With the many powerful spells, reliable rings, and a plethora of catalysts, players inDark Souls 3seeking to put together a fun and viableIntelligence buildhave plenty of options. Though, with so many choices and variables, it can be tricky to determine what is optimal for one’s build goals.
However, due to many skilled players and knowledgeableDark Souls 3veterans combingthis incredible game for over 5 years, manyawesome mage buildshave emerged that any and all can take advantage of for a playthrough heavy in spellcasting.
Updated on June 06, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:One of the things that make Dark Souls 3 so great is that it has a large variety of different weapons, armor, spells, and builds that can be created off of them. Some players like to focus on Strength and Poise builds to decimate their enemies and squash them, whereas others prefer a faster approach, sticking to sharp, quick Dexterity weapons. Whatever the case, there are tons of options for players to explore and try to make their playthrough more enjoyable and suited to their preferences. The builds below are quite powerful and should be of great help to players who are struggling at any point in the game.
A Powerful Balance Between Faith And Intelligence
Build Overview
Quality builds have been around theDark Soulsuniverse for years. However, as opposed to the traditional Quality build in the franchise, which typically combines Strength and Dexterity, this particular build focuses on increasing the attribute level of theIntelligenceand Faith stats. Doing this not only allows players to cast a large variety of different spells, but it also makes it possible to wield certain weapons that demand higher Intelligence and Faith levels. Using this build with Yorshka’s Chime and the Heretic Staff can go a long way.
PVP Tips
Since the key element of this build is to cast deadly spells towards enemies, this build should be treated as a long-distance one. Players should focus on keeping their enemies in sight at all times and maintaining a considerable distance to ensure they’re safe from incoming attacks.The idea here is to take no damage by dodging, so players should allocate their Estus charges to Ashen Estus Flasks.
PVE Tips
Same case here as in PvP. Most enemies can be taken down from a distance by using this build, so prioritizing dodging and staying out of enemies' range is critical. With a high enough Intelligence and Faith level, many spells will scale well enough to do sufficient damage to take most enemies down quickly.
Spells And Relentless Melee Attacks With A Dexterity Weapon
While it’s not unheard of or innovative, it’s rare to see a player who combines spell casting with swift Dexterity weapons in theDark Souls 3universe. Typically, players prefer to stick with one or the other instead of combining them. However, those who do this are missing out on a potentially overpowered build
By combining the Heretic Staff with the Great Corvian Scythe, players can get the best of both worlds. With one hand, they can strike at their enemies from a distance, and with the other, they can get up close and personal to deal considerable damage. When upgraded to the Sharp version, the Great Corvian Scythe gets an “S” scaling in Dexterity.
A one-two-three combination is typically best with this build. First, players should cast two spells towards their enemies to deal some damage. Then, to confuse the other player, they should approach them and strike at them with the Great Corvian Scythe a couple of times.This change in pace can be very effective to keep players' opponents guessing.
In PvE, the element of surprise and a change of pace are not as important as they are in PvP. Instead, players should focus on doing some crowd control. Firing magic projectiles from a distance to take care of a few enemies and then getting closer to use the Great Corvian Scythe to deal with the remaining ones, is usually quite effective.
A Versatile Intelligence Build For Both PvE And PvP
Youtuber ChaseTheBrocame up withthis build in 2017 that doesn’t do anything radically different from other pure Intelligence builds, yet he has optimized this one to make it very simpleto put together and use forboth PvE and PvP. The idea is to defeat foes with only sorceries with as little reliance on parrying and melee as possible (ideally none).
Understanding the range and projectile speed of one’s spells is crucial for making the best of thisDS3sorcerer build.Utilize Crystal Soul Spear as a way to pressure foes into evading, though, try using it to steer them in a direction. One may not be able to corner them, but forcing the enemy along a predictable path can allow the player to switch to faster spells like Great Heavy Soul Arrow to unleash a hard-to-dodge barrage of blue-white bolts.
Since most PvE foes won’t prioritize dodging spells, it will be easy to mow enemies down with Crystal Soul Spear from safe distances. However, during some boss fights, it would be best to stick to quicker yet less damaging spells like Great Heavy Soul Arrow.
A Smart And Strong Warrior That Has No Match
Intelligence and Strength usually encompass opposing tactics, however, these stats can be married in a build designed for a hyper offense.Youtuber Crozynassembleda Battlemage build in 2018 that utilizes the mid-range sorceries to deal magic damage and pressure opponentswhile havinga Greataxe equipped for close-range devastation.
Since thisDark Souls 3mage build comes with a solid melee weapon, implementing sorceries ideal for close-range is a no-brainer for most who would use this tactic. Homing Crystal Soulmass works very well here as it will always give the enemy something to worry about when they enter melee range, as avoiding both a Greataxe and the swift orbs of magic can be difficult. Ironically, going up against another Intelligence build can be tough for players as it is possible to get out-ranged due to spell choice.
Players using this build while progressing through the main game should usetheir spellsfor ranged combat and their Greataxe for close-quarters confrontations. For better rolls, only equip light armor, however, if one wants to poise through attacks while delivering counterattacks with their Greataxe, heavy armor would be more appropriate.
One Of The Best Builds For This Magical Weapon
Renowned for being one of the onlyDS3greatswords meant for Intelligence builds,the Moonlight Greatsword is understandably an awesome choice for mages, as it possesses great stats that give spellcasters a solid melee weapon. Combining the usage of this legendary blade with reliable sorceries is a top-tier combo that any aspiring Intelligence build can take advantage of.
Due to the iconic nature of the blade, everyone will know exactly what to expect when the player shows up with it in hand. This can make landing strikes difficult as the opponent will be able to predict one’s attacks with relative ease, therefore one will likely have to open up an assault with a spell to throw the enemy off. Quick sorceries like Great Farron Dart can provide sufficient guerilla tactics to force the adversary into making a mistake that one can capitalize on with a Moonlight Greatsword combo.
The Moonlight Greatsword is a classic weapon choice for Intelligence builds throughout many FromSoftware games.As one of the few great weapons that scale this well with Intelligence, it’s always a fun addition to an otherwise ranged attack-heavy playstyle. Though, with that said, the weapon skill of the Moonlight Greatsword can allow it to be effective at mid-ranged attacks as well if the user can line up their strike properly.
The Dark Side Of Spellcasting Can Be Devastating
Magic spells are not the only type available to Intelligence builds, as the mighty dark spells proliferate the gameand offer an alternative to the regular spellcasting tactics.Youtuber Games 4 Daysassembled this dark sorcery-oriented build in 2017 that works well with the powerful and intimidating Crucifix of the Mad King.
Players should use similar tactics for this darkDS3mage build as they would for the Battlemage build, in that both should use spells for short and mid-range that complement the heavy weapon in their main hand. The unpredictability of the Crucifix of the Mad King can be a boon at times by keeping the enemy on their toes and under constant stress, however, not being able to reliably call upon one of its three possible skills can cause one to take unnecessary risks, which foes can use against a player.
Since there is less pressure in PvEDS3gameplay, gamers can fool around with the Mad’s King Folly weapon skill a bit more. This can make one’s next playthrough into a bit of a challenge run if they go through New Game+ or beyond while primarily only using the Crucifix of the Mad King as their weapon.
Not The Most Fun Build To Use, But It Works Wonders
Pestilent Mist (formerly called Pestilent Mercury) is a sorcery that deals constant damage to any target within the cloud of haze that is expelled after casting, including the player who called it forth. It inflicts damage proportionate to a target’s max HP,meaning that bosses and other tough foes are especially susceptible to it, making this spell an ideal way to cheese adversaries.Since it only requires 30 Intelligence to use, many Intelligence builds, especially early-game ones, can make great use of this after acquiring the spell from Orbeck of Vinheim.
After half a decade since the game’s release, players who see this dank fog know to steer well clear of it, and since many PvP areas are located in spacious regions, it will be next to impossible to hurt human foes sufficiently with Pestilent Mist. While great predictive casting can envelop enemies in the deadly mist for a second or two, this is usually not even enough to make them heal, so this spell should only be used for applying pressure and not to actually take anyone down directly.
As this build is specifically designed to take down bosses easily, players won’t find many of their fights with bigger foes that challenging. However, every other type of PvE conflict will be more challenging, as smaller and faster enemies may be able to avoid one’s corrosive mist cloud. This is especially true in open areas, which will force players to think outside the box when getting past certain obstacles.
Enemies Will Be Engulfed In Deadly Flames
Those desiring to deal both fire and magic damage with their build should seek out the Immolation Tinder dropped by the fire witches at Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. This halberd possesses physical and fire attack as well as A-tier Intelligence scaling when fully upgraded, meaning that the excellent reach of this polearm will deal sufficient damage while also being capable of out-spacing many foes. Furthermore, it can be used as a sorcery catalyst (though not for pyromancies), which lets its wielder use melee attacks and cast spells very fluidly.
While one will be able to out-space melee attackers, those who get too close can annihilate this build if one does not set up a decent countermeasure, as the handle portions of polearms deal pathetic damage compared to the head of the weapon, and the relatively slow attack speed will mean players will have their attacks interrupted frequently. However, an easy counter to this issue is to have Homing Soulmass or Crystal Homing Soulmass active as much as possible to deter enemies from getting too close.
Split damage can be both a curse or a blessing. Against foes who have generally average damage reductions to all elements, the Immolation Tinder’s moderate physical and fire damage will respectively do little. However, against foes who are weak to physical damage, fire damage, or both, this weapon will be effective. Thankfully, fire is handy against a large number of enemies inDS3,and the only real kinds of threats that resist this element are obviously coated in flames or otherwise have a notable connection to fire.
Pyromancies And Massive Weapons Go Well Together
For players seeking even more firepower, this chaotic mage build made byYoutuber xGodsChosenOnexin 2020 may be worth checking out.Combining the use of powerful pyromancies andlightning-based miraclesis an excellent two-pronged offensive for spellcasters, as few foes can defend themselves from both types of damage effectively. Backing the spells up with the Demon’s Scar (to cast pyromancies as well as for melee attacks) and an infused Great Machete will complete this deadly build.
As is common with hyper-offensiveDark Souls 3Intelligence builds, dealing with incoming damage can be a concern. This is due to the lack of effort placed into wearing decent armor in order to excel at casting both pyromancies and miracles with high Intelligence and Faith. As such, defensive buffs like Sacred Oath that increase one’s damage absorption, as well as grant other boons, can be handy with this build.
With both powerful fire and lightning damage at one’s disposal, players using this build should be able to unleash solid damage against almost any kind of foe. There are few enemies in the main game that resist both fire and lighting, so the odds of having a favorable match-up against common threats and bosses alike will be high.
One Of The Most Devastating Strength Weapons In The Game Gets An Interesting Infusion
Seeing anyone running around with a Fume Ultra Greatsword coated in jagged blue crystals (the Crystal Magic Weapon spell) is sure to give any player pause, as the sheer amount of damage such a behemoth of a blade can unleash is impressive.Youtuber Blood Turned Coffeeput together this intimidating Intelligence build in 2016 for those who want a solid one that utilizes Strength and Intelligence.
It is ideal to use this build in a manner very similar to a regular melee build, as the greatest way to deal damage is to utilize the buffed Fume Ultra Greatsword. It is recommended to have a fast parrying tool in one’s offhand when the player does not need to apply the Crystal Magic Weapon buff, as getting a riposte with this huge mass of magical iron has a decent chance of taking out foes who have low Vigor or have already been injured.
The Fume Ultra Greatsword is one of the best weapons to use if one wants to slam enemies around. The stat investment needed to wield it one-handed alongside a staff in the offhand is pretty high, but it’s worth it for the huge damage potential. High damage per hit combined with great poise health lets players use the Fume Ultra Greatsword to stun, stagger, or flatten nearly anything.
