Hardcore & Softcore Builds
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, Electrocute, and multiple other skills.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Topaz
Gives resource cost reduction and improves toughness with the Captain Crimsons Set.
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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 Royal Grandeur
One less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).
Season 33: Convention of Elements
Rotates through damage types and gives an occasional 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 > 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% damage increase from the Triumvirate source stacking up to 3 times and then Frozen Orb enemies for damage.
2. Cooldown Reduction and Resource Cost Reduction increase your damage dealt and reduce your 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 for 4 seconds 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.​
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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.​
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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%.
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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.
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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.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Amethyst
A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your shields.
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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
One less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).
Season 33: Convention of Elements
Rotates through damage types and gives an occasional 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 > 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 excellent defenses which allows 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 taken reduction from the Firebird's Finery set bonus.
3. Use Black Hole to gather mobs together, Ignite them for the Firebird's Finery Set bonuses with Disintegrate, and then finish them off with Flame Blades.​
4. Cooldown Reduction and Resource Cost Reduction increase your damage dealt and reduce your 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 for 4 seconds 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.
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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.
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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%.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Amethyst
A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your shields.
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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: Convention of Elements
Rotates through damage types and gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.
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% increased 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 for 4 seconds 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.
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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.​​
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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.
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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 Royal Grandeur
One less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).
Amulet : Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Completes the Tal Rasha's Set
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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.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Amethyst
A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your shields.
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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.
Season 33: The Furnace
Gives 50% increased damage against elites.
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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 increase from the Tal Rasha's Elements Set.
2. The Frozen Orbs cast by Wizardspike and your Sparkflint (Familiar) also create 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 taken reduction which makes 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.
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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 much better defensively than the Vyr's Amazing Arcana Set.​
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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.
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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.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Amethyst
A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for life percent which increases the size of your shields.
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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.
Season 33: The Furnace
Gives 50% increased damage against elites.
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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 the Hergbrash's Binding belt you can use the Arcanot rune for your Familiar skill which gives Arcane Power regeneration.
3. The Hellfire Amulet can be changed to the Eye of Etlich amulet for 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.
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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.
Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)
Town portal is uninterruptable and while casting town portal you gain a protective shield.
Gloves: Gloves of Worship (Emanates)
Shrine effects last 10 minutes.
Bracers: Nemesis Bracers (Emanates)
Pylons spawn an enemy champion.
Waist: Cord of the Sherma
Chance to blind and slow enemies for 4 seconds.
Boots: Ice Climbers
Immune to freeze and Immobilize effects.
Ring 1: Unity
Splits damage taken with the wearer of this ring.
Ring 2: Wyrmward
Lightning damage has a 35% chance to stun.
Amulet: The Flavor of Time (Emanates)
Pylon effects last twice as long.
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Feel free to check out the other sections of the site for more on Diablo III Hardcore:
Diablo III Advanced Tips and Tricks
Barbarian Top 5 Hardcore Guide
Demon Hunter Top 5 Hardcore Guide
Necromancer Top 5 Hardcore Guide
Witch Doctor Top 5 Hardcore Guide
And that's all for the Wizard Top 5 Hardcore Guide. Better items await you in Greater Rifts!
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