PvP Nova Sorceress Guide | Diablo 2 Guides

Nova Sorceress Guide for PvP and PvM

PvP Rank: B Class / PvM Rank: S Class

Introduction

The Energy Shield Nova Sorceress was majorly buffed in a previous patch and is now one of the strongest builds in the game for PvM while still holding its own in PvP. You should wield the Infinity runeword weapon to lower the lightning resistance of enemies by more than 140 and your mercenary should wield the Insight runeword for high mana regeneration which greatly improves your Energy Shield. Nova Sorceresses are strong in PvP if opponents don't significantly over stack their lightning resistances to extremely high amounts and use lightning absorb. Energy Shield is also used with this build with +1 Lightning Skill Grand Charms which serve to increase the level of your Nova, Thunderstorm, and Energy Shield. Nova Sorceresses also have plenty of left over skill points that can be spent on Telekinesis which makes you take less damage to mana for a significantly higher effective life pool.

Nova Sorceress Skills

This build is a low strength and dexterity build because the recommended equipment has a low strength requirement and because you'll be wielding an Infinity two handed weapon which means you won't need dexterity for block. This build is capable of dealing extremely high damage in PvM and is strong against other players if they don't stack extremely high lightning resistances.

Recommendation: Nova Sorceress

Stats: Low Strength (enough for equipment), low Dexterity (enough for equipment), all remaining points evenly split between Vitality and Energy (for the high mana cost of Nova and more effective life with Energy Shield).

Skill Points:

20 Nova

20 Lightning Mastery

20 Static (Nova synergy)

20 Telekinesis (Energy Shield synergy)

1 Energy Shield (which is increased to level 21 with the recommended equipment and charms)

1 Frozen Armor (if you don't want a Sorceress Orb for your Frozen Armor spell)

1 Teleport

1 Warmth

All remaining points in Thunderstorm.

Nova Sorceress Gear

Weapon

Infinity Scythe (Ber Mal Ber Ist) - Gives level 12 Conviction which lowers the resistances of enemies, another -55% to enemy lightning resistance, level 21 Cyclone Armor charges, and breaks the immunity of most lightning immune enemies. Using this weapon allows you to use an Insight weapon on your mercenary for very high mana regeneration for your Energy Shield. You can also optionally switch to a Memory Staff (Lum Io Sol Eth) in town in player vs player for up to +3 to Sorceress Skills and +6 to Energy Shield.

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. You should also use this weapon switch for your Energy Shield, Frozen Armor, and Thunder Storm because it increases your skill levels.

Helmet

Griffon's Eye (Um'd) - Gives +1 to skills, 25% faster cast rate, up to -20% to enemy lightning resistance, and up to 15% increased lightning skill damage. You should reach the 105% faster cast rate breakpoint for Sorceresses once you have 25% faster cast rate from this helmet, 30% fcr on your armor, 20% fcr on your gloves, 20% fcr on your belt, and 10% fcr on your amulet.

Body

Skin of the Vipermagi (Um'd or 5, 5 Light Facet'd) - Gives +1 to all skills, 30% faster cast rate, up to all resistance +35%, and magic damage reduced by up to 15. This armor gives all resistances +50% when Um'd which is helpful because you won't have resistances from a weapon or shield on this build. You should also over stack your resistances in PvP for builds that lower your resistances.

Gloves

Trang-Oul's Gloves - Gives 20% faster cast rate and 30% cold resistance. If you don't need the cold resistance you can also use Magefist gloves for their 25% increased mana regeneration which improves your energy shield.

Belt

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

Feet

Rare Tri Resistance Boots - These boots are used to give over stacked resistances and can optionally have 10% faster hit recovery.

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

Rare Amulet - You should have at least 10% faster cast rate on your amulet to reach the 105% faster cast rate breakpoint. Your amulet should have +2 to Sorceress Skills, all resistances, optionally life or mana, and optionally damage taken goes to mana. If you can't afford this amulet you can also look for an amulet with +2 to Lightning Skills or +1 to Sorceress Skills instead.

Budget Amulet

Mara's Kaleidoscope - This budget amulet gives +2 to all skills, 5 to all stats, and all resistances +20-30%. Mara's Kaleidoscope can be paired with a 10% faster cast rate ring to get the final 10% faster cast rate for the 105% faster cast rate breakpoint.

Rings

Two Stone of Jordans - These rings each give +1 to all skills, 20 mana, and 25% increased maximum mana for your energy shield. If you are using Mara's Kaleidoscope as a budget amulet you should use one 10% faster cast rate ring with all resistances and mana.

Rings (Absorb)

Your rings can be switched to Raven Frosts which each give 20% cold absorb when fighting cold damage builds, Wisp Projectors which each give up to 20% lightning absorb when fighting lightning damage builds, and one ring can be switched to a Dwarf Star (good manners with Hotspur boots) or two rings can be switched for Dwarf Stars (bad manners) which each give 15% fire absorb when fighting fire damage builds.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Sorceress skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, The Crack of the Heavens Grand Charm (optional to remove the lightning immunity of enemies for PvM), two +1 Lightning Skills Grand Charms with 12% faster hit recovery, and an inventory of +1 Lightning Skills Grand Charms with life. The rest of your charms should be small charms with high 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 Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides very high mana regeneration for your Energy Shield.

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 Vampire Gaze (Um'd) - Gives up to 8% life stolen per hit, high defense, and up to 20% reduced physical damage taken.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides very high mana regeneration for your Energy Shield.

Budget Mercenary Armor

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

Budget Mercenary Helmet

Tal Rasha's Helmet - Gives 10% life stolen per hit, all resistances +15%, and 60 life.

Note: Ethereal items don't lose durability when they are on a mercenary.

Nova Sorceress Strategy

Nova Sorceresses are one of the strongest Sorceresses in the game for Sorceress vs Sorceress. One of their greatest strengths is their massive amounts of negative lightning resistance from the Infinity runeword weapon and Griffon's Eye which can make one Thunderstorm one shot players if they aren't prepared. Nova Sorceresses also deal very high damage in PvP when opponents don't have extremely high over stacked lightning resistance and lightning absorb. Nova Sorceresses cast up close and don't use a shield so they are a little weak against melee opponents with very high lightning resistances. Energy Shield is also recommended as a Nova Sorceress with an inventory full of +1 Lightning Skill Grand Charms which increase the level of your Nova spell and Energy Shield. With your equipment and charms your Energy Shield can be at a high level with only one point invested giving a very high effective life pool. Overall Nova Sorceresses are typically very strong as a PvP build and are one of the best builds in the game for PvM.

Nova Sorceress Leveling Items

An Ancient's Pledge Large Shield (Ral Ort Tal) is a great option at level 21 for high all 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 your shield to a Rhyme Bone Shield (Shael Eth) for a higher block chance, all resistances +25%, cannot be frozen, and magic find. The Skin of the Vipermagi unique armor is the recommended armor for this build and can be equipped as early as level 29 for +1 to all skills, 30% faster cast rate, up to 15 reduced magic damage taken, and up to all resistances +35%.

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