PvP/PvM Hydra/Fireball Sorceress Guide

[chiangee]

This is my second guide for the sorceress.

DISCLAIMER:
This is property of Chiangee. This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. In plain English, this means that it is against the law for you to copy this guide. If you want to print it out, that's fine, but I do not permit its use anywhere on the web or for it to be used for anything profitable.

Why not pure fireball/meteor?
I wanted something different, plus 9.5k per hydra multiplied by say 5 summoned at the same time does about 47.5k added up hits.

Why 5 Warmth, 10 Telekinesis, 5 Energy Shield?
Well I would like to max all of them but I don't have enough skill points, so I decided that this way was the smartest decision. I will let the gear do the rest.

Skills & Stats Distribution

20 fire mastery (49 in all)
20 Fire Bolt (49 in all) Damage: 27785-29598
20 Fire Ball (49 in all) Damage: 26573-28624
20 Hydra (49 in all) Damage: 8666-9639
5 Warmth (49 in all)
5 Energy Shield (39 in all)
10 Telekinesis (19 in all)
1 Teleport (19 in all)
1 Frozen Armor (19 in all)
1 Lightning (19 in all)
1 Chain Lightning (19 in all)
1Charged Bolt (19 in all)

Strength- Enough for gear. (110)
Dexterity- Enough/ close to max block with Frozen Armor.
Vitality- None.
Energy- Rest of stats after Strength and Dexterity.

Outfitting and Equipment
(Skills/ Resistance/ Stats)Faster Cast Rate
(Resists NOTE: F=Fire, L= Lightning, C=Cold, P=Poison)
Mara’s Kaleidoscope- (2, 30, 5)
Eschuta's Temper- (3) 40FCR (20-30 Energy)
Mage fists- (1) 20FCR
Sandstorm Treks- (0,40-70P) 20FHR (10-15 Strength and Vitality)
Arachnid's Mesh- (1) 20FCR
Chains of Honor- (2, 65) (20 Strength)
2x Stone of Jordan- (2)
Harlequin Crest Shako- (2, 0, 2)
Spirit Monarch- (2, 35)35FCR, 55FHR (22 vitality)

Inventory
Sorceress Hellfire Torch- (3, 15+, 15+)
9x Fire skill grand charms- (9)
Annihilus- (1, 15+, 15+)
5-10x 5% Resist All Small Charms- (0, 25-50)
5-10x 5% Faster Hit Recovery- (25-50 FHR)

Switch
Call to Arms- (1)
Spirit Monarch


Totals:
Fire skills- 48(49 with Battle Command)
Faster Cast Rate- 115
All Resistances- 160(185-210 with Small Charms)
Faster Hit Recovery- 75(100-125 with Small Charms)

Mercenary: (Defensive Aura)
Ethereal Fortitude
OR
Ethereal Chains of Honor
Ethereal Infinity (Colossus Voulge)
OR
Ethereal Breath of the Dying
Ethereal Dream Helm
OR
Dream Helm


Dueling:
I haven't made this sorceress yet, so I will add this later.

[mephiztophelez]

Dexterity- Enough/ close to max block with Frozen Armor.
<snip>
Spirit Monarch- (2, 35)35FCR, 55FHR (22 vitality)
you're actually suggesting investing in dex for blocking with a SPIRIT MONARCH??

bigods.

oh, and one other thing: an eschuta's will add about ~50 PvP damage over a HotO. personally, i'd go with the HotO.

my $0.02: i like my fire guide a lil better. (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=649978)

[lumpor]

I like this guide. I've always thought that hydra is an underetimated skill. Could've had more strategy and more details though. And take everything more slowly. Explain your decisions

Oh by the way, hoto gives many -style points. Who uses a big spiked ball attached to a chain in order to better focus her spiritual energies?

[DayDream]

Honestly, I don't recommend this guide to anyone.

10 Telekinesis (19 in all)?
Dexterity- Enough/ close to max block with Frozen Armor.? Max block with spirit? Please no

As mentioned above, mephiztophelez's guide is far better.

I remember TK must be 20 hardpoints, not soft.

[chiangee]

you're actually suggesting investing in dex for blocking with a SPIRIT MONARCH??

bigods.

oh, and one other thing: an eschuta's will add about ~50 PvP damage over a HotO. personally, i'd go with the HotO.

Okay, One I don't have the % of block because I can't play on weekdays. So I'm sure your right about not putting any points into dexterity. Two, I myself am going for the highest damage I can get. But they are both relatively the same.

Honestly, I don't recommend this guide to anyone.

10 Telekinesis (19 in all)?
Dexterity- Enough/ close to max block with Frozen Armor.? Max block with spirit? Please no

As mentioned above, mephiztophelez's guide is far better.

I remember TK must be 20 hardpoints, not soft.
You miss-read what I put, you get 19 after you are geared up. And also I cant max Telekinesis because I would be short of skills(I don't like to level)

[mephiztophelez]

You miss-read what I put, you get 19 after you are geared up. And also I cant max Telekinesis because I would be short of skills(I don't like to level)

only hard points in telekinesis will synergise your ES.

[JayhawkFan]

Where do you get such high hydra damage?

[chiangee]

only hard points in telekinesis will synergise your ES.

Well then don't put points into it.

Where do you get such high hydra damage?
After adding up all the +skills you get from gear; you will have 29 added skills to your Fire Skills, thus bring your damage to about Hydra Fire Damage: 8666-9639 after your skills are maxed. This of course is acheaved with the gear listed above.

[DH Amazon]

Well then don't put points into it.


After adding up all the +skills you get from gear; you will have 29 added skills to your Fire Skills, thus bring your damage to about Hydra Fire Damage: 8666-9639 after your skills are maxed. This of course is acheaved with the gear listed above.

Seems oddly high. I did pure hydra sorc, damage was around 5k (only lvl47). Skill calculator gives lvl49 (full synergy) hydra damage 4838-5382.
(Lvl65 hydra gives around that damage you mentioned).

edit:
Now I get your exact damage, you had added all points to skills, so 49 for both bolt and ball. Dont do that. Only first 20 (hard points) affect as synergy.
Use that +skills place to add those extra points.
14k firebolt
14k fireball and 5.3k hydra as more closely to truth.

Edit2:
My necro has full block with Spirit Monarch, only 320 dex needed, so plenty of points to put elsewhere.

[Jaquiezz]

Your damage is wrong across the board. No hydra can reach 9k damage. Ever. 5k+ is very good hydra damage.

Only 1pt Warmth and ES. Get a ES CTA if possible to save loads of skill points, then dump all of that into TK. If TK isn't at 16+ hard points, your mana will drain amazingly fast.

Ever try max block with a spirit? Good luck.

Drop chutas for a hoto, CoH for a vmagi and spirit for an SS. You will get raped up and down by ghosts, bowas, BvC's, any non casters without SS. Then drop your res charms for 17/20's, or 20/5's.

[mephiztophelez]

Well then don't put points into it.
lol. yeah, right. es sork with 1pt TK.


yeah, that'll work just spiffingly.


Seems oddly high. I did pure hydra sorc, damage was around 5k (only lvl47). Skill calculator gives lvl49 (full synergy) hydra damage 4838-5382.
(Lvl65 hydra gives around that damage you mentioned).

edit:
Now I get your exact damage, you had added all points to skills, so 49 for both bolt and ball. Dont do that. Only first 20 (hard points) affect as synergy.
Use that +skills place to add those extra points.
14k firebolt
14k fireball and 5.3k hydra as more closely to truth.

Edit2:
My necro has full block with Spirit Monarch, only 320 dex needed, so plenty of points to put elsewhere.
pwnt.

i was wondering about those Hydra damage claims too. thanx for saving me the effort of working it all out.