If you’ve spent hours exploring Enshrouded’s vast, mist-shrouded open world, you’ve probably wondered if you can trade your iron axe and sword for flashy, destructive spells instead. Does Enshrouded have magic, and is it a viable playstyle for both solo and co-op runs? We’ve put 70+ hours into the game testing every skill tree, spell scroll, and magic gear set to answer that question fully, plus break down exactly how you can make magic work for your playthrough. Whether you prefer crowd control, healing your party, or taking down bosses from a safe distance, there’s a magic build that fits what you’re looking for.
Does Enshrouded Have Magic? Core Magic Mechanics Explained
Unlike many fantasy RPGs that lock magic to specific starting classes, Enshrouded lets any character spec into magic at any point in your playthrough, as long as you unlock the right NPCs and crafting stations. Magic becomes accessible once you rescue the Alchemist from the first major shroud zone west of your starting base, so you won’t be able to cast spells in the first hour of gameplay. Once you unlock the Alchemist, you can craft magic wands, staves, spell scrolls, and mana potions, plus unlock magic-focused nodes on your skill tree.
Magic runs on a dedicated mana bar that sits under your health and stamina, and it regenerates slowly over time, or faster if you wear gear with mana regen perks. You can also chug mana potions mid-fight to refill your bar instantly, which is essential for longer boss fights where you’ll be casting nonstop. You don’t have to commit to a full magic build either — you can invest a few skill points into magic to unlock healing or buff spells even if you main a melee or bow build.
Types of Playable Magic in Enshrouded
Enshrouded splits its magic into three distinct categories, each suited for different playstyles and group roles. You can mix and match spells from different categories if you want a hybrid build, or focus entirely on one line for maximum damage or utility. The main magic types you can use are:
If you’re the type of player who likes to switch up their playstyle between long Enshrouded grinding sessions, you’re probably used to looking for low-stakes, quick games to play during short breaks when you don’t want to dive back into a tough boss fight right away. Many players who spend hours tweaking their magic builds and farming for rare spell scrolls like to wind down with casual, skill-based card games in their downtime, and INR Rummy is a popular pick for players who want a fast, strategic game that fits into 10 or 15 minute breaks between play sessions. It’s easy to pick up, and you don’t have to commit to a long match to have fun, which makes it perfect for gaps while you wait for your party members to log on or for your base crafting queues to finish.
Keep in mind that higher-tier spells require rare materials to craft, including shroud cores, crystal fragments, and rare herbs you can only find in high-level shroud zones. You’ll also need to upgrade your staff or wand to match the level of the spell you’re using, or you’ll deal significantly reduced damage against higher-level enemies.
Is a Magic Build Viable for Solo Play?
A common question we see from new players is if magic is only good for co-op support, or if it works for solo playthroughs too. The short answer is yes, magic builds are just as viable as melee or ranged builds for solo play, as long as you build your skill tree and gear correctly. For solo players, we recommend focusing on a hybrid of offensive elemental magic and summoning magic, so you have both direct damage and extra allies to tank damage for you.
The biggest downside to playing a magic build solo is that you’ll have to manage your mana bar carefully, since you won’t have a support player to pass you extra mana potions mid-fight. You can mitigate this by investing in skill tree nodes that increase your total mana and mana regeneration rate, plus carrying plenty of mana potions with you at all times. You’ll also want to avoid getting swarmed by melee enemies, since magic builds have lower base physical defense than heavy armor melee builds.
One of the biggest advantages of magic builds for solo play is that you can take down most bosses from a safe distance, which means you won’t have to dodge close-range attacks that can one-shot you if you’re undergeared. We’ve cleared the entire main story and all optional endgame bosses with a pure fire magic summoner build, so we can confirm it’s more than strong enough for solo content. It’s also a lot more fun than spamming melee attacks once you get the hang of managing your mana.
Top Tips for Starting Your First Magic Build
If you’re ready to try a magic build for your next Enshrouded playthrough, there are a few simple tips that will save you hours of grinding and frustration as you get started. First, unlock the Alchemist as early as possible – you can reach his location as soon as you have your first glider and a level 2 pickaxe, so you don’t have to wait until you’re halfway through the main story to unlock magic. You can even unlock him before you fight the first main story boss if you plan your route carefully.
Second, don’t ignore your stamina bar even if you’re playing a pure magic build. You’ll still need stamina to dodge enemy attacks, glide across gaps, and climb to reach rare material spawns, so leave a few skill points to invest in stamina increases as you level up. Most players find that 20 to 25 total stamina is enough for a magic build, but you can add more if you find yourself running out mid-fight.
Third, always carry a backup melee weapon with you. There’s nothing worse than running out of mana mid-fight against a horde of shroud enemies with no way to defend yourself, so keep a one-handed sword or axe in your inventory just in case. You can also carry extra spell scrolls for emergency damage if you don’t want to use a melee weapon, but scrolls are single-use, so they’re more expensive to restock.
Fourth, prioritize gear with +magic damage and +mana regen perks over gear with high physical defense. Magic builds are meant to be played from a distance, so you won’t be taking as much direct damage as melee builds, and the extra damage and mana regen will make your spells far more effective. You can still wear light or medium armor for a small defense boost, but heavy armor will slow you down and reduce your mana regen rate, so it’s usually not worth it for magic builds.
At the end of the day, if you were asking does Enshrouded have magic, the answer is a resounding yes, and it’s one of the most fun and flexible playstyles the game has to offer. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, you can customize a magic build that fits exactly how you like to play, from crowd control-focused frost mages to healers that keep their entire party alive through the toughest fights. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spell combinations and skill tree paths as you play – you can reset your skill points at any time for a small fee, so you don’t have to lock yourself into a single build for your entire playthrough. If you haven’t tried a magic build yet on your next Enshrouded run, it’s well worth the small amount of extra grinding to unlock the Alchemist and get your first set of spells.