Quick Answer
Start with burn Elemental Staff: invest 53 trait points across both branches, using 2:1:1 intelligence, agility, and talent. Choose Wave Sword instead for Freeze or Lunar Eclipse, using roughly 1:1 intelligence and agility. For either weapon, prioritize magic attack and magic amplification on equipment.
Which skills and traits should you take?
Develop both Elemental Staff branches before choosing burn specializations; for Wave Sword, follow Freeze or Lunar Eclipse.
| Weapon route | Trait investment and skills |
|---|---|
| Elemental Staff: burn | Spend 53 points across both branches, then select burn options for your four specialization choices. |
| Elemental Staff: thunder | Use the same 53-point foundation, then select thunder options for burst damage. |
| Wave Sword: Freeze | Budget about 36 points; reach Tidal's Ride first, then develop the left-side Frost Shard route. |
| Wave Sword: Lunar Eclipse | Budget about 36 points; reach Frost Blossom Flurry, prioritize the left side, then return right toward Glacial Burst. |
| Wave Sword: full tree | Spend 46 points if you plan to main the weapon and want both branches developed. |
For Elemental Staff, important damage skills sit on both sides of the tree. A 42-point burn setup completes the left burn path and reaches Infernal Cross on the right. However, you miss Flame's Tower. A 44-point thunder setup develops the right side and reaches Shooting Star on the left. You miss Blazing Thunderstorm with that allocation. Use these smaller allocations as incomplete setups, rather than your target when maining Staff.
For Freeze, use this progression:
Reach Tidal's Ride
Invest on the right until you unlock Tidal's Ride. It adds damage and mobility to your dodge without an SP cost.
Develop Frost Shard
Move into the left side, taking Frost Blossom Flurry, Arcane Elevation, and Frost Shard Syphon. Continue developing your Freeze route afterward.
For Lunar Eclipse, start with roughly two points on the right to reach Frost Blossom Flurry. Then prioritize the left branch before returning right toward Glacial Burst. If Wave Sword becomes your main weapon, the full tree costs about ten points beyond either focused route.
How should you allocate attribute points?
Start Staff near 2:1:1 intelligence, agility, and talent; start Wave Sword near 1:1 intelligence and agility.
| Attribute or setup | What you should prioritize |
|---|---|
| Elemental Staff | For every four allocated points, put two into intelligence, one into agility, and one into talent. |
| Wave Sword | Divide your starting allocation evenly between intelligence and agility. |
| Intelligence | Increase your magic attack. |
| Agility | Support critical hit chance and offensive scaling. |
| Talent | Support elemental boost and heavier equipment without weight penalties. |
| Constitution | Add HP and critical hit resistance when you struggle to survive. |
Wave Sword needs less elemental boost, so you can put more emphasis on intelligence and agility. Add talent if you approach your equipment load limit. Constitution becomes especially useful when you keep taking damage at close range.
Treat these ratios as starting allocations. Check your character sheet, equipment bonuses, and attribute scaling as you progress. Adjust for survival or equipment load instead of following the ratio indefinitely.
Which equipment stats should you choose?
Choose magic attack first and magic amplification next, then add bonuses matching your weapon route.
| Equipment stat | When you should favor it |
|---|---|
| Magic attack | Your first offensive priority for both weapons. |
| Magic amplification | Your next core priority; especially important for Wave Sword's critical-hit focus. |
| Burn or thunder bonuses | Match these to your Elemental Staff specialization. |
| Tidal attack or Freeze bonuses | Consider these alongside your Wave Sword's core offensive stats. |
| Magic pen | Consider it against enemies with higher magic defense. |
Keep elemental bonuses alongside your core damage stats. Do not give up a large amount of magic attack or magic amplification just to stack one elemental bonus. Named equipment choices and acquisition locations are being added. For general progression alongside these priorities, use the beginner guide.
Should you use burn, thunder, or Wave Sword for PvE and PvP?
Use burn Staff as your starting PvE and PvP option, or choose thunder if you prefer burst damage.
Burn supplies ongoing damage while you prepare your next attacks. Thunder suits you when you prefer damage in bursts. You still want both Staff branches developed before choosing either specialization. Wave Sword offers Freeze and Lunar Eclipse with a lower trait-point investment than the 53-point Staff target.
Compare the classes and their weapons if you are still deciding on your fighting style. For broader rankings, check the best class comparison. Before taking your build into player combat, read the PvP channel guide.
FAQ
You can start with burn Staff, then adjust your attributes and equipment around your chosen weapon.
Aim for 53 points across both branches before selecting burn or thunder specializations. The 42-point burn and 44-point thunder setups leave out useful damage skills.
Freeze and Lunar Eclipse each cost about 36 points as focused builds. You need 46 points to complete the weapon tree.
Yes. Reach Tidal's Ride on the right before developing the left-side Freeze route. You gain dodge-related damage and mobility without an SP cost.
Add constitution when you need more HP and critical hit resistance. Adjust your starting attribute ratio around your equipment and survival needs.
No. Keep magic attack and magic amplification as your core equipment priorities. Use elemental bonuses to support those stats.