In expectance of the upcoming Witch & Wizard Awakening in Black Desert Online's NA and EU servers, Inven Global decided to provide an in-depth Wizard Awakening guide as our first step to the wave of user-created guides from Inven KR's BDO community. It has been two years since BDO began its service in Korea, and we have a vast amount of knowledge from players in KR server acquired through multiple experiments and trial-and-error process. Although we cannot fully guarantee that such knowledge from KR server is the ultimate bible that provides a fully accurate guide to other BDO players around the globe, it does give us the sense of how the game unfolds along with the plethora of playable contents that BDO offers us.

We will be introducing more guides in the future spanning from Silver farming to PvP guides until we launch Inven Global's official BDO community website. Then we can have our official map tool, item database, and even more guides from Korea and beyond.

Translator's note

- The following guide was written by Inven KR's 장의상(Jangeuisang), whose character is shown above.
- The different types of skill resources each character uses (for example, Maehwa's WP) are all combined in the generic term "Mana" in this guide.
- Wizard has received minor tweaks to his skills ever since this guide was written, and such changes may not have been applied entirely. Certain details may not fully match with NA/EU client.
- Some names and terms may not match with the official NA/EU client.

List of quests for Awakening

Memories of the Past
- Given by Black Spirit / Completed by Edward in Saunil Camp
- Reward: 50 contribution points, knowledge: Wizard's Memory, Gode-Ayed Tier 1

Memories of the Promise
- Given/completed by Edward in Saunil Camp
- Reward: 50 contribution points, knowledge: Wizard's Memory, Gode-Ayed Tier 2

In search of Ane
- Given by Edward in Saunil Camp / Completed by Ane in Rhua Tree Stub
- Reward: 50 contribution points, knowledge: Wizard's Memory, Gode-Ayed Tier 3

Communion
- Given/Completed by Ane in Rhua Tree Stub
- Reward: 10 skill points

Wizard, the Best Mage
- Completed by clearing all three "Research", "Balance", and "Intelligence" quests
- Reward: 5 skill points, Lord Specter Gode, Skill "Awakening: Lord Red's Specter Gode"

Wizard’s Virtue: Research
- Completed by destroying 100 Ancient Weapons at Hasrah Ancient Ruins
- Reward: Knowledge "Wizard’s Virtue: Research"

Wizard’s Virtue: Balance
- Completed by defeating 3 Wilderness Golems
- Reward: Knowledge "Wizard’s Virtue: Balance"

Wizard’s Virtue: Intelligence
- Completed by
Acquiring 2 intact obsidian items after defeating a Mutated Obsidian Monster
Acquiring 3 explosion device items after defeating Incomplete Orc Test Subjects
- Reward: Knowledge "Wizard’s Virtue: Intelligence"

Lord Red's Specter Gode: Connection
- Completed by switching into Specter Gode after using Lightning Strike
- Reward: 5 skill points

Lord Red's Specter Gode: Actual Combat
- Completed by using Freeze, switching into Specter Gode, and then using Water Barrier Explosion
- Reward: 5 skill points, 2 Perfume of Courage items, and Title: Gode-Ayed Tier

Specter Gode items

Awakening skills

Awakening: Lord Red's Specter Gode [key bind: C]

 - You can press C to switch between Staff and Specter of Gode. The switch motion causes a delay if it is initiated while standing. You can switch while on foot to eliminate the delay.

Specter Gode Training [key bind: Left/Right click]
 

 - You can initiate normal attacks while standing or while in motion. Each attack restores Mana, and the restoration rate increases along with skill level. Each attack consumes Stamina.

Flame Knot [key bind: Q]
 

 -Wizard can now grab his enemies. This skill has a 10 second cooldown and makes the Wizard invulnerable during the initiation motion. This skill is effective in PvP as it throws the enemy to the ground, but it is quite hard to successfully land the skill on a target.

Controlled Madness [key bind: Shift + E]
 

- Buffs all allies including the Wizard himself. The Wizard's casting speed, critical hit rate, defense, and evasion are increased, and he restores 700 Mana instantly. Accuracy and damage are increased for up to 10 allies, and the Wizard himself.

Waterdrop Shackles [key bind: Shift + Q]
 

- Traps one enemy in a large waterball, decreasing all types of speed by 50%. This skill is quite hard to land and not used as frequently.

Communion: Calling [activated through quick slot]

- Your minion stops fighting and comes back to you.

Communion: Attack [activated through quick slot]

- Your minion initiates combat.

Summon: Guardian Ane [key bind: F]
 

-The Wizard summons his minion, Ane. She does ranged attacks to the enemies and stays for 30 minutes. Pressing F summons a chain of minions starting with Ane, and you can put this skill on a quick slot and press it to send her back.

Summon: Guardian Marg [key bind: F]
 

-The Wizard summons his minion, Marg. He does melee attacks and stays for 30 minutes. You can press F to summon him while Ane is still present, or you can use quick slots to summon him right away. Pressing the assigned quickslot sends Marg back.

Lava Land [key bind: E]
 

-The Wizard creates an area filled with lava that inflicts damage on enemies and causes burn damage for 36 seconds. Monsters attack the lava instead of the character, making this an effective PvE skill. Using this skill with Magic Lighthouse makes it even more effective.

Water Barrier Explosion [key bind: Shift + Left click]
 

- This skill creates a large area of water to attack the enemies. This is reminiscent of a washing machine; it stiffens and slows the enemies. This skill cannot be canceled once it is initiated, and the Wizard is put in super armor mode while he is using the skill. The skill effect remains stationary, but you can use your mouse cursor to change the direction your character is looking at, as the damage is applied towards the direction he is facing. Since the skill cannot be canceled once cast, the Wizard can be vulnerable to enemy attacks if he fails to land the skill correctly. This skill can also be enhanced after charging your Black Spirit meter.

Flow: Ane's waterflow [acquired at Level 57]
 

- This skill is a chain combo that comes automatically after Water Barrier Explosion. Ane appears temporarily to deal additional damage.

Water Ball [key bind: Shift + Right click]
 

- This is the Wizard's one and only skill that has no cooldown. This skill knocks the enemy down when it lands successfully, and can be used continuously without cooldown.

Flow: Water bomb [key bind: maintain Right click after Water Ball]
 

- This is a combo right after Waterball. This skill has an 8 second cooldown, and deals a significant amount of damage to the enemy.

Chilling Wave [key bind: S + Left/Right click]
 

- Pushes away the front-most enemy. While the attack speed is relatively slow, this skill slows the enemy and keeping the mouse button pressed allows you to land additional Chilling Wave skills. The wave blocks attacks coming from in front of you, and while you can change the direction using mouse cursor, it's hard to actually use it in combat because of the native key binding of this combo.

Flow: Ane's guidance [acquired at Level 59]
 

- This is a chain combo that comes automatically after using Chilling Wave. Ane appears temporarily to deal additional damage.

Fireball of Destruction [key bind: S + F]
 

- Casts a huge fireball in front of you to initiate Down Attacks.The Wizard is put in super armor state while this skill is initiated. You have to watch out because it has a long casting animation. This skill can also be enhanced with Black Spirit meter, and the skill may not connect due to altitude differences or other issues with the terrain. Also, if there is an enemy near the character, the fire lands upon the enemy's head instead of the original direction.

Hellfire [key bind: W + F]
 

- Charges forward and casts fire that explodes and spreads in a triangular shape. The skill guards you from incoming attacks from the front, and there is a post-delay if you fail to strike an enemy. Each hit restores a certain amount of Mana.

Flow: Fire Fist Marg [acquired in Level 58]
 

- This is a chain combo that comes automatically after Hellfire. Marg appears and punches the enemy together with the character upon a successful strike. This skill adds extra damage.

Mass Destruction [Key bind: Shift + F]
 

- This skill deals damage in a semicircular area. The skill provides a little bit of restored Mana and a speed buff, while also throwing the enemy on the ground upon a successful hit. This skill has a big AoE and is highly effective when you wish to bring down a group of Monsters that are vulnerable to CC. The damage itself, however, feels relatively weak until you learn the chain skill stated below.

Flow: Fire-breathing Marg [acquired in Level 60]
 

- This changes the game greatly as it enhances Mass Destruction's not so destructive DPS. This chain combo comes automatically after Mass Destruction, but with a smaller radius. The skill, however, inflicts strong damage and is useful both for PvE and PvP.

Awakening skill specialization

You can specialize the 6 skills below:

Hellfire
- Increase PvP damage output by 5 for 5 seconds
- Increase critical hit rate by 10% for 9 seconds
- Increase casting speed by 4% for 5 seconds
- Decrease enemy movement speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Inflict 40 poison damage on the enemy every 3 seconds for 18 seconds
- 3% chance that the skill freezes the enemy

Fireball of Destruction
- Increase PvE damage by 20 for 8 seconds
- Increase accuracy rate by 3% for 12 seconds
- Decrease enemy attack speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Decrease enemy casting speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Inflict 50 burn damage on the enemy every 3 seconds for 9 seconds
- Recover 3 health per target hit

Water Ball
- Increase defense by 10 for 10 seconds
- Increase evasion by 3% for 10 seconds
- Increase movement speed by 7% for 10 seconds
- Decrease enemy movement speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Recover 3 Mana per target hit
- Decrease enemy Mana by 5 every 3 seconds for 15 seconds

Mass Destruction
- Increase defense by 10 for 10 seconds
- Increase evasion by 5% for 10 seconds
- Decrease enemy movement speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Inflict 42 bleed damage on the enemy every 3 seconds for 15 seconds
- Recover 3 mana per target hit
- Immediately decrease enemy Mana by 5

Water Barrier Explosion
- Increase PvE damage output by 20 for 8 seconds
- Decrease enemy attack speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Decrease enemy casting speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Decrease enemy movement speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Inflict 42 bleed damage on the enemy every 3 seconds for 15 seconds
- Immediately decrease enemy Mana by 10

Chilling Wave
- Increase PvP damage output by 5 for 5 seconds
- Increase casting speed by 4% for 5 seconds
- Increase movement speed by 4% for 10 seconds
- Decrease enemy attack speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Decrease enemy casting speed by 4% for 7 seconds
- Inflict 42 bleed damage on the enemy every 3 seconds for 15 seconds

You can prioritize PvE damage output, casting speed, and recovery for PvE.
Casting speed, movement speed debuffs, and PvP damage output are recommended for PvP.
There is no ultimate setup to specialization, so it's up to you.

Pre-Awakening skills that can still be used while using Specter Gode

Magical Evasion

Teleport

Healing Aura

Skills that switch directly to Staff when used with Specter Gode

Sage's Memory, Magic Arrow, Concentrated Magic Arrow, Fireball, Lightning, Meteor Shower, Blizzard, Dagger Stab, Magical Shield, Mana Absorption, Resurrection, Freeze, Frigid Fog, Speed Spell, Earthquake, Healing Lighthouse, Spellbound Heart, Magic Lighthouse

Skills that switch directly to Specter Gode when used with Staff

Combo tips

Awakening skills are not affected by Sage's Memory.

You will find yourself not using Mass Destruction as frequently until you learn Flow: Fire-breathing Marg. Until you learn that skill at Level 60, you may want to go with a "Lava Land - Fireball of Destruction - Water Barrier Explosion - Waterball - Water bomb" combo. You can replace Fireball of Destruction with Mass Destruction if you feel the skill has gotten strong enough.

Chilling Wave guards your front. Although this may not be very effective until you meet Basilisks, guarding comes in handy when you are fighting against monsters that have high DPS or need a long time to take down.

It is important to still use Staff skills because they give you buffs and heals. However, you may want to prioritize Awakening skills when it comes to attack skills.

New customization option

As also explained in Wizard's Awakening story, you can now customize your character to be a young man instead of an old grandpa. Although the Wizard's acquisition of youth is related to the Awakening story, you can still make a young Wizard character from the very beginning.

Combat videos