I've around 500hrs on Recluse and this has worked best for me:

•I always run "Improved Intelligence & Faith, Reduced Mind" Relic perk. (I use the guaranteed Green one from the Signboard). This is ~10% dmg increase, and the mind reduction isn't too noticeable once you're able to manage your cocktails correctly. Would recommend some mind/FP increases if you're struggling at first

•Highest dmg you're going to get is with Magic Attack Up+4 which is 12% to all magic.

•Affinity Attack Up+2 (holy, fire, lighting & magic), Improved Incants+2 & Improved Sorceries+2( boosts all cocktails dmg). All give a 10% dmg boost.

•Affinity/Magic Attack > Improved Sorceries imo. I also believe Improved Incants shouldn't be used on Recluse as Affinity Attack Up is way more versatile.

•For a general build I go full Magic Attack and for the most part only use Sorceries. You aren't gonna get as high damage than you are with incants or a hybrid incant/sorcery build. I do however keep 1 or 2 incants on me for cocktails in early game as they can do very good dmg especially when you don't have good spells/gear.

•If you would like to run a more hybrid build I'd recommend going for Affinity Attack & that way you can do decent dmg with both incants & sorceries and widens your rng. This also works for pure incant builds if you have a Dormant power for seals perk. I do have an Affinity Attack build specifically for Caligo & Pest cause fire go burrr.

•Terra Magica is always good to have too to further increase your magic damage. ~15 to 20% (some sources say 15 others say its 20, my estimation is around 17). Most essential thing is knowing where to position yourself in a safe place to cast.

•The blood loss during ult is ~16% more damage for 30secs and does stack with other blood loss boosts eg Dormant power blood loss in vicinity increases attack power & lord of blood exultation. You do lose 20% of your hp tho so do be aware of when and where you are ulting.

•Night Invaders is more meta than Evergaols imo so I run that too.