Arcanists: Review
This game is worth a subscription by itself.
It’s been 13 years since the original Worms (Originally titled Project Wormage) appeared on the Amiga. The series spawned a complete genre that still runs to this day, of turn based side scrolling combat in which the weapons eventually devastate the entire map.
In comes Arcanists, Jagex’s approach to the Worms genre with a hint of magic, a pinch of online multiplayer, and a learning curve that could tip a cow.
To start out, Arcanists is very easy to get into. The game features a full tutorial that allows you to get accustomed to each type of spell at your arsenal. At the end of the tutorial you will gain access to a sandbox mode, where you can come back to in order to test out any new spells you will accumulate.
I should note at this point that the Tutorial, Sandbox mode are the only sections available to non-paying members. Only subscribers will be able to access the multiplayer part of the game.
As of 04/09/08, non-paying members will have access to the Tutorial and sandbox modes and are now able to play unrated games in multiplayer
The game features several spell books, and sets you up with an almost complete set up of the Arcanist spell book (Basic versions of each spell type), and the fire spell book (Fire power and defense against fire attacks). You can have a maximum of 16 spells active at any given time, more spells will cost you in wands (more on that later), and some spells require lower level versions to be active, taking up more spots in your book.
You can try out your spells against players in rated or unrated games, which are played by one player creating a lobby. Arcanists is a very popular game, and it does not take very long to find an unrated game, or to be invited by a stranger as the picture below shows.
Each game can have up to six other players fighting one another. Everything can be decided, by the “admin” from who can join, to how long the turns are, what map is played on, and whether or not people can spectate the match.
Rated games must be played if you want to gain new spells and change your rank from the standard 1000. Winning rated games brings your rank up, while losing them will take away points. Whether you win or lose a rated game, you will still gain wands, you will just gain considerably less if you lose than if you win.
Setting up a rated game is very different than an unrated game. For starters, you cannot choose your opponent. At the rated game menu screen, you can enter in preferences (or no preference) and the game will set you up with someone else looking for a similar game. Finding a rated game may take longer than an unrated game, although I have never waited longer than 30 or 40 seconds. The more specific your preferences are, the longer time you will probably spend waiting for another person to be matched up with, so choosing no preference for more options is advised.
FunOrb is a great game. The graphics, sound, and gameplay are smooth and crisp, the online multiplayer is a blast to play and will keep you addicted, even when your rank goes below 500 (Like my own). The Sandbox and unrated games, as well as spectating ranked matches, will allow you to set up new strategies to use in the rated games and, with enough planning and strategy, you can destroy your opponents AND the map at the same time!
Aside from some minor tweaks and balances that have been suggested, I can’t find anything wrong with Arcanists. The multiplayer is populated and, at any time, there are 30-40 rated and unrated matches going on. This game is the top of FunOrb, and receives a 10/10
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What are the best spells to have?
Hi Blackness!
Thanks for the question. In Arcanists, there really are no “best spells” to have, but there are some essential spells:
Arcane Gate: Allows you to teleport out of trouble or a bad spawn
A flight spell: Can get you out of sticky situations. Also helps with some rock spells.
Otherwise, finding a spell book that suits you and loading up spells from there is a good idea. The more spells you have from a book, the higher spells you can tag on (Higher spells require 5 or so spells from that book as well as the lower versions to be in your active book). I personally use undead as it allows for sapping damage with healing effects, but is extremely prone to attacks from the overlight spellbook.
Would give it a 9 to be honest needs some more balancing.
were do i go to play arcvanists
Gosh, do you even know what ‘FunOrb’ is? (sheesh, the F2Pers these days..) Go to ‘www.Funorb.com’, click ‘Games’ and click Arcanists. And please, while on the internet, try to spell and use grammar correctly.
~Tech
Well…i think…if u have em both equipped, they are deadly…these are the spells : frost arrow and fire arrow. you dont actually equip em, just get them ready in your inventory for a match. if u’ve used em all and have hit the other player every time, it can kill the other player. but also, mega boulder is good if somebody is stuck in a ditch. it can hit up to 150. then, disruption is great for making the enemy stuck. it can hit up to 125 and it makes the other player stuck. chain lightning is also deadly if your dealing with a lot of players in 1 spot. it can hit up to 200 and its a great way to get both players to have low hp.
on arcanist’s i am master of flame overlight storm ice and rock i love this game i made a member just for this game!
This game is just awesome, if you don’t play it, you don’t know what is and isn’t a good game. PLAY IT NOW! I give it 10/10, and I disagree with anyone who thinks it’s a “rip-off” of Worms. There are many other games like Worms, and this game is nothing like Worms. Worms has rocket launchers, gernades, air strikes etc, not magic spells and the ability to summon minions. The only things very alike between this game is: they’re sidescrolling, strategy related, have turns, and the characters don’t have arms and legs for some reason.
Hey if anyone wants to add me my name is SIl3nt ac3. So ill be on around 5:00-9:00 on weekdays. So cya in Arcanists. Im im member to so, if u wanna see one in action come fight me lol ; )
I love it. atleast 11/10. Im nonmember and have been trying to get it but for some reason I can’t but i still love this game. I like charging imps and arcane flash are by far the best nonmember spells so far (out of the origional 16).
Actually, the whole trajectory thing predates Worms. I remember playing a game in the mid 80s that was programed in BASIC where two monkeys threw exploding bananas at each other.
rofl exploding bananas…thats crazy!
i cant seem to play !!!!!!!!!!
i try but it dont work for crise sakes
omg
i wish it would let me play for crise sakes if anyone know how to help me plzzz
‘why cant i find the thing that allow me to play
omg omg omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you need java to play it. and also, how do i unlock the darkness arcanist achievement?
how do you acttuly type not go to quick chat
i agree i love arcanists but what are the requirements for the hidden achievements!!! i cant find a answer on any website so if u know plz tell me!!!!!!
to actually type instead of quick chat, just press the Tab button
Im a big user of funorb im on almost everyday and i give it 100/10 but it still has some spells that needs to be fixed like the lichdom and the darkness familiar
hey,ppl. yea, so im surfing the net on my phone rite now, and someone asked about hidden achievements. well, not 100% sure, but i was told that you have to win with all spells in a book about 5 times. just here to help, yw
There are some essential spells you need to become well rounded Arcanist.
-Mega Boulder
-Thunder Shock
-Wind Shield (or any shield)
-Flight
-Frost Shards
-Den Of Darkness
-Summon Dark Knight
-Deludge
-Arcane Gate
You can go full books. But variety seems better.
ungh…i need master team leader…help!?!?!?!?…
Well I use a full book of storm with healing tower and the healing spell, full book gives me the familiar which cause my thunder shock to do at mxax 80 and makes storm take only 3 turns to charge
i use these spells pretty good
-full fire book
-arcane gate
-den of darkness
-wind sheid
-protection sheild
pretty good for rated games add me on arcanist if u need help
protoman x z_member_prestiege hat 1
Hey, I just found out that to get the Arcanists hidden requirements like Seas Arcanists and Fire Arcanist you have to beat a rated game 5 times with that full spellbook. Also, for Lord of Wands, you need to get all the achievements done.
-Drageonslaya
ADD ME ON ARCANISTS!!! IM A MEM!!! USERNAME IS THE SAME HERE AND ARCANISTS!!!
To drageonslaya: for arcanists hidden achievements, fire, storm, ice and stone, you need to get 1500 rating and win a rated game, for the others, you need 2000 rating and win a rated game
gotta correct myself, for sea and nature, you need 2500 rating.
btw.. lord of wands isnt getting all achievements, you need to get 5 prestige hats
-someguy
soz for double post. lol
Nice review
It’s a shame non members can also play it now
can anyone plz tell me what to do to get the hidden achievements?
pengy12: scroll up they give u the answer -_-
for fire arcanist, stone arcanist, ice arcanist and storm arcanist you need to win either a game with the full book (ice, stone, fire, storm)with a rating of 1500 or more or win a rated game with the full book 5 times -_-
Dragovian 6 Says:
July 15, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Nice review
It’s a shame non members can also play it now
I actually don’t mind the non members being able to play now, I probably wouldn’t have become a member if I didn’t try it out as a nonmember, because it seems like all the other funorb games suck….. underdark spellbook ftw!!!
lol i luv all spell of dragon
:’( i hate the fire dragon
:{
Anyone know where i can find a picture of the 10th prestige hat?
i want to know what it looks like
i love Arcanists! 15/10.
im a mem with over 2 k rating so here is some help with geting the right book. ALLWAYS get wat spells you want not wat other people say is good, like me i use the most *air quote*useles books in the game (full over-light and arcain 0-o).
i have never used flight,its just so useles to me.
under-dark is over rated two,
mega bolder can hit 250 if used in the right way but its very hard to get it to hit 200.
a draw is allways beter then a los, so if you both on low hp and you cant kill the openent with-out killing ur self, do it!
hey i use a spellbook with
-arcane gate
-full ice book
-mud ball
-rain of fire
-rain of arrows
i barely ever lose a rated game with this book!
I love arcanists it is such a good game, really taxes my mind to decide how to win a match.
This game is so good i am in fact planning on becoming a member of funorb just for this game.
i am a non mem but i have destroyed many mems on arcanists.
I can tell u this: the most under-rated attack on the game (for non mems) is arcane bomb.
The trick is, dont use this like a regular bomb. Use it to fire arcane arrows at an opponent that is impossible to hit with regular arcane arrows.
This is also good for claring out holes without using arcane flash.
Another good strategy with this bomb is to hit up someone with it, then use the arrows to hit their friend in a team game.
This is a great strategy and is sorrowfully underrated.
i play alot, just got 9th prestige, my strategy is to float and drop a disruption on the enemy, they got closed up and it does like 100 damage, after that i dark aura them, if they break out i drop another disruption on them, i have 2428 rating 93% winning 7% losing 2000+ games played, btw arcane bomb pwns, and underdark is gay
arcanists is so awsome i love the action in it u can also battle people from all over the world. first my friend told me all about it and then i came like best friends with the website my person that i use during game play is flippin awsome the imps are like little michigan fans becouse my colors are yellow and blue.
I love this game very much i am a member with a rating of 2020
and i only have 1 problem with this game. when you fight a non member (not always) they have that hood which covers there face. This would be cool if nearly every f2p didn’t wear this. =]
also nature is way to powerful >.<
good strategy is familier for rock,sphere of healing,light tower,gate,and den of darkness.
a good startegy for mems is rock familier,shpere of healing,den of dark,light castle,and gate.my arcanists acc name is 222jesse2,add me if you want
arcanists is so cool i play it alot
how much to u pay for member?
membership cost depends on payment method.anyone know what good all the prestige hats are?i hear a new book opens up,is that true?i got a funorb membership just to play this game with member books,so i would really enjoy a special unlickable one.
how do u become a arcanisist of some thing like underdark for example how do u do it!?!?!?!?!?
Well i find these spells far out -
- Full Nature (Don’t use if you’re new to member as it is hard to understand)
-Drain Bolt (Always have this spell no matter what)
-Den of Darkness (i don’t recommend you use this is team games as it ticks your team(ates) of unless you’re hiding like a newb)
-Lightning/Mud Ball (Well here’s the deal with this, if you use lightning you can get people who are in holes ,hiding. If ou use Mud Ball you can trap them and then they should tele out or stay there ot go into a tower)
arcanist achievements are not that hard but kinda easy all you need to do is to have higher then 1500 ratings then you have to sommon ure fimilar (fully charged could be any fimilar from any book) and you have to win the rated game with it
arcanist 10/10 but i get ticked off sometimes when they send me in the water… then i lose lots of ratings like that
TIPS
1. Send them in water as much as you can =)
2. always trap them it makes the hole round easyer
3. (for non members) Never run away from a member he/she will kill you quicker (also goes for new members)
what is the point of prostege hats and peeps can u tell me some of ur ursernames@(^u^)@monkeys!!!!!!!!!!!
i need peeps 2 add i want 2 battle u mwuhahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! bring it on!!!!!!
some1 answer me plz!!!!!!!!
lol!!!!
be happy and answer me it would make my day!!!!!!!!
blackheet1 is my name on ther a mem with 3 press. eney one wants to battle tell me
also i use mostly rock book because i trap them they get out then i drain them into ocence or trap them again if they in hole mega him then he cant get out so i use flight drop a shock and i win that my game got over 2000 rating…
the bad thing is make one wrong game and it drops sooooo fast
ooo and if u have light heres a good one
spelld needed:fairy,drain bolt,flight
make fairys then put fairys around oppont then drain bolt them u get 105 hp wat a heal
ooo my mem acount is darkx879 im going on every day after school about 4:00-11:00
Hi Black.
Try the link on left hand side of page for arcanists guide. Its got good combos etc.
i will destroy you all
andre1407 add me to challenge me, I will crush most everyone.
you should have fireball, imp destruction, fire arrow, arcane bomb, arcane arrow, lava bomb, napalm, arcane glyph (don’t use this if you want magma bomb which does about 100 dmg), arcane tower, rain of fire, rain of arrows, and fire shield.
what the heck are prestiege hats?
Awesome game, i used to be really good but I’m a little rusty now, worth playing
HOW DO I FRICKEN CHAT?!?!?!
IT NEVER WORKS
Ryan,
if you are referring to in-game, you have to hit tab to bring up the chat window.
which in-game?
it doesnt work!!
Hello again, Ryan.
If you’re in a game, try making sure chat is showing, and press the “tab” key to initiate chat.
how do i become a mem
Super u gotta pay, go to account and clik subscribe to funorb. And nothing happens when i press tab. Whats wrong
Ryan:
If you are under 13 years old then you can only speak in quickchat. That might solve your problem
why cant i get any rating? i have 1900 rating now and i need 2000 and i have a lvl 5 prestige hat if that has anything to do with it idk im so confused
lol my rating is 3000 on arcanist but i need to get all achieves but arch mage and i dont know what the hidden achieves are, if anyone can help plz..help
why can’t i speak normally on arcanists if you know plz tell me..
well, i have every acheivment exept for the hard ones, darkness arcananist, champ of mage, and id like to have tournaments ssooooo.. chills blood add me!
ok the best spells r tele,fire shield,mud bal, mega boulder,ice shield,ice castle,den of darkness, drain bolt, flight,protection shield, sphere of healing,deluge, vine whip
this game is sooooooooooo awsome when i got my imp to 250h i pressed self desshuk and it nely detored the battle feld and i won because i was on 59h and the other one had 10 so that my arcanists story
does anyone know what to do if you’re stuck…im 9th prestige and my rating is like in the 1300’s now…it seems impossible to get back up…anyone have any idea what do?
hi
la
la La LA LAA!!!!!
hi
How do u get all the secret acheivements
dudes like does any1 no how to get allllllllllllllll of the achievements
i love this game its da bomb
if anyone wants to add me my arcanist is gotohell1213
and tell me if u added me
Im a hb player hb=hybrid book i use spells from all spell books. Full books are good and all but i do prefer being a hb user most of the time. After all you do waste hp using familiars, (yes i know you can heal) but that wastes your turns lol. ky name is Durisu online add me if you want.
~Durisu~
PS:Sorryz for long entry >:)
lol