Sage Class Guide

Introduction

The Sage class uses a kyve as their primary weapon and a talisman as their secondary weapon. Sage is a magic class and crafted the Kyve weapon himself to allow him to freely move between points in space. He uses the infinite power of the kyve to alter space and inflict devastting damage upon his oppontents. Sage is the Last Ancient and awakened after a long slumber. He is originally from an Ancient Kingdom whose ruins are scattered all over the world.

At level 56, Sage unlocks his awakening and succession skills, as well as a new awakening weapon, which is the Kebelinus lightning rod. Reclaiming the kibelius he crafted many moons ago, the awakened Sage is now able to access all of his once dormant ancient skills. By concentrating momentarily, Sage can draw from the inherent power of the kibelius. When fully charged, Sage’s primal power makes quick work of his foes, as fast as lightning flashing in a storm. Sage can also summon arkanon, an ancient weapon empowered by his kyve. This powerful weapon enables Sage to move unpredictably between enemies and wreck havoc in battle. In comparison, Succession Sage gains the power to manipulate not just space but time as well. Learning the ability to accelerate the flow of time around him to reduce the cooldowns of his skills.

Sage also has a unique passive called Ator’s Eye. This passive skill allows you to enter Aakman, Hystria, Kratuga and Sycraia without needing the key item other classes require. For example, usually you would need a Black Spirit Claw to enter Hystria directly (instead of finding a portal), or you would need a Memories of the Deep Sea to enter Lower Sycraia.  However, you still need to complete the Aakman and Hystria portal quests to gain the ability to teleport there.

Awakening VS Succession

Sage Succession and Awakening can be unlocked after level 56 after speaking to the Black Spirit and completing the Awakening and Succession quests under the suggestions tab.

• The Awakening will unlock a completely new skill tree, which will be your primary skills from now on. The skills in the pre-awakening are mostly utility skills, and your main damage dealers will be your Awakening skills.
• The Succession skill kit enhances your Kyve skills instead and only has a few awakening skills.

Your awakening weapon still affects your succession damage and vice versa. For example, if you are using the Succession kit, then 30% of your Awakening AP is still applied to the damage of Succession skills, as well as the additional item stats on the awakening weapon, such as Human/Species Damage and Accuracy.

Both specs are completely viable and comes down to player preference. In PVE, Succesion and Awakening are considered to be very similar at the moment and not much difference between the two. Succession does tend to perform slightly better at high end spots, but there isn’t enough of a difference to worry too much about it if you prefer the Awakening.

For PVP, Succession tends to be better for Largescale, being able to pump out high damage with decent survivability. Awakening is also viable and can deal good damage, but it has higher stamina costs and is harder to manage your stamina, making it more difficult to deal damage safely. In 1v1s, both specs have different pros and cons. Succession can be hard to catch out and has protected CCs, but does not have a grab skill, making certain matchups much more difficult. In comparison, Awakening has a ranged grab but fewer protected CC options, and can be easier to catch out in prolonged fights because of their stamina issues.

Skill Builds

Since the skill point update in late 2022, you can obtain all skills for approximately 1,000 skill points. Focus on your main skills first, then level the passives. The Weight Training skill should be leveled last since it only gives you weight limit increase.

Protected Skills

It is important to read through your skills to understand which skills have protection and crowd control effects. Read through your skills carefully to get familiar with what each skill does. You can also filter the different effects in the Skill Window (K).

Locked Skills

To lock a skill, press the lock icon on the top of each skill icon in the skill window (K).

Skill Enhancement (Rabam) Skills

Skill Enhancement skills can be obtained in the Skill Window (K) under the “Skill Enhancement” tab at the top. At levels 56, 57, and 58, you will have 2 different options to choose between. These skills have no skill points cost, but you have to have other skills leveled up to be able to take them.

Level 56 – [SHIFT + X]

• Ator’s Illusion – Requires [Ator’s Fist IV] and [Illustion Expansion V]
  • (Preferred Choice)
• Ator’s Palm – Requires [Ator’s Fist IV] and [Spatial Collapse V]

For your level 56 rabam, both options are viable and it comes down to preference or certain scenarios, but Ator’s Illusion tends to be the more preferred choice since it is useful in both PVE and PVP. Both of the rabam skills are unprotected.

Ator’s Illusion has a small AOE and decent damage. It also has a fast animation and stun CC, so it can be used as a risky catch for smallscale PVP, or as finisher damage at the end of your PVE combo. Ator’s Palm is a much larger AOE, and also has HP recovery, a Knockdown CC for PVE only, and a DP -20 debuff. However, it has a long casting time that makes it far too risky to use in PVP.

Level 57 – [SHIFT + Z]

• Energized Thorn – Requires [Ator’s Thorn IV] and [Ator’s Energy IV]
  • (Preferred Choice)
• Piercing Thorn – Requires [Ator’s Thorn IV] and [Form Shift IV]

Energized Thorn is usually the preferred choice out of the two rabam options and the one I would recommend starting with since it is a safer option. The skill is a long-range ability with good damage and a large AOE size when it hits the target. It does have a long animation, but has Forward Guard protection and since it is quite ranged it can be useful for large-scale PVP or pulling monsters in PVE.

In comparison, Piercing Thorn is a long-range skill that passes through the targets and knocks them down. The skill is quite narrow but can be useful as an additional CC in PVP. However, the skill is completely unprotected.

Level 58 – [Quickslot Only]

•  Void Blast – Requires [Void Gateways V] and [Gravity Rift IV]
• Void Eruption – Requires [Void Gateways V] and [Ator’s Fist IV]
  • (Preferred Choice)

For the 3rd Rabam skill, both options are viable, but the preferred choice is usually Void Eruption since it is quick to cast and can be canceled out of, even in Succession, which has very few cancellable skills. Void Eruption has decent damage, Super Armor protection, and recovers MP on hits. It is also useful for Awakening Sages as a safe swap into pre-awakening.

Skill Add-ons

Below are some examples of PVE skill add-ons you can take.

If you would like example skill add-ons for other scenarios, please refer to the Class Discord and its resources.

I recommend experimenting with your add-ons and figuring out what is best for you because it really depends on your personal preference and how you play your class. If you’re simply not sure what to take then you can blindly follow the examples below and they will still be effective.

You can also check our Skill Add-on guide for a complete list of Skill Add-ons.

Skill Cancels

Some skills can be “canceled” by comboing them with another skill. Canceling a skill can shorten the skill casting animation, making some skills almost instant and shortening the unprotected gaps. Below is a list of Skill cancels for you to learn.

Overcharge Mechanic (Awakening)

The Overcharge Mechanic is a unique mechanic that is only available to Awakening Sage. It gives special bonuses to the Bolt and Lightning Surge skills if they are used after other skills that are not on cooldown. You can also use Bolt and Lightning Surge while they are on cooldown, but the Overcharge effect is only applied if the skill is off cooldown.

For example, you can use Lightning Prison (SHIFT + F) into the overcharged Lightning Surge (SPACE). You can also use Lightning Surge after certain pre-awakening skills.

• Bolt (SHIFT + W/A/S/D)
  • Using the overcharged version of this skill changes it from Super Armor to Invincible > Super Armor.
• Lightning Surge (SPACE after certain skills)
  • Using the overcharged version of this skill adds Air Attack, Down Attack, and a Down Smash.

Skill Storing Mechanic (Succession)

The Skill Storing Mechanic is a unique mechanic that is only available to Succession Sage and allows you to interrupt the casting of certain skills, reposition using Rift Chain (SHIFT + W/A/S/D), then drop the skill at the new location by pressing LMB.

• For example, you can start casting Spatial Collapse with (S + F), then Rift Chain with (SHIFT + W), and finally press (LMB) to continue casting Spatial Collapse.

Skills you can use this mechanic with:

• Prime: Spatial Collapse (SHIFT + F)
• Prime: Ator’s Energy (S + LMB)
• Gravity Rift (SHIFT + E)
• Prime: Ator’s Mark (S + E)
• Realm of Anguish (S + RMB)
• Piercing Thorn (SHIFT + Z)
• Prime: Rift Storm (S + C)

In addition, you can also store your flow skills in the same way, giving you more freedom since you don’t have to use the flow directly after the first skill. This is done by using the initial skill, Rift Chain (SHIFT + W/A/S/D), then the flow skill key input.

• For example, you can use Ator’s Energy (S + LMB), then Rift Chain (SHIFT + W), and finally (RMB) to trigger Atomagia.

Weapons

Armor

For your armor, you will make a choice between Damage Reduction or Evasion gear. I recommend reading our guide about the two different DP stats if you want to learn what the two different stats do.

Generally, you are recommended to build Damage Reduction on Sage.

Accessories

There are various different accessories in the game. At first, just focus on using the accessories that give you the highest AP in each slot.

There are also “free” accessories that all new players should get:

Accessory	How to obtain
Tuvala Accessories	Tuvala accessories are starter accessories obtained from the Season Server. Try to push up your accessories to PEN if possible, but if you don’t have much time to play Season, then focus on your Weapons and Armor first.
PEN Capotia Necklace	You can obtain a FREE PEN Capotia Accessory from the Season Servers Special Reward. For your first season, it is recommended to get the PEN Capotia Necklace because it gives the most AP. You then want to create another Season character in the next season to get the PEN Capotia Belt, and finally the PEN Capotia Ring or Earring.
PEN Ring of Crescent Guardian	You can obtain a PEN Ring of Crescent Guardian by completing Jetina’s PEN Accessory quests. These are daily quests that take a minimum of 45 days to complete. Every new and returning player should complete these as early as possible for a highly discounted PEN accessory.

Common Starter PVE accessories:

• TET Black Distortion Earrings or TET Narc Ear Accessory (PEN Capotia Earring)
• TET Basilisk’s Belt (or PEN Capotia Belt)
• TET Ring of Crescent Guardian
• TET Ogre Ring/Laytenn’s Necklace (or PEN Capotia Necklace).

Crystals

Below is an example starter Crystal build for PVE. Some of the crystals are expensive. You can obtain the Rebellious Crystal by completing the main story questline. For more example crystal builds, including an end-game PVE crystal build, and PVP Crystal builds, check our Crystal Preset Guide.

This is an example PVP Build for Sages using Damage Reduction Armors and going full Human Damage (glass cannon). For more example crystal builds, check our Crystal Preset Guide or the Class Discord.

Artifacts and Lightstones

There are a few different viable choices for both Artifacts and Lightstone combos. Sage is the “Magic Damage” type so you want to go for Magic Accuracy and Magic Damage for offensive artifacts.

For PVE Lighstones there are a few different options to min-max. For certain spots, you may want to use Species damage combos (eg. The Wild: Demihumans, The Wild: Kamaslyvia, The Wild: Humans). Species damage combos perform better if you are reaching the monster AP caps at a certain zone.

A more generic PVE combo is listed below that is recommended for your class and will work at any spot.

You can also find more information about Artifacts and Lightstones, and how to obtain them, in our guide. We also have a list of Best in slot Artifacts and Lightstones.

Useful Links/Credits

I highly recommend checking out the Sage Class Discord for resources about your class. The class discords always have the most up-to-date information and tons of experienced players that can help with questions or gearing advice. I would like to give a shoutout to the Mods and Helpful roles in the Sage discord for all their hard work gathering resources, particularly Divine for answering my questions about the class and writing out a lot of this information in the Sage discord. You can find additional resources below. I honestly cannot recommend enough to join the discord.

Useful links to check out:

• Official Sage Forums
• Sage Class Discord #2
• Sage PVE/PVP Guide by Crixus
• Sage Awakening Guide by Mariz2k
• Sage Text Guide

PVP Montage Videos:

• Awakening Sage Arena of Solare PVP by Pancake Sausage
• Awakening Sage PVP by Chekzthisout TV
• Awakening Sage PVP #1 by Creeping_Death
• Awakening Sage PVP #2 by Creeping_Death
• Succession Sage PVP by 고정아님
• Succession Sage Node War PVP by Magnetu
• Succession Sage Node War PVP by Duratela

Credits Disclaimer: Since there are now 26 BDO classes, it is impossible for me to keep class guides fully maintained. My main class is Ranger and I don’t claim to be the best in any class. Therefore, I use resources and recommendations from the Class discords since (as all other players would agree) this is the best source. I also ask for advice from friends who are more experienced in the class. Where possible, I credit specific players for information such as Add-ons, and combos. However, sometimes there is no player mentioned as the original sharer. If there are any issues with credit or you would like certain information removed/changed, please reach out to me!