PvP Lightning Sorceress Guide

Lightning Sorceress Guide for PvP and PvM

PvP Rank: B 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 every Sorceress in PvP because resistances can be over stacked and other players can use multiple elemental absorb items. The rating for PvP Lightning Sorceresses takes opponent's lightning absorb into account or it could have been rated higher in PvP.

Lightning Sorceress Skills

This build is built with max block using an extremely high block shield which requires a very low amount of strength and dexterity. It's built this way to be competitive vs physical builds while still having an advantage against caster builds.

Recommendation: Lightning Sorceress

Stats: 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

1 Static Field (optional for PvM)

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 Shako better than Griffon's Eye when opponents have enough lightning resistance to counter the -20% to enemy lightning resistance. If you have enough resistances from charms you can also use a Protector's Thunder jewel to increase your lightning damage and lower enemies' lightning resistances.

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 you can have all resistances +50% from this armor which helps you over stack resistances for elemental builds that can lower your resistances. Skin of the Vipermagi is also much less expensive than a Lightning Ormus and can be used as a budget option to easily 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 (Default)

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 up to 40% cold resistance, 40% lightning resistance, and 40% poison resistance optionally with faster hit recovery. As a budget option you can also use Natalya's Boots for 40% faster run walk, up to 25% lightning resistance, and up to 25% cold resistance.

Feet Vs. Magic Builds

Horazon's Legacy - Gives 30% faster run walk, strength, dexterity, cannot be frozen, and up to 30% magic 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 then be Up'd a second time to Wyrmhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Lem rune, and Ko rune.

Amulet

Crafted Caster 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. When using Skin of the Vipermagi you will only need 7% faster cast rate in this slot. Caster Amulets can have +2 to Sorceress Skills, faster cast rate, all resistances, dexterity, and life.

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 Sorceresses without Energy Shield because they give high life for survival instead of mana.

Rings (Absorb)

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

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Sorceress skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, Renewed Crack of the Heavens with faster hit recovery for damage in PvM, 2 Lightning Skills grand charms with 12% faster hit recovery, and the rest of your grand charms should be +1 Lightning Skills grand charms with life. Your small charms should have life and resistances to over stack your resistances.

Mercenary Type

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

Mercenary Weapon

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

Mercenary Armor

Ethereal Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives 300% enhanced damage, up to 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 15% increased attack speed as an upgrade.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides very 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 they can also be countered with high lightning resistance and lightning absorb. You can still kill most melee builds with high life, lightning resistances, and absorb but it takes some patience. Blizzard Sorceresses are a tough fight because they're the best Sorceress vs Sorceress build. You should also have an advantage over Fire Ball Sorceresses because Lightning is much easier to aim compared to Fire Ball. With the very fast Teleport casting speed of a Lightning Sorceress you should try your best to never be attacked while standing still by melee builds.

Lightning Sorceress Leveling Items

The Angelic Raiment set can be used as early as level 12 for high life, defense, and a medium amount of magic find as a great starter option. An Ancient's Pledge Large Shield (Ral Ort Tal) is helpful once you reach level 21 for high resistances. A Spirit Crystal Sword (Tal Thul Ort Amn) can be switched to 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 and 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 all resistances +35%, and reduced magic damage taken.

And that's all for the Lightning Sorceress Guide. You can check out more guides in the menu at the top of this page. Good luck!