Top 5 Wizard Builds Guide | Diablo 3 Guides

Wizard Top 5 Builds Guide

1st. The Typhon's Veil Set (Hydra)

The Typhon's Veil Set Wizard was majorly buffed way back in Season 28 and remains in first place for the top Wizard builds for Greater Rift progression.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Enforcer

Gives your pets increased damage and decreases your pets' damage taken by 90%.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Skills & Passives

Skills

Electrocute - Surge of Power

Hydra - Frost Hydra

Blizzard - Apocalypse

Magic Weapon - Force Weapon

Black Hole - Absolute Zero

Storm Armor - Scramble

Passives

Cold Blooded

Audacity

Unstable Anomaly

Galvanized Ward

Equipment

Set: The Typhon's Veil

(2) Set Bonus:

Doubles the duration of Hydras and increases the number of heads on your multi-headed Hydras by two.

(4) Set Bonus:

Damage taken is now reduced by 8% for each Hydra head you have alive. Each time you take damage a Hydra head dies and a head cannot die more than once every two seconds.

(6) Set Bonus:

Hydras now deal 4000% increased damage for each Hydra head alive.

Weapon: Fragment of Destiny

Signature spells attack 50% faster, deal triple damage, and increase your damage with Hydra by 30% stacking up to 10 times.

Source: Winter Flurry

Hydras now deal 150% increased damage to enemies inside the area of effect of your Blizzard.

Gloves: Tasker and Theo

Increases the attack speed of pets by 50%.

Belt: The Shame of Delsere

Signature skills attack 50% faster and restore 12 Arcane Power.

Bracers: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer

Increases the potency of your Wizard life shields by 100%.

Ring (Non-Seasonal): Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Ring 2 (Non-Seasonal): The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet (Non-Seasonal): The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power (when active)

Note: When there is a seasonal Kanai's Cube legendary power you should use the below items instead.

Seasonal Ring: Focus

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Ring 2: Restraint

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

Gives up to 100% increased damage and 50% increased damage taken if you haven't taken damage recently.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your Wizard shields.

Powers

Weapon: Serpent Sparker

You may now have one extra Hydra head at a time and the damage of Hydra is increased by 300%.

Armor: The Magistrate

Your Hydras now periodically cast Frost Nova and deal 300% increased damage.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > % Damage to Hydra

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Area Damage > % Damage to Hydra

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > Life Percent

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Cold Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > All Resistance

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Note: You should raise the priority of defensive stats like Vitality and life recovery if you have low paragons.

The Typhon's Veil Tips

1. Your cold Hydras and their Frost Novas from the The Magistrate legendary power chill enemies which triggers the damage increase on the Bane of the Trapped legendary gem.

2. The Force Weapon Magic Weapon rune gives 10% more weapon damage but it can optionally be switched to the Deflection rune for a life based damage shield at lower paragon levels.

2nd. Delsere's Magnum Opus Set (Arcane Orb)

The Delsere's Magnum Opus Arcane Orb Wizard was significantly buffed offensively way back in season 30 and comes in at the second place spot.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

Skills & Passives

Skills

Electrocute - Surge of Power

Arcane Orb - Frozen Orb

Black Hole - Spellsteal

Slow Time - Point of No Return

Magic Weapon - Force Weapon

Storm Armor - Shocking Aspect

Passives

Cold Blooded

Audacity

Unstable Anomaly

Galvanized Ward

Equipment

Set: Delsere's Magnum Opus

(2) Set Bonus:

Casting Arcane Orb, Electrocute, and various other skills casts Slow Time at the enemy unless the target is already inside of a Slow Time bubble. The cooldown of Teleport resets while you're inside of a Slow Time.

(4) Set Bonus:

You take 75% reduced damage while you have a Slow Time active. Allies inside Slow Time gain half this benefit.

(6) Set Bonus:

Enemies affected by your Slow Time and for 5 seconds after exiting take 20,000% increased damage from your Arcane Orb, Electrocute, and a variety of other skills.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces your cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is now increased by a percentage of your cooldown reduction and damage taken is now reduced by a percentage of your resource cost reduction.

Weapon: Unstable Scepter

The damage of Arcane Orb is increased by 450% and its explosion is triggered twice.

Source: Triumvirate

Your signature spells now increase the damage of Arcane Orb by 400% stacking up to 3 times.

Bracer: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracers

Increases the potency of your Wizard shields by 100%.

Ring (Non-Seasonal): Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Ring 2 (Non-Seasonal): The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet (Non-Seasonal): The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power (when active)

Note: When there is a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use the below items instead with the seasonal power.

Seasonal Ring: Focus

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Ring 2: Restraint

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

Gives up to 100% increased damage and 50% increased damage taken if you haven't taken damage recently.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Topaz

Gives resource cost reduction which increases your toughness with the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set.

Powers

Weapon: Wizardspike

Gives a 25% chance to hurl a Frozen Orb on attack and the damage of Arcane Orb is increased by 350%.

Armor: Crown of the Primus

Slow Time now gains the effect of every rune except the Point of No Return rune and permanently follows you.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Resource Cost Reduction > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent > Armor

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Cold Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > % Damage to Arcane Orb > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Delsere's Magnum Opus Tips

1. Cast three primary signature spells to get the 400% stacking damage increase from the Triumvirate source and then use Frozen Orb to attack enemies.

2. The Force Weapon Magic Weapon rune gives 10% more weapon damage but it can optionally be switched to the Deflection rune for a life based damage shield at lower paragon levels.

3rd. Firebird's Finery Set (Spectral Blade)

The third place spot goes to the Firebird's Finery Spectral Blade Wizard which is a primary skill build variation that deals very high damage while still being excellent defensively.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

Skills & Passives

Skills

Spectral Blade - Frost Blade

Disintegrate - Chaos Nexus

Black Hole - Spellsteal

Magic Weapon - Force Weapon

Explosive Blast - Chain Reaction

Storm Armor - Shocking Aspect

Passives

Conflaguration

Audacity

Unstable Anomaly

Galvanized Ward

Equipment

Set: Firebird's Finery

(2) Set Bonus:

Disintegrate now ignites enemies causing them to take 3000% weapon damage as fire. When you die a Meteor falls from the sky and revives you with a 60 second cooldown.

(4) Set Bonus:

Casting Disintegrate adds Combustion stacks which reduce the cooldown of Teleport by 2% stacking up to 50 times and you gain 80% damage reduction while maintaining any stacks of Combustion.

(6) Set Bonus:

You gain 5000% increased damage while an enemy is Ignited. Hitting an enemy with a non-channeled fire spell deals Ignite damage multiplied by Combustion stacks.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces your cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is now increased by a percentage of your cooldown reduction and damage taken is now reduced by a percentage of your resource cost reduction.

Set: Aughild's Authority

(2) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt by 30% and reduces your damage taken by 15%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt against elites and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

Weapon: Fragment of Destiny

Signature spells cast 50% faster and deal triple damage.

Source: Firebird's Eye

Completes the Firebird's Finery set.

Ring (Non-Seasonal): Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Ring 2 (Non-Seasonal): The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet (Non-Seasonal): The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power (when active)

Note: When there is a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use the below items instead with the seasonal power.

Seasonal Ring: Focus

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Ring 2: Restraint

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

Gives up to 100% increased damage and 50% increased damage taken if you haven't taken damage recently.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your Wizard shields.

Powers

Weapon: Orb of Infinite Depth

Explosive Blast increases your damage by 10% and reduces your damage taken by 20% stacking up to 4 times.

Armor: The Shame of Delsere

Signature spells now cast 50% faster and restore 12 Arcane Power.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Resource Cost Reduction > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent > Armor

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Armor

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > All Resistance

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Firebird's Finery Tips

1. Always maintain a high number of Combustion stacks for a damage increase and the 80% reduced damage taken from the Firebird's Finery set bonuses.

2. You should use Black Hole to gather mobs together, Ignite them with Disintegrate for increased damage and 80% reduced damage taken from the Firebird's Finery set, and then finish them off with Flame Blades.

3. Make sure to keep Focus and Restraint active by using a primary skill and spending skill every 5 seconds.

4th. Tal Rasha's Elements Set (Meteor)

The Tal Rasha's Elements set was nerfed from 2000% increased damage per element to 1000% increased damage per element but it also received a new legendary power with the Mempo of Twilight helmet.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

Skills & Passives

Skills

Electrocute - Surge of Power

Meteor - Comet

Disintegrate - Intensify

Black Hole - Spellsteal

Familiar - Sparkflint

Storm Armor - Shocking Aspect

Passives

Elemental Exposure

Cold Blooded

Audacity

Galvanized Ward

Equipment

Set: Tal Rasha's Elements

(2) Set Bonus:

Damaging with arcane, cold, fire, or lightning damage grants immunity to that element and causes a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky when Meteor is on your action bar. The same type of Meteor cannot fall twice in a row.

(4) Set Bonus:

Arcane, cold, fire, and lightning damage now each increase your all resistances by 100% for 8 seconds.

(6) Set Bonus:

Arcane, cold, fire, and lightning damage now each add a stack of 1000% increased damage for 8 seconds. Each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds up to a maximum of 8 seconds.

Set: Aughild's Authority

(2) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt by 30% and reduces your damage taken by 15%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt against elites and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

Weapon: Wizardspike

Gives a 25% chance to hurl a Frozen Orb on attack and the damage of Arcane Orb is increased by 350%.

Source: Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare

Completes the Tal Rasha's Elements Set.

Helmet: Mempo of Twilight

The Meteor Shower rune is now applied to all cast Meteors and Meteor deals 400% increased damage.

Boots: Nilfur's Boast

Increases the damage of Meteor by 600%. When Meteor hits 3 or less enemies its damage is increased by 900%.

Ring (Non-Seasonal): Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Ring 2 (Non-Seasonal): The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet (Non-Seasonal): The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power (when active)

Note: When there is a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use the below items instead with the seasonal power.

Seasonal Ring: Focus

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Ring 2: Restraint

Set: Gain 50% increased damage after using a primary and 50% increased damage after using a spending skill.

Seasonal Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

Gives up to 100% increased damage and 50% increased damage taken if you haven't taken damage recently.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your Wizard shields.

Powers

Weapon: The Grand Vizier

Reduces the resource cost of Meteor by 50% and increases its damage by 400%.

Armor: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer

Increases the size of your Wizard's life shields by 100%.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Area Damage > Life Percent

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent > Armor

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Cold Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > % Damage to Meteor > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

Tal Rasha's Elements Tips

1. You should rotate elements for the increased damage and all resistances on the Tal Rasha's Elements set.

2. The Frozen Orbs from Wizardspike and the projectiles from your Sparkflint Familiar also create Meteors with the Tal Rasha's Elements set bonuses.

5th. Legacy of Dreams (Energy Twister)

The weapon for this build was nerfed way back in Season 30 which caused this build to drop multiple Greater Rift levels but it's still a stronger build than the Vyr's Amazing Arcana Set Wizard.

Legendary Gems

Legacy of Dreams

Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken with no sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.

Taeguk

Gives increased damage when using a channeling skill and 2% increased armor stacking up to 10 times.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

Skills & Passives

Skills

Magic Weapon - Force Weapon

Disintegrate - Intensify

Black Hole - Spellsteal

Energy Twister - Wicked Ward

Familiar - Sparkflint

Storm Armor - Shocking Aspect

Passives

Power Hungry

Audacity

Conflaguration

Galvanized Ward

Equipment

Weapon: The Twisted Sword

Energy Twister damage is increased by 150% for each twister you have out, up to 3 twisters. The Raging Storm rune is automatically applied to Energy Twister and the twisters can merge with up to 3 additional twisters.

Source: Etched Sigil

While channeling Disintegration your Energy Twister deals 250% increased damage and is cast every second.

Helm: Leoric's Crown

Doubles the effect of the gem socketed in this item.

Chest Season 33: Cindercoat

Reduces the resource cost of your fire skills and increases their damage by 20%.

Chest Non-Seasonal: Aquila Cuirass

While above 90% primary resources your damage taken is reduced by 50%.

Shoulders: Mantle of Channeling

Gain 25% increased damage and take 25% reduced damage while channeling a skill.

Legs: Blackthorne Jousting Mail

Gives a 20% elemental damage increase.

Bracers: Ranslor's Folly

The damage of Energy Twister is increased by 300% and now pulls lesser enemies into your twisters.

Hands: Stone Gauntlets

Getting hit increases your armor by 50% stacking up to 5 times.

Belt: Hergbrash's Bindings

Reduces the Arcane Power cost of Disintegrate by 65%.

Boots: Ice Climbers

Immune to freeze and immobilize effects and negates the negative effects of Stone Gauntlets.

Ring: Stone of Jordan

Makes elemental damage increases work for all elements and gives 30% increased damage against elites.

Ring 2: Halo of Karini

Gives 80% reduced damage taken if your Shock Armor has recently hit an enemy more than 15 yards away.

Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

Gives up to 100% increased damage and 50% increased damage taken if you haven't taken damage recently.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your Wizard shields.

Powers

Weapon: Valthek's Rebuke

Energy Twister now travels in a straight path and deals 400% increased damage.

Armor: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer

Increases the size of your Wizard's life shields by 100%.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

Gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Seasonal: Aquila Cuirass

While above 90% primary resources your damage taken is reduced by 50%.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Area Damage > Life Percent

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent > Armor

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Arcane Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > All Resistance

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Legacy of Dreams Energy Twister Tips

1. The Ice Climbers boots are used primarily to negate the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets.

2. The Force Weapon Magic Weapon rune gives 10% more weapon damage but it can optionally be switched to the Deflection rune for a life based shield at lower paragon levels.

Recommended Mercenary

Templar

Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Slows enemies' attack speed and movement speed.

Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor

Your follower cannot die.

Shield: Freeze of Deflection

Blocks have a chance to freeze enemies for 1.5 second.

Helm: Blind Faith

Gives a chance to blind enemies on hit.

Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)

Town portal is uninterruptable and while casting town portal you gain a protective shield.