Silence, Cancel, Paralyze, Fear |
| MEN | 37 | M.Def, max MP and MP regen, poison resistance, chance of cast interruption when hit - the lowest among mages |
Thanks to the highest INT, the Dark Mystic deals the most damage with a single spell. The price is low WIT and therefore slow casting, which shows in PvP. MEN is also lacking: the Dark Mystic has the lowest M.Def among mages.
How to become a Spellhowler
- At level 20 become a Dark Wizard (Path to a Dark Wizard quest).
- At levels 35, 37 and 39 three quests become available: Trial of the Scholar, Testimony of Fate and Test of Magus. It is best to finish them at level 40 so you can change profession right after the last one.
The full route is in Second profession: Spellhowler.
Spells
Combat
| Spell | Description |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | A powerful wind spell - your main tool. Especially effective combined with Surrender to Wind and on mobs weak to wind, such as the biggest boss of all, Antharas |
| Aura Burn | Inherited from the Dark Wizard; sometimes helps in a fight |
| Curse: Poison | Poison |
| Vampiric Claw | As strong as Hurricane and costs more MP, but drains the enemy's health and restores your HP. If a mob has hurt you, heal with it while dealing good damage |
| Shadow Flare | A dark attack, the strongest spell before level 68: stronger than Hurricane and Vampiric Claw, slightly longer cast. Dealing damage three times the target's remaining HP gives bonus experience and SP (overhit) |
| Death Spike | As strong as Hurricane and Vampiric Claw, requires 1 Cursed Bone. Mainly for PvP and wind-resistant mobs on which Hurricane works poorly |
| Curse: Death Link | Transfers your pain to the enemy: the lower your HP, the higher the damage. At full HP the damage is 1. If a mob has almost killed you and still has plenty of HP, this hit deals more than Hurricane or Shadow Flare and saves your life, then Corpse Life Drain restores your health |
| Aura Symphony | Very high non-elemental damage if 2 seeds of any magic are on the target. Power 350 |
| Demon Wind | Very high wind damage if 2 wind seeds are on the target; also lowers HP regeneration. Power 350 |
| Elemental Storm | Huge mixed-element damage if fire and water seeds are on the target. Power 500. Rightly considered the highest-damage spell in the game, since the Spellhowler has the highest INT and therefore M.Atk |
Debuffs
| Spell | Description |
|---|---|
| Curse: Chaos | Lowers the enemy's accuracy |
| Silence | Prevents the enemy from casting. Mostly for PvP, not relevant in PvM |
| Slow | Slows the enemy. Of little use at low levels - the slow is weak - but later great for both PvP and PvM |
| Surrender to Poison | Makes the target vulnerable to poison. The author finds it not very useful: leveling with poison is inefficient, and poison is rarely used in PvP, especially since it breaks Sleep |
| Surrender to Wind | Makes the target vulnerable to wind. Good both in PvP (usually after a successful Sleep) and in PvM: Surrender to Wind first, then Hurricane - saves a lot of Blessed Spiritshots |
Area spells
- Poisonous Cloud - mass poison, very useful in sieges, mass PvP and mob "trains".
- Tempest - mass wind attack, also for sieges, mass PvP and trains. Deals half of Hurricane's damage.
Other
- Body to Mind - converts HP into MP, very useful while leveling.
- Corpse Life Drain - drains HP from a corpse. Together with Body to Mind it allows almost nonstop leveling: the more you use this combo, the less you sit resting.
- Sleep - puts the enemy to sleep for 30 seconds. Helps when a mob you cannot handle attacks you, or when several mobs attack someone in your party. Usually the first spell in PvP.
- Seed of Wind - places a wind seed on the enemy. If no additional seeds are added within 5 seconds, it dissipates.
Passive
- Fast Spell Casting - increases casting speed. Important for a Spellhowler, who is naturally short on it.
- Clear Mind - speeds up MP recovery while walking and sitting. Together with Body to Mind and Corpse Life Drain it guarantees nonstop leveling.
Spellbooks
Spells after level 40 are learned from spellbooks. Where to farm them:
| Level | Book | Location | Monster (level) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Surrender to Wind | Ivory Tower | Enchanted Gargoyle (44) |
| 40 | Silence | Ivory Tower | Enchanted Stone Golem (42) |
| 40 | Vampiric Claw | Ivory Tower | Enchanted Gargoyle (44) |
| 40 | Shadow Flare | Pirate Tunnel | Zaken's Pikeman (40) |
| 40 | Hurricane | Enchanted Valley | Lielle (46) |
| 44 | Death Spike | Enchanted Valley | Unicorn (49) |
| 48 | Tempest | Enchanted Valley | Satyr Elder (54) |
| 52 | Curse: Death Link | Enchanted Valley | Unicorn Elder (55) |
| 66 | Seed of Wind | Around Silent Valley | Fallen Orc Captain (60) |
| 68 | Aura Symphony | Oren | Innersen (60) |
| 70 | Demon Wind | Oren | Innersen (60) |
| 72 | Elemental Storm | The Giant's Cave | Gamlin (60) |
Leveling and gear
Level 40
If you have the Knowledge Set (+10% M.Atk, -5% MP regeneration), you need not worry about clothes for now, and with Demon Fangs, especially enchanted to +3 or more, you can forget about changing gear for the next 8-10 levels. If you have the money (about 6.5 million adena), you can get a Sage's Staff and keep the Knowledge Set or, if casting speed bothers you, buy the Karmian Set (+5.24% P.Def, +15% casting speed).
Where to level
| Levels | Spot |
|---|---|
| 40-46 | Cruma Tower - party or solo, depending on circumstances (the author always soloed golems in Cruma). Now and then go to Ivory Tower or Enchanted Valley for books |
| 45-48 | Cruma Tower 2nd floor in a party, or The Cemetery: clearing Deprives and Ratmen. Careful - Deprives drain your vital MP. This spot lasts until about 48 |
| 48-52 | Deeper into The Cemetery: all the local orcs and Grave Guards. Grave Guards may drop top C-grade weapons - for example an Eminence Bow and, especially important, Deadman's Staff, Ghoul's Staff and Demon's Staff |
| 52-70 | With clanmates in The Giant's Cave or Lair of Antharas - you can stay there until about 70, combining leveling with farming resources and B- and A-grade parts |
Level 52 and B-grade
If you are still in the Knowledge Set with Demon Fangs, switch to a Sage's Staff and the Karmian Set. Start collecting resources and parts for a top C-grade staff and B-grade clothes.
- Avadon Magic Set (+5.25% P.Def, +15% casting speed) - essentially the Karmian Set with more MP and P.Def.
- Zubei Magic Set (+10% M.Atk, -5% MP regeneration) - essentially the Knowledge Set with more MP and P.Def.
Which one to collect is up to you (the author chose Zubei).
Level 60 and A-grade
- Dark Crystal Magic Set (+8% P.Def, +15% casting speed, +7 run speed, slightly lower chance of cast interruption when hit, +50% paralysis resistance) - a very good set.
- Nightmare Magic Set (+4% MP regeneration, +8% M.Atk, +70% resistance to sleep and hold) - mainly for PvP.
- Demon Set (-270 HP, +4 INT, -1 WIT) - a significant M.Atk boost; some wear it up to max level. Demon's Tunic and Demon's Stockings can be bought in the Luxury Store for crystals, but Demon's Gloves come only from the Wishing Potion quest, and you need a lot of luck.
PvP
Many consider the Spellhowler the worst mage in PvP because of slow casting, but that is far from true. Only mages and archers pose a real threat - the rest, according to the author, go down in the arena without question.
- Spellsinger, Sorcerer. Whoever puts the other to sleep first wins. Once the enemy is asleep, apply Surrender to Wind, Slow, Silence, Sleep again - then hit with Hurricane, Shadow Flare and Vampiric Claw.
- Necromancer. Again luck decides, but if you are put to sleep you have no chance: you will get Silence, Curse: Gloom and Slow and will be unable to do anything. If you sleep him first, act as in point 1.
- Silver Ranger, Phantom Ranger, Hawkeye. Worse here: archers can interrupt your Sleep cast, more than once. The key is to put the archer to sleep, then apply Silence, Curse: Chaos, Surrender to Wind (the original says Surrender to Water) and Slow, and hit with combat spells until he falls.
Mass PvP and sieges
Stay behind the tanks and in front of the buffers and healers, keep casting Poisonous Cloud and Tempest on the enemy, and now and then pick single targets and finish them with single-target spells.
Party and PvM
The Spellhowler has the highest damage among mages and deals it consistently, so it is a wanted character in any party. If you prefer leveling as a duo rather than in a full party or solo, the best partners are a Shillien Elder or a second Spellhowler.
The usual tactic on mobs of your level is simply to hit them with Hurricane, now and then using the Body to Mind and Corpse Life Drain combo to spend less time regenerating MP and HP. If the mobs are higher level, cast Surrender to Wind first, then the same - Hurricane plus Body to Mind and Corpse Life Drain.
Original article author: EasyCoMe