Chain Lightning

Chain Lightning is a Sorcerer skill from the Core skill tree. Its features are:

Grants Player	Exploits Condition
Lightning Dmg	Critical Strike Chance
+ Crackling Energy	Critical Strike Dmg
Core
Shock

'Creates Condition' means this skill creates this condition i.e it could make a target Vulnerable that other skills can take advantage of. 'Exploits Condition' means this skill takes advantage of a condition, not necessarily of its own making. So for example another skill might Stun and this skill could take advantage of that.

Chain Lightning Mana Cost: 35 Lucky Hit Chance: 25% Unleash a stream of lightning that deals 43% damage and chains between Nearby enemies and you up to 5 times, prioritizing enemies. Enchantment Chain Lightning forms automatically after spending 100 Mana. Cooldown 1 second. Damage: Lightning Tags: Core, Shock, Chain

Upgrades

Enhanced Chain Lightning Chain Lightning gains +3% increased Critical Strike Chance per bounce.	Greater Chain Lightning Each time Chain Lightning bounces, it deals x 10% increased damage for its duration, up to x 30%.
	Destructive Chain Lightning When Chain Lightning Critically Strikes, it has a 30% chance to form a Crackling Energy.

Items that work with Chain Lightning

The following items either:

• Grant a bonus when using Chain Lightning
• Create a condition Chain Lightning can exploit
• Exploit a condition Chain Lightning creates

Legendary Aspects

Accelerating Aspect	Offensive	Critical Strikes with Core Skills increase your Attack Speed by [10 - 30]%[+] for 5 seconds. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	N/A	Extraction	All
Aspect of Abundant Energy	Offensive	Crackling Energy has a 35 - 55% chance to deal 40% [x] increased damage and chain to an additional enemy. Gloves, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	N/A	Extraction	Sorcerer
Aspect of the Expectant	Offensive	After attacking enemies with a Basic Skill, increase the damage of your next Core Skill cast within 5 seconds by 5 - 12% [x], up to 30% [x]. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	Underroot (Map)	Scosglen	All
Aspect of the Unbroken Tether	Offensive	Chain Lightning has a 25 - 45% chance to chain 5 additional times. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	N/A	Extraction	Sorcerer
Charged Aspect	Mobility	Collecting Crackling Energy increases your Movement Speed by 15 - 30% [+] for 8 seconds. Boots, Amulet (+50%)	Maddux Watch (Map)	Scosglen	Sorcerer
Elementalist's Aspect	Offensive	Core Skills cast at or above 100 Mana gain a 25 - 45% [+] increased Critical Strike Chance. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	Pallid Delve (Map)	Dry Steppes	Sorcerer
Recharging Aspect	Resource	Each time Chain Lightning bounces, gain 1 - 5 Mana. Ring, Amulet (+50%)	Zenith (Map)	Fractured Peaks	Sorcerer
Smiting Aspect	Offensive	You have 13 - 23% [+] increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies. While you are Healthy, you gain [25 - 45% [+] increased Crowd Control Duration. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	N/A	Extraction	All
Stable Aspect	Offensive	While Unstable Currents is not active, your Shock Skills have a 6.5 - 17% chance to trigger a free cast from it. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%)	N/A	Extraction	Sorcerer

Unique Items

	Ahavarion Spear of Lycander "The angel Lycander left us a portion of her power in this spear. It is all the proof I need that she watches over us still." - Oracle Argoysni Type: Mythic Unique Staff Class: Druid, Sorcerer Description: Gain a random Shrine effect for 20 seconds after killing an Elite enemy. Can only occur once every 30 seconds.	+159.5% Critical Strike, Vulnerable, and Overpower Damage Affixes: (Item Power 925) +18.0% All Stats +33.0% Movement Speed +66.0% Resistance to All Elements Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% Chance to Restore +66.0% Primary Resource
	Banished Lord's Talisman "His name has been lost to history, but to have been exiled from a land as cursed as Hawezar, his deeds must have been truly depraved." - Scholar's Notes Type: Unique Amulet Class: All Classes Description: After you spend 275 of your Primary Resource, your next Core Skill is guaranteed to Overpower. Your Critical Strikes that Overpower deal [20 - 60]%[x] increased damage.	+25.0% Resistance to All Elements Affixes: (Item Power 925) [8.0 - 10.0]% Maximum Life +[50.0 - 60.0]% Overpower Damage +[7.0 - 9.0]% Attack Speed +[1 - 2] to Core Skills
	Blue Rose "Her lover's spirit faded, and in her sorrow she wept frozen tears. Where they fell, roses of the purest ice would blossom each winter." - Greenslade's Tales, Chapter 7: "The Myth of Irina Coldheart" Type: Unique Ring Class: Sorcerer Description: Lucky Hit: Up to a 30% chance to form an exploding Ice Spike, dealing [75 - 150] Cold damage. Triple this chance if the enemy is Frozen (CC).	+10.0% Resistance to All Elements +10.0% Cold Resistance Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[251.0 - 350.0]% Ice Spike Damage +[129.5 - 170.0]% Cold Damage +[9.0 - 11.0]% Critical Strike Chance +[26.0 - 35.0]% Chance for Ice Spikes to Explode Twice
	Esadora's Overflowing Cameo The only thing more potent than Esadora's magic was her endless hatred of humanity. As she lay dying, the pale amulet around her neck drank in both. Type: Unique Amulet Class: Sorcerer Description: Upon collecting Crackling Energy, there's a 15% chance to release a lightning nova, dealing [180 - 360] Lightning damage, increased by 60%[x] for every 100 Intelligence you have.Current Bonus: 0%[x]	+25.0% Resistance to All Elements Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[10.5 - 15.0]% Intelligence [1.4 - 2.0]% Damage Reduction per Crackling Energy Charge +[16.0 - 25.0]% Movement Speed for 4 Seconds After Picking Up Crackling Energy +[365.0 - 500.0]% Crackling Energy Damage
	Esu's Heirloom "While scholars have proven these boots were not created by Esu herself, it is noteworthy that they have been passed down since the formation of the Mage Clans." - Barrett's Book of Implements Type: Unique Boots Class: Sorcerer Description: Your Critical Strike Chance is increased by [20 - 40]% of your Movement Speed bonus.Current Bonus: -[20.0 - 40.0]%	Evade Grants +125% Movement Speed for 3.0 Seconds Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[12.5 - 18.0]% Movement Speed +[57.0 - 75.0]% Critical Strike Damage +[8.0 - 12.5]% Movement Speed for 7 Seconds After Killing an Elite +[8.0 - 10.0]% Resistance to All Elements
	Flickerstep "Considered a failure by their creator, it wasn't until the assassination of an "untouchable" Caldeum noble that these boots' true power was understood." - Barrett's Book of Implements Type: Unique Boots Class: All Classes Description: Each enemy you Evade through reduces your active Ultimate Cooldown by [2.0 - 4.0] seconds, up to 10 seconds.	Attacks Reduce Evade's Cooldown by 2.5 Seconds Evade Grants +30% Movement Speed for 1.5 Seconds Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[12.5 - 18.0]% Movement Speed +[46.5 - 60.0]% Lightning Resistance [8.0 - 12.5]% Damage Reduction from Close Enemies +[219.0 - 300.0]% Ultimate Damage
	Frostburn A touch so frigid it stops the heart and chills the very soul. Type: Unique Gloves Class: All Classes Description: Lucky Hit: Up to a [20 - 60]% chance to Freeze enemies for 3 seconds.	+8.0% Lucky Hit Chance Affixes: (Item Power 925) Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal +[2,000 - 4,000] Fire Damage Lucky Hit: Up to a 40% Chance to Deal +[2,000 - 4,000] Cold Damage +[142.5 - 182.1]% Fire and Cold Damage +[10.5 - 15.0]% Attack Speed
	Gloves of the Illuminator After Inarius returned to Sanctuary, he sought a way back to the High Heavens. His first step was to reignite the religion he had abandoned millennia before: the Cathedral of Light. Type: Unique Gloves Class: Sorcerer Description: Fireball now bounces as it travels, exploding each time it hits the ground, but its explosion deals [30 - 0]% less damage.	Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[9.0 - 11.0]% Critical Strike Chance +[10.5 - 15.0]% Fireball Attack Speed +[1 - 2] Mana when a Fireball Explodes +[2 - 3] to Fireball
	Melted Heart of Selig "Do not allow your passions to become obsessions. Fuel the fire that burns within you, but it is madness to allow yourself to become ash to please an uncaring universe." - Last words of Master Selig Type: Mythic Unique Amulet Class: All Classes Description: Gain 60 Maximum Resource.When taking damage, 75% is drained as 2 Resource for every 1% of Maximum Life you would have lost.	+3.0% Maximum Resistance to All Elements +30.0% Resistance to All Elements Affixes: (Item Power 925) 15.0% Damage Reduction while Healthy +15.0% Lucky Hit Chance +25.0% Movement Speed 15.0% Resource Generation
	Mother's Embrace "Every tome, every scroll, every book in this temple produces the same answer. The only being willing to stand against the Eternal Conflict, against the Prime Evils, was Lilith." - Elias Type: Unique Ring Class: All Classes Description: If a All Classes_Skill_Tree#Core|Core Skill hits 4 or more enemies, [30 - 60]% of the Resource cost is refunded.	+10.0% Resistance to All Elements +10.0% Shadow Resistance Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[10.5 - 15.0]% Attack Speed +[6.0 - 8.0]% Critical Strike Chance +[6.0 - 8.0]% Lucky Hit Chance +[47 - 65] All Stats
	Paingorger's Gauntlets Crafted from fragments of Duriel's carapace, wearing these gloves, or being struck by them, causes an agonizing sensation akin to pushing one's hands through a thousand shards of glass. Type: Unique Gloves Class: All Classes Description: Damaging enemies with a Non-Basic Skill cast marks them for 3 seconds. When a Basic Skill first hits a marked enemy, the Basic Skill's damage is echoed to all marked enemies, dealing [100 - 200]%[x] increased damage.	Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[7.0 - 9.0]% Attack Speed +[2 - 4] to Basic Skills [6.0 - 8.0]% Cooldown Reduction Lucky Hit: Up to a +[13.5 - 22.5]% Chance to Stun (CC) for 2 Seconds
	Ring of Starless Skies "Yours is the power to pluck the stars from the heavens with the ease of a child gathering fruit from the bough." - Unknown Type: Mythic Unique Ring Class: All Classes Description: Spending your Primary Resource reduces the Resource cost of your Skills and increases your damage by 10%[x] for 3 seconds, up to 50%[x].	+10.0% Resistance to All Elements +10.0% Resistance to All Elements Affixes: (Item Power 925) +17.5% Attack Speed +12.5% Critical Strike Chance +12.5% Lucky Hit Chance +2 to Core Skills
	Staff of Endless Rage "Leaving even blackened bones for your kin to mourn is too good an end for you." - Josiah Type: Unique Staff Class: Sorcerer Description: Every 3rd cast of Fireball launches 2 additional projectiles and deals [50 - 90]%[x] increased damage.	+170.0% Fire Damage Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[57.0 - 75.0]% Chance for Fireball Projectiles to Cast Twice +[37.0 - 55.0]% Fireball Projectile Speed +[4 - 6] to Fireball +[252 - 360] Intelligence
	Staff of Lam Esen "Also known as the Greatstaff of the Old Religion, this powerful relic is one of only a small handful of Skatsimi artifacts that have survived to this day." - Barrett's Book of Implements Type: Unique Staff Class: Sorcerer Description: Your casts of Charged Bolts have a [40.0 - 80.0]% chance to be attracted to enemies and last 300% longer.	+170.0% Lightning Damage Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[57.0 - 75.0]% Chance for Charged Bolts Projectiles to Cast Twice +[252 - 360] Intelligence +[4 - 6] to Charged Bolts [27.0 - 45.0]% Resource Cost Reduction
	Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop "Fool said he dug it out of the sands near Lut Gholein with a few other 'worthless trinkets'. I hid my delight at receiving such a treasure in exchange for a meager handful of coins." - Rakhaan Type: Unique Ring Class: Sorcerer Description: For each type of Elemental damage you deal, gain [10.0 - 20.0]%[x] increased damage for 4 seconds, up to [40.0 - 80.0]%[x] . Dealing Elemental damage refreshes all bonuses.	+10.0% Resistance to All Elements +4.0% Resistance to All Elements Affixes: (Item Power 925) +[57.0 - 75.0]% Non-Physical Damage [6.0 - 8.0]% Cooldown Reduction +[6.0 - 8.0]% Lucky Hit Chance +[2 - 3] to Potent Warding

Paragon Glyphs

	Ruin Magic: Barbarian / Druid / Necromancer / Rogue / Sorcerer Bonus: For every 5 Dexterity (Barb, Druid, Necro, Sorc) / Intelligence (Rogue) purchased within range, you gain + 1.1% increased Critical Strike Damage.
	Charged Rare: Sorcerer Bonus: For every 5 Intelligence within range, Crackling Energy deals + 2% (lvl 1) - 13% (lvl 21_ increased damage.	Additional Bonus: Picking up Crackling Energy grants you x 5% increased damage for 5 seconds, up to x 15%. Requirements: 40 Intelligence (in radius range)
	Destruction Rare: Sorcerer Bonus: For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal + 4% (lvl 1) - 20% (lvl 21) increased Critical Strike Damage.	Additional Bonus: Critical Strikes increase all damage the enemy takes from you by x 2% for 10 seconds, up to x 12%. Requirements: 25 Dexterity (in radius range)
	Electrocute Rare: Sorcerer Bonus: Paragon nodes within range gain + 15% (lvl 1) - 75% (lvl 21) bonus to their Lightning damage and damage reduction modifiers.	Additional Bonus: Your Lightning damage has a + 5% increased chance to Critically Strike enemies who are Stunned (CC), Immobilized (CC), or Frozen (CC). Requirements: 25 Dexterity (in radius range)
	Elementalist Rare: Sorcerer Bonus: Paragon nodes within range gain + 15% (lvl 1) - 75% (lvl 21) bonus to their Non-physical damage and damage reduction modifiers.	Additional Bonus: Dealing Fire, Cold, or Lightning damage to an enemy increases all damage you deal to them by x 5% for 10 seconds, stacking once per element. Requirements: 40 Intelligence (in radius range)
	Enchanter Rare: Sorcerer Bonus: For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, you deal +2% (lvl 1) -10% (lvl 21) increased Non-physical damage.	Additional Bonus: For each skill equipped in your Enchantment Slots, gain + 5% Maximum Resistance to that Skill's element. Requirements: 40 Intelligence (in radius range)

Item Affixes

The following Affixes are particularly useful with Chain Lightning

Attribute	Amulet	Ring	Helm	Chest	Legs	Gloves	Boots	Weap 1H	Weap 2H	Off-Hand
Ranks to Chain Lightning [2 -3]						✔
Core Skill Damage [12.5 - 19.5%]								✔
Core Skill Damage [25 - 39%]									✔
Shock Skill Damage [10.5 - 17.5%]	✔			✔
Crackling Energy Damage [14 - 28%]		✔			✔		✔			✔
Lightning Damage [10.5 - 17.5%]		✔		✔
Critical Strike Chance [1.8 - 5%]		✔				✔				✔
Critical Strike Chance Against Injured Enemies [3 - 8%]						✔				✔
Lightning Critical Strike Damage [10.5 - 17.5%]		✔				✔		✔
Lightning Critical Strike Damage [28 - 42%]									✔
Critical Strike Damage [10.5 - 17.5]		✔						✔
Critical Strike Damage [28 - 42%]									✔
Attribute	Amulet	Ring	Helm	Chest	Legs	Gloves	Boots	Weap 1H	Weap 2H	Off-Hand

Changes to Chain Lightning

Patch 2.0, October 8, 2024

• Chain Lightning Enchantment - Cooldown reduced from 4 seconds to 1 second.

Patch 1.1.1, August 8, 2023

• Greater Chain Lightning - Each time Chain Lightning bounces, it deals 5% increased damage for its duration.
• Destructive Chain Lightning - Chance to form Crackling Energy increased from 25% to 30%.