Top 5 Wizard Builds Guide | Diablo 3 Guides

Wizard Top 5 Builds Guide

1. 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 new season for the top Wizard builds.

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 Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

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 a Slow Time bubble. The cooldown of Teleport resets while you're inside Slow Time.

(4) Set Bonus:

You take 75% reduced damage while you have a Slow Time active. Allies inside your Slow Time gain half 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 various 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 increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of 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 increase the damage of Arcane Orb by 400% stacking up to 3 times.

Bracer: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracers

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

Ring: Halo of Karini

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

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

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

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

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

Season 33

Note: These items should be used instead for Season 33 with the addition of a fourth Kanai's Cube power.

Season 33 Ring: Focus

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

Season 33 Ring 2: Restraint

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

Season 33 Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

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

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for intelligence characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Topaz

Gives resource cost reduction which gives toughness with the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set equipped.

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

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

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

Season 33: 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 > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

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% damage increase from the Triumvirate source which stacks up to 3 times and then Frozen Orb enemies for damage.

2. The Force Weapon Magic Weapon rune which gives 10% more weapon damage can be switched to the Deflection rune for a life shield for better defenses at low paragon levels.

3. Cooldown Reduction and Resource Cost Reduction increase your damage dealt and reduce your damage taken with the Captain Crimsons Set equipped.

3. Firebird's with Captain Crimson's and Aughild's 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 at close range and has great defenses.

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 Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Equipment

Set: Firebird's Finery

(2) Set Bonus:

Disintegrate 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% per stack stacking up to 50 times and the Wizard gains 80% damage reduction while maintaining any Combustion stacks.

(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 your 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 increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of 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 by 30% 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: Halo of Karini

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

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

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

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

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

Season 33

Note: For Season 33, use these items instead with the addition of the fourth Kanai's Cube power.

Season 33 Ring: Focus

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

Season 33 Ring 2: Restraint

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

Season 33 Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

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

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

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

Powers

Weapon: Orb of Infinite Depth

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

Armor: The Shame of Delsere

Signature spells 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).

Season 33: 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 > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

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 stacks of Combustion for the increased damage and 80% reduced damage taken from the Firebird's Finery Set bonus.

2. You should use Black Hole to gather mobs together, Ignite them with Disintegrate for the set bonus from 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 five seconds.

4. Cooldown Reduction and Resource Cost Reduction increase your damage dealt and reduce your damage taken with the Captain Crimsons Trimmings Set equipped.

4. Tal Rasha's Elements Set with Aughild's Set (Meteor)

The Tal Rasha's Elements set bonus was nerfed in Season 30 from 2000% increased damage per element to 1000% damage but 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.

Enforcer

Increases the damage of your pets and decreases their damage taken by 90%.

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

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

(6) Set Bonus:

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

Weapon: Fragment of Destiny

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

Source: Winter Flurry

Hydras deal 150% increased damage to enemies inside the area of effect of 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: Halo of Karini

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

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

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

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

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

Season 33

Note: For Season 33, use these items instead with the addition of the fourth Kanai's Cube 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 recently taken damage.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

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

Powers

Weapon: Serpent Sparker

You may have one more 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).

Season 33: 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 > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

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

The Typhon's Veil Tips

1. The Force Weapon Magic Weapon rune which gives 10% more weapon damage can be switched to the Deflection rune for a life shield for better defenses at low paragon levels.

2. Your cold Hydras and their Frost Novas from the The Magistrate Kanai's Cube power chills enemies which triggers the damage increase from the Bane of the Trapped legendary gem.

2. Delsere's Magnum Opus Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Arcane Orb)

The second place spot goes to the Delsere's Magnum Opus Wizard Set which was greatly buffed offensively back in Season 30.

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 Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Equipment

Set: Tal Rasha's Elements

(2) Set Bonus:

Damaging with Arcane, Cold, Fire, or Lightning will grant immunity to that element and cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky if Meteor is on the action bar. The same type of Meteor cannot fall twice in a row.

(4) Set Bonus:

Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning damage each increase your All Resistance by 100% for 8 seconds.

(6) Set Bonus:

Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning damage 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 by 30% 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

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

Boots: Nilfur's Boast

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

Ring: Halo of Karini

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

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

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

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

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

Season 33

Note: For Season 33, use these items instead with the addition of the fourth Kanai's Cube power.

Season 33 Ring: Focus

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

Season 33 Ring 2: Restraint

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

Season 33 Amulet: Squirt's Necklace

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

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

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

Powers

Weapon: The Grand Vizier

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

Armor: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer

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

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

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

Season 33: 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 > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

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. Rotate elemental skills to gain increased damage and resistances with the Tal Rasha's Elements Set.

2. The Frozen Orbs from Wizardspike and the projectiles from Sparkflint (Familiar) also create Meteors because they deal cold and fire damage.

5. Wizard Legacy of Dreams (Energy Twister)

The weapon for this build was heavily nerfed in Season 30 which caused this build to drop several Greater Rift levels but it's still much better offensively and defensively than the Vyr's Amazing Arcana Set.

Legendary Gems

Legacy of Dreams

Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken without sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.

Taeguk

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

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Equipment

Weapon: The Twisted Sword

Energy Twister damage is increased by 150% for each twister you have out, up to 3. The Raging Storm rune is automatically applied to Energy Twister and the tornado merges with up to 3 additional Energy 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 gems socketed in this item.

Chest Season 33: Cindercoat

Reduces resource cost of fire skills and increases the damage of fire skills.

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

Energy Twisters damage is increased by 300% and 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 (including the negative effects of Stone Gauntlets).

Ring: Stone of Jordan

Makes your 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 recently taken damage.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your Wizard life 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 life shields by 100%.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

Rotates through damage types and gives a 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Season 33: Aquila Cuirass

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

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 Force Weapon Magic Weapon rune which gives 10% more weapon damage can be switched to the Deflection rune for a life shield for better defenses at low paragon levels.

2. The Ice Climbers boots negate both of the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets gloves.