CL/ Frozen Orb Sorc Question

[kreality]

I am starting a new sorc that use Chain Lightning and Forzen Orb as primary spell...although there are few question I want to ask you guys .

Should I invest anything for the Energy?

Should I max the Cold Mastery? The reason why I asking this because I probably dont have enough skills point for this skills.

How powerful is Frozen Orb in th end? How much damage does this spell can do? Someone told me it can does 500 damage per shard while other person told that the damage it can does 2000+ damage per shard...So,I dont know who should I believe...

Here is my future primary skills list (i didnt list those pre-req skills)

20 Lightning
20 Chain Lightning
20 Lightning Mastery
20 Frozen Orb
XX Cold Mastery

There what I suppose to have when my Sorc Lvl is around 80+..I dont really want to plan for Lv90+ Sorc because i know it would be hell for me to levelling her to that level....

So any thought or suggestion for me?

[mephiztophelez]

Should I invest anything for the Energy?
assuming you have access to some gear: no, leave energy at base. if your just starting out, 20-30 points in energy won't kill your build.


Should I max the Cold Mastery? The reason why I asking this because I probably dont have enough skills point for this skills.
the general rule for orb hybrid sorcs is: max orb, 1pt cold mastery, rest to your lit/fire synergies.
this is the great thing about Orb, it's viable with only a 21point (+pre-reqs) investment.

How powerful is Frozen Orb in th end? How much damage does this spell can do? Someone told me it can does 500 damage per shard while other person told that the damage it can does 2000+ damage per shard...So,I dont know who should I believe...

iirc, pure orb sorc's can hit 2k damage/shard. however, hybrids won't be maxing ice-bolt or mastery, so their orb won't be as powerful.
remember the damage is per shard and the character screen doesn't display the effects of cold mastery.

Here is my future primary skills list (i didnt list those pre-req skills)

20 Lightning
20 Chain Lightning
20 Lightning Mastery
20 Frozen Orb
XX Cold Mastery
looks like an orb/cl sorc build to me.
i'd also leave lit mastery at a base point and pump synergies more. points in synergies > points in mastery.

So any thought or suggestion for me?

if you know your projected end-game gear and can post it, perhaps i can make more suggestions.

[kreality]

Thanks for your reply.

I guess I am bit fcked up since I put few point on Cold Mastery..

About the end-game equipment, I still dont know because I start from the scratch (not really) , The best Item I have is just some random staff or amulet that give + skills..Not really luxury sorc...and I am playing single players mode..

So how many base Str should I invest...and does I need to invest some point for Dex? Or just pump into Vit for the win?

[handofnaz]

Is this your first character in SP? If it is, I'd suggest going for a Blizzard sorc for running Mephisto first. CL/FO are a bit more difficult to get off the ground without some basic gear.

About Orb damage, the 500 number you found is for the basic 20 FO with some +skills/%damage added on top (i.e., the kind you get with a CL/FO sorc or a Meteorb). The 2k per bolt number is the crazy one you'll get from high-end gear and a fully synergised Orb (TK/ES/FO).

I think it should be okay to be generous with your strength since you don't really have a big pool of items to begin with. I think a good number to stay around is about 80-90, give or take, so that you'll be able to equip most things you'll find.

[sirpoopsalot]

I think it should be okay to be generous with your strength since you don't really have a big pool of items to begin with. I think a good number to stay around is about 80-90, give or take, so that you'll be able to equip most things you'll find.

from my experience in single player with similar sorcs, this is a good amount. Although actually, I recommend 75 points, and keeping ~20 points available at all times if you need more (most times you won't, and once you're somewhat comfortable with your equipment, you can spend the points in Vit, Dex, etc. as you see fit).


And odds are that the points you've already spent in Cold Mastery won't be a big hinderance. You'll probably have a little weaker lightning attack, and a little stronger cold attack.

As for the build, it'll work just fine, and it'll be quite versatile. However, it's also going to make you a mana-hungry wench. My recommendation for leveling up and progressing through the game would be to actually focus on the Frozen Orb & Lightning aspects first, then bring CL into the picture more and more. Of course, you can just suck down a few mana potions and get by just fine with Chain Lightning too.

[AnimeCraze]

looks like an orb/cl sorc build to me.
i'd also leave lit mastery at a base point and pump synergies more. points in synergies > points in mastery.Actually, for a light sorc, I think more mastery is better, as it gives a way better return. By PhatTrumpet:
Lightning: displayed slvl Lightning Mastery should be 1 more than the total number of points invested in synergies.

[kreality]

Another Question:

What is the strategy for Cold Sorc to fight agaisnt those Gloom monster? They always chain my sorc to death with their super lightning attack.

and which merc is the best for my cold sorc (Defiance or Holy Freeze)? And yeah,I dont have any uber item for my merc so far...

[AnimeCraze]

75 lightning resist, and proceed by throw orb, move, throw orb, move.