A couple questions about the ES/Lightning sorc I'm building.

[BucketOMerriment]

Well, by "building" I really mean "about to build", heh.

My first question is, can a merc with infinity break lightning immunity on mobs? Normally I just play a two element sorcie but with all the points I'm going to be putting into ES/TK I figure I only have enough for one primary attack.

The thing is, I only solo, I only play on ladder so I can trade, so if I can't break immunities with Infinity than playing a one element sorcie is suicide.


Secondly, I'm wondering which attack I should go with. My first instinct is nova since I wouldn't need synergies and have more skillpoints for other things, but nova has a way of draining your mana pool in no time flat, so would that not be the most effective lightning attack to use for an ES sorcie? Would Chain Lightning be preferable?

[mathil]

for skills, has to be lightning/chain lightning. its not really a one or the other build. you use both. chain lightning hits more monsters if they are spread out. lightning deals double dmg and is half the mana cost (atleast on my CL/orb sorc, pure lightning the ratios might be different).

infinity will break most mobs, but there are a lot of the boss/unique monsters where it won't break anything.

[macbeth]

as far as i can see, there are 6 (normal) enemies whose immunity cannot be broken with infinity:

returned mages & horror mages (only those who attack with lightning) (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/monsters/act5g-skeleton-mage.shtml)
dark familiars (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/monsters/act2-batdemon.shtml)
horrors (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/monsters/act1-skeleton.shtml)
bone scarabs (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/monsters/act2-scarabdemon.shtml)
damned (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/monsters/act1-tainted.shtml)

the immunity on all other normal enemies can be broken and then their resistance can be lowered by items (e.g. the - res on infinity, if you carry it yourself; griffons eye; facets; tal rashas lidless eye if you wear at least 4 set items).

boss monsters can often be unbreakable though.

[Ardo]

Hmm, what about Infinity + Lower resist wand combo? Will all the not boss monsters Lighting Resists be broken then?

[sorceressgod]

hmm nova shouldn't be such a bad mana eater for a ES sorc, it should be very easy to attain 3k mana and about a lil' lower than 1k life.

[BattleQueen]

Try equipping the merc with a Reaper's Toll (which imho is still the best A2 merc weapon). The triggered Decrepify helps break down immunities, slow monsters down, etc...and the nice leech on it helps your merc.

When playing a single element sorc, if you can't break certain immunities on monster packs, just do what I do: RUN. :afro:

[LorveN]

hmm nova shouldn't be such a bad mana eater for a ES sorc, it should be very easy to attain 3k mana and about a lil' lower than 1k life.

Also, if you make the infinity in a low-req polearm and wield it with the sorc itself, your merc can use insight polearm. Nova/ES with lvl16 meditation aura, a point in warmth, some +skills... :rolleyes:
Also, your attacks will benefit from the -res on infinity. Only need to make sure to keep the fcr good then.

[WhiteAlien]

Also, if you make the infinity in a low-req polearm and wield it with the sorc itself, your merc can use insight polearm. Nova/ES with lvl16 meditation aura, a point in warmth, some +skills... :rolleyes:
Also, your attacks will benefit from the -res on infinity. Only need to make sure to keep the fcr good then.

Sorc with infinity polearm is very clumsy. Fcr is BAD, FHR is BAD, Resistances are BAD, dmg is LOW. Give it to merc better. Inifinity have 40% CB which helps a lot to clean out light imunes very fast.