Critical Mass Melee Wizard

[Eric Xanthu]

In a desperate bid to take over as trend-setter, I'm actually switching back to vanilla for a while. I'm just not that happy with the durability of the shocknado on some runs. I'd rather kill pretty fast and never die than tear through stuff but die on bad mod combinations. I switch every few days; today is vanilla day (with a dash of Arcane Destruction perhaps)!

[MrNajsman]

I think shocknado is probably going to be my new default build because of trash. The "classic" build is amazing for skipping trash and killing elites, but it is too slow for killing trash. SHocknado gets trash dead a lot faster - and since we're supposed to kill trash now...

Agreed. Shocking Aspect, especially combined with deep freeze, is crazy fast in a big mob compared to classic/vanilla. Mix in Arcane Destruction and its almost ridiculous.

In a desperate bid to take over as trend-setter, I'm actually switching back to vanilla for a while. I'm just not that happy with the durability of the shocknado on some runs. I'd rather kill pretty fast and never die than tear through stuff but die on bad mod combinations. I switch every few days; today is vanilla day (with a dash of Arcane Destruction perhaps)!

It is a bit risky, yes. The loss of Prismatic armor is lethal sometimes. I still havent switched back, but the extra deaths have got me to skip a bit magic find in favor of more all res and dps (cant afford it all).

[Eric Xanthu]

For now I'm going Vanilla, dropping Teleport, and using Arcane Destruction on right click. I don't think I lose any appreciable speed and I gain a monster finisher. Call it my compromise toward Shocknado, which I think I'd only run if I picked up another 1k armor and 100 res.

You're right though, Shocknado is and always will be king of killing 40 Stygian Crawlers instantly.

[Astrognomix]

For now I'm going Vanilla, dropping Teleport, and using Arcane Destruction on right click. I don't think I lose any appreciable speed and I gain a monster finisher. Call it my compromise toward Shocknado, which I think I'd only run if I picked up another 1k armor and 100 res.

I tried Shocknado build the other day solo and it just isn't survivable enough for me with about 700 base res. Not dying being the ultimate way to save time, I use pretty close to vanilla aside from the switch to SC . Rather than tele, I am also using Arcane Destruction which is simply epic... Rolling with a Monk using Cyclone Strike it is amazing, and there is no arguing a faster way to kill trash mobs than simply one shotting them...

[Eric Xanthu]

I tried Shocknado build the other day solo and it just isn't survivable enough for me with about 700 base res. Not dying being the ultimate way to save time, I use pretty close to vanilla aside from the switch to SC . Rather than tele, I am also using Arcane Destruction which is simply epic... Rolling with a Monk using Cyclone Strike it is amazing, and there is no arguing a faster way to kill trash mobs than simply one shotting them...

Cyclone Strike is interesting...the only limit on AD being its relatively low range. Wish I had a monk in my circle of friends...

I also thought to add, I've dropped Blur and taken Cold Blooded on the passives front. With 1250 physres and 7000 armor, Blur is just extraneous.

[NBarnes]

I was wondering; why Storm Chaser? The rune effect appears to be totally useless if one isn't running a Signature spell, which most of these builds don't. What am I missing?

[kestegs]

I was wondering; why Storm Chaser? The rune effect appears to be totally useless if one isn't running a Signature spell, which most of these builds don't. What am I missing?

It's all about the proc coefficient. SC has a far higher one than the rest of the runes.

[DarlosND]

It's all about the proc coefficient. SC has a far higher one than the rest of the runes.

Ridiculously so. To the point where it was probably unintentional. I think the regular tornados you throw are supposed to have the same proc coefficient as all the other runes. The big tornado that comes out when you use a signature spell is the one that's supposed to have the higher coefficient, I assume.

Which means at some point we'll probably be losing this. Now that said, this new info about Crowd Control getting stronger in the future could be fantastic news for Wizards. Less proc coefficient might not be so bad if we can lock enemies down a lot harder.

[magicrectangle]

Picked up a wizardspike for 200k, just to try it out. The proc is balls, but the weapon itself would be pretty good for a low-end CM wizard. The extra resists help make up for a lack on armor, and the high attack speed helps compensate for lower crit chances. And of course the AP-on-crit. You won't find a wand that does better at that price range. I think this is the new entry-level critical mass weapon. Obviously when you can afford a wand that has the AP on crit but also has crit damage and/or a socket, you'll be wanting to abandon it.

[NBarnes]

I see magicrectangle is running the Enchantress in his video in the first post, but moreno running the Templar in his video. Anybody have thoughts on the choice between them?

EDIT: Replaced 'Eric Xanthu' with 'moreno' for proper accreditation. We regret the error.