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 recent patch and is now one of the strongest builds in the game for PvM while still holding its own in PvP. Nova Sorceresses are very strong against other players if they don't significantly over stack their lightning resistances to high amounts and use lightning absorb. When wielding Infinity Nova Sorceresses can lower the lightning resistance of their enemies and other players by more than 140. Energy Shield is also used with this build with +1 Lightning Skill Grand Charms which help by increasing the level of your Energy Shield and Nova. You will have plenty of left over skill points as a Nova Sorceress that can be spent on Telekinesis (an Energy Shield synergy) which gives a significantly higher effective life pool.

Nova Sorceress Skills

This build is a low strength and low dexterity build because your armor has a low strength requirement and you'll be wielding an Infinity Scythe (Ber Mal Ber Ist) which means you won't need dexterity for block. Infinity gives enemies up to -140% to their lightning resistance which allows your mercenary to use Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) for very high mana regeneration for your Energy Shield.

Recommendation: Nova Sorceress

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

Skill Points:

20 Nova

20 Lightning Mastery

20 Static (Nova synergy)

20 Telekinesis (Energy Shield synergy)

1 Energy Shield (which can be increased to level 21 with equipment and charms)

1 Frozen Armor (if you don't want to use an Orb for your cold armor)

1 Teleport

1 Warmth

All remaining points in Thunderstorm.

Nova Sorceress Gear

Weapon

Infinity Scythe (Ber Mal Ber Ist) - Gives level 12 Conviction and up to -55% to enemy lightning resistance which lowers enemies lightning resistances by up to 140%, has level 21 Cyclone Armor, and breaks the immunity of most lightning immune enemies. Using this weapon also allows you to use an Insight polearm on your mercenary for very high mana regeneration for your Energy Shield. You can also switch to a Memory runeword staff (Lum Io Sol Eth) in town for +3 Sorceress Skills and up to +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 has plus skills.

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 the 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.

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 also 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 also have +2 to Sorceress Skills, all resistances, life/mana, and optionally damage taken goes to mana.

Budget Amulet

Mara's Kaleidoscope - The 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 increase maximum mana by 25% 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 have up to 20% lightning absorb when fighting lightning damage builds, and one ring can be switched to a Dwarf Star (with Hotspur boots) for 15% fire absorb when fighting fire damage builds.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Sorceress skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, 2 +1 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 Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides 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 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 stolen per hit, 15% to all resistances, and 60 life.

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

Nova Sorceress Strategy

Nova Sorceresses are debatably the strongest Sorceress in the game for Sorceress vs Sorceress. Nova Sorceresses are capable of high damage in PvP but can be countered by other players if they have extremely high over stacked lightning resistance and lightning absorb. Nova Sorceresses are sometimes weak against melee players that have very high lightning resistance because Nova Sorceresses don't use a shield and attack up close. Your greatest strength on this build is your massive amount of negative lightning resistance from Infinity and Griffon's Eye which can make one Thunderstorm one shot players if they aren't prepared. Nova Sorceresses can also be strong defensively because of their Energy Shield which is increased with an inventory of +1 Lightning Skill Grand Charms and because they have left over skill points to spend on Telekinesis which gives a higher effective life pool.

Nova 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%, cannot be frozen, and magic find. The Skin of the Vipermagi armor is the recommended armor for this build and can be switched to once you reach 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 Nova Sorceress Guide. You can also check out the most popular crafted items here Crafting Guide.