Arcanists Guide for Free Players: Introduction

Sure, members have a bunch of cool spells you don’t have. But I’m going to help you become an Arcanists Master, without having to pay $3.00 a month.

For this series of articles, I’m going to analyze each free spell, it’s pros and cons, how it can be used, etc. Bear with me,

I know it’ll be a long list.

This is my first article. It’s just some basic info and stuff. If you want to get into the details, see my other articles.

1. Getting Started – The Tutorial

2. Character Creation

     2a. List of must-have spells

3. The Sandbox

4. Multiplayer

5. Tips

6. Check out my other guides!

1. Getting Started – The Tutorial

Welcome to Arcanists. If you’ve just started playing, I suggest you go through the tutorial first. There are seven lessons to help you learn your way around the game. If any of the Tutorials are too hard, just press Esc.

Lesson 1: Fire 101

As boring as it may seem, you should read the content on the top. Once you get through with that, you’ll be able to shoot stuff.

Using the Fireball is easy. You click to aim, and hold for power. Remember, what goes up must come down, so your aim will be in an arch-like direction. You should be able to get through this lesson really quickly.

Lesson 2: Rebounding for Beginners

Once again, read the stuff, it’s very short. It should be easy, just aim for the targets. The third one, all the way to the left, can be a little tricky, but you’ll get it.

Lesson 3: Curve of Sight

Ok, I have to admit, I didn’t finish this one the first time I did the tutorial. I didn’t understand how these darn arrows worked! But now I do, and don’t worry, I’ll explain in a later article. There are two parts to arrow spells. First, you click where you want the arrow to hit. Second, you aim the arrow in the direction you want it to go, and hold for more power. It took me a while to get that, sadly. I didn’t realize there was that first step.

Like Lesson 2, it’s the third one, the one on the left that’s the trickiest. You’re going to want to put the aim point above the target, not at the target. Hopefully, the arrows will spin around the point above the target, then drop down on the target.

Lesson 4: Advanced Elemental Control

Like the context says, this is one of the more fun spells to use. Rain of Fire is exactly what it says it is – a very cool rain of fire. The fire randomly comes from either left or right. This is a very easy lesson.

Lesson 5: How to Leap and Bound

In this lesson, you learn how to move your character. You can move left (Z or comma sign), right (X or period sign), jump (Enter or Ctrl) and jump high (Shift or Backspace). I prefer using Z, X, Enter, and Backspace, but many like to use the comma and period signs because they’re closer to the Shift, Enter, and Backspace keys.

You also learn about Arcane Flash, an extremely handy spell that I’ll get on in a different article. Use the spell to flash the targets up and out to destroy them.

 

Lesson 6: Minion Control

On this lesson, you learn about minions, specifically, imps. Imps are the only free minion spell you can have, and they can be extremely powerful. But I’ll get into that in a different article.

First, you summon your imps. You can use this spell every 5 turns. Then move your imps toward each target, and use Self Destruct. You can control an imp by pressing N for Next, and control it the way you’d control yourself. Don’t you like that little bridge of trees your imp can go on to get to one of the targets?

 

Lesson 7: Live Combat Situation

Finally, what you’ve been waiting for. Beating up other opponents. You learn about Health Points (HP), attacking others, and timed turns. The cyclops are a little tough, seeing as they have this lightning spell (which is members only), but they have small HP, so you should be able to beat them pretty quickly.

Once you beat them, you’re done! You can use the Sandbox, but I’ll talk about that later in the article. Next, we’ll learn about Character Creation.

2. Character Creation

Here you get to choose how you look. A lot of options; it’s entertaining to choose. Choose your colors, have fun with different clothes and accessories. Make sure you don’t accidently click the Mystery Box, because it will randomize your outfit, and you’ll have to find your choices again. A very common article is a black hood. I suggest that if you’re a girl, dress like a girl, and if you’re a boy, dress like a boy.

Of course, there are some member-only items, but don’t worry, you won’t be needing those. As a Free player, you don’t need to waste money looking cool when you will look cool beating your opponents’ butts.

2a. List of Must-Have Spells

You have a lot of spells to choose from – only two books (Arcane and Fire), but each spell is good in its own way. There are Level 1 and Level 2 spells. Each Level 2 spells needs to have the Level 1 spell before you can use it. On the Chosen Spells list, click a spell to take it off, and click a spell on each of the circular spell things to add it on. There are the 11 must-have spells you need as a Free player.

 Arcane Arrow – Level 1 – Used for tunneling, and otherwise impossible spots to attack.

 Arcane Tower – Level 1 – Protects you.

 Arcane Gate – Level 1 – Teleports you to a specific location.

 Arcane Flash – Level 1 – Amazing spell that blasts enemies away.

 Fire Ball – Level 1 – Basic spell, needed for Fire Arrow, also reliable for damage.

 Fire Arrow – Level 2 (Fire Ball) – One of the best spells that, like Arcane Arrow, allows you to hit enemies from otherwise impossible spots.

 Flame Shield – Level 1 – Will protect you from some fire spells.

 Flame Wall – Level 2 (Flame Shield) – Upgrade from Flame Shield that deflects some damage, and harms anyone who walks into it.

 Napalm – Level 1 – Shoots fire that will keep enemies at bay.

 Rain of Fire – Level 1 – Bombards the selected area with fire. Seeking cover is recommended.

 Rain of Arrows – Level 2 (Rain of Fire) – Like Rain of Fire, but the arrows all aim towards one spot.

These 11 spells are must haves. But look, you still have 5 spots left for extra spells.

Other recommended spells:

If you’re planning on using Imps, I recommend these spells:

 Summon Imps – Level 1 – Needed to summon Imps.

 Imp Destruction – Level 2 (Summon Imps) – Causes all Imps on screen to destroy at one selected target.

Optional: Arcane Glyph – Level 1 – Used to keep your character for moving, but can also be used to power up imps.

If you enjoy using bombs, I recommend these spells:

 Lava Bomb – Level 1 – Basic fire bomb.

 Magma Bomb – Level 2 (Lava Bomb) – Extremely powerful spells, if used correctly. Explodes into multiple fragments. Used for suicides. (Look in other articles)

 Napalm Bomb – Level 2 (Naplam) – Explodes and releases Naplam all over the place to keep your enemy fleeing from their hole.

Other Spells:

 Arcane Energizer – Level 2 (Arcane Tower) – Self-spell that boosts the attack of your Arcane Spells for 5 turns.

 Arcane Portal – Level 2 (Arcane Gate) – Two-way portal that can transport small things once per turn.

 Arcane Sigil – Level 2 (Arcane Glyph) – Places 3 Arcane Glyphs used to trap other players.

 Arcane Zero Shield – Level 1 – The dumbest spell a Free player could ever choose. Disables offensive spells for everyone’s first turn. You can use it to strategize, but the cons outweight the pros when looking for the best combination of spells.

Personally, I have all the must-have spells plus Summon Imps, Imp Destruction, Arcane Glyph, Naplam Bomb, and Arcane Sigil. I would have more bombs, but I’m bad with those. You can also replace Arcane Sigil with the very useful Arcane Portal. The only spell I would never recommend is Arcane Zero Shield.

3. The Sandbox

Just like it sounds, the Sandbox is a fun little place you can play around with your spells. You can access it after you finish Lesson 7 in the Tutorials. Basically, it’s a way of testing new spells, practicing aim, etc.

4. Multiplayer

Here is where you can verse other players – up to 6 – in combat. You can play with teams (with 4 or 6 players) or free-for-all (up to 6 players). As an amazing Free player, you can’t play rated games, but that’s ok. Set up a game, or join another and start playing!

Usually members aren’t in Free servers, but occasionally you’ll find one who wants to verse Free players. This is a little sad, don’t you agree? Members too wimpy to face Free players? And of course Members have extra, very powerful spells. But maybe you can teach them a lesson. Once you beat a member, it’ll have them wondering why they ever left their member-only server.

You can tell if a member is in a game by checking the Average rating – usually it’s higher or lower than 1000 (which is the default Free player rating).

When you create your own game, you have a bunch of settings. First, you can choose who you want to join. It starts at Invite only, I suggest switching it to Similar Rating, or Open. Similar Rating usually prevents members from joining your game. Open allows anyone to join.

Next, you can choose the number of players you want. 4 or 6 can allow a team game. I sometimes like just 2 players, me versus someone else, to try out my skills. Remember, when you’re in a team game, you’re dependent on your team member. I’ll go more into detail in Team Games in a later article.

The next choice is allowing spectators. Really, this one doesn’t matter. If you want to show off your skills, press Yes. If you want to keep your amazing skills secret, then press no.

More importantly, is the time. Anywhere from 10 seconds to a 2 minute turn is allowed. Be wary of 10 second games, they’re very hard to accomplish, and you need practice when playing. On average, a game has 1 minute turns.

The map style. Each map style has a special effect that occurs after 10 turns have been played (each player has had 10 turns). Sometimes the effects aren’t too bad, but they always are able to hurt someone. Sometimes the effects come from the sky, allowing you to be injured from above, and others come from the bottom. Experiment with different map styles. I’m going to talk more about map styles in a later article. The only map without an effect is Grassy Hills.

Finally, the game mode. Either Free-For-All or a Team Game. I prefer 4 player Team games, or 2 player Free-For All. You’ll have to experiment to see what you like. Every time you change an option, you can’t press Start Game for 5 seconds.

5. Tips

Well, I’m assuming you’re a beginner player. Here are some beginner tips. If you want to master the game, read all my articles. Or just go to the Advanced Tips article, which sums up all my articles, vaguely.

- Add the must-have spells

- Spectate other games, or join Free-For-All games as a beginner. Experienced players hate beginner players in team games.

- Practice in the sandbox

- When playing, click the smiley face to pull the chat down. It shows more of the map then.

- Don’t use Fire Ball too close to yourself – you’ll get damage too.

- Communicate with team members! Add them as your friends (temporarily) and private message them for secret plans.

- Ask! Hopefully you’ll find some players that will help you if you’re confused.

- Don’t be obnoxious to your teammate – or to anyone in general. Your teammate may actually hit you, and no one likes a rude player.

- Don’t ever waste a turn! Pressing Q in game means you’re quitting your turn. You can always do SOMETHING, so never, ever press Q.

- Don’t leave games before their over. People always hate sore losers. Of course, if your computer crashes or you have to go, it’s ok. (lol)

Sorry, can’t think of other tips now. I’ll try to add more when I think of more.

6. Check out my other guides!

My Free to Play Website – www.f2pforever.wordpress.com

 Guide for Free Players – Arcane Arrow

If you want to play me in a game, or just ask me something, add me. My in-game name is Sole Legend. (I’m a girl, if you couldn’t tell by some of the pictures.)