!!!This thread is completely out of date!!!






This thread was created to complement and expand on the information I wrote about in About Update 1.5. If you are struggling to win duels, the following knowledge may be useful. Otherwise, probably not, although even experienced mage-players may be able to find something new here. For me, this note will also be useful, in monitoring and adjusting duel balance.



A mage duel can be initiated by inviting other mage to a duel, but also as a result of an event (e.g. during a Mage Summit).
The duel lasts for a maximum of seven rounds, during which both sides can affect the Power Clash and Doom Spell tracks, which are the main parameters of the struggle.
Duels consume power saturation, but only after its completion (10*num of rounds).
However, it is worth having as much power saturation as possible before the duel, because it directly translates into effectiveness in combat (more on this later).
As I wrote in the past, a duel can be won in four ways:

• Pushing an opponent out on the Power Clash track or maintaining a lead on it after seven rounds of combat (this is the most common way).
  
• Filling the Doom Spell track (This option kills the enemy immediately).
  
• Inflict sufficiently serious wounds on the opponent.
  
• Critical spell hit (some duel options/spells have a chance - 5% or 10% - to kill the opponent instantly).

The first possibility is the most important and easiest way to win, the others are situational or random, which is why Power Clash progress (PC for short) is the most important parameter you have to worry about. Your spells (I mean the "dialogue" options during a duel) are able to give you between +1 and +4 PC progress. Of course, the base values can be modified by your permanent bonuses to PC and the option chosen by you and your opponent in the previous round. Full magical protection for the opponent also has a significant impact on them.
Doom Spell progress (DS) works somewhat similarly, although your opponent cannot push back that track in any way (sometimes he can slow down or halt your progress with his counter-spells). You can generate a base of +1 to +5 DS - these values can be also modified by decisions and full magic protection, but there are no permanent bonuses to DS progress except that your opponent can reduce your normal DS progress if he has full magical protection, special modifier or maxed Combat Magic (mage's XP track). However, there are initial bonuses that allow you to start the duel with a higher DS level.



Basic magical protection (such as from protective runes) doesn't work during a duel because close-range combat spells simply always penetrate it. However, Full Magical Protection (for example, from a specific spell or Dragonscale armor) reduces PC progress by 3 and DS by 1. Such protection also prevents receiving injuries and critical hits from spells. This means that if your opponent has such protection and you don't, you'll likely lose the fight. However, opponent's Full Magic Protection can be disrupted or disabled during the duel if:

• you are a legedary mage.
  
• you are a four stars demon.
  
• you have a Master of Metamagic modifier.
  
• you have a fully operational Ancient Singularity.

The first two methods are more reliable because the last two must be randomly drawn in the duel options, so you need some luck here (although the chance of that happening is also quite high).



In a duel, the more powerful and better prepared mage wins, so the first step is to make sure that you are the more powerful and better prepared one. Your strength is primarily indicated by the progress bonus PC, which is largely determined by your power saturation. However, if two opponents of similar power face each other, other factors such as knowledge of spells, possession of magical artifacts, and character statistics (mainly learning) will likely determine the victory.
Most options during a duel allow you to modify the PC track, your DS track, or both. The basic tactic will be to choose at the beginning of the duel whether you want to focus on PC or DS. I'll tell you right away that PC is probably a bit easier and less stressful 😉. This is also a strategy that the AI opponent often chooses.
Does this mean that Doom Spell is useless? There are situations where this tactic is worth considering:

• when both opponents have low PC bonuses/low power saturation;
  
• when your initial bonus to DS is high;
  
• in an act of desperation, when you're fighting an opponent with full magical protection when you don't have one yourself (though you shouldn't let that happen).

• Don't fight an opponent with full magical protection if you don't have one for yourself. Even if you can break it, you will lose a round while your opponent is charging you with spells.
  
• Power Saturation is the most important source of bonuses for PC progress. It can increase your spell power by +1 or +2 PC. Make sure you have 100 power saturation. It is good if your opponent has less than you.
  
• Demons are almost always treated as mages with 100 power saturation (so +2 additional PC progress). Those with four stars also have full magic protection and can break yours. They are dangerous opponents.
  
• Don't fight if you have any wounds (unless you are very confident).
  
• Magical artifacts often have a bonus to DS or unlock abilities during a duel, so it's better to have a lot of them (and better if the opponent doesn't have them).
  
• Maybe silly advice, but before you challenge your opponent, make sure you have a chance of winning (unless you're role playing an arrogant/stupid character, cool ;) )
  
• If you have access to the Aura Reading spell, I recommend use it to checking your and your potential opponent's PC and DS bonuses before the duel. This can be helpful in determining whether you are likely to win. (Aura Reading used on a person other than yourself usually costs power saturation, so remember to renew it before the duel).
  
• If you have a banishment spell, your opponent is a demon and has no magical protection (or you broke it), you will be able to defeat them almost instantly, with a single spell (there will be an appropriate option available). Be careful, as this can also be used against you if you are a demon yourself. Hell Scepter always protects against the banishment spell, even in such circumstances.
  
• Good if you have more learning than your opponent, this can tip the balance if both mages have similar strength.

• Magic flu modifier: -1
  
• Opponent's full magic protection: -3
  
• Demon trait (with >24 XP): +2 (does not stack with power saturation bonus)
  
• 50 - 99 Power Saturation: +1
  
• 100 Power Saturation: +2
  
• 80 - 99 Magic Potential of source: +1 ('Powerful Source' trait)
  
• 100 Magic Potential of source: +2 ('Chosen One' trait)
  
• 100 Combat Magic XP: +1
  
• Ancient Singularity MK II: +1
  
• Yaga trait: +1
  
• Master of Magic: +1 (modifier from special project)
  
• Mystical Powers: +2 (exclusive Asmodeus modifier)

• Opponent's full magic protection: -1
  
• Opponent's 100 XP in Combat Magic: -1

• 25 - 74 Secret Knowledge XP: +1
  
• 75+ Secret Knowledge XP: +2
  
• 35 - 64 Combat Magic: +2
  
• 65+ Combat Magic: +4
  
• Ancient Singularity (both versions): +1
  
• Magic Catalyst: +1
  
• Magic Academy (place of power): +1
  
• Alchemical Enhancement: +1 (this is temporary modifier from Potion of Might)
  
• Lich trait: +1
  
• Ultimate Spell modifier: +3