Which Signature skill makes the most sense?

[RazeBarb]

I've tried Magic missile with Seeker rune and am currently using Electrocute with Bolts rune.

I like how fast it is and that it pierces through multiple enemies, but I wonder if there is a better option?
My crit chance lies around 15-25% depending on loadout and crit damage is at 150-190%

[Snerra]

Depends on the rest of your build. MM/seeker is always solid, though.

[magicrectangle]

Magic Missil /Seeker and Shock Pulse / Piercing Orb are the two most popular signature spells, and for good reason.

Seeker is good single target damage, and great for kiting and LoSing elite packs, as you don't have to actually target them to hit. You can shoot around corners, fire in the general direction of stuff as you run screaming away, etc.

Piercing orb does less damage than seeker, and is dumbfire, but it hits multiple enemies. If you can get enemies to line up (not too hard when kiting) it can be good for that. It is also clearly better for killing trash than seeker.

Most of the other signatures/runes aren't really used that much, save for novelty or rather niche builds (deep cuts in a melee build that has little/no ap-on-crit).

When you say "electrocute with bolts rune" I assume you're referring to lightning blast. The damage on lightning blast is lower than piercing orb, but it does travel faster, which can be nice. The damage difference is enough to convince most people to use piercing orb instead, but if you like lightning blast, go for it.

[Axamas]

Does anybody use shock pulse/explosive bolts ? it 's a fun crowd destruction spell.
very nice when levelling but maybe unsafe in Inferno ?

[magicrectangle]

Does anybody use shock pulse/explosive bolts ? it 's a fun crowd destruction spell.
very nice when levelling but maybe unsafe in Inferno ?

I loved that spell in normal difficulty, but yeah, it isn't particularly viable in inferno. You have to get right up in their faces, which is really only viable with a crit-mass build, and explosive bolts isn't any good at procing crit mass. Add to that the fact that with inferno HP amounts the explosions don't really do much damage, and it just isn't any good to use.

[JackalYYC]

I've been using Spectral Blade~Thrown Blades as my main, with Explosive Blast~Short Fuse to much success. It's the closest thing to a "melee wizard" that I've been able to make work. There are quite a few scenarios that make it hectic as all hell, specifically champion packs, but the damage it puts out is huge.

[nZifnab]

The problem with electrocute + lightning blast is that it fires a little... *too* fast. It's almost like a channeled spell in that you can't just fire-run-fire-run like you can with MM or shock pulse+piercing orb.

Pretty much every inferno-farming wizard is either using MM with seeker, or shock pulse with piercing orb... Or Spectral Blades with deep cuts if they're going melee and don't have a lot of AP-on-crit.

If you don't like the single-target-ness of magic missile (frankly I love it, I can shoot around corners while kiting and mortars can't hit me!), then I'd definitely suggest piercing orb.

[Painman]

Chain Lightning doesn't seem to get much love. I just... can't bear the idea of getting rid of it. I've loved it ever since way back in Normal, and still use it in A2 Inferno.

It actually will shoot around corners, to a degree. If you can zap one enemy, and there are 5 more behind it around the corner/behind the bush/through the doorway, they'll get zapped too. It also casts very fast, it's insta-hit, and crits well.

It's a lot like D2's CL actually.

MM and PO do have their advantages. But CL deserves a chance.

[magicrectangle]

chain lightning isn't as kite friendly because you have to actually target an enemy, rather than just casting it behind you. It certainly isn't bad though.

[Tab]

I used CL all the way up to the start of Act 3 Inferno, where I found it much better than the other options for my playstyle - I was only using my signature spells when I had time to stand and do extra damage anyway. From Act 3 onwards though, those opportunities were rare enough that I've just ditched my signature all together so I can use Mirror Image, Teleport and Force Weapon at once. I tried Seeker Missiles out too, but they just didn't seem worth the skill slot to me.

I still go back to Cl whenever I'm farming act 1 - I've got enough resistances to just stand in the middle of 10 cultists and melt through them with it.