QUOTE(mistakegamer @ Dec 24 2016, 10:48)

another question (IMG:[
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style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
Since I am playing melee, what magic abilities should I invest?
Cure,regen,haste,protection, I got these buffs covered but am I missing something?
I don't want to waste too many soul shards later on
Eventually you are gonna need ALL buff abilities, so with the exeption of "Better Arcane Focus" that is the mage version of "Heartseeker" get and max out ALL the green buffs as soon as they are available.
In short SUPPORTIVE 1 & 2:
Haste
Shadow Veil
Absorb
Spirit
Heartseeker
Regen
Cure
Spark
Protection
From the above Shadow Veil & Absorb are... not needed but at lower levels even they come in handy some times, like for bosses, or 10 monster Random Encounters, etc.
Later on You will forget them but for now as long as it's available, open it and max it. A new one becomes available? Open it and max it.
From the Spike Shields you only need one and we usually get one that matches your weapon's element damage. If you don't have one yet try getting Flame since it's the most encountered and dangerous element at lower levels among the elemental ones plus the damage reduction debuff is a sure hit help, instead of the rest that are chance or ineffective.
From the Deprecating / Elemental / Forbidden and Divine you need NOTHING.
Later on (around lv.250) you MAY need to open some deprecatings, but that will depend and you can do without anyway.