[Lazy]

TS's note: Since it has been requested, I'll add a mini guide on how to add your AP here for the three common magician build.

When starting out, you should abviously try to get 4 to both Str and Dex as those two stats are useless to us. Any equipment which you may want to wear can be equiped by using items to boost these stats rather than making a commitment of adding one of your precious AP to it.

The three different builds have have their own advantages and disadvantages obviously which I will cover very very very briefly below as I feel that there are a number of great resources on them in this forum already.

The 'Normal' AP Build

Straight forward and to the point, always keep your Luk at your level + 3 (i.e. Level 50, I should have 53 Luk) with all the other points being added to Int. This is the best build for unfunded characters to start off with as it does not require any additional items to wear your equipment at any given level. You will always be able to use any staff/wand that you meet the level requirement for. This build aims to get the highest possible Int out of the clothes they wear (i.e Level 50, Int 5 White/Dark Calas, Int 5 Dark Golden Circlet, Int 4 Green-Gold Wind Shoes, Int 3 Dark Penance etc.) since they do not need the additional Luk to use their other items.

Since Tespia, this has been the build that almost ALL magicians follow as there is no alternative to it due to the lack of items and scrolls that enable the following two more powerful builds. However, in modern day Maplestory, I do not recommend this build if at all possible. In fact, you should also begin converting to a Low-Luk Build at the earliest possible opportunity as at the moment this highest level weapon is the Level 110 Dragon Staff with a Luk requirement of 113. The more commonly used Blade Staff (Level 102, Luk requirement 80) and Magicodar (Level 88, Luk requirement 90) require even less Luk to equip, so there is no point in adding too much luck. Just have enough to use the weapon of your choice and that will be more than enough.

The Pure Int Build

As the name suggest, this build focuses on Int, and Int and even more Int. ALL your AP should go towards increasing your Int. Since the best possible starting stat without hacking or rolling until your eyes pop out is typically 4,4,5,12 with the 12 to Int and the rest in any order, the 'purist' will resort to AP reset scrolls from the cash shop to have the perfect array of 4,4,4 and 13 to Int.

If you intend to be a Pure Int build, I highly recommend you read the guide by Celesti which is stickied in this forum as well. In a nut shell, the Pure Int build does not need a lot of funds to start off powerful, but really shines if you are well funded. Maplestory has provided for this build by providing items many items which can be used without any stat requirements, like Maple Lama Staff, Various Umbrellas, the Skewer and even the Super Snowboard from the event. The advantage of this build is obviously higher damage and MP than a normal build mage with the downside of looking the same... for almost your entire maple career (unless you resort to Cash Shop items). Ending off, I say again, if you want to be a Pure Int mage, go read Celesti's guide.

The Low-Luk Build

A more recent build as compared to the other two, the Low-Luk build aims to get the best of both worlds, balancing Luk requirements to use the best possible weapon with keeping their Int as high as possible. I feel this is the build which requires the most funds (both mesos and A cash) to follow as it is indeed a delicate balancing act which is customized to each individual character depending on their personal equipment.

At low levels, most Low-Luk builds will aim for a shield scrolled with as high a Luk as possible (commonly 15 to 17 Luk). Often the preferred shield is the mystic shield with a base int of 2 or 3 to get the best possible mix of Int and Luk. After this, they would typically leave their Luk at the point where it is just enough to equip the best weapon they can use (Magicodar, Bladestaff etc) and wear the best possible scrolled overall, shoes, gloves and cape they can. Once the coveted Zakum Helmet is obtained, the Low-Luk build will typically reset the extra AP from Luk which is now covered by the Zakum Helmet (typically 15) back into Int to get the most use out of their Zakum Helmet.