The Arcanist’s skills are split into three categories; Normal, Stacking, and Ruin. Normal skills are used to deal damage and quickly build up the Arcanist’s Specialty Meter. The other two types of skills, Stacking & Ruin, work together to build up impressive attacks. Successful attacks with Stacking skills will build up to 4 stacks on an enemy target. When a Ruin skill lands, it consumes stacks built up on the target to greater effect— creating opportunities to deal massive damage.
Despite being armed with an arsenal of skills, the Arcanist will sometimes leave things to the fate of the cards with her specialty skill “Card Deck”. When the player lands an attack, it charges the Card Meter. Once the meter is completely charged, a card is drawn randomly from the Card Deck, which can be used to varying degrees of devastating effect. Two cards can be stored in the Deck at once, and can be activated by pressing [Z] or [X].
Like the other Advanced Classes, the Arcanist has two unique Class Engravings that enhance different aspects of the character. The Order of the Emperor Engraving enhances the Card Deck through Normal Skills building up additional Deck Meter and adding the Emperor Card into the Deck which deals massive amounts of damage. If you prefer the stack building aspect of the class, Empress’s Grace grants increased damage when using a Ruin ability after generating 4 stacks, along with MP recovery to keep the deluge of abilities flowing.
Find a full list of the Arcanist’s skill descriptions below, followed by the Awakening skills. And remember, these are just the base skills – each can be customized further through the Tripod system as you experiment to find what works best against the myriad of threats found throughout Arkesia.
Call of Destiny – Throw a card at the target location to inflict Damage, then another Damage after a short pause, launching foes into the air.
Unlimited Shuffle – Throw a stack of cards at the target location, inflicting Damage over 6 hits. The cards then inflict Damage as they launch foes into the air. They then take Damage upon being slammed into the ground.
Return – Throw a card toward the target location to inflict Damage and Counterattack. Use the skill again to inflict Damage and slam foes onto the ground.
Mysterious Stampede – Quickly move to your left, inflicting Damage, and then return, inflicting Damage.
Dark Resurrection – Throw cards at the target location to summon a Demon that attacks foes and deals [Dark] Damage, inflicting Fear upon them.
Evoke – Cast a magick circle that lasts for 10s at the target location. Use the skill again to inflict Damage to foes.
Quadra Accelerate – Throw cards toward the target location 4 times with each card inflicting Damage.
Scratch Dealer – Move toward the target location and inflict Damage. Use the skill again to strike downward, inflicting Damage.
Spiral Edge Leap – 7 meters toward the target location while throwing a card to inflict Damage.
Dancing of Spineflower – Throw a flurry of cards while moving 11 meters toward the target location over 3s, inflicting Damage 6 times, then Damage with the last card. Use the skill again to return to your original location.
Checkmate – Quickly throw cards toward the target location, inflicting Damage with each hit.
Stream of Edge – Open two portal gates at the target location for 5s, attacking all foes between the gates for Damage over 15 hits.
Infinity Shower – Throw cards at the target location to inflict Damage. Use as a combo in the air to throw more cards to inflict Damage.
Celestial Rain – Call down a rain of cards at the target location to inflict Damage. Airborne foes receive Damage + and are slammed onto the ground. Inflict Stagger Damage when the skill’s Stack effect gets triggered.
Four of a Kind – Quickly throw a card at the target location to inflict Damage. Inflict Stagger Damage when the skill’s Stack effect gets triggered.
Serendipity – Fan out the card at the target location, inflicting Damage, then fan the card again to inflict Damage and knock foes away. Inflict Stagger Damage when the skill’s Stack effect gets triggered.
Secret Garden – Instantly inflict Damage to nearby foes. Damage increases with the number of stacks. Foes with 4 stacks are slammed onto the ground. Inflict Stagger Damage when the skill’s Stack effect gets triggered.
Prismatic Mirror – Summon a stack of enormous cards at the target location to inflict Damage, then throw smaller cards that inflict Damage over time. The giant cards flock together and explode, inflicting Damage and launching foes into the air. You are granted 2 Specialty Cards upon explosion.
Deathbound – Summon the Card of Death, inflicting Damage and knocking foes away. Damage to foes increases according to the number of stacks.