Rotting Mage — guide

In short

Rotting Mage is a Rare Spirit Support from the Undead Hordes: Freeze on the A1, Stun on the A3, a 25% Increase ATK for the team and a 30% Increase DEF on himself. He only matters in Faction Crypts; everywhere else he is weak. Build him for SPD and ACC, never for damage.

Strengths

• Two forms of control in one kit: 25% Freeze on Cold Beam and 75% Stun on Mind Overload (up to 100% with books).
• Frost Weapon gives the whole team a 25% Increase ATK for 2 turns.
• Aura: +13% ally SPD in Faction Crypts — exactly where you would use him.
• Gives himself a 30% Increase DEF, so with decent gear he does not fold instantly.

Weaknesses

• Damage scales off ATK and his base ATK is 1 068 — he is not a damage dealer.
• Low base DEF (870) and SPD (100); without gear he is a sitting duck.
• The only team buff is a 25% Increase ATK — no heal, no shields, no enemy debuffs besides control.
• Books never raise the Freeze chance on Cold Beam, only its damage.

Where to use

Faction Crypts is the one place he earns a slot (2.5/5): the aura, the ATK buff and the Stun help push stages. Everywhere else he sits at 1.0/5 — Clan Boss, Hydra, Chimera, Arena, dungeons and Hard mode all have far better options. In Doom Tower he is a filler at best.

Stats and gear

• SPD: 170–200 so the buff and the Stun keep cycling.
• ACC: 150–200 or the Stun will not land in Crypts.
• HP and DEF: dump the rest here to patch up 16 350 HP / 870 DEF.
• Skip C.RATE and damage stats entirely — 1 068 ATK is not a damage build.
• Sets: Speed, Perception, Immortal; Life or Defense if he keeps dying.

Masteries and blessings

From the list: In For The Kill. Fill out the Support tree for Sniper (debuff chance) and cooldown reduction, then take survivability so he lives to cast a second Stun. Relic: Molten Deathbell. Do not spend blessings on him — the resources are better spent elsewhere.

Tombs

Book Frost Weapon first: level 2 gives -1 cooldown, so the Increase ATK comes around more often. Then Mind Overload, where +10/+10/+5% takes the Stun chance close to guaranteed. Cold Beam books only add damage, so leave them for last.

Verdict

Food. Keep one only for Faction Crypts, and only until a real Undead support shows up.