Before Starting Wizard101
Important: By understanding each School's role and using these tips and strategies, players can navigate Wizard101 efficiently, avoiding common pitfalls while maximizing their in-game potential.

School Roles
DPS (Damage Dealers): Fire (Pyromancers), Myth (Conjurers), Storm (Diviners)
Tank: Ice (Thaumaturges)
Support: Balance (Sorcerers), Life (Theurgists)
Casual PvE: Death (Necromancers)

Basic Gameplay Loop:
Turns 1–2: Focus on Blade stacking with buffs from different sources.
Turn 3: Use AoE attacks for maximum efficiency.
Essential Spell: Obtain the Reshuffle spell at Level 20 in Colossus Boulevard.

School Roles and Playstyles
Damage Dealers (DPS):
Fire (Pyromancers): Masters of Damage-over-Time (DoT) spells, ideal for prolonged battles.
Myth (Conjurers): Specialize in Area-of-Effect (AoE) spells with minion-summoning utility.
Storm (Diviners): High burst damage with low health and Accuracy.
Tank:
Ice (Thaumaturges): Exceptional defense with shields and team utilities.
Support:
Balance (Sorcerers): Versatile in group play with buff-heavy spells.
Life (Theurgists): Outstanding healing capabilities, vital for solo and team play.
Solo Play:
Death (Necromancers): Excellent for solo players, utilizing Life-stealing spells and balanced stats.
Tip: Choose a School based on your preferred playstyle, whether it's high damage, defense, or team support.

Key Spells and Strategies
Essential Spell: Reshuffle (Level 20) from Colossus Boulevard lets you reuse discarded cards during long battles.
Training Points:
Earned every 4 levels (up to Level 20) and every 5 levels afterward.
Use for utility spells like Feint (Death, Level 22), Satyr (Life, Level 26), or Elemental/Spirit Blade (Level 25).

Combat Basics:
Turns 1–2: Blade stacking (e.g., Balance Blade, Elemental Blade).
Turn 3: AoE attacks like Meteor Strike or Sandstorm for crowd control.
Gear Progression
Levels 5–25: Purchase School-specific gear from the Bazaar. Farm Prince Gobblestone for Heartsteel.
Level 30: Farm Mount Olympus for gear and the Sky Iron Hasta wand.
Levels 56–60:
Wintertusk Crafted Gear: Great for advanced battles.
Waterworks Gear: Top-tier gear with unmatched bonuses.

Side Activities
Gardening (Level 12): Focus on farming Couch Potatoes for Mega Snacks to enhance pet training.
Pet Training: Develop pets with abilities like healing and resistances.
Crafting: Create powerful gear but prepare for resource demands.
Fishing: Source Gold and rare items.
Monstrology: Summon minions for solo battles.

Gold Management
Save Gold for essentials like pet hatching (~75k per hatch).
Invest in valuable items and crafting materials from the Bazaar.
Sell rare treasure cards or reagents for consistent income.

Dos and Don'ts
Don'ts:
Avoid unnecessary Crown spending on low-value items (e.g., Gold, low-level pets).
Misuse of Training Points: Research spells and avoid over-committing to secondary Schools.
Neglecting gear upgrades (every 5–10 levels).
Falling for scams—avoid unverified trades or third-party sites.
Overcrowding or poorly balancing your deck.
Dos:
Smart Selling: Use the Bazaar for better returns on valuable items.
Energy Efficiency: Spend energy before leveling up for a free refill.
Customize Gear and Decks: Tailor them for PvP, dungeons, or specific challenges.
Train Pets: Optimize stats and abilities using guides.
Fast Travel: Use the social tab to teleport or mark locations for efficient movement.
Storage Management: Craft vaults and use the Shared Bank for item transfers.
Secure Items: Lock essential gear to prevent accidental loss.

Final Tips
Keep gear and pets updated to maintain optimal performance.
Regularly refine your deck and strategy to adapt to challenges.
Use Reshuffle and other utility spells effectively in battles.
Explore all areas for quests, crafting, and farming opportunities.

Getting Started (Expanded):
Wizard101 Don'ts:
1. Do not waste real money in the crown shop (like buying more Gold and the newest pets)
2. Do not spend training points on the wrong spells (like putting all your extra training points into a single secondary school)
3. Do not get inappropriate gear for your level (like forgetting to upgrade your gear every 5 to 10 levels and buying any gear from the Crown shop too early on in your playthrough)
4. Do not fall for any scams (like from other players and third-party sites)
5. Do not have too many cards in your spell card deck (like stuffing a deck with too many of the same type of card or too little of a certain type of card)
6. Do not sell the wrong things in the wrong places (like selling it to a singular NPC or using the quick sell option instead of the Bazaar and selling valuable items to the Bazaar rather than holding onto them for later)
7. Do not ignore important side quests (like collection or crafting quests and not making sure you checked the entirety of an area for them)
8. Do not avoid using your shared bank (like forgetting to transfer items that, while useless to your current character, could be useful to an alt)
9. Do not ignore pet hatching or training (like avoiding it altogether instead of utilizing a guide to optimize the rearing of your pets for your battle style)
10. Do not be unprepared for fights (like not reading up on proper strategies or plans relating to certain enemies or dungeons you have to fight and not making sure everything is ready)
Wizard101 Tips & Tricks (Expanded):
* Utilize friendly players to travel fast (by utilizing the social tab to travel to players in areas that you want to go to or marking yourself as a friendly player so that others can use you as a waypoint)
* Restore energy when leveling up (by planning around the event by utilizing the most energy that you can for important tasks before leveling up to replenish it, level locking your character before, and/or switching to energy boosting gear)
* Storing your Gold for later (by investing your Gold into buying items from places like the Bazaar that will hold their current value or even increase over time and storing them for later)
* Swapping between gear sets quickly (by creating your own custom equipment sets for certain types of fighting styles, situations, and battle events)
* Make different spell decks for different needs (by assembling custom spell decks for certain types of situations, battles, or dungeons and try to keep them as swappable as possible)
* Trade treasure cards between characters (by utilizing a dedicated alt to store and transfer TCs between characters)
* Cheaper pet hatching (by asking players to hatch your pets and lend their pets to you or transferring specific talents and stats from one pet to another)
* Lock your items (by utilizing the locking feature in your backpack on items you do not wish to lose)
* Extra item storage (by buying a crafting recipe for the various storage vaults designed for certain items)
* Reset your location (by quitting to the main menu while you are in the world where you're currently questing)

Health
Player Health: Shown in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Enemy Health: Displayed under the enemy's name.
Victory Condition: The first to reduce their opponent's health to zero wins the battle.
Turn Order
RNG System: The game randomly determines who goes first (50/50 chance).
Advantage: Going first provides strategic benefits.
Disadvantage: Going second, especially in brutal boss battles, can make the game significantly harder.
Pips
Pips are resources required to cast spells:
Regular Pips: Basic units of spell cost.
Power Pips: Gold-colored pips that count as two regular pips.
Restriction: Power Pips apply only to spells from your assigned School. Spells outside your School count as one Pip.
Pip Costs: The number under a spell's name indicates the required pips to cast it.
Spell Types
Damage Spells: Inflict damage on enemies.
Healing Spells: Restore health to yourself or allies.
Blades: Boost your or a teammate's next attack.
Example: A Storm Blade adds 30% more damage.
Traps: Placed on enemies to increase the damage they take.
Example: Faint (Key Trap)
Effect: Adds 70% extra damage to an enemy but places a 30% damage trap on you.
Significance: A must-have for all players due to its utility.
Buffs and Debuffs
Blades vs. Traps:
Blades: Preferred for Area-of-Effect (AOE) attacks, as they apply to all enemies.
Traps: Apply only to the specific enemy they are placed on.
Shields: Reduce incoming damage from enemy spells.
Negative Charms: Debuff enemy attacks.
Weakness: Reduces the enemy's next attack by 25%.
Dispel: Forces an enemy's spell to fizzle.
Bubbles (Global Spells)
Field-wide effects that increase damage for a specific school.
Example: A Storm Bubble boosts all storm damage (yours and your opponent's) by 25%.
Enchants
Enchants are used to enhance spells:
Damage Enchants:
Colossal/Epic: Add 275 or 300 extra base damage to attack spells.
Utility Enchants:
Sharpen Blade: Increases a blade's boost by 10%.
Potent Trap: Increases a trap's boost by 10%.
Blade and Trap Stacking
Stacking buffs is a critical strategy:
Rule: Blades and traps stack as long as they are not identical.
Example:
A regular Storm Blade (35%) + a Sharpened Storm Blade (45%) = 80% extra damage.
Traps like Feint can also stack with variations such as Treasure Card (TC) Faints, reaching massive damage multipliers.
Utility Spells
Empower:
Effect: Costs 250 health to gain three pips.
Additional Use: Removes debuffs like Weakness while providing pips.
Reshuffle: Returns used and discarded cards to your deck.
Prisms: Converts a spell's damage type to its opposing School.
Use Case: Essential when fighting bosses resistant to your School's magic.
Spell Cards
Important:
The first thing you'll notice is that his entire deck, including treasure cards, only consists of 14 cards. This is a standard strategy that most experienced Wizard101 players use. The idea is to keep your deck intentionally small so that every turn, you have the exact card you need ready to go. The maximum number of cards a player can have in a deck is 64 (I’m pretty sure). Including the Treasure Card (TC) deck, you can obviously have over 100 cards. However, 99% of the time, this is the most unoptimal way to play—unless you're doing something like PvP. Now, here's an odd feature of the game: when you learn a new spell, the game automatically places it in your deck for some reason. A lot of beginners assume this setup is ideal. As a result, many inexperienced or bad players have decks that look cluttered and inefficient like this.
Intro:
Spell Cards are the foundation of your Wizard's magic arsenal in Duels, serving as your primary tools for combat against creatures and other players. Each card is carefully designed with various features that determine its effectiveness, and mastering these components is crucial for success. Below is an in-depth breakdown of the elements of a Spell Card, using the Dark Sprite as an example:
Rank
Represented by an upside-down triangle in the upper left corner, the Rank signifies the number of Pips and Mana required to cast the spell. For instance, the Dark Sprite requires 1 Pip and 1 Mana.
Certain spells display an 'X' instead of a number, indicating they will consume all available Pips—the power of such spells scales with the number of Pips used.
Spells that require Shadow Pips have an additional number next to the triangle, reflecting the Shadow Pip cost. Their Mana cost is calculated as Normal Pip Cost × (1 + Shadow Pip Cost).
School Symbol
Found in the upper right corner, this circular icon represents the School of Magic associated with the card. For the Dark Sprite, the symbol indicates that the card belongs to the School of Death.
Accuracy
Displayed as a percentage in the lower left circle, Accuracy determines the likelihood of a spell successfully casting. The Dark Sprite's 85% Accuracy means the spell will succeed in 85 out of 100 attempts, with the remaining attempts resulting in a fizzle or failure.
Type of Spell
Depicted by a square in the lower right corner, this feature identifies the spell's category. For the Dark Sprite, the Damage symbol signifies it inflicts Death Damage on the target.
Effect Description
Located at the bottom of the card, this section summarizes the spell's effect. The Dark Sprite deals 65–105 Death Damage.
Pips, Power Pips, School Pips, and Shadow Pips
Pips
Pips are represented as white dots that accumulate around your character during combat. Each Pip adds 1 point of power for casting spells. For example, a Rank 5 spell requires 5 Pips and 5 Mana to cast.
Wizards gain one Pip per round in combat, gradually building their ability to cast higher-rank spells. Maintaining a strategic approach to Pip management can significantly impact your performance in battle.
Power Pips
Starting at level 10, Wizards can receive golden Power Pips instead of regular Pips. Power Pips count as two Pips for spells from your primary School, accelerating your ability to cast powerful spells.
Power Pips act as regular Pips for spells from other Schools. Special gear and items like Wands can increase the likelihood of obtaining Power Pips each round.
Advanced Wizards often achieve near 100% Power Pip chance. School Mastery Amulets further enhance Power Pips by allowing them to count as two Pips for spells outside the Wizard's primary School, offering versatility in spell casting.
Archmastery
Archmastery enables the conversion of Power Pips into School Pips, representing one of the seven primary Schools of Magic. This feature offers greater flexibility in casting advanced spells.
School Pips function as two Pips for spells of the corresponding School. Outside combat, players can select their desired School Pip in the Spell Book by clicking the School Icon above the Unequip Icon. During combat, players can adjust their School Pip by interacting with the Power Orb Icon on their nameplate.
Certain spells, like Brimstone Revenant, specifically require School Pips and regular Pips. Starting at level 50, Wizards gain an Archmastery Rating. This stat governs the conversion rate of Power Pips into School Pips.
Shadow Pips
Shadow Pips become accessible after completing specific quests, such as Shadow Dancer in Khrysalis or Walpurgisnacht in Darkmoor. These Pips are essential for casting Shadow School spells and enhanced versions of spells from other Schools.
Shadow Pips have their own dedicated section in the Pip interface and do not take up space alongside regular Pips and Power Pips. Initially, Wizards can acquire only one Shadow Pip at a time, but completing the Higher Learning quest raises the maximum to two.
Certain gear can enhance the probability of obtaining Shadow Pips. These Pips enable the casting of some of the most powerful and strategically significant spells available.

Casting Spell Cards
Spell Deck
Equipping and Organizing Decks
Ensure your deck is equipped before entering a duel. The Spell Deck screen has two main areas: the right side displays your full collection of spells, while the left side shows your active deck.
Normal Spell Cards occupy the upper left section of the active deck, and Item Cards appear in the lower left section.
Treasure Cards
Access your Treasure Cards by clicking the Treasure Card tab. The right side displays your collection of Treasure Cards, while the left side shows active Treasure Cards ready for use.
Adding/Removing Cards
Move cards between your collection and active deck by clicking on them. This flexibility allows you to tailor your deck to the specific challenges of each duel.
Casting Spells in Combat
Selecting and Casting
At the start of each round, a hand of cards is drawn from your deck and displayed. Hover over a card to view its details. Greyed-out cards indicate insufficient Pips for casting.
To cast a spell, click the desired card and select a target. Area-effect spells automatically target all eligible enemies, streamlining the process.
Fizzling
If a spell fizzles, it is reshuffled into the deck for potential use later in the duel. Successfully cast spells, except Treasure Cards, are removed from the deck for the remainder of the duel unless reshuffled.
Casting Treasure Cards
Drawing and Using
Treasure Cards are not automatically drawn. Press the "DRAW" button if fewer than 7 Spell Cards are in your hand. Discard regular Spell Cards to make room by right-clicking them.
Discarded Treasure Cards remain in your collection and can be reused in future duels, providing a strategic advantage.
Permanent Use
Successfully casting a Treasure Card removes it permanently. However, if the card fizzles, it is reshuffled into the deck for future use, ensuring no immediate loss.
Types of Cards
Normal Spells
These spells, aligned with the colors of their respective Schools (e.g., Green for Life, Red for Fire), are learned from Professors or specialized NPCs.
Item Cards
Provided by equipment like Wands, Amulets, Clothing, and Pets, Item Cards are bluish-purple and are automatically added to your deck when the corresponding item is equipped.
Treasure Cards
Distinguished by their golden yellow color, Treasure Cards are single-use spells that often offer enhanced effects or unique abilities. Once used, they are permanently removed from your collection.
Given Spells
Temporarily granted during specific PvE battles, Given Spells are bluish-green. They may aid or hinder players and cannot be discarded, adding a layer of challenge or strategy to encounters.
Learning New Spells and Training
Spells at Level 1
Every Wizard starts their journey with their School's Level 1 spell, granted after completing the Tutorial.
Training Spells
Professor-Led Training
As Wizards level up, Professors summon them to learn new spells. Some can be trained immediately, while others require completing specific quests.
Cross-School Training
Training Points allow Wizards to learn spells from other Schools. To access higher-level spells, prerequisites must often be met by training lower-level spells first.
Training spells within your own School do not consume Training Points. Still, they provide an incentive to focus on your primary School's magic.
Automatic Additions
Spells are automatically added to the deck if there is sufficient space, ensuring they are ready for immediate use.
Training Points
Training Points, earned by leveling up and completing specific quests, enable Wizards to acquire spells from other Schools. Certain storyline milestones also reward free spells, further enriching your magical repertoire.

The tutorial begins by introducing the essentials of combat. When an interaction starts, a giant ring appears on the ground. This ring contains eight positions—four for you and your allies and four for your enemies. Combat operates on a turn-based system where you draw and use spell cards. These cards serve various purposes: some deal damage, others provide buffs or debuffs, some heal, and some can be combined for massive effects. Each spell is accompanied by animations depicting its effects and outcomes.
Every spell has an accuracy rating, often less than 100%, which can cause spells to fizzle or miss. Pips, a vital combat resource, are gained each turn by using zero-cost spells or passing your turn. Powerful spells require more Pips, making pip management essential. Strategic use of blades to boost attacks and traps to enhance damage dealt to enemies is crucial. Shields reduce incoming damage, adding another layer of strategy.
The game also introduces synergistic mechanics, such as combining spells to unleash devastating attacks. Mastering pip management, particularly with Power Pips and School Pips for advanced spells, becomes increasingly important as you progress. Effective deck composition—balancing offensive, defensive, and utility cards—is key to overcoming various enemies. Combat animations enhance the experience, making battles visually engaging.
Defeating enemies rewards players with XP, loot, and gold. Health and Mana regeneration are facilitated through collecting wisps found in every zone. Health orbs restore life points, while mana orbs replenish spellcasting resources. Certain zones may favor one type of wisp, encouraging exploration. Leveling up enhances base stats like health and mana and unlocks access to powerful spells and advanced gear. AoE spells, multi-turn spells, and status effects like stuns and weaknesses add depth to the strategic gameplay.
Understanding enemy School types and exploiting their weaknesses is essential. Players must anticipate enemy moves, balancing offense and defense while considering pip costs. Complexity increases in dungeons and boss battles, where unique mechanics like immunity phases or AoE debuffs demand advanced coordination and strategy.

Pips and Spell Costs
Pips
Pips power your spells and are earned each turn. Passing your turn or using zero-cost spells generates additional Pips. Mastering pip generation and usage is a cornerstone of combat.
Powerful Spells
Spells with higher Pip costs deliver stronger effects, requiring precise management. Hybrid spells that blend Power Pips, School Pips, and regular Pips add variety to gameplay.
Archmastery and Advanced Pips
Higher-level players unlock Archmastery, enabling Power Pips to convert into specialized School Pips. Shadow Pips introduce advanced mechanics, challenging players to balance risk and resource management effectively.

Interface Overview
After learning the combat basics, players are introduced to the interface:
XP Bar: Located at the bottom of the screen, it tracks your progress toward leveling up.
Spellbook: Found on the right, it opens menus for Quest Journals, Inventory, Crafting, and deck management. Advanced settings allow badge customization and map overlays.
Top Left Buttons: Include “Shop” and “Upgrade,” where players can purchase in-game items and subscribe for additional content.
Health and Mana Globes: Displayed at the bottom left, they track your resources. Potions and wisps replenish these stats.
Minimap: Highlights NPCs, quest locations, and interactable objects. It also offers teleportation and waypoint setting.
Advanced HUD Features: Includes pip conversion indicators, critical strike meters, AoE targeting enhancements, and detailed enemy status icons.

Membership and Monetization
Wizard101 operates on a pay-to-play model, with the majority of content locked behind a membership priced at $7 per month. Subscribers gain access to all zones, advanced features, and premium quests. Free-to-play players are limited to introductory areas like Wizard City, but occasional promotions provide temporary access to premium zones.
The in-game shop offers pets, mounts, treasure cards, and more. Though not entirely pay-to-win, some PVP advantages, such as rare pets and lore spells, are obtainable through crowns (premium currency). Crafting paths and daily quests provide non-monetary alternatives for certain items, though these require significant effort. Overall, Wizard101 balances casual and competitive play, leaning toward pay-to-play for meaningful progression.

Starter Deck and School Strategy
When you receive your starter deck:
School Type Matching: Avoid using spells matching an enemy’s School. Instead, exploit their weaknesses (e.g., Fire spells are strong against Ice enemies).
Deck Composition: Balance attack, defense, and utility spells for flexibility.
As a Death Wizard, life-stealing spells like Dark Sprite sustain you during battles. Spells like Feint amplify damage, making them essential for boss fights. Temporary mounts, such as a broomstick, increase mobility but expire after 24 hours. Permanent mounts are purchasable with gold or crowns, with some available through quests.

Leveling and Rewards
Health and Mana: Leveling increases these base stats, improving durability and casting potential.
Equipment: Early players rely on Bazaar gear, while advanced players aim for dungeon drops or crafted gear. Equipment bonuses often align with your School.
Mounts: Enhance movement speed, with options for temporary and permanent mounts.
Training Points: Earned through leveling and quests, they unlock spells from other Schools. Proper use can greatly enhance versatility.
Dungeon Rewards: High-level dungeons offer rare gear and reagents, rewarding team play and persistence.

Player Housing
Player housing begins with a dorm room, offering limited storage and customization. Over time, players can acquire larger homes with expanded features such as teleporters, PvP arenas, and gardening plots. Seasonal decorations add opportunities for unique personalization. Housing integrates gameplay elements like crafting and social interactions, creating a dynamic, customizable hub.

Pet System
Pets attack during combat and provide unique utilities. However, they require feeding with snacks obtained through quests or battles. Training pets through mini-games improves their stats, while breeding allows for transferring traits to create optimized companions.

Exploration and Activities
City Tour: Introduces key NPCs and activities like crafting, gardening, and fishing.
Fishing: Yields collectibles and valuable rewards. Seasonal events introduce rare fish.
Spellwrighting: Enhances spells by upgrading their base stats through duplicates.
Photomancy: A creative tool for capturing in-game adventures and completing quests.

Gear and Combat Optimization
Gear enhances specific stats like resistances, damage, and critical bonuses. Align gear choices with your School’s strengths for optimal performance.

Group Play and Boss Battles
Group bosses allow for teamwork, although soloing is viable with strategy. Advanced encounters require synchronization and role specialization. Crown chests at the end of battles offer extra loot, incentivizing group participation.

Side Activities
Gardening: Provides reagents and snacks for pet training.
Crafting: Enables the creation of powerful gear.
Monstrology: Summons minions from defeated enemies.
Fishing: Generates gold and collectibles.

Training Points
Earn Training Points to acquire utility spells such as:
Feint (Death): Boosts damage.
Satyr (Life): Provides strong healing.
Elemental Blades: Enhances elemental attacks.
Resetting points enables adapting to new challenges.

Spell Cards and Deck Management
Efficient deck management is crucial:
Keep decks streamlined to draw key cards.
Use blades and AoE spells effectively.
Incorporate Reshuffle to recycle cards during long battles.

Advanced Challenges
Deckathalon: Predefined decks challenge players to defeat waves of enemies.
Beastmoon Hunt: Team-based PvP with unique spells and forms.
PvP: Competitive matches reward strategic deck-building.
Summary and Impressions
Wizard101 combines accessibility with depth, offering turn-based combat and engaging progression systems. Though restrictive for free-to-play users, its social features and strategic gameplay make it a compelling MMORPG. A $7 monthly membership unlocks its full potential, making it worth exploring in 2024.
Extra Info:
Add the following information to the document attached to this prompt while following its template. The tutorial then takes you through the basics of combat. Basically, when you start an interaction, you'll see this giant ring on the ground. There are eight different spots, four of which can be used by yourself and allies, but enemies can use the other four. It's a turn-based combat system where you draw and use spell cards. Some cards do damage, some provide buffs, some provide debuffs, some heal, and some can be used in tangent with each other to do massive amounts of damage. Every time a spell is used, an animation will play depicting the spell and showing the damage done or negating if the spell misses. Every card has an accuracy rating that is not equal to 100%, so they can fizzle out or miss. There are a few more specific details, such as Pips, which you gain each turn from using a zero-cost spell or passing on your turn instead of using a spell.
Certain more powerful cards will require more Pips, but they are straightforward to understand.
Finally introduced to the entire interface, there's an XP bar at the bottom, a spell book to the right, and taking a look inside the Spellbook opens up the rest of the menu system, of which there are a ton of options, from Quest journal to inventory to crafting. Up in the top left corner, you have a few buttons: one of them says shop, and the other says upgrade. This is the first time I was made privy to a subscription within the game. Still, unfortunately, after clicking the button, all I got was an error notification. The shop, however, I was able to look through, and just taking a quick peruse, it seems you can purchase many beneficial things—from pets to decks with powerful cards, to temporary and permanent mounts, to even gold, new gear, and housing. I did not think this Wizard game from 2008 would have its own housing system, but cool, I'm excited to get into it. Overall, Wizard 101 is not necessarily pay-to-win, but it certainly is pay-to-play, as about 99% of the content is actually locked behind the membership. We'll get into that later. I have heard, unfortunately, that there can be things considered slightly pay-to-win in terms of the PVP aspect of the game regarding certain types of pets and lore spells, which can take hundreds of hours or potentially hundreds of dollars to acquire, and those are necessary to be competitive. But all in all, I've seen better cash shops.
This was the first time I was introduced to my starter deck. As you can see, an NPC will have a School type, and so will many of your spells. You want to avoid using the same School type of spell against an enemy of the card's School, so instead, use their School'sweakness. However, this hardly matters initially, as it's meant chiefly to introduce you to your deck in combat. Since I was a death wizard, I have mostly had death magic cards, such as this dark Sprite. After defeating an enemy, you'll get a small amount of XP, though it's usually relatively lackluster compared to the amount of experience you get from finishing quests.
On top of that, you can get loot and gold. The game teaches you about the wisps of Health and Mana regeneration, which are mainly done through these. You use one Mana every time you use a spell, and Health is self-explanatory. By gathering these orbs, which can be located in every zone, you will regenerate those stats, though some zones seem to have a higher concentration of a particular type. In some, you'll find more Mana or vice versa.
Now, leveling up will increase your base health, and at certain milestones, it will allow you to train new spells or equip new equipment. However, leveling up by itself doesn't necessarily make your attacks or character any stronger—not until you equip that equipment or use those new spells.
Some further questing rewarded me with a broomstick mount that I could ride around, and it would make my character faster. The only catch is that it lasts only 24 hours after you equip it. I thought for sure that this would be some sort of teaser to make me want to spend real-life money later on, and that's definitely part of it. However, you'll find that you can purchase these temporary one-day mounts for a pretty small chunk of gold from multiple vendors throughout the game.
I was directed to look inside my dorm, which is your player-owned housing. Later on, we're going to have to decorate the heck out of this place, but right now, and fitting with the new college student storyline, I was flat broke. Inside your dorm, you will find a bank chest for extra storage. Then I was given a full tour of the city where you learn about all of the different areas. You see different NPCs that can train you in fishing, crafting, even gardening, and picture taking.
Next, I was given a rundown of the pet system and given a friendly little baby cat. Basically, pets can also damage enemies when it's your turn to attack. They also serve a few other functions in the game, which we'll get into, but they operate on a hungriness scale. While playing the game, you'll find many snacks through combat or questing, which you can actually feed your pet to satiate their hungriness. However, I found while playing that my pet was constantly hungry. When your pet is hungry, it can't attack anything or perform any of their functions, so I'm not sure if I was missing something or using my pet too often, but it wasn't very pleasant to upkeep.
While in Triton Avenue, I stumbled across my first group boss. As you can see, three other players could join up with me. However, no one was around, so I attempted it solo. It wasn't too difficult, and I pulled it off, rewarding me with some new robes. Unfortunately, once again, these were for the fire School, so I couldn't wear them. However, there was also a chest at the back of the room. Though I had high hopes and dreams of more loot, it's actually a monetization strategy where you can use crowns, the purchasable currency, to get a second roll of loot. This chest isn't at the back of every boss you defeat in the game, though it seems to be at most of them. It's kind of lame, and I got my hopes up, but oh well.
I decided to head to the fishing trainer and learn how to fish. Fishing in Wizard 101 can be pretty lucrative, and it has a massive collection system to accompany it. Basically, depending on the type of lure you're using and the area you're in, you can catch different types of fish. Also, while fishing, you have a unique action bar where you can use various spells to help aid you in fishing. At the moment, I only started with one spell, which is basically just casting out your lure. You wait until a fish is on the lure, and when the lure drops below the water, you spam the space bar, and then boom, you catch a fish. It definitely can take quite a while to get a bite. I also learned about the spell wrighting system, where essentially you gain copies of a spell card, and once you reach 75 of those, you can upgrade your card so its base damage and stats are more powerful.
I was beginning to understand some of my gear's stats a little bit better. The loot in this place was insane, so I was trying to filter through many pieces of equipment in my inventory. Some will give you defense against a specific School of magic, while others will boost your strength with a certain School of magic.

So, I prioritized increasing the strength of my death magic spells.
We decided to brave the dungeon together, and he seemed to have more know-how and knowledge about the game than me. While fighting the first boss, I apparently completely ruined one of his combos, and he said no. I explained that I was new to the game and I didn't mean to mess anything up, and he explained how he had laid a trap that would turn his death spells into life spells in order to use one of his really powerful death spells and do a bunch of damage.
That said, I think I have a firm grasp of what you can expect coming into this game as a new player, so let's get into it. First of all, let's talk about some of the blatant, apparent, and unignorable issues while you're playing Wizard 101 before talking about the positives and why, despite those negatives, this game still boasts an active player base 16 years in the making.
So, first of all, the game parades itself as free-to-play, but it most certainly is not. The free-to-play portion of the game probably wouldn't even be considered a trial by most game standards; it's absolutely pay-to-play if you want to make any sort of meaningful progress. Secondly, turn-based combat is a turnoff for a lot of MMO players, especially turn-based combat, in which the animations can be long and repetitive. I often found myself playing the game as a second monitor game while kind of just waiting for animations to complete.
Third, in terms of zones and exploration, the game falls short as you're placed into these rather small areas. Sure, there might be many smaller areas, but in terms of scale, the game and the world feel rather small. But with all that being said, Wizard 101 was a bit of a surprise to me in terms of how much fun I actually had. It's easy and noninvasive to play with others; simply joining a fight means you get extra loot, the dungeon will go faster, and another person's presence in almost every activity is welcome. It does all this while being almost entirely solo-able, especially if you actually know what you're doing.
While turn-based combat might not be your thing, if you enjoy turn-based combat, you will enjoy Wizard 101 immensely, especially as you get later and later into the game. The combat and deck-building strategies can become really rewarding, especially when all sorts of planning for a battle ends up paying off and going your way. Basically, everything in the game is simple enough to understand, even for a child, but it can become complex enough that it's fun to play around with, whether that be what gear you're using, what pet you've built, or what spells are in your deck, so on and so forth.
Now, something I've mentioned many times in the past: when jumping into older MMOs, specifically pre-2010, you're often met with a tediousness that comes with the outdatedness of those games. But somehow, Wizard 101 mostly avoided that experience for me. It was a reasonably fluid gameplay experience from beginning to end, and I wouldn't mind playing more in the future. Like I said, I just barely scratched the surface here. Still, as a new player, if you're looking for a fun new MMORPG that doesn't require a ridiculous amount of input but is still engaging, I would absolutely recommend Wizard 101 in the year 2024, so long as you're willing to pay the $7 monthly subscription.

Side Modes: What's Worth Your Time?
There are lots of side modes, some good, some bad.
NEEDS: YOU SHOULD REALLY DO THESE:
Gardening, lvl 12. Start ASAP, get to rank 3, farm for Couch Potatoes at level 20, and plant them.
Drops some great treasure cards and Mega Snacks from Harvests.
Pet Training: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MODE, but expensive and mostly inaccessible until level 50ish. We'll talk more about this later.

Side Modes Continued:
Pretty important but not necessary:
Crafting: Access to a lot of great gear, but extremely expensive and grindy.
None of this gear is required, either.
Fishing: Great side mode for Gold, recommended side mode especially for arc 1 (lvl 1-50).
It's the most worthwhile energy dump until gardening.
Be on the lookout for free fishing weekends.
Monstrology: Nicely useful, crazy expensive.
A player's favorite mob (Frost Bones) are free and available in Wintertusk if you're willing to grind.

Gear Outline:
From levels 5-25, the Bazaar is your best bet.
Look for class-exclusive gear every 5 levels.
One real exception: Heartsteel dropped by Prince Gobblestone. Ultimately optional.
Level 30: Mount Olympus
It's a challenging dungeon, but you can almost always find a team.
Best free gear till around level 50.
It can be an extended farm, but at least run it once for...
The best wand in the game until level 90 is the Sky Iron Hasta.
Guaranteed three Pip openings with +10% damage.
Unbelievable.
Some bazaar upgrades in the 50s (rings of Battle @56) can be found.
Wintertusk crafted gear at 56 if you choose to craft.
Waterworks gear at 60.

Gold and How to Spend It:
Gold doesn't come easy. So how do we spend it?
You don't.
Save MOST of your Gold for Pet Breeding; it's expensive yet vital.
But obviously, you have to spend some when it's necessary.
Necessary purchases:
Gear upgrades from 5-25
Gardening spells (large soil plot, rank 1-2 pest removal, at least Rank 1 sunlight/water/music/pollen/magic)
Athams/rings/amulets throughout the game

Pet Training: The Good, Bad, and Ugly:
This is what you should be saving most of your Gold for.
Hatches can range from 75k Gold to well over 100 thousand.
Generally, it takes 5+ hatches to get a perfect pet.
Do this Optimally: breed your trash starter pet with a pet you want.
But what makes a pet worth breeding?
Choose a pet that gives you a blade.
Triple Double Pets are in right now:
3 damage talents and the two uni res talents (spell proof/defy).
PET STATS MATTER: Remember SAP.
Strength, agility, power. Be sure these stats are capped.

Classes: What's right for you

List of the Schools and their Roles:
(Key: [Insert Class Name (School Type/Group Type)])
Roles
DPS (Squishy Damage Dealers):
Pyromancers (Fire/Elemental)
Conjurers (Myth/Spirit)
Diviners (Storm/Elemental)
Tank (Heavy Meat Shield)
Thaumaturges (Ice/Elemental)
Support (Jack of All Trades):
Sorcerers (Balance/Center)
Theurgists (Life/Spirit)
Casual (All of the Above PvEer)
Necromancers (Death/Spirit)

Pros and Cons of Each School:
Balance:
Good:
Great in full squads/3 stacks
Buffs are impactful in more brutal boss fights
It is a decent duo option for a jack-of-all-trades supporting
Bad:
Not the most beginner-friendly
Worst solo School when combining speed/difficulty
Life:
Good:
Strong, unique utility via big healing numbers
One of the best, easiest solo schools
2nd highest overall tanking stats
Strong 7-pip AOE
Bad:
No four-pip AOE = slow start
Most useful heal is a tough grind at best and gambling payout at worst
Heals are slightly less helpful in endgame (but still relevant)
Death:
Good:
Balanced enough stats to fill any role
Lifesteal is CRACKED
Great at filling with arch mastery
Bad:
Can struggle to tank early
Lack of early AOE results in a slow start
Myth:
Good:
Best 7-pip AOE = Big Damage
Simple hitting results in strong team-up queues
It's decent but not god-tier utility
Deceptively good solo School with monstrology/damage
Bad:
Struggles early due to balanced stats and hits
Storm/Incindiate fire can hit bigger numbers
There is a bad stigma among more casual players
Fire:
Good:
Scald/incindiate/backdraft are all excellent with a good duo
Raging Bull is good once you get it at 108
Bad:
Less plug and play than storm/myth
DOTs are a lousy gimmick
Fire Dragon is pretty bad (at least it's not Frost Giant)
Optimal group playstyle locked behind crowns
Storm:
Good:
Best Plug and Play Hitting School in the game
Fast questing as a result
Bad:
It can be a struggle to get the ball rolling, and it is easy to get stuck and often die early on
Lowest bulk and Accuracy in the game
Ice:
Good:
Highest combined defensive stats
Snowball Barrage Slaps
Good Archmastery User
Bad:
Slowest Questing in the game
Traditional MMO tanking doesn't exist in Wizard101 mid-late game
No real identity results in no meta-spot
Lack of supportive utility
Training Points: What they are, when you get them
Training points:
The resource that allows you to learn spells.
When they're obtained:
Once every 4 levels until level 20 (4, 8, 12, etc.)
Once every 5 levels after (25, 30, 35, etc.)
One more way to get training points:
Prospector Zeke Quests
How to spend your training points:
This is school-dependent
DON'T spend it on a "Secondary School" or opposite
Your gear is not built towards hitting with other schools.
Go for UTILITY over hits.
Best Utility:
Feint, Satyr, Blades.
Elemental/Spirit Blade at level 25: GET ASAP
Satyr costs 7 training points, obtainable at level 26.
Feint at level 22 (6 training points).

Which one should you get?
Satyr first, then Feint:
Thaumaturges (Ice/Elemental)
Only need Feint:
Pyromancers (Fire/Elemental)
Conjurers (Myth/Spirit)
Diviners (Storm/Elemental)
Sorcerers (Balance/Center)
Theurgists (Life/Spirit)
Neither? (Tower Shield):
Necromancers (Death/Spirit)

Balance School Overview
Strengths:
Excels as a support role with powerful buffs for bosses and teams.
Versatile "jack-of-all-trades" abilities.
Boasts the second-highest health (~1880) and Accuracy (85%) among schools.
Weaknesses:
It is not beginner-friendly due to slower and more strategic gameplay.
It is the least effective for solo play, as it is slower and more challenging compared to other schools.
Key Stats and Insights
Health: Starts at 480, maxes at ~1880.
Accuracy: 85%.
Spells: Relies on direct or Area-of-Effect (AoE) spells. Lacks Damage-over-Time (DoT) spells.
School Location: Found in Krokotopia (Krokosphinx).
Key Balance Spells
Core Spells: Spectral Blast, Hydra, Sandstorm, Power Nova.
Buffs: Balance Blade, Bladestorm, Hex.
Wards: Feint (Death School), Tower Shield (Ice School), Elemental/Spirit Trap.
Utility: Availing Hands for Healing.
How to Solo as a Balance Wizard
Buff First: Start with blade buffs (e.g., Balance Blade, Bladestorm) on the first turn.
AoE Spells: Follow with AoE damage spells like Sandstorm or Power Nova for crowd control.
Off-School Spells: Use off-school spells such as Hydra and Spectral Blast for versatile damage.
Critical Spells: Obtain essential spells like Feint (Death) and Tower Shield (Ice) via training points.

How to Solo as a Balance Wizard!
Key Points
Need to Know:
Support class (Heals, buffs, utility, etc.)
Jack of all trades (can use all types of magic effectively).
Strengths & Weaknesses:
No weaknesses towards other schools.
No strengths against other schools
Stats:
Second highest health:
It starts at 480 health and gains 27 HP per level.
Max HP ~ 1880.
Second highest Accuracy: 85%.
Spells:
No DoT (Damage over Time) spells.
It can generate off-school damage with spells like Sceptre of Blast and Hydra.
School Location:
Balance School is in Krokotopia (Kroko Spinx).
Spells to Get (Balance)
Spectral Blast (DT)
Hydra (DT)
Sandstorm (AOE/DT)
Power Nova (AOE/DT)
Balance Blade (Buff)
Bladestorm (Buff)
Hex (Buff)
Availing Hands (Heal)
Elemental Trap (Ward)
Spirit Trap (Ward)
Elemental Blade (Det.) *
Spirit Blade (Det.) *
Balance of Power (AOE/Buff)
* Spells noted with an asterisk are specific or critical.
Spells to Get (Additional TP Required)
Feint (Ward) - [Death 6 TP]
Tower Shield (Ward) - [Ice 5 TP]
Gameplay Notes:
First Turn
Use School Blade or Trio Blade.
Second Turn
Use a spell, preferably AOE/DT spells.

Things to Note:
Plan resources (Gold, training points, energy) carefully.
Regularly update gear and optimize pet training to enhance your play style.
Understand each School's role in building effective team and solo strategies.
By following these tips and avoiding common pitfalls, you'll maximize your Wizard101 experience and success.

The Balance School: A Comprehensive Guide
Preface
Balance Wizards exemplify the values of harmony, adaptability, and strategy. Their unique approach to magic makes them indispensable allies and formidable opponents.
Location and Access
The Balance School, guided by the wise Mander scholar Alhazred, is located in the mystical land of Krokotopia. Hidden within the Krokosphinx, the School becomes accessible only after wizards unlock this sacred area. Before this point, aspiring Balance Wizards, known as Sorcerers, must learn basic spells from Arthur Wethersfield in Ravenwood.
Inside the Balance School, a notable feature is the Mander statue. This statue acts as a portal to Upper Zigazag, which becomes available to wizards after completing the quest "The Key Is In The Delivery." This connection underscores the School's role as a gateway to advanced magical challenges.
School Colors and Gemstone
Colors: Tan and Maroon
Gemstone: Citrine
The school colors and gemstone embody the essence of Balance, symbolizing harmony, wisdom, and clarity. Citrine, known for its energy and focus, reinforces the School's dedication to equilibrium and versatility.
Core Philosophy
Balance magic emphasizes harmony, equality, and the blending of diverse energies. It draws from both the Spirit Schools (Life, Death, and Myth) and the Elemental Schools (Fire, Ice, and Storm), combining their strengths into a powerful, unified force.
As described on the Wizard101 website:
"Eye of Newt, and Toe of Frog, Wool of Bat, and Tongue of Dog."
This quote illustrates the nature of Balance—bringing together various elements to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Sorcerers embody this philosophy, understanding that every component, no matter how small, contributes to the whole.
Sorcery and Transmutation
Balance magic stands apart from other schools because it does not rely solely on internal energy (like Fire or Death) or external forces (like Life or Ice). Instead, Sorcery focuses on transmuting elements into entirely new and powerful forms.
Example of Transmutation:
Harness the fiery energy of Pyromancers.
Channel the cooling calm of Thaumaturges.
Combine these opposing forces to create steam, which powers the engine of Balance.
This process reflects the mindset of Sorcerers—flexible, open-minded, and adept at finding creative solutions to challenges. It requires both innovation and precision, hallmarks of a skilled Balance Wizard.
Role in Combat
Group Play
Balance Wizards excel in group settings due to their exceptional ability to:
Buff teammates by enhancing attack power, Accuracy, and resistance.
Provide protection while maintaining their own defenses.
Utilize Area-of-Effect (AoE) spells to manage multiple enemies effectively.
Solo Play
Although more effective in groups, Sorcerers are fully capable of handling solo challenges with strategic gameplay:
Spells allow them to bypass the resistances of various monsters.
They can heal themselves when necessary.
Direct damage and AoE spells enable them to manage combat efficiently, albeit slower than other schools.
Famous Balance Wizards
The Balance School has produced many legendary figures renowned for their wisdom, strategy, and adaptability, including:
Cleopatra: A master of balancing diplomacy and power, exemplifying the School's core values.
Margaret Thatcher: Her strategic mind and resilience reflect the adaptability of Balance Wizards.
Merlin: A legendary figure who seamlessly blended elements to create extraordinary magical feats, inspiring generations of Sorcerers.
Characteristics of Sorcerers
Balance Wizards are defined by their:
Wisdom and thoughtfulness.
Cleverness in strategy and combat.
Adaptability in adjusting the rules of engagement to their advantage.
Their broad perspective often leads to careful consideration of all possibilities, which can sometimes make them appear indecisive. This trait underscores their commitment to fairness and Balance.
Training and Spells
Sorcerers train under Alhazred in Krokotopia, completing quests to unlock new Balance spells. These spells focus on transmutation, blending energies to create unique and versatile effects.
Core Aspects of Balance Magic:
Buffing Teammates: Enhancing allies' attacks, defenses, and Accuracy.
Versatile Attacks: Using elements from other schools to bypass resistances.
Adaptability: Offering solutions for both offensive and defensive combat scenarios.
This versatility makes Balance Wizards valuable assets in any situation.
School History and Magic's Essence
The magic of Balance is deeply rooted in harmony and the pursuit of equality. Historically, Balance Wizards have acted as mediators and innovators within the magical world.
Analogy of Balance Magic:
Build a fire and fan its flames to grow stronger.
Use that fire to create steam.
Channel the steam to power a magical engine.
This analogy highlights the essence of Balance Magic—combining energies from all schools to achieve unparalleled strength. It showcases the School's emphasis on integration and collaboration.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Exceptional support role with impactful buffs for bosses and teams.
Versatile "jack-of-all-trades" abilities.
Second-highest health and Accuracy among all schools.
Effective in overcoming resistances and supporting allies in battle.
Weaknesses:
It is less beginner-friendly due to slower, more strategic gameplay.
It is the least effective solo school in terms of speed and difficulty.
Heavy reliance on preparation and resource management.
How to Solo as a Balance Wizard
Key Points:
Support Class: Provides heals, buffs, and utility spells.
Jack of All Trades: Excels in multiple areas but lacks specialization.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
There are no inherent strengths or weaknesses against specific schools.
Stats:
Health: Starts at 480, gains 27 HP per level, and maxes at approximately 1880.
Accuracy: Second-highest base accuracy at 85%.
Gameplay Notes:
First Turn: Use a blade buff, such as Balance Blade or Trio Blade.
Second Turn: Cast an AoE spell like Sandstorm for crowd control.
Success requires strategic preparation and precise timing to maximize efficiency.
Spell Recommendations
Balance School Spells:
Spectral Blast (Direct Damage)
Hydra (Direct Damage)
Sandstorm (AoE/Direct Damage)
Power Nova (AoE/Direct Damage)
Balance Blade (Buff)
Bladestorm (Buff)
Hex (Buff)
Availing Hands (Heal)
Elemental Trap (Ward)
Spirit Trap (Ward)
Elemental Blade (Buff)
Spirit Blade (Buff)
Balance of Power (AoE/Buff)
Spells marked with an asterisk are considered critical or highly useful.
Additional Spells (Training Points Required):
Feint (Ward) - [Death 6 TP]
Tower Shield (Ward) - [Ice 5 TP]
Summary of Balance
Strengths:
Performs exceptionally in group play, especially in three-player or full teams.
Buffs are crucial in challenging boss fights.
Versatile support role for duo play.
Capable of handling multiple combat scenarios with strategic planning.
Weaknesses:
Less beginner-friendly due to slower-paced combat.
Considered the weakest solo School when factoring in speed and difficulty.
Requires extensive preparation and tactical thinking for optimal performance.