How to cap with Mage: a definitive guide

Okay, I'll break down capping as Mage here.

Evaluate what kind of flagroom you're capping on. How many exits? Where? Can you drop down and surprise?

Now, evaluate the defense. Look for: Ninjas, pyros, chemists, dwarves.

Once that's done, drop in.
If you choose the from above tactic, give yourself regeneration and then lightning the defense away. Get out of the flagroom by pummeling anyone in your way with damage and fire. Immediately freeze any pyros or dwarves you see, but really, get out of there.
If you choose to run in, it has to be more calculated. If you see a ninja, damage spell him 1 or 2 times. Now, you'll be faced with the main chunk of the defense. Freeze any of these in this order of priority exactly:
Dwarf
Pyro
Chemist
Ninja
Heavy
Once you've frozen them, use the ice to your advantage. This will block some of the defense. Go ahead and steal the flag now. Lighting right off the bat. The ice is about to unfreeze and a major defensive threat is coming. Heal yourself. At this point, run for the exit. Freeze the first person following you. If you can light them on fire, that works too.

Now that you're out of the flagroom, you can deter 100% of any recoverers with ease except for ninja and assassin. I recommend periodically turning around and looking for a ninja or their enderpearl dust.

If you see a pearl, the dust, or the ninja, spam damage and fire. Throw a lightning in the ninjas general direction. Once done, run. Keep the ninja at low health so pursuit will be a problem.

If you're faced with an assassin, spam damage and see if you can slow him/her down. They will almost surely be strafing, so doing this will be hard. If they get close, try and freeze them. Your last resort is lightning. If they get close enough to activate strength mode, lightning them. They'll die. At that point, if they're not dead, throw everything you have at em.

Some tips for flag rooms specific to maps:
Maps with larger or more open flagrooms (ex: kingdom islands, Canadian forts 2, academy) tend to lend themselves to just straight on going in, no surprise. Maps like blackout, serpents lair, and others generally lend themselves to a surprise steal.

Last comment:
A surprise steal can work better than a straight on calculated attack, but relies mostly on luck.
@Miss_RubyRose_XO @Xelasi @aRandomBob157 the Mage God (but not of capping, that's me) @CHICKENSPOOO @Ironic_Gentleman @Tenshirox

 

Damage spell is a lot faster from you to the ninja. It's also easier to aim.

 

I mean if the ninja is strafing/invisible. Which they will be.

 

Okay. Sure. And then some ninja or chemist will pop up and kill you. Mage requires calculated moves, not damage spam.

 

Then you obviously haven't seen any good mage play like @chikincows @aRandomBob157 or me, @Sir_Inge

 

Elves are weak (mostly)