Mage Advantages
Mages in Lineage 2 hit the whole pack — hard. The Sorcerer, Spellhowler and Spellsinger wipe dozens of mobs in a few casts, ideal for fast farming. In mass PvP they decide fights too: at castle sieges, magic AoE settles the outcome.
Magic damage ignores physical defense. Against a heavily armored enemy your mage hits just as hard as against an unarmored one. In a party, mages are the main damage source at mid levels.
Fighter Advantages
Fighters are tougher and cheaper. The Tyrant and Destroyer happily solo farm without a healer. Soulshots cost less than a mage's Blessed Spiritshots, so your wallet will thank you.
Archers (Hawkeye, Silver Ranger, Phantom Ranger) hit hard from a safe distance. Daggers (Abyss Walker, Treasure Hunter) dominate 1v1 PvP through stealth and burst damage.
Class Economy
| Cost factor | Mage | Fighter |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | Blessed Spiritshots (3–4× pricier) | Soulshots (cheap) |
| Weapon | Magic (Staff of Evil Spirits, Arcana Mace) — expensive | Physical — cheaper |
| Farm speed | Fast via AoE, costs pay off | Slower, near-zero consumables |
| Start budget | High | Low |
A mage is pricey: Blessed Spiritshots run 3–4 times the cost of regular Soulshots, and magic weapons cost more than physical ones. But mages farm Adena faster through AoE, so the spend pays for itself. A fighter is cheaper to start — check the equipment guide to budget wisely.
Which to Choose
If you're new, take a fighter: easier to learn, cheaper to maintain, less dependent on a party. The beginner's guide covers the basics of getting started. If you already know the mechanics and want dynamic gameplay, pick a mage. Compare every class in the tier list. Whatever you choose, buffs from the NPC Buffer will make your first levels far smoother.