Top 5 Hardcore Wizard Guide

Wizard Top 5 Hardcore Guide

1. The Typhon's Veil Set (Hydra) Level 111+

The Typhon's Veil Set was majorly buffed back in Season 28 and is now the first place Hardcore Wizard build for the current season.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain 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%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Delsere's Magnum Opus

(2) Set Bonus:

Casting Arcane Orb, Energy Twister, Magic Missile, Shock Pulse, Spectral Blade, Electrocute, or Arcane Torrent also casts Slow Time at a target. This effect will not trigger if the target is already inside a Slow Time bubble. The cooldown of Teleport will reset while you're inside bubbles generated from this set or cast by you.

(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, Energy Twister, Explosive Blast, Magic Missile, Shock Pulse, Spectral Blade, and Wave of Force.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces 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 the 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 shields by 100%.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect 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 and improves toughness with the Captain Crimsons Set.

Powers

Weapon: Wizardspike

Performing an attack has a 25% chance to hurl a Frozen Orb and Arcane Orbs damage 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 the Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

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

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Arcane Orb

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Delsere's Magnum Opus Tips

1. Cast three primary signature spells to get the 400% stacking damage increase from the Triumvirate source up to 3 stacks and then Frozen Orb enemies.

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

3. The Unity ring which provides a 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Delsere's Magnum Opus Set Wizard is capable of 110+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

3. Firebird's with Captain Crimson's and Aughild's Set (Spectral Blade) Level 109+

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.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain 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%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

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 that 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 Combustion stacks.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces 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:

Reduces damage taken by 15% and increases damage dealt by 30%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Reduces damage taken from elites and increases damage dealt to 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: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower 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 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: Royal Ring of Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect> Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Resource Cost Reduction > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Armor

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Firebird's Finery Tips

1. The Firebird's Finery has great defenses allowing the use of more offensive passives and skills.

2. Always maintain a high number of stacks of Combustion for the increase in damage and the 80% damage reduction from the Firebird's Finery set bonus.

3. Use Black Hole to gather mobs together, Ignite them using the 4 set bonus from Firebird's Finery Set with Disintegrate, and then finish them off with Flame Blades.

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

5. The Unity ring which provides a 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Firebird's Finery Set Wizard is capable of 109+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

4. Tal Rasha's Elements Set with Firebird's Finery Set (Meteor) Level 106+

The Tal Rasha's Elements six set bonus can be combined with the Firebird's Finery four set bonus to greatly improve the sets very weak defenses for Hardcore.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

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

Enforcer

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

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: The Typhon's Veil

(2) Set Bonus:

Double the duration of Hydras and increase the number of heads on multi-headed Hydras by two.

(4) Set Bonus:

Damage taken is reduced by 8% for each Hydra head 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 give a Spectral Buff that increases Hydra damage by 30% per stack.

Source: Winter Flurry

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

Gloves: Tasker and Theo

Increase pets attack speed 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 shields by 100%.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower 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 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 the Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

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

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

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

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

The Typhon's Veil Tips

1. Force Weapon's Deflection rune which provides a shield and can be changed to the Magic Weapon rune which gives 10% weapon damage on the final push for rankings.

2. The Unity ring which provides a 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Typhon's Veil Set Wizard is capable of 111+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

2. Delsere's Magnum Opus Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Arcane Orb) Level 110+

The second place spot goes to the Delsere's Magnum Opus Set Wizard which has an excellent offense and defense and is capable of clearing well above 100 Greater Rifts on Hardcore.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain 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%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

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 when Meteor is on the action bar and the same type of Meteor cannot fall twice.

(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: 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 that 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.

Weapon: Wizardspike

Performing an attack has a 25% chance to hurl a Frozen Orb and Arcane Orbs damage is increased by 350%.

Source: Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare

Completes the Tal Rasha's Set.

Bracers: Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer

Increases the potency of your shields by 100%.

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: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Ring of the Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Amulet: Tal Rasha's Allegiance

Completes the Tal Rasha's Set

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower 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 shields.

Powers

Weapon: The Grand Vizier

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

Armor: Mempo of Twilight

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

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Meteor

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Tal Rasha's Elements Tips

1. Rotate elements for the damage increase and All Resistance from Tal Rasha's Elements Set.

2. The Frozen Orbs cast by Wizardspike and your Sparkflint (Familiar) skill with also proc Meteors.

3. Maintain stacks of Combustion from the Firebird's Finery Set by using Disintegrate. Firebird's Finery is used primarily to gain a 80% damage reduction defensive making Tal Rasha's Elements Set viable in hardcore.

4. With the cheat death that comes from Firebird's Finery's two set bonus you have the option of replacing the cheat death passive Unstable Anomaly with an offensive passive.

Note: The Tal Rasha's Elements Set Wizard is capable of 106+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

5. Wizard Legacy of Dreams (Energy Twister) Level 99+

The weapon for this build was heavily nerfed in Season 30 which caused it to drop several Greater Rift levels but it's still better 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 for 1.5 seconds when using a channeling skill and 2% armor stacking up to 10 times.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

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: 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 the twister.

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

Your highest elemental damage increase works for all elements and 30% increased damage against elites.

Ring 2: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

Amulet: Hellfire Amulet

Gain a free random passive skill from the character class that creates the amulet.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower 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 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 potency of your shields by 100%.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Arcane Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Legacy of Dreams Energy Twister Tips

1. The Ice Climbers boots negate all of the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets.

2. If you get a low roll for Disintegrate resource cost reduction on Hergbrash's Binding you can use the Arcanot rune for your Familiar skill because it gives Arcane Power regeneration.

3. The Hellfire Amulet can be changed to the Eye of Etlich amulet which is easier to obtain and provides an effect similar to a defensive passive.

Note: The Legacy of Dreams Energy Twister Wizard is capable of 99+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

Recommended Mercenary

Templar

Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Slows enemies attacks and movement speed.

Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor

Follower cannot die.

Shield: Freeze of Deflection

Blocks have a chance of a 1.5 second Freeze.

Helm: Blind Faith

Chance of Blinding enemies on hit.