Arcanist is the new Advanced Class for Mages. Well, it isn’t exactly new since Korean players have been playing her for a few months now. Using her card deck, she can deal massive damage and feature various AoE effects. Arcanist class will join the Bard and Sorceress as the third Mage Advanced Class.
In this Lost Ark class guide, you can evaluate whether Arcanist is worth playing and if the class is suitable for you. We’ll cover her skills and engravings and provide you with some tips to be more effective on the battlefield. We’ve also included two build propositions so you’ll know how to play her properly immediately.
Table of Contents
Lost Ark Arcanist uses her cards to deal damage and inflicts various debuffs on her enemies. She has three different abilities: Normal skills, Stacking skills, and Ruin skills. You’ll always start with Normal skills to build up the Arcanist’s Specialty Meter, thus dealing more damage.
The other two skills, Stacking and Ruin, should be used together for summoning powerful Magick attacks. As the name suggests, Stacking will build up to 4 stacks on the enemy target. When a Ruin skill lands, it consumes those stacks for much higher damage output. Utilizing these mechanics is fundamental if you want to be a decent Arcanist.
Since playing cards are usually based on luck, Arcanist possesses a specialty skill called “Card Deck,” which throws a random card with a special effect. Every basic attack charges the Card Meter, and once it is full, a random card is drawn from the Card Deck with a devastating effect. Below, you’ll find a complete list of cards from the Card Deck.
Do you want more Gold Lost Ark? where is the best place to buy lost ark gold? You can visit a professional Lost Ark Gold selling shop MMOPixel .
Card Name |
Effect |
Three-Headed Snake Card |
Basic Attack changes into three directions for 16s. Earn one stack on hit. Damage to foes +100%. Damage to Challenge or lower monsters +400%. |
Mayhem Card |
For 30s, Attack Speed +3% for 4s every time skills are used, up to 15%. |
Twisted Fate Card |
For 4s, your skill Damage either stays the same or increases by 40%. |
Corrosion Card |
For 30s, gain a 30% chance of +10% Damage for 5s. |
Ghost Card |
Ignore collision with monsters. Move Speed +20% and Damage from foes -50% for three hits for 16s. |
Cull Card |
For 4s, Crit Rate for all skill attacks increase by 100%, and Crit Damage +50% when they hit one foe. |
Balance Card |
For 30s, your Stacking skills are enhanced and grant you one more stack with each hit. |
Judgment Card |
For 4s, Ruin skills always trigger the four stack effect, regardless of the actual number of stacks cast upon foes. |
Moon Card |
Cooldown -10%, and MP Recovery Speed increases by 20% for 30s. |
Star Card |
Recovers 100% MP. Remaining skills Cooldown -15% except for Awakening, Movement, and Stand Up skills. |
Wheel of Fortune Card |
The Cooldown of the next skill decreases by 100%. |
Royal Card |
Fills empty card slots. You can obtain up to 2 cards. |
Emperor Card |
Inflict Damage to foes within a 14-meter radius. (Class Engraving dependent). |
Like other Advanced Classes in Lost Ark, Arcanist Engravings are divided into two categories that enhance her attack damage, stacking, and unique buffs. These two engravings are presented as follows:
The Order of the Emperor. It affects the Card Deck by enhancing its Normal Skills, which helps build an additional Deck Meter and grants you the Emperor card to add to your deck, dealing damage.
The Empress’s Grace. Increases your damage output once you’ve used a Ruin ability after gaining four stacks.
Level 1. The Normal Skills Deck Meter increases by 50% and deals 10% more damage. Emperor Card is added to your deck, dealing significant damage when used.
Level 2. The Normal Skills Deck Meter increases by 50% and deals 20% more damage. Emperor Card is added to your deck, dealing significant damage when used.
Level 3. The Normal Skills Deck Meter increases by 50% and deals 30% more damage. Emperor Card is added to your deck, dealing significant damage when used.
Level 1. Increases 4 stack Ruin Damage by 20%. After hitting an enemy, it recovers 30% of Mana.
Level 2. Increases 4 stack Ruin Damage by 25%. After hitting an enemy, it recovers 30% of Mana.
Level 3. Increases 4 stack Ruin Damage by 30%. After hitting an enemy, it recovers 30% of Mana.
Here’s a complete list of all Arcanist skills, followed by the Awakening Skills. Remember, you can customize these basic skills through the Tripod system. Sooner or later, players will figure out what combinations work best for both PvP and PvE.
Skill Name |
Effect |
Call of Destiny |
A rain of cards falls on enemies dealing Damage. Airborne foes receive extra damage and are slammed onto the ground. Inflict Stagger Damage when the skill's Stack effect gets triggered. |
Unlimited Shuffle |
Throw a stack of cards at the target location, inflicting Damage over six hits. The cards launch foes into the air and slam them to the ground dealing Damage. |
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 |
Swiftly move to your left, 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. |
Skill Name |
Effect |
Quadra Accelerate |
Throw cards toward the target location 4 times, dealing Damage with each hit. |
Scratch Dealer |
Move toward the target location and inflict Damage. Use the skill again to strike downward, inflicting Damage. |
Spiral Edge Leap |
Leap 7 meters toward the target location while throwing a card inflicting Damage. |
Dancing of Spineflower |
Launch a flurry of cards while moving 11 meters towards enemies over three seconds, dealing damage at least six times, then additional damage with the last card. Use the skill again to return to your starting position. |
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 this ability mid-air for additional Damage. |
Skill Name |
Effect |
Celestial Rain |
Call down a rain of cards at the target location to inflict Damage. Airborne foes receive additional 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 inflicts Damage to nearby foes. Damage increases with the number of stacks. Foes with four stacks are slammed onto the ground. Inflict Stagger Damage when the skill's Stack effect gets triggered. |
Skill Name |
Effect |
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. |
At the time of writing, Arcanist is a relatively new class, so the absolute best builds are yet to come. However, when Arcanist settles for good, there will be a ton of builds to choose from. For now, we encourage you to check the best PvP and PvE builds according to the Reddit community. We’ve listed them down below.
Skill |
Skill Level |
Rune 1 |
Rune 2 |
Rune 3 |
Celestial Rain |
10 |
Vital Point Hit |
Enhanced Strike |
Weak Point Detection |
Serendipity |
10 |
Piercing Strike |
Lucky Blow |
Intended Luck |
Secret Garden |
10 |
Vital Point Hit |
Perfect Secret |
Secret Chance |
Call of Destiny |
10 |
Nimble Movement |
Quick Draw |
Chain Attack |
Return |
10 |
Weakness Exposure |
Concentrated Card |
Exposed Darkness |
Spiral Edge |
10 |
Mind Enhancement |
Ruthless Shot |
Quick Pace |
Scratch Dealer |
10 |
Excellent Mobility |
Weak Point Attack |
Safety Device |
Quadra Accelerate |
7 |
Nimble Movement |
Card Draw |
N/A |
Engravings:
Empress’ Grace (1)
Grudge (3)
Barricade (3)
Cursed Doll (3)
Hit Master (3)
Adrenaline (2)
Sets:
Argos – Pre-Ordained
Legion – Nightmare
Stats:
Max Spec
Crit Secondary
Skill |
Skill Level |
Rune 1 |
Rune 2 |
Rune 3 |
Celestial Rain |
10 |
Vital Point Hit |
Enhanced Strike |
Weak Point Detection |
Evoke |
10 |
Quick Draw |
Conc Magick Circle |
Overlap Magick Circle |
Dark Resurrection |
10 |
Piercing Strike |
Intense Card |
Furious Blow |
Call of Destiny |
10 |
Mind Enhancement |
Quick Draw |
Concentration of Destiny |
Return |
10 |
Weakness Exposure |
Concentrated Card |
Exposed Darkness |
Checkmate |
10 |
Piercing Strike |
Conc Darkness |
Deadline |
Scratch Dealer |
10 |
Weakness Exposure |
Weak Point Attack |
Safety Device |
Stream of Edge |
7 |
Acceleration Stream |
Dark Edge |
N/A |
Engravings:
Emperor’s Edict (1)
Grudge (3)
Raid Captain (3)
All-Out Attack (3)
Mass Increase (3)
Adrenaline (2)
Sets:
Argos – Pre-Ordained
Legion – Dominion
Stats:
Max Swiftness
Crit Secondary
Arcanist is a difficult class that requires a lot of patience and devotion to be actually useful. However, the results are well worth the effort, and in the right hands, Arcanist is an extremely fun and rewarding character to play. People will become more familiar with her as time passes, so better watch out for her when playing PvP. See you in Arkesia!