Is a hydra sorc any good??

[wedfarm]

Are hydra sorc any good for any thing??

[Reticent Drappa]

Depends on your preference really. Is any move any good?
Every spell has it's use. It's simply a question of what you prefer. Hydras will attack, desynch or not, and they will remain cast if you are dueling and happen to go into town. I could go on about them but there really is no point. It's up to you to decide.
Also, I doubt it would be viable to rely only on hydras, one would most likely use other fire-based attacks, such as Fb, and Fbolt (which synergize also), or another spell from another skill tree.

[bovine]

The damage is very low.

So no, not for PVM.

[mephiztophelez]

hydra is an awesome secondary attack for a pvp vit fire sorc. i say a vit sorc because an ES model has better things to do with the pre-req skillpoints than try to get a hydra (eg: they need TK and mastery etc)

[wedfarm]

Thanks for all the help

[maiku]

The damage is very low.

So no, not for PVM.

Bull.

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=621818&highlight=Hydra&page=2

I purposefully understated the damage in that long post, but actually it's easy for Hydra to reach 2.5K+ and that's per bolt. (I've heard that people can reach 4K+ bolt Hydras. I haven't been able to do that yet since I don't have enough fire GCs on her.) Hydra fires 3 bolts at a time, doing triple its listed damage when all bolts hit. Damage can be further augmented by using "Infinity," fire facets, or -enemy fire resistance gear. These are recommended.

Hydra Sorc guide by Asmodeous:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=594008&highlight=hydra+fire+facets

I have one with twinked gear. She does well in Hell and is very safe to play as well. Probably the safest Sorc I've ever made. What people need to keep in mind about a successful Hydra Sorc is that she's actually using two spells: Fireball + Hydra for fire damage, creating the 5 "Hydras" that Asmodeous discusses in his guide. (Thus the playstyle is somewhat similar to a Blizzballer or other Sorc builds which use fast-cast spam spells + delayed spells.) She also requires special considerations for her Merc, since he has to do a great deal of tanking and engaging enemies, and you need him to slow or pin enemies so Hydras can do maximum damage. Whether you tack on Frozen Orb or not, as in a Hydra/Orb build, is your own choice although it can be a good route to go.

[DH Amazon]

Bull.

2nd that, but you need little better items than cookie cutter sorcs.


She also requires special considerations for her Merc, since he has to do a great deal of tanking and engaging enemies, and you need him to slow or pin enemies so Hydras can do maximum damage. Whether you tack on Frozen Orb or not, as in a Hydra/Orb build, is your own choice although it can be a good route to go.

I made pure hydra, about 4.5k per bolt, she did nice damage. And 11k fireball is there always as backup if needed. Those immunes were painfull, so good merc is needed for 4th and 5th wave while doing baalruns. But bosses goes down nicely, no need to static or crushing blow merc.

That hydra/orb seems nice build. I have unused death's fathom lying around, maybe thats nice weapon for that hydrid. Occy's random tele is so painfull and don't have hotos.

But how to divide points, aiming for around 800 orb and 3k hydra and 8k fireball with 105fcr.

[Zekiel]

Bull.

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=621818&highlight=Hydra&page=2

I purposefully understated the damage in that long post, but actually it's easy for Hydra to reach 2.5K+ and that's per bolt. (I've heard that people can reach 4K+ bolt Hydras. I haven't been able to do that yet since I don't have enough fire GCs on her.) Hydra fires 3 bolts at a time, doing triple its listed damage when all bolts hit. Damage can be further augmented by using "Infinity," fire facets, or -enemy fire resistance gear. These are recommended.

Hydra Sorc guide by Asmodeous:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=594008&highlight=hydra+fire+facets

I have one with twinked gear. She does well in Hell and is very safe to play as well. Probably the safest Sorc I've ever made. What people need to keep in mind about a successful Hydra Sorc is that she's actually using two spells: Fireball + Hydra for fire damage, creating the 5 "Hydras" that Asmodeous discusses in his guide. (Thus the playstyle is somewhat similar to a Blizzballer or other Sorc builds which use fast-cast spam spells + delayed spells.) She also requires special considerations for her Merc, since he has to do a great deal of tanking and engaging enemies, and you need him to slow or pin enemies so Hydras can do maximum damage. Whether you tack on Frozen Orb or not, as in a Hydra/Orb build, is your own choice although it can be a good route to go.

Which Merc would you recommend?

[DeadDreamer]

Now this is just a wild guess, but arent hydras technically minions like the assassin's traps are? We all know that facets are a waste since they dont augment minions...

Just wondering ;)

[DH Amazon]

Now this is just a wild guess, but arent hydras technically minions like the assassin's traps are? We all know that facets are a waste since they dont augment minions...

Just wondering ;)

yes, those are minions, but ... but facets works, if I remember correctly. Just a minios in certain ways, so that for example nature piece don't work. Hydra leaves corpses at ground. So better use fireball while doing nihlaruns.

[maiku]

Which Merc would you recommend?

My favorite is Holy Freeze. It's what I use on my Hydra Sorc. His equipment is Reaper's Toll (for Decrepify, which means more slowing), "Treachery," and I think Guillaume's Face. This way I get a powerful and tough Merc, and he also benefits my Hydras and makes shooting with Fireball really easy. A better polearm would be "Infinity."

Hydras are counted as minions, but they are affected by fire facets. It's in the game code. The same does not apply to Assassin traps like Death Sentry, Wake of Fire, or Lightning Sentry.

[mephiztophelez]

Now this is just a wild guess, but arent hydras technically minions like the assassin's traps are? We all know that facets are a waste since they dont augment minions...

Just wondering ;)

Ernir's Things You Should Know About D2 (http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=d2-general&t=1312543&p=1&#post1312543) section 1
1. How do Traps and Rainbow Facets work together?

The -res% and +damage% on Griffon's Eye and Facets do not add to trap damage. With the exceptions of Fire Blast and Shock Web, the Assassin Traps are considered minions by the game. Your minions do not benefit from any -res% or +damage% your character has.

Note that Sorceress Hydras benefit from both Fire Mastery and Facets. This is explained by T-Hawk:
The missiles fired by Hydra have a special-case check of their caster's "+% Fire Skill Damage" ability. That's why Hydra works with Fire Mastery and Facets. This check was added in version 1.05; before that, Fire Mastery didn't boost Hydra damage.