aphextwin
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Energy Shield / Orb sorc guide
Introduction
This guide is strongly recommended for hardcore characters instead of softcore. I personally used this build and I think it will become very useful for hardcore diablo players. I lasted upto level 76 with this build and died because I forgot to enable Energy Shield before I left town. This build is mainly PvM, not recommended for PvP (why would you be dueling in HC anyways). This is also a magic finding sorc as well.
Stats
There are 3 alternative ways to make this build...
1.
Strength: 84-156
Dexterity: Max block
Vitality: Rest
Energy: None
2.
Strength: 84-156
Dexterity: Max block
Vitality: (Same amount with energy, 1:1 ratio)
Energy: (Same amount with vitality, 1:1 ratio)
3.
Strength: 84-156
Dexterity: Max block
Vitality: None
Energy: Rest
I personally used the first way; however, some people may not like to use rejuv / mana pots very often therefore goes for 2 or 3. 3rd will be the most risky but most efficient as well. Just watch for Mana burn monsters. 2nd is equal with #1 and #3.
Skills
20 - Energy Shield
20 - Telekenisis
20 - Frozen Orb
20 - Cold Mastery
1 - Warmth
1 - Teleport
1 - Static Field
8 - Pre-Requisites
Rest - Ice Bolt
When you gain skill points, initially put 16 pionts into telekenisis so that every hit you take will convert 1 mana point for every 1 hit point. Eventually make your way maxing frozen orb, energy shield, and cold mastery.
Items
Helm
.//Shako (opt: socketed with Jah|Ber|Um|Ptopaz) - This is one of the best helm in the game; Don't
.//Peseant Crown - Use this helm for mid level and when you get a high enough level for shako
.//'Lore' (runeword) - Similar to peseant crown. I personally think both this and peseant crown is pretty equal.
Armor
.//Chain of Honor (runeword in an archon plate) - If you are rich, use this.
.//Tal Rasha's (opt: socketed with Jah|Ber|Um|Ptopaz) - This is my personal favourite sorc armor. Use this if you want to MF.
.//Skin of Vipermagi (opt: socketed with Jah|Ber|Um|Ptopaz) - Use this for mid levels or if you can't afford the armors stated above.
.//'Stealth' (runeword) - Use this until you are a high enough level to wear vipermagi.
Belt
.//Arach - Use this if you're not using Tals Armor
.//Glooms trap - Mana-friendly belt. Use this if you cannot afford arachs
.//Tal Rasha's - Use this for the MF bonus (including the amulet which will be mentioned in a bit)
.//Nightsmoke - Use this during low-mid level
Ring 1
.//SoJ - The best ring in my opinion
.//Rare|Crafted 10%Fcr, resist, +mana after kill Ring - Try finding a good caster ring.
.//Nagelring - use this for Low / MFing
.//Magic MF ring - max Mf on a magic ring is 50 so if you can find a 30+ MF ring, use it instead of nagel.
Ring 2
(same as ring 1)
Weapon 1
.//Wizardspike (opt: socketed with 15 resist jewel) - use this if you think your resist in hell is not good
.//Hoto - +3skill, resist, my personal favourite
.//Occulus - another personal favourite, great mods except not that great resist
.//'Spirit' (runeword in sword) - Use this for low / mid level. Great weapon and cheap
Shield 1
.//Stormshield (socketed with Ber|Um|Pdia) - Heavy strength requirement makes me not look highly to this shield. However the mods are great.
.//Whistan's (set round shield socketed with Pdia|Um) - Many has looked down to this shield but it has awesome block and I personally use it
.//'Spirit' (runeword in a monarch) - great mods; however block may lack a bit (do not add points into dex for max block if you plan to use this)
.//'Rhyme' (runeword in a grim shield) - use this for MFing
.//Lidless (socketed with Um|Pdia) - Not recommended. If you plan to use this shield, don't add points into dex
Weapon 2
.//'Call to arm' (runeword in any weapon) - Use this for BO.
Shield 2
.//'Spirit' (runeword in a monarch) - for + skill with CTA
.//Lidless - for + skill with CTA
.//Sigon's - for + skill with CTA
Gloves
.//Frostburn - adds mana so that your safe from dying.
.//Magefist - I personally do not like it with this build as it just regenerates mana and fcr won't help Orb, but does help teleporting.
.//Chance guard - Use this for MF.
Boots
.//Silkweave - Mana-friendly boots
.//(Eth)Sandstorms - Poison resist may be low when making this build so use these if your poison resist is not good
.//War Travs - Use this for MF
Amulet
.//Mara's - Personal favourite, +skill and resist.
.//Rare|Crafted Caster amulet - try to find a +2 sorc with good resist, FCR, etc.
.//Tal Rasha's - Use this if you are wearing the other pieces of tals
Merc[/u]
Use a NM Act 2 Defensive or Combat. Items are as followed
Helm: (opt: upped / eth) Vampire Gaze with 20% DR 8 LL
Armor: (opt: upped / eth) Shaftstop
Weapon: eth Botd Ghostspear | (opt: eth) Any Unique Elite Polearm, Spear
Tips and Tricks
.//Try to avoid Manaburn monsters. They will eat your mana so you may not be able to absorb any additional dmg.
.//Always cast Energyshield. If you are in Hell difficulty and you don't have Energy Shield, I guarantee your HP will go down very fast. That's how my level 76 died.
.//Keep a good amount of rejuvs and mana potions. That way if your low on mana from absorbing, you can refill it.
.//Try not to PvP. There is some penalty with E-Shield so that you won't be able to absorb as much damage from monsters.
.//Beware of MLEBs (Multishot, Lightning Monsters). Probably the worst type of monsters you can come across. It'll be worse if the monster has convic.
.//This sorc may struggle a bit in the beginning, but once you get to lvl 24, it will be much ezier to cope with. Depend on your act2 merc (don't get rogues, for they will become retarded when a monster gets near her) for killing low level monsters.
.//Get enchanted. If you find a chant game and you're at a low level, enter it. Get enchanted and use a hunter's bow and start killing. If the chant is good you should be able to kill everything you see in one hit. Watch out as well; some sorc are Tppkers so try to stay away from them.
.//Avoid parties, cowing and runs. Tppkers are likely to stay near a cow tp and tppk you. Try to solo your way through.
.//Always keep one slot for rejuvs. Although rejuvs maybe hard to obtain, you can make them, with 3 HealPotions, 3 manapotions + 1 chipped gem, transmuted inside a horadric cube. If you cannot get many rejuvs, swap it in a slot so that it is in the first belt slot and can be easily accessed with a push of a button.
Conclusion
This will probably be my last guide before I leave battleforums. For any questions, concerns, comments, w/e, PM me and ill get back to you after a long time
.
Introduction
This guide is strongly recommended for hardcore characters instead of softcore. I personally used this build and I think it will become very useful for hardcore diablo players. I lasted upto level 76 with this build and died because I forgot to enable Energy Shield before I left town. This build is mainly PvM, not recommended for PvP (why would you be dueling in HC anyways). This is also a magic finding sorc as well.
Stats
There are 3 alternative ways to make this build...
1.
Strength: 84-156
Dexterity: Max block
Vitality: Rest
Energy: None
2.
Strength: 84-156
Dexterity: Max block
Vitality: (Same amount with energy, 1:1 ratio)
Energy: (Same amount with vitality, 1:1 ratio)
3.
Strength: 84-156
Dexterity: Max block
Vitality: None
Energy: Rest
I personally used the first way; however, some people may not like to use rejuv / mana pots very often therefore goes for 2 or 3. 3rd will be the most risky but most efficient as well. Just watch for Mana burn monsters. 2nd is equal with #1 and #3.
Skills
20 - Energy Shield
20 - Telekenisis
20 - Frozen Orb
20 - Cold Mastery
1 - Warmth
1 - Teleport
1 - Static Field
8 - Pre-Requisites
Rest - Ice Bolt
When you gain skill points, initially put 16 pionts into telekenisis so that every hit you take will convert 1 mana point for every 1 hit point. Eventually make your way maxing frozen orb, energy shield, and cold mastery.
Items
Helm
.//Shako (opt: socketed with Jah|Ber|Um|Ptopaz) - This is one of the best helm in the game; Don't
.//Peseant Crown - Use this helm for mid level and when you get a high enough level for shako
.//'Lore' (runeword) - Similar to peseant crown. I personally think both this and peseant crown is pretty equal.
Armor
.//Chain of Honor (runeword in an archon plate) - If you are rich, use this.
.//Tal Rasha's (opt: socketed with Jah|Ber|Um|Ptopaz) - This is my personal favourite sorc armor. Use this if you want to MF.
.//Skin of Vipermagi (opt: socketed with Jah|Ber|Um|Ptopaz) - Use this for mid levels or if you can't afford the armors stated above.
.//'Stealth' (runeword) - Use this until you are a high enough level to wear vipermagi.
Belt
.//Arach - Use this if you're not using Tals Armor
.//Glooms trap - Mana-friendly belt. Use this if you cannot afford arachs
.//Tal Rasha's - Use this for the MF bonus (including the amulet which will be mentioned in a bit)
.//Nightsmoke - Use this during low-mid level
Ring 1
.//SoJ - The best ring in my opinion
.//Rare|Crafted 10%Fcr, resist, +mana after kill Ring - Try finding a good caster ring.
.//Nagelring - use this for Low / MFing
.//Magic MF ring - max Mf on a magic ring is 50 so if you can find a 30+ MF ring, use it instead of nagel.
Ring 2
(same as ring 1)
Weapon 1
.//Wizardspike (opt: socketed with 15 resist jewel) - use this if you think your resist in hell is not good
.//Hoto - +3skill, resist, my personal favourite
.//Occulus - another personal favourite, great mods except not that great resist
.//'Spirit' (runeword in sword) - Use this for low / mid level. Great weapon and cheap
Shield 1
.//Stormshield (socketed with Ber|Um|Pdia) - Heavy strength requirement makes me not look highly to this shield. However the mods are great.
.//Whistan's (set round shield socketed with Pdia|Um) - Many has looked down to this shield but it has awesome block and I personally use it
.//'Spirit' (runeword in a monarch) - great mods; however block may lack a bit (do not add points into dex for max block if you plan to use this)
.//'Rhyme' (runeword in a grim shield) - use this for MFing
.//Lidless (socketed with Um|Pdia) - Not recommended. If you plan to use this shield, don't add points into dex
Weapon 2
.//'Call to arm' (runeword in any weapon) - Use this for BO.
Shield 2
.//'Spirit' (runeword in a monarch) - for + skill with CTA
.//Lidless - for + skill with CTA
.//Sigon's - for + skill with CTA
Gloves
.//Frostburn - adds mana so that your safe from dying.
.//Magefist - I personally do not like it with this build as it just regenerates mana and fcr won't help Orb, but does help teleporting.
.//Chance guard - Use this for MF.
Boots
.//Silkweave - Mana-friendly boots
.//(Eth)Sandstorms - Poison resist may be low when making this build so use these if your poison resist is not good
.//War Travs - Use this for MF
Amulet
.//Mara's - Personal favourite, +skill and resist.
.//Rare|Crafted Caster amulet - try to find a +2 sorc with good resist, FCR, etc.
.//Tal Rasha's - Use this if you are wearing the other pieces of tals
Merc[/u]
Use a NM Act 2 Defensive or Combat. Items are as followed
Helm: (opt: upped / eth) Vampire Gaze with 20% DR 8 LL
Armor: (opt: upped / eth) Shaftstop
Weapon: eth Botd Ghostspear | (opt: eth) Any Unique Elite Polearm, Spear
Tips and Tricks
.//Try to avoid Manaburn monsters. They will eat your mana so you may not be able to absorb any additional dmg.
.//Always cast Energyshield. If you are in Hell difficulty and you don't have Energy Shield, I guarantee your HP will go down very fast. That's how my level 76 died.
.//Keep a good amount of rejuvs and mana potions. That way if your low on mana from absorbing, you can refill it.
.//Try not to PvP. There is some penalty with E-Shield so that you won't be able to absorb as much damage from monsters.
.//Beware of MLEBs (Multishot, Lightning Monsters). Probably the worst type of monsters you can come across. It'll be worse if the monster has convic.
.//This sorc may struggle a bit in the beginning, but once you get to lvl 24, it will be much ezier to cope with. Depend on your act2 merc (don't get rogues, for they will become retarded when a monster gets near her) for killing low level monsters.
.//Get enchanted. If you find a chant game and you're at a low level, enter it. Get enchanted and use a hunter's bow and start killing. If the chant is good you should be able to kill everything you see in one hit. Watch out as well; some sorc are Tppkers so try to stay away from them.
.//Avoid parties, cowing and runs. Tppkers are likely to stay near a cow tp and tppk you. Try to solo your way through.
.//Always keep one slot for rejuvs. Although rejuvs maybe hard to obtain, you can make them, with 3 HealPotions, 3 manapotions + 1 chipped gem, transmuted inside a horadric cube. If you cannot get many rejuvs, swap it in a slot so that it is in the first belt slot and can be easily accessed with a push of a button.
Conclusion
This will probably be my last guide before I leave battleforums. For any questions, concerns, comments, w/e, PM me and ill get back to you after a long time
.
