Just curious what spells and arcana Magus prefer to employ when knowing they'll be fighting Undead across the various levels.
Obviously buff spells don't change much (shield, haste, etc, are just universally good), but on the offense what tricks and spells do you prefer? Any "must haves" at the various spell levels or arcana levels? If the Paladin in your group looks to you before fighting undead and says "Don't make me pull all the weight on this one", right after you fire back with "That's what your mom said" because he can't make those kind of jokes because he's lawful good*, what spells would you sit and mem for the day? Do you take any spell blended ones for just such encounters? What arcana (Ghost Blade for example) set themselves apart?
*note: paladin crack just said for humor, much love to my holy brothers in combining spells and combat. not an actual attempt to start a discussion on if lawful good and the paladin code allows "your mom" jokes. (although that could make an interesting thread)
I would say the defensive spells would focus more on the flat out miss chance magic. (Mirror Image, Blur, Displacement, Greater Invis.) The effects of being hit by undead can be more of an issue then with most normal monsters. Additionally, miss chance will work when fighting ghosts and what not.
As far as combat spells, you will need to avoid many of the condition generating magic and electricity and cold are commonly resisted by undead. I would suggest making sure you get the force line of spells. Force Punch, Forceful Strike, and Force Hook Charge. Undead form could be interesting in some cases. And your acid spells will be a little bit more reliable for dealing damage.
The ghost blade arcana from UC may be useful if you're playing in an undead heavy campaign.
... Force Punch, Forceful Strike...
With FP it seems the knockback isn't optional, but with FS I've wondered if you could choose not to take the CMB check. I don't think so, but it'd be nice.
I like both these spells in theory, but since Magi use them not just normal casters, I wish the designers had made the knockback optional. I don't always want what I'm fighting to be moved back. Wish there'd be a 'damage only' option for those occasions.