PvP Lightning Sorceress Guide

Lightning Sorceress Guide for PvP and PvM

PvP Rank: C Class / PvM Rank: S Class

Introduction

Lightning Sorceresses are one of the most powerful builds for PvM and can hold their own in PvP. This build is very competitive with other players if they don't over stack lightning absorb items which is considered bad manners in PvP. This is a common weakness of almost all Sorceresses in PvP because resistances can be over stacked and other players can use multiple elemental absorb items. The C Class rating for PvP takes this into account or it would be rated much higher.

Lightning Sorceress Skills

This build is built with maximum block using a high block shield that requires a low amount of strength and dexterity. It's built this way to be competitive vs physical builds while still having an advantage against casters. Lightning is also a top tier build for PvM.

Recommendation: Lightning Sorceress

Stats: 77 Strength (enough for equipment), enough Dexterity for max block, all remaining points in Vitality, and 0 Energy.

Skill Points:

20 Lightning

20 Lightning Mastery

20 Chain Lightning (synergy for Lightning)

20 Charged Bolt (synergy for Lightning)

1 Frozen Armor

1 Teleport

All remaining points in Lightning Nova as a synergy for Lightning.

Lightning Sorceress Gear

Weapon

Heart of the Oak (Ko Vex Pul Thul) - Gives +3 to all skills, 40% faster cast rate, 10 dexterity, replenish life + 20, 15% increased maximum mana, and level 4 Oak Sage which greatly increases your life.

Shield

Whitstan's Guard (Um'd) - This shield has the highest block chance in the game at 87% for Sorceresses. It goes far beyond the 75% shown on the shield and only requires 53 strength. You can save a huge amount of strength going with this shield over Stormshield and Spirit. Whitstan's Guard also requires a lot less dexterity for max block which gives more points to spend in vitality.

Weapon Switch

Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) - Used for up to +7 to Battle Orders with a Lidless Wall for another +1 to Battle Orders.

Helmet

Harlequin Crest (aka Shako) (Um'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% physical damage taken reduction, life and mana, and 50% magic find. The high life, higher plus skills, and physical damage reduction make this better than Griffon's Eye anytime opponents have enough lightning resistance to counter the -20% to enemy lightning resistance which is very common with PvP players.

Body

+3 Lightning Ormus' Robe (Um'd) - This item is important for +3 Lightning, 20% faster cast rate, and up to 15% increased lightning damage. The faster cast rate helps you reach the 117% faster cast rate breakpoint for Lightning.

Body Vs. Elemental Builds That Lower Resistances (also the budget armor)

Skin of the Vipermagi (Um'd) - This option gives +1 to all skills, 30% faster cast rate, up to all resistance +35%, and magic damage reduced by up to 15. When socketed with an Um rune the all resistance +50% from this armor also helps you over stack resistances for fighting cold, fire, lightning, and poison builds that can lower your resistances. Skin of the Vipermagi is also less expensive than a Lightning Ormus and makes it much easier to reach the 117% faster cast rate breakpoint for Lightning.

Gloves

Trang-Oul's Gloves - Gives 20% faster cast rate, 25% increased poison damage, and 30% cold resistance.

Belt

Arachnid Mesh - Gives +1 to all skills, 20% faster cast rate, and 5% increased mana.

Feet

Waterwalk - Gives up to 20% faster run walk, 65 life, 15 dexterity, 100 defense vs missiles, and 5% to maximum fire resistance.

Feet Vs. Lightning & Cold Builds That Lower Your Resistances

Tri-resist Faster Run Walk Boots - Look for rare 30% faster run walk boots with as close to 40% cold resistance and 40% Lightning Resistance as you can get optionally with fire resistance and/or faster hit recovery. As a budget option you can also use Natalya's Boots for 40% faster run walk and up to 25% lightning resistance and 25% cold resistance.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

Hotspur - These boots should be used against fire builds for +15% to Maximum Fire Resistance, 15 life, and 45% increased fire resistance. Hotspur boots can be Up'd to Demonhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Shael rune, and Tal rune. Hotspur can also be Up'd a second time to Wyrmhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Lem rune, and Ko rune.

Amulet

Caster Crafted Amulet - You will need at least 17% faster cast rate from a crafted Caster amulet to reach the 117% faster cast rate breakpoint for Lightning when using Ormus' Robe. This amulet can also have +2 to Sorceress skills, all resistances, and high dexterity. When using the Skin of the Vipermagi armor option you will only need 7% faster cast rate from this slot.

Rings

Two Bul-Kathos' Wedding Bands - These rings give +1 to all skills and life per level. Bul-Kathos' Wedding Bands are preferred over Stone of Jordans in PvP for non Energy Shield Sorceresses because they give high life instead of mana.

Rings (Absorb)

Your rings should be switched to Raven Frosts which each give 20% cold absorb when dueling cold damage builds, switched to Wisp Projectors which each can have 20% lightning absorb when dueling lightning damage builds, and switched to Dwarf Stars which each have 15% fire absorb when dueling fire damage builds.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Sorceress skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, 2 Lightning Skills Grand Charms with 12% faster hit recovery, and +1 Lightning Skills Grand Charms with life. The rest of your charms should be small charms with life and resistances.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Holy Freeze Mercenary - Gives an aura that slows the attack speed and movement speed of enemies.

Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Infinity (Ber Mal Ber Ist) - Gives level 12 Conviction which lowers enemies Lightning resistances by 85% and breaks the lightning immunity of most lightning immune in PvM.

Mercenary Armor

Ethereal Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives 300% enhanced damage, all resistances +30%, high life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck.

Mercenary Helmet

Ethereal Andariel's Visage (Ral'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% life leech, -30% fire resistance, and 30 strength. Ral gives 30% fire resistance but you can also use a 30% fire resistance jewel with other great modifiers.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides high mana regeneration.

Budget Mercenary Armor

Duriel's Shell - Gives 20% all resistances, 50% cold resistance, 15 strength, life per level, and cannot be frozen.

Budget Mercenary Helmet

Tal Rasha's Helmet - Gives 10% life leech, 15% to all resistances, and 60 life.

Note: Ethereal items don't lose durability on mercenaries.

Lightning Sorceress Strategy

Lightning Sorceresses are capable of very high damage but can sometimes be countered with high lightning resistance and high lightning absorb. You can kill most melee builds with high life and absorb it just takes patience for the long fight. Nova Sorceresses and Blizzard Sorceresses are a tough fight because they're the two best Sorceress vs Sorceress builds. Blizzard Sorceresses have the advantage of lowering enemies cold resistances and are dangerous if they can get a lock on their enemies. Nova Sorceresses can greatly lower the resistance of their enemies and can attack you without aiming their Novas. Fire Ball Sorceresses are the easiest Sorceress to absorb and can be countered with Hotspur boots and over stacked fire resistance. With the very fast Teleport speed of Lightning Sorceresses you should try your best to never be attacked while standing still.

Lightning Sorceress Leveling Items

An Ancient's Pledge Large Shield (Ral Ort Tal) is great to switch to once you reach level 21 for high resistances. A Spirit Crystal Sword (Tal Thul Ort Amn) can be used at level 25 for +2 to all skills, up to 35% faster cast rate, 55% faster hit recovery, vitality, mana, and magic absorb. At level 29 you can switch to a Rhyme Shield (Shael Eth) for a higher block chance with all resistances +25%, increased block chance, cannot be frozen, and magic find. Skin of the Vipermagi armor is the resistance armor option and can be used at level 29 for +1 to all skills, 30% faster cast rate, up to magic damage taken reduced by 15, and up to all resistances +35%.

And that's all for the Lightning Sorceress Guide. You can also check out the most popular crafted items here Crafting Guide.