Like the previous Dark Souls game, Eldon's Ring has two types of spells: magic and spells. Each type of spell has its own advantages and disadvantages.
We'll cover everything you need to know about magic and spells, including what they do, their pros and cons, what items you need to use each type of magic, and what attributes you should improve if you plan to become a magic or spell character.
magic
In Eldon's Ring, magic is a type of spell that requires intelligence and FP to use, and you need to be equipped with a staff to cast them. Usually, these spells can be identified by their blue hue and cast nature, although some spells also allow you to fire energy beams, flames, or mist. Most magic deals magic damage, although some rare spells deal fire damage, frost damage, or death effects.
In general, magic is cast relatively quickly, and is dominated by damage output and attack, as there are very few auxiliary types of magic. To get more types of magic, you'll need to find them in the Eldon Ring. Alternatively, you can find the Magic Scroll and give it to npcs, who will pass on the new spells they unlock to you. There are two easily found NPCs — Sorceress Sellen in Limgrave and Miriel, priest in Liurnia of the Lakes.
The damage of these spells increases as your intelligence level increases, and you can upgrade your staff with the Blacksmith Stone by talking to the Blacksmith Hugh in the Round Table Hall. You can also increase your damage by looking for a staff that is highly correlated with intelligence points. Some staffs also have unique advantages and disadvantages. For example, Lucett's pyroxene staff provides an additional boost to spell damage, but also increases the FP cost by half.
If you want to build a wizard character, it's best to choose an astrologer or prisoner at the beginning of the game.
Spells
The Eldon Ring spells, much like the miracles in Dark Souls, are spells that require faith and FP to use, and require you to equip a seal item when casting them. Unlike the blue hue and cast nature of magic, spells can take on a variety of colors and forms. Some types of spells include enhancing your weapon with Divine, Frost, or Blood Damage, firing projectiles of Fire Damage, sweeping the area in front of you with a large tail, and more.
Magic is mainly used for powerful damage output and attack, while spells play a more supporting role. Many spells can still deal damage, but their purpose in combat is usually to stun enemies, perform crowd control on large groups of enemies, limit their range of action with area blockades, or establish dangerous state effects. Many spells can also be used to heal spellcasters and their allies. Note that, in general, spells take longer to cast than magic. You can find more spells in the game, or take the prayer book you found to Korsheen in the Round Table Hall or Pastor Miril of the Lake of Lyunia.
To increase the effectiveness of spells, you need to raise your faith level and upgrade your seal with the blacksmith stone by talking to Hugh the Blacksmith. Throughout the game, you can find some imprints that also enhance the power of certain types of spells. For example, the Claw Mark Sacred Seal can increase the effect of animal charms. You can see what type of spell it is by checking the spells in your repository.
If you want to do a spell-focused character, it is recommended that you choose a prophet or a confessor of origin, as their initial beliefs are the highest.
Magic or spells, which is better?
In general, improving intelligence and magic is more feasible than improving faith and spells. The attack power of magic makes them more useful in both PvE and PvP, and since magic is cast faster, magic casters don't have to worry about taking damage while using magic like spells (note that dexterity makes you cast both spells faster).
Still, spells are very viable and arguably better than magic when it comes to co-op. Although they tend to consume more FPs and take longer to cast, spells that heal your partner or stun and break large groups of enemies are very useful. The blood loss, frostbite, and madness effects of some spells can also deal massive damage to bosses and PvE enemies, while PvP opponents are forced to retreat.