PvP Nova Sorceress Guide - Diablo 2 Guides

Nova Sorceress Guide for PvP and PvM

PvP Rank: B Class / PvM Rank: S Class

Introduction

The Nova Sorceress was majorly buffed in a previous update and it's now one of the strongest builds in the game for PvM while still being a very strong and competitive build in PvP. Wielding an Infinity Scythe on Nova Sorceress is now highly recommended in PvP and PvM to lower the resistances of enemies with its Conviction aura and it also lowers enemies' lightning resistances by another -55% when the Sorceress is wielding the Infinity. Your mercenary should then wield an Insight polearm for very high mana regeneration which significantly improves your effective health with Energy Shield. Nova Sorceresses are strong in PvP because most opponents don't over stack their lightning resistances to extremely high amounts. Energy Shield is also highly recommended on Nova Sorceresses with +1 to Lightning Skills grand charms which increase the skill level of your Nova, Thunder Storm, and Energy Shield. Nova Sorceresses also have plenty of left over skill points to spend in Telekinesis which is an Energy Shield synergy.

Nova Sorceress Skills

This build is a low strength and dexterity build because your equipment has a low strength requirement and because you'll be wielding an Infinity Scythe which means you won't need dexterity for block. This build is capable of dealing extremely high damage in PvM and it's very strong against other players if they don't have extremely high over stacked 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 for more effective health with Energy Shield).

Skill Points:

20 Nova

20 Lightning Mastery

20 Static Field (Nova synergy)

20 Telekinesis (Energy Shield synergy)

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

1 Frozen Armor

1 Teleport

1 Warmth

All remaining points should be put in Thunder Storm for more damage.

Nova Sorceress Gear

Weapon

Infinity Scythe (Ber Mal Ber Ist) - Gives the level 12 Conviction aura which greatly lowers the elemental resistances of enemies, gives another -55% to enemy lightning resistance when Infinity is wielded by the Sorceress, has level 21 Cyclone Armor charges, and it breaks the immunity of most lightning immune enemies in the game. Using Infinity also allows you to use the Insight runeword on your mercenary for very high mana regeneration which improves your Energy Shield.

Weapon Switch

Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) - Should be used for up to +7 to Battle Orders with a Lidless Wall for another +1 to all skills. 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 all 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 Griffon's Eye, 30% faster cast rate from Skin of the Vipermagi, 20% faster cast rate from your gloves, 20% faster cast rate from Arachnid's Mesh belt, and 10% faster cast rate from your amulet. If you have enough resistances from small charms you can also replace an Um rune with a Protector's Thunder jewel to increase your lightning damage and reduce enemies' lightning resistances.

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 reduced magic damage taken. 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 try and over stack your resistances in PvP for builds that lower your resistances.

Gloves

Magefist - These gloves are used for 20% faster cast rate and 25% increased mana regeneration which improves Energy Shield.

Gloves (Against Cold Sorceresses)

Trang-Oul's Gloves - Gives 20% faster cast rate and 30% cold resistance to counter Sorceress Cold Mastery. You can also use a Thawing Potion when fighting Cold Sorceresses which gives +50% cold resistance and 10% to maximum cold resistance.

Belt

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

Feet (Default)

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

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 damage 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 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 - Your amulet should have +2 to Sorceress Skills, at least 10% faster cast rate to reach the 105% faster cast rate breakpoint, all resistances, high mana, and optionally damage taken goes to mana.

Budget Amulet

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

Rings

Two Stone of Jordans x2 - These rings give +1 to all skills, 20 mana, and 25% increased maximum mana for your Energy Shield. If you're using Mara's Kaleidoscope you should also use a 10% faster cast rate ring with high all resistances and high 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 Dwarf Star should be switched to when fighting fire damage builds (one is good PvP manners with Hotspur boots).

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Sorceress Skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, Renewed Crack of the Heavens sunder charm with faster hit recovery in PvM, two +1 to Lightning Skills grand charms with 12% faster hit recovery, and a full inventory of +1 to Lightning Skills grand charms with life. Your small charms should have high life and resistances or life and mana for Energy Shield.

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

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 Vampire Gaze (Um'd) - Gives up to 8% life stolen per hit, up to 20% reduced physical damage taken, and high defense. You can also use an ethereal Andariel's Visage if your mercenary needs more strength for a high defense body armor.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides very high mana regeneration for 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 best Sorceress builds in the game for Sorceress vs Sorceress. One of their greatest strengths is the massive amount of negative lightning resistance from the Infinity runeword, Griffon's Eye, and Protector's Thunder jewel which can make one Thunder Storm one shot opponents if they aren't prepared. Nova Sorceresses deal very high damage in PvP when opponents don't have extremely high over stacked lightning resistance with lightning absorb. Nova Sorceresses also cast up close and don't use a shield so they are sometimes weak against strong melee opponents when the opponent has over stacked lightning resistances. Energy Shield is recommended on Nova Sorceresses with a full inventory of +1 to Lightning Skills grand charms which also increase the level of your Energy Shield. Telekinesis is also leveled on this build to greatly increases your effective health with Energy Shield. Drinking mana potions is also allowed in PvP which improves your survivability. Nova Sorceresses are one of the best Sorceress builds for PvM and PvP and they're also one of the fastest builds in the game for magic finding and speed farming.

Nova Sorceress Leveling Items

The Angelic Raiment set can be used as early as level 12 for high life, defense, and increased magic find as a great starter set. An Ancient's Pledge Large Shield (Ral Ort Tal) can also be switched to at level 21 for high all resistances early in the game. You should also switch to a Spirit Crystal Sword (Tal Thul Ort Amn) at level 25 for +2 to all skills, up to 35% faster cast rate, 55% faster hit recovery, vitality, mana, and magic absorb. The Skin of the Vipermagi body armor is the recommended armor for the build and it can be equipped 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 Nova Sorceress Guide. You can check out more guides in the menu at the top of this page. Good luck!