Compared to mage, Wizard's instinctive grasp of magic has more flexibility within the moment but less versatility overall. That is, they do not need to prepare specific spells in advance, but each sorcerer also acquires a much smaller number of spells, since they do not use spell books and cannot simply copy new spells from others' writing. Since sorcerers can only have a limited number of spells at their arsenal, most tend to specialize in the offensive magic. Mages and wizards often disagree; mages tend to think of wizards as sloppy and undisciplined, while sorcerers can consider mages obsessive and distant.

Mages cast their spells by using their acquired magical knowledge and experience.
In particular, they learn most new spells by seeking out magical writings and copying them into their spellbooks, a method that allows them (unlike sorcerers/wizards) to master any number of permissible spells once they find them, assembling a broad and versatile arsenal of power. Many wizards see themselves not only as spell casters but as philosophers, inventors and scientist studying a system of natural laws that are for the most part unknown and undiscovered.