never played/tried a caster but been slowly collecting gear to. still missing parts/some but lmk thoughts if decent enough to climb with once get mq's around 40+int and 150+ee, or if too low and would be a burden to group.
also, for casting it's usually better/preferred to use ee charms (main) and ee heals (secondary) than int charms (main) and ee charms (secondary) right?

current Lights...
Arcane lightning III
+59% Enhanced Effect
+25 Max Life
+40 Max Mana
+1 to 13 Life per Kill
+1% Life Steal
+2 Jubilance

Rare lightning IV
+77% Enhanced Effect
+2 Intelligence

Rare lightning V
+72% Enhanced Effect
+2 Dexterity

Legendary lightning VI
+90% Enhanced Effect
+177 Max Mana
+1 to 6 Life per Attack
+1 to 36 Life per Kill
+1% Parry
+11% Ice Mastery
+1% Wind Mastery

Mystical lightning VII
+97% Enhanced Effect
+2% Parry
+2% Critical Flux

Rare lightning VIII
+121% Enhanced Effect
+1 Extra Equipment Slots

Angelic lightning IX
+96% Enhanced Effect
+1 Strength
+1 Mana Regen
+16% Heal Mastery

Rare lightning X
+134% Enhanced Effect
+2% Mana Skin

Magical lightning XI
+127% Enhanced Effec

still need a 445/50 and 55...

current staffs...
Rare elm staff
Level Req: 0
+15 Intelligence
+3% Wind Mastery

Arcane elm staff
Level Req: 0
+12 Intelligence
+1 to 8 Mana per Kill
+1% Magical Damage Reduction
+9% Heal Mastery
+1% Fire Mastery
+1% Wind Mastery

Rare oak staff
Level Req: 5
+10 Intelligence
+1% Parry

Magical ironwood staff
Level Req: 10
+18 Intelligence

Rare heartwood staff
Level Req: 15
+21 Intelligence
+4% Heal Mastery

Rare runewood staff
Level Req: 20
+28 Intelligence
+1 to 2 Mana per Attack

Rare ebonwood staff
Level Req: 30
+9 Dexterity
+25 Intelligence

Mythical darkwood staff
Level Req: 40
+13% Enhanced Effect
+36 Intelligence
+4% Experience Gained
+1 to 5 Life per Kill
+1% Mind Numb

still need a 45/50 and 55...

current robes...
Rare woolen robe
Level Req: 0
+20% Enhanced Effect
+295 Max Mana

Magical woolen padded robe
Level Req: 0
+15 Intelligence

Angelic brocade padded robe
Level Req: 10
+20 Intelligence
+53 Max Mana
+1 Life Regen
+2 Critical Strike

Angelic silk robe
Level Req: 15
+26 Intelligence
+59 Max Life
+1 to 27 Life per Kill
+4% Damage Return

Rare gossamer padded robe
Level Req: 20
+25 Intelligence
+2% Physical Damage Reduction

Mystical seamist robe
Level Req: 30
+28 Intelligence
+4% Mind Numb
+8% Mana Syphon

Rare nightshade robe
Level Req: 35
+33 Intelligence
+8% Mana Syphon

still need a 40/45, 50/55...

current heals...
Mystical focused heal V
Level Req: 10
+78% Enhanced Effect
+1 Strength
+1 to 8 Life per Kill

Rare focused heal VII
Level Req: 20
+93% Enhanced Effect
+1% Glancing Blow

Mystical heal VIII
Level Req: 25
+117% Enhanced Effect
+3 Strength
+4% Mana Syphon

Rare heal X
Level Req: 35
+132% Enhanced Effect
+1% Damage Return

Rare focused heal XIII
Level Req: 50
+136% Enhanced Effect
+1 to 2 Life per Attack

Angelic focused heal XIV
Level Req: 55
+139% Enhanced Effect
+3% Experience Gained
+2% Magical Damage Reduction
+3% Mana Syphon

current Int charms, probably won' use...
Mystical ice III
+15 Intelligence
+2 Critical Strike
+1% Heal Mastery

Arcane ice III
+5 Intelligence
+180 Max Mana
+2% Experience Gained
+1 to 2 Mana per Attack
+1% Wind Mastery
+2% Earth Mastery

Arcane ice IX
Level Req: 30
+3% Enhanced Effect
+9 Vitality
+34 Intelligence
+1 Life Regen
+1 to 4 Mana per Kill
+3% Mana Syphon

Mystical fire X
Level Req: 35
+34 Intelligence
+1 to 2 Mana per Attack
+3% Armor Pierce

Magical lightning IV
Level Req: 5
+20 Intelligence

Angelic lightning XIV
Level Req: 55
+42 Intelligence
+22 Max Life
+1 to 11 Life per Kill
+1% Physical Damage Reduction

Arcane wild heal VI
Level Req: 15
+10 Strength
+24 Intelligence
+192 Max Mana
+1% Critical Flux
+1% Mana Skin
+1% Fire Mastery

Mystical focused heal VIII
Level Req: 25
+28 Intelligence
+415 Max Mana
+2% Critical Flux

You need a lot more mana at lower levels and of course higher ee on higher level items, also forget an int/ mana charm after 15 imo and start healing at that point

if you're solo'ing i recommend just melee'ing on a mage until level 15 or so. Less hassle seeing everything should still die in a similar amount of time to casting with max mana gear. should be able to hit 15 without returning to town and maybe just a few uses of your heal charm.
Using Max mana gear similar to your level 1 robe is an option though. I usually go full int gear at level 20, although this usually leads to needing to shrine 3 times per level.

I agree, you probably wont use the int charms. Not worth losing damage by putting your charm in the accessory slot.
The heal is fine, you'll need to main slot it or use fish against high level groups of 3 EP's.
You can get away with the level 35 robe. There's not going to be a particularly substantial different between 33 and say 40.
Lowest EE on your MQ i'd recommend would be around the 130 mark.

Given the fact you have a ridiculous club set and solid club prof, you should find this significantly slower than barb climbs.
Should you reach warlock, then even with a 140ee MQ charm and using the lvl 35 robe to MQ with, you'll find the warlock is similar speed if not faster than your barb due to the power of casting in general, blue doublecast and excellent vit/int stats.


I've personally being solo'ing an offcast monk/ninja reasonably regularly, as being brutal there's not much difference between them and a mage (monk/ninja int+vit: 60. Mage: 80). However i'm using significantly better cast charms than the ones you've posted and significantly higher prof.

I agree with previous posts, but I will make a comment or more.

Try to get a level 25 (TierVIII) Int robe, then you can ignore the level 20 int robe (use level 15 to 25 and switch), now this means use level 25 to 35 and switch.

Tier III (staff / robe / main / acc) ... if casting.
... put EE cast in ACC, get a combination of +Max Life/Mana set... hopefully minimum 200 life (either 1 item, or combination) and like 400+ max mana.

You can use these Tier III items from level 1 to 10 or 15 (change EE cast charm by level) whether you cast or melee, or even just cast till you run out of mana then just melee until you level up and your mana pool is replenished... repeat / rinse.

You can test what works for you. Goodluck and have fun.

new config from suggestions... (will test out solo in a bit, just don't wana be too much of burden if/when join groups as caster char. prefer be able to carry my weight )

current Lights...
t3 light: 59ee/40mana/25life
lvl 5 light: 77ee/2int
lvl10 light:72ee/2dex
lvl 15 light: 90ee/177mana
lvl 20 light: 97ee/2crit flux
lvl 25 light: 121ee
lvl 30 light: 96ee/1mana regen/16heal mastery
lvl 35 light: 134ee/2mana skin
lvl 40 light: 127ee
*lvl 45 light: still need 120+
lvl 50 light: still need 120+
*lvl 55 light still need 150+

current staffs...
t3 staff: 60ee
lvl 5 staff: 49ee/1-8mana per attack
*lvl 10 staff: 86ee
lvl 10 staff: 18int
lvl 15 staff: 21int/4heal mastery
lvl 20 staff: 28int/1-2mana per attack
lvl 30 staff: 9dex/25int (will prob skip this since 20>30 int)
lvl 40 staff: 13ee/36int/4xp
*lvl 45 staff: still need 40+ int
lvl 50 staff: still need but prob skip
*lvl 55 staff: still need 45+ int

current robes...
t3 robe: 20ee/295mana
lvl 5: will skip for now... plan to replace with max mana/int later on
lvl 10 probe: 20int/53mana/2crit/
lvl 15 robe: 26int/59life/1-27life per kill
lvl 20 probe: 25 int... (might skip since lvl 15 has more int/life unless im solo and need better def)
lvl 30 robe: 28int/8mana syphon
lvl 35 robe: 33int/8mana syphon
lvl 40: still need but will prob skip...
lvl 45: still need 35+ int...
lvl 50: still need but will prob skip...
lvl 55: still need 45+ int...

current heals...
lvl 10 focused heal: 78ee
lvl 20 focused heal: 93ee
lvl 25 heal: 117ee/3str/4mana syphon
lvl 35 heal: 132ee
lvl 50 focused heal: 136ee
lvl 55 focused heal: 139ee/3xp/3mana syphon (want to upgrade to 150+ee eventually)

*will mostly be for monk and wl (if ever unlock) since already got tank builds for feeder-pal covered... but not liking my current dmg builds for monk/ninja when can't tank much with robes

Few things

Your lvl 25 light will do more damage then your lvl 30 light.

As for Staffs and robes as you say skip, id personally just get a nice lvl 20/25 Staff and robe then wouldnt bother getting a second one until 45/50/55 as

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=84643200&f=273

the lvl 40 robe in this post would be fine for your MQ robe.

The lvl 30 Staff here

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=84645424&f=273

would be a lot better for you for solo play, due to the large amount of life, however its expensive.

this lvl 40 light

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=84643474&f=273

covers your lvl 40, 45, and 50 iso so maybe worth looking at?

or i know you have some of the lights, but

this one

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=84638752&f=273

or this one

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=84554562&f=273&o=0

but as a whole its coming a long nicely

Great advice, maybe try small steps so the OP can build up the gear.

Example... build the gear setup with 10 level upgrades instead of 5 (or Tier drop level(s) )!
... So, build your gear starting @ level 5 (Tier IV), then level 15 (Tier VI), then level 25 (Tier VIII) and so on... ignore 10/20/25 levels etc AS LONG AS the capacity of damage does NOT decline.