The best magic spells in Tales of Wakana are Celestial Fury, Grave Grasp, and Voltaic Chain. This S-Tier trio offers an unrivaled combination of area-of-effect (AoE) damage, crowd control, and single-target devastation that can carry you through the entire game, from the Whispering Mangroves to the final confrontation in the Obsidian Citadel.
While many spells have their moments, these three consistently outperform all other options in terms of raw power, utility, and efficiency. Mastering them is the fastest path to conquering the game's toughest challenges, including the notoriously difficult Trial of Mirrors and the multi-phase boss fight against High Sentinel Kael. This guide breaks down not just which spells are best, but precisely why and how to use them to their full, game-breaking potential.
Understanding Wakana's Magic System
Before we rank the spells, it's crucial to understand the three distinct schools of magic. Each school has its own identity and generally excels in different areas. While you can mix and match, some of the most powerful late-game builds focus on mastering one or two schools to leverage synergistic gear and passive skills.
- Elemental: The most straightforward school, focusing on raw damage through fire, ice, and lightning. Elemental spells are your primary source of AoE clearing and exploiting enemy weaknesses. They are powerful but can be mana-intensive.
- Umbral: The school of shadow, decay, and life-draining curses. Umbral magic excels at damage-over-time (DoT) effects, debuffs, and survivability. Its spells often have complex interactions that reward strategic thinking.
- Arcane: The school of pure magic, manipulation, and defense. Arcane spells offer unparalleled utility, from creating protective barriers to repositioning yourself on the battlefield. They are the glue that holds many powerful builds together.
The Definitive Spell Tier List
This tier list is based on extensive testing against all major bosses and enemy types on the game's highest difficulty. The rankings prioritize overall effectiveness, mana efficiency, and impact on challenging late-game encounters.
| Tier | Spells | School(s) | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Celestial Fury, Grave Grasp, Voltaic Chain | Arcane, Umbral, Elemental | Game-breaking damage & control |
| A | Sunfire Orb, Glacial Lance, Shadow Step, Stone Bulwark | Elemental, Arcane | Core build components, highly effective |
| B | Miasma Cloud, Kinetic Wave, Spirit Leech, Haste | Umbral, Arcane | Powerful situational tools |
| C | Arcane Dart, Kindle, Ward of Minor Warding | Arcane, Elemental | Early game utility, quickly replaced |
The key takeaway is this: your primary goal should be to acquire and fully upgrade the three S-Tier spells. While A-Tier spells like Sunfire Orb and Shadow Step are excellent and will serve you well for most of the game, the S-Tier options operate on another level entirely.
Tales Of Wakana in-game screenshot
Deep Dive: The S-Tier Spells You Can't Ignore
Simply knowing which spells are best isn't enough. Understanding their mechanics, upgrade paths, and ideal use cases is what separates a novice from a master sorcerer. These three spells trivialize content that would otherwise be a significant roadblock.
Celestial Fury: The Ultimate Room-Clearer
Found in a hidden chamber behind the main library in the Academy of the Twin Moons, this Arcane spell is the undisputed king of AoE damage. When cast, it calls down a meteor that explodes on impact, leaving behind a large field of astral energy. For the next five seconds, smaller comets will rain down randomly within this field, repeatedly striking any enemies inside.
Its final upgrade, unlocked with the 'Tome of the Starfall' (a reward for defeating the Grave-Warden Golgor), adds a 'Starlight Brand' debuff to all enemies hit. This brand increases all damage they take by 20% for 10 seconds, making it an incredible setup tool for your other damage spells. Celestial Fury can single-handedly clear entire rooms of weaker enemies and melt the health bars of large, slow-moving bosses like the Swarm Queen of the Sunken Grotto.
Tales Of Wakana in-game screenshot
Grave Grasp: Unmatched Crowd Control
This Umbral spell is the best crowd-control ability in the game, bar none. Upon casting, skeletal hands erupt from the ground in a target area, immobilizing all non-boss enemies for a full six seconds when fully upgraded. This provides a massive window to unleash your heaviest-hitting attacks without fear of retaliation.
Where Grave Grasp truly shines is against the game's most frustrating enemies: fast, agile attackers. The Shadow Weavers in the Obsidian Citadel and the Feral Stalkers in the Cursed Wilds become trivial when locked down by this spell. It also has a powerful synergy with DoT effects. Cast Miasma Cloud or Sunfire Orb's lingering ground fire on a group of enemies, then lock them in place with Grave Grasp to guarantee they take every single tick of damage. You acquire this spell by completing the side quest 'A Bone to Pick' for the gravedigger in the village of Havenwood.
Voltaic Chain: Single-Target Annihilation
When a boss absolutely needs to die now, Voltaic Chain is your answer. This Elemental spell fires a bolt of lightning that deals massive initial damage. It then arcs to up to four additional nearby targets, with each subsequent jump dealing slightly less damage. While it has a secondary AoE function, its primary purpose is single-target burst.
Against a lone boss, the spell's full power is concentrated. Its damage output scales incredibly well with your Magic Power stat, and its relatively quick cast time allows you to use it in tight damage windows. It is the single most effective tool for burning through the multiple health bars of High Sentinel Kael. Its main drawback is its high mana cost, so pairing it with the 'Archmage's Ring' or mana-regenerating potions is highly recommended for extended fights. The spell scroll is a guaranteed drop from the Tempest Elemental guarding the peak of Mount Cinder.
Are A-Tier Spells Worth Upgrading?
Absolutely. While they may not be as universally dominant as the S-Tier, the A-Tier spells are the workhorses of any build and remain viable all the way to the final credits. You will likely rely on them heavily before you assemble the holy trinity.
Sunfire Orb vs. Glacial Lance
A common dilemma for Elemental mages is whether to focus on fire or ice. Sunfire Orb is your go-to for AoE damage before you find Celestial Fury, leaving a pool of fire that continues to damage enemies. Glacial Lance is a more tactical choice, as its final upgrade applies the 'Frostbite' debuff, slowing enemies and making them more susceptible to critical hits. Glacial Lance is particularly devastating in the Ashen Volcano, as most enemies there are vulnerable to ice.
Shadow Step: The Key to Untouchable Mobility
This Arcane utility spell is arguably the best defensive ability in the game. It provides a near-instantaneous teleport over a short distance, granting a brief window of invincibility during the animation. This is not just a simple dodge; it's the only way to reliably avoid certain unblockable boss attacks, such as the Grave-Warden Golgor's 'Soul Scythe' sweep. Mastering the timing of Shadow Step is mandatory for completing the Trial of Mirrors challenge, which rewards you with one of the best amulets in the game.
Tales Of Wakana in-game screenshot
An Underrated Combo That Punches Above Its Weight
Don't sleep on B-Tier spells, especially when combined with the right gear. Miasma Cloud, an Umbral spell that creates a lingering poison cloud, seems mediocre at first. Its damage is slow, and many enemies resist it.
However, if you pair it with the 'Pestilence Charm' (found in a chest in the plague-ridden sewers beneath Old Town), the spell is transformed. The charm adds a powerful 'Anti-Healing' effect to Miasma Cloud's poison. Any enemy inside the cloud is completely unable to restore health. This combo single-handedly neutralizes the most dangerous enemies in the game: the Corrupted Healers and high-ranking Obsidian Citadel knights who use healing incantations. It turns an otherwise frantic, drawn-out fight into a manageable encounter.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wakana's Magic
What's the best starting spell?
When given the choice at the start of the game, Kindle is the strongest option. It provides a reliable, cheap source of ranged damage that is effective against the early-game beasts and undead, many of whom are weak to fire. Arcane Dart is weaker, and the initial Ward spell is unnecessary at that stage.
How do you refund Spell Points?
You can refund and reallocate your spent Spell Points at any time by speaking to the Mirror of Memories located in the central hub of the Academy of the Twin Moons. It costs a small fee of 'Echoing Souls', so while it's not free, it's cheap enough to encourage experimentation with different builds.
Can you beat the game with only Umbral magic?
Yes, it's possible and offers a unique challenge. An Umbral-only build relies heavily on DoTs, debuffs, and kiting enemies. You will lean heavily on Grave Grasp for control and Spirit Leech for survival. It can be a slower playstyle, especially against bosses with high resistance to DoTs, but it is certainly viable.
Where is the best place to farm Mana Shards for upgrades?
The best mid-game farm is the antechamber just before the Grave-Warden Golgor boss fight in the Sunken Crypt. The dense packs of skeletal warriors respawn every time you rest at the nearby bonfire and have a high drop rate for Mana Shards. In the late game, the area just inside the Obsidian Citadel is unparalleled for shard farming.
The Final Verdict
While Tales of Wakana offers a wide arsenal of fascinating spells, the path to power is clear. Prioritize finding and upgrading Celestial Fury, Grave Grasp, and Voltaic Chain. This trio provides a comprehensive toolkit of AoE damage, crowd control, and boss-killing power that overshadows all other options. Build your character around them, supplement with key A-Tier utility spells like Shadow Step, and no challenge in Wakana will stand in your way.