Best RPGs For High Intelligence Builds (2024)

Some say that knowledge is power, and in the case of games that have Intelligence as one of the main stats, this becomes an absolute truth. From MMORPGs to Soulslikes, hundreds of games have made use of the INT stat to demonstrate the power of spellcasters.

For those that prefer wits over brawl, then this catalog contains ten of the greatest games to play with Intelligence-based classes, carefully selected considering gameplay, player agency, and most importantly: how fun it is to play with them.

9 New World

Where Mages Wield Staves, Gauntlets, And Muskets

Though New World was promoted as an age of Discovery-inspired game, it also hosts a lot of powerful magical weapons, and Intelligence is the stat that governs how effective these are. The Void Gauntlet, Ice Gauntlet, and Fire Staff are mainly dependent on Intelligence, while Muskets and Rapiers also benefit from it.

The good thing about New World is that players are free to mix several weapon combos until they hit the one they feel comfortable with. Several melee weapons also scale with INT, that’s why this is a good game to have an Intelligence-based build since players are not stuck as a range-damage dealer.

8 Guild Wars 2

One Of The Best MMORPGs To Play As A Spellcaster

Guild Wars 2 is a great game that keeps getting better and better with time. Intelligence-based classes are also present in this classic MMORPG, but the Elementalist is the one who wields the most powerful magic powered up by the INT attribute.

Controlling powerful Fire, Air, Water, and Earth attunement spells, the Elementalist can empower weapons with the primordial forces of nature. A really fun and versatile class to play with, and one of the best for those who prefer mages that are not as squishy as they seem at first.

7 Final Fantasy 14

Lots Of Spellcaster Classes And Great Meta Builds To Pick From

The Final Fantasy 14 path has been filled with countless content drops, and its latest expansion Dawntrail is a great opportunity for new and returning players to enjoy this great title. The new Pictomancer job uses INT as its main stat and it is tremendously fun to play with.

The good thing is that Final Fantasy 14 has several great Intelligence-based builds players can try, from the classic Black Mage to the powerful Summoner. And the best part? There are hundreds of hours of content to explore and more to come since this MMORPG is constantly renewing with new content and events.

6 World Of Warcraft

A Classic MMORPG With Great Spellcasting Classes

In World of Warcraft, Intellect has always been the main stat for damaging spellcasters. A classic among classics, WoW has become a great place for players who enjoy hurling spells at their enemies or defeating dangerous bosses using DoT and AoE spells.

From the overpowered Shadow Priest to the incredible versatile Enhancement Shaman, WoW offers players a lot of great Intellect-based builds to enjoy. The War Within is the upcoming expansion for this great MMORPG and might be a good chance for players to re-discover the best Intelligence builds for their spellcaster classes.

5 Diablo 4

A Game Where Spellcasters Thrive Dealing Massive Damage

Intelligence was always one of the main attributes of the Diablo franchise, and in Diablo 4, it has become a key element in some of the meta builds of two classes: Sorcereress and Rogue.

In the first case, it provides raw damage to the spellcaster class, and in the case of the trickster abilities, it gives an increase to its critical strike chance. Both classes benefit greatly from Intelligence, and there are a lot of great builds players can try and have fun with.

4 Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous

Play As A Mage, Become A God

In Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, players embark on a perilous journey of conquest powered by the Paizo System, based on the legendary 3.5 D&D ruleset. And as with every similar system, Intelligence is a great Stat to have for many classes.

The good thing is that Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous has 38 different classes, with dozens of sub-class choices to pick from. Each class benefits somehow from a high Intelligence build, but Alchemist and Magus are the ones that have the advantage when picking an Intelligence build, and they're tremendously fun to play.

3 Dark Souls 3

Where Spellcasters Survive Against The Odds

In Dark Souls 3, the Intelligence builds had a considerable overhaul, and it quickly became one of the fans' favorites for hosting dozens of possible choices for spellcasters. DS3 has really powerful spells, like the broken Crystal Soul Spear, and the infamous Soul Stream.

The Battlemage and Mist Mage builds are two of the most broken Intelligence builds in Dark Souls 3, and though they’re hard to master, there's a lot of fun to have once you get the gist of them.

2 Baldur’s Gate 3

Throw That Sword Away, You Won't Need It Here

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Larian Studios’ take on the Dungeons & Dragons playbook has been acclaimed by critics and players alike. But what many fans of the franchise do not know, is that Intelligence-based classes (like the Wizard) are greatly overhauled in this game. The supremacy of spellcaster classes is so obvious, that a well-used spell can end combat almost instantly. Even when running the punishing Honour Mode.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of those turn-based RPGs where players can feel tremendously powerful using a spellcaster class, and those that use INT as their main attribute even have additional advantages outside of combat. Like discovering secrets, investigating, and performing a lot of successful checks that can help players discover alternate paths during the adventure.

1 Elden Ring

Let Me Solo Her, No, Honestly, I'm A Mage

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The pinnacle of Soulslike fun, Elden Ring has recently received its first DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree. This has also brought many new sorceries and spells players can use during their perilous journey.

Intelligence-based builds in Elden Ring have always been broken. From the simple but effective Rock Sling spell to the almighty Comet Azur, there are dozens of great choices to pick from when building a mage. Some of the most powerful can even delete bosses like Malenia in an instant.