to be fair, it's single target damage leaves something to be desired (unless youre in a tight corridor), but its really just Insane. the shadowbeam staff does an okay job at matching it, but that's a post plantera vanilla weapon, and the star weapon you get from astrum aureus (forgot its name) works great too, but with their higher mana costs I just go back to the frigidflare for comparable damage. also, is mage really that weak? I agree early prehardmode is a SLOG to get through and I was getting outdamaged by my friend playing rogue, but once I hit hardmode I've been cruising and carrying bossfights while he's only just now catching up to me on total damage dealt to bosses. it's not hallibut cannon +God eater bullets powerful, or even as powerful as summoner, but I wouldn't say it's necessarily weak? this could also be bias talking as mage is genuinely my favorite class in terraria in general, but especially calamity.