Unique Sorc Builds?

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LotusEater

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Unique Sorc Builds?

Hey everyone,

I'm itching to start a sorceress, but in usual fashion for myself, I want to pick a strange or unusual build. I'm torn on dual-tree or tri-element, but basically I want to make a sorceress who uses an original array of skills.

She can be *moderately* twinked. But I have no access to real godly gear at the moment, so she will be primarily using gear she finds.

What sort of unusual skills are viable? Is there any feasible way to make Blaze a primary skill? Run around in circles leaving trails of fire while throwing other pew pew spells at the baddies chasing me?

Does thunderstorm ever do a decent amount of damage?

Basically, what sort of sorceress build would be unusual, challenging, and fun?

All input is much appreciated! Thanks!
 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

Maybe some sort of enchantress? I dunno, does enchant affect blaze?

If you can somehow get hold of a Kingslayer, that might be cool. Ain't a cheap runeword, but I don't think I've ever seen a vengeance enchantress.
 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

Fenrix said:
If you can somehow get hold of a Kingslayer, that might be cool. Ain't a cheap runeword, but I don't think I've ever seen a vengeance enchantress.
Click to expand...

Not a good idea. Vengeance converts only physical damage; Enchant won't do much for that except add the fire damage it would anyway.

If you're interested in a build built around Blaze, maybe you could combo that with Glacial Spike. You know, freeze them in place and then run circles around them. I suppose it's possible that the width of Blaze is enough to hit enemies without having to get them to stand directly on top of the fire. If that doesn't work, freezing enemies and then running away in a straight line means they'd follow you after they thaw. Maybe instead of Glacial Spike you can do Frost Nova; the chill length is pretty long, even after it's nerfed in Hell. ...Dunno, just throwing out ideas.

Thunderstorm is okay against single targets, but when you've got a huge crowd around you it simply can't cut the mustard. Plus, someone reported that Thunderstorm bolts will cycle through all targets before returning to the original monster (though I can't confirm this). Not worth the skill points.


 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

[edit] In addition to what wakiki has mentionned, Blaze is also an epic skill for pictionary.

Common fodder main spells:
- Frozen Orb
- Blizzard
- Fire Ball
- Meteor
- Chain Lightning
- Lightning

Less common main spells:
- Enchant
- Nova
- Fire Wall

Rarely used main spells:
- Frost Nova
- Charged Bolt
- Glacial Spike
- Hydra

(Almost) Never used as main spells:
- Inferno
- Ice Bolt
- Ice Blast
- Blaze
- Frozen Armor
- Chilling Armor
- Shiver Armor
- Thunderstorm
- Telekinesis

This list is just IMHO. Hard to determine what's "fun, challenging, and unusual", as this changes from person to person. Hard to say what's "viable" in the Diablo II world, especially since SuperDave guardian'd his naked 'Zon.

With regards to your questions: Thunderstorm sucked since 1.10. Blaze is doable (it can burn at 1k+ per second with moderately decent gear).

IMHO, if you want a unique and unusual build that's challenging? Take a Sorceress around that focuses mainly on less commonly/rarely/never used main spells. Or, make a Tri-Elementress that does not use FOrb/FWall/Nova~CL, those are pretty rare outside of EnerSense's contributions. Make a Zeal, Berserk, or Vengence Sorceress, those are pretty uncommon as well. Maybe a CtC-based Sorceress; don't think I've seen anyone on the SPF do that yet. You can also make it unique and unusual if you do an all blue or all orange or all yellow gear Sorceress. There's plenty of ways, depending on how you define "unusual", "unique", "challenging", and "viable".
 
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Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

Blaze is a viable skill, and some forumers here love it. That's a problem though, isn't it? It's going to be hard to find a TRULY "unique" build.

Blaze is cool because you can be strategic with it. For example, run back and forth and create a pocket of super-thick fire then lure the enemies onto it. I don't have that much experience with it, but from the little but I've used it seems cool. Jiansonz has mentioned that you need a point in firewall to take down monsters that stand still (like sand maggots).

Enchantresses are a great underpowered build. Ranged is safer, although the Enchant damage is severely reduced. If you have 50% Lightning Mastery attack a monster in melee with 1-50 lightning damage, you will be doing 1-75. Fire Mastery works the same way with Enchant, which means that it works twice! The first time is when you buff yourself with Enchant -- the fire mastery increases the damage displayed. The second time is when you hit -- the fire mastery multiplies your Enchanted damage and any fire charms you are carrying. But the second time only works in melee. For lots of information and stories about Enchant, you could check out the old Enchantress Tournament.

I rarely see Nova or Frost Nova sorceresses. You could try one of those. Still not completely original, but then, neither are the above builds. Thunderstorm is a cool skill, although like others said, it cycles through each monster once before attacking the same one. You could build an Enchantress with Prevent Monster Heal on an item and Thunderstorm. PMH is pretty important for Enchantresses anyway. If you add a Holy Freeze merc, then you have fire, lightning, physical, and a little cold damage. Cool! Skill points would be tight, though. Fully synergizing Enchant and T-Storm takes 100 points, which means you won't have one of them fully maxed when you complete the game (which is okay -- you can just cut some points from Warmth).
 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

I'm working on a Charged Bolt/Glacial Spike sorc. She's rocking through the early parts of A1 Normal at the moment, and I have no idea how viable she'll be, but it looks ok on paper: freeze in place and fry.
 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

LotusEater said:
Hey everyone,

I'm itching to start a sorceress, but in usual fashion for myself, I want to pick a strange or unusual build. I'm torn on dual-tree or tri-element, but basically I want to make a sorceress who uses an original array of skills.

She can be *moderately* twinked. But I have no access to real godly gear at the moment, so she will be primarily using gear she finds.

What sort of unusual skills are viable? Is there any feasible way to make Blaze a primary skill? Run around in circles leaving trails of fire while throwing other pew pew spells at the baddies chasing me?

Does thunderstorm ever do a decent amount of damage?

Basically, what sort of sorceress build would be unusual, challenging, and fun?

All input is much appreciated! Thanks!
Click to expand...

Blaze works (and its full game viable in hell in some areas), but its not powerbuild, as you need to get monsters over your fire, that takes some planning and time. But fun to play.

Blaze works, but don't run in circles. Monsters take shortest route and avoid your fire. And one layer blaze is quite weak while playing untwinked. Blaze sorc needs lots of run speed, so she can make multiple layer blaze by running same path forward-backward-forward, 2-4 layers kills nicely.

So you run next to monster, then run back using same path, making blaze 2x stronger. In some areas you have time to make 4-layers. Helps if you or your merc can slow them down. 1-point in blizzard slow them nicely too.

I have done blaze sorc, and only act1 merc works with blaze. Those others are too aggressive and prevents monsters to follow your path.
With rogue you can make your 2-layer firepath, then tele at other end of path, rogue follows, and stays there. If rogue have knocback, riphook(nef), then she helps you by knocking them back while monsters try to follow your firepath. Tele to other end if your merc cant keep monster away.

Stealth (tal-eth), peasant crown, 30-40 run boots those are nice for blaze sorc. Rogue (cold), Riphook(nef),Blackhorn's Face(20 poison jool), and almost any armor works. WWS(shael, nef) is nice bow too.
At start 3-socket bow(nef, Pemerald/ tal and Psapphire/thul) works just fine.

Andy and Duriel are extra easy to kill with blaze, but other bosses are much harder, you need other attack against those at least in hell.



 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

An inferno sorc would be loads of fun! I've started a few before, but never got them all too high level. Although, for maximum shenanigans, I would need to pair her with an arctic blast druid. Hmmmmmm...... o.o;
 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

Inferno is, unfortunately, bugged to do like 1/6th of it's damage. Worthless. I believe Arctic Blast is as well. :\
 
Re: Unique Sorc Builds?

I've done myself a Hydra/Orb sorceress before and found her to be oozing with style points. Hydra was effective to my surprise, and I took the el cheapo Frozen Orb route as a backup, but substitute another skill, and you're set.

The only problem with Hydra is large crowds of enemies. The Hydra will tend to split up their attacks, instead of focusing on a few targets, meaning things can take a while, On the plus side, Hydra makes an excellent scout. Pop one up around the corner, and if it starts shooting, you know you've got company. Plus, one of Hydra's synergies is Fireball, which gives you a decent low-level attack to use.
 
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