Thunder Bug x2 = Thunder Gem, then Wooden Stick + Thunder Gem = Bolt. The Bolt is deceptively good at dispatching any enemy you can get above or below you. Unlike Fireball, there's no wait time for the projectile and in multiplayer only Bolt goes off multiple times per cast (one time per player). Remnant starts with Bolt, making it my personal favorite race to play as.

Fire Bug x2 = Fire Gem, then Wooden Stick + Fire Gem = Fireball. Fireball can be used practically anywhere as long as you're not separated from your enemy by a platform you can't get down, but you'll have a harder time dealing with fast, flying enemies. Djinn starts with Fireball, but there's a pretty good chance you don't have it unlocked. It's pretty evil to unlock.

(If you're having issues with finding bugs, Look in the Swamp. For web, try the Cave. You'll need to craft a Bug Net before you can catch bugs. Web x2 = String, String x2 = Net, then Net + Wooden Stick = Bug Net. If you somehow have Qualogg (comes with a Bug Net) unlocked before Remnant, go for him, but otherwise, it's not worth it.)

This can be gotten either via Clairvoyance (mage skill), Gorgon Eye (companion), Wizard Beard (hat) or just mana potions if you want to stock up on then. Be sure to get tons of MAG, you're going to need as much mana and as you can get... However, I personally think using Clairvoyance, Gorgon Eye AND Wizard Beard is going overboard, you can probably switch Gorgon Eye out for some other companion, more than likely Flame of Hope.

If you dash forward (q or e depending on what direction you're facing) and jump at almost the same time, you'll cover a ton of ground. It can take a bit of getting used to, but it'll quickly become muscle memory.

For example, from the ground press e and then space a frame or so afterward. You'll launch forward to the right as if you were using a Haste Beetle or a Bat Wing, even without them. Using either with this method can make your leaps go even further, but that may end up being a bad thing. You can use this movement tip to free up your hat/companion spaces for some mana utility.

Learning how to move around as suggested in the previous section is very important. You'll want to cast Bolt and Fireball while in the air to avoid any delay. The quicker you can get in position for a Bolt cast, the sooner you'll kill and be able to move on. Jumping over enemies even without a platform and spamming Bolt can do a lot of damage, but if you're still more comfortable with Fireball that's fine.

What you've been waiting for. If you left click to cast, right click to cancel the animation and left click again with a good rhythm, you cast Bolt or Fireball much quicker. It might take a bit of practice like the dash jump does, but it's essentially just as easy to pull off once you get the hang of it. If it's too hard to do quickly, try putting a bit of delay in the right click and/or the second left click.

Fireball can be used to very, VERY quickly dispatch of the Scourge Wall, and Bolt can be used everywhere else to make sure you don't miss out on that sweet XP. If you're a Fireball fan, make sure to use discretion to avoid XP spawning on the other side of the stage.

What are you doing with that thing? It does 1/2th of your MAG stat as damage, and it does it slowly. If you weren't spamming as described above then maybe it'd be just quick enough to be convenient as a shield, but the spam will do a ton more damage with the other staves. Sadly, Frostshard has no benefit to being spammed. You're just wasting a lot mana by keeping it up.

Make a Bolt and a Fireball, the resources to do so can be found easier in the Cave and the Swamp biomes.

Get and utilize as many of these as you can for mana: Clairvoyance (mage skill), Gorgon Eye (companion), Wizard Beard (hat) or mana potions. Gorgon Eye isn't normally neccesary if you're already using Clairvoyance and Wizard Beard.

Use Remnant or Djinn if you can for early access to a staff and more MAG.

Dash forward using q or e while on the ground, and immediately press space afterward to perform a large leap. This is fast, this is good.

Left click to cast, right click to cancel the animation and left click again for another cast. Rinse and repeat to cast much faster than you normally can.

Bam. You're now a fast and powerful mage. Enjoy!~