Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build for Diablo 4 Season 5
Last updated on 01/10/2024
DIablo 4 Builds
General Notes
General Notes for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build in Season 5
Note: This build has not yet been optimized and adapted for the upcoming season.
The Lightning Spear Sorcerer is one of the strongest endgame builds in Diablo 4's 5th season, but you need very expensive items. Just like the Frozen Orb Sorcerer, the build is based on the unique amulet Shattered Winterglass, which automatically casts random summoning spells and additional frozen orbs. You can therefore start the build as a classic frozen orb version until you have found all the necessary items, and then switch to the lightning spear variant.
Both defensively and offensively, the build has no weaknesses. However, you have to be prepared to press a lot of buttons to generate enough lightning spears and barrier.
How well does this build perform in the Pit / Infernal Horde?
High level pit dungeons are absolutely no problem, as the build does an enormous amount of damage, freezes all enemies and is also very mobile. Even level 7 & 8 arenas are child's play for this build.
How well does this build perform against bosses?
Bosses will get staggered within a few seconds and can then be easily killed. But even if they don't stagger, they still take enough damage so that no boss in the game poses a threat to you. Bosses die particularly quickly when they stand next to other monsters. The build is therefore very effective against the high council in the arena.
When is the build playable and which items do I need?
Lightning Spear requires numerous unique items such as the Shattered Winterglass, but also mythical Uniques such as Harlequin
Crest or Ring of Starless Skies to be really effective. You should therefore start your build as a Frozen Orb Sorcerer. Switching from Frozen Orb to Lightning Spear requires little effort once you have all the necessary items.
Playstyle
Playstyle with the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
Playstyle and skill rotation against monsters
As with every sorcerer build, it is important that you have a permanent barrier. You should therefore permanently rotate through your skills with cooldowns to create a barrier with your the passive skill Protection. This not only has defensive advantages, but also increases your damage because of the Storm Swell Aspect.
Against weak enemy groups, it is sufficient to use Lightning Spear and Frozen Orb directly after teleporting until everyone is dead. Against stronger groups, you should add Ice Armor and Unstable Current to your rotation and save Flame Shield for emergencies.
Vulnerability is triggered in the endgame by Lightning Spears and Ice Blades. Ice blades are not actively used, but are triggered by your Shattered Winterglass amulet.
Playstyle and skill rotation against bosses
Against bosses, you should start with Unstable Current and Ice Armor and then use Lightning Spear and Frozen Orb continuously until the boss is staggering. After that, he should die very quickly. Save Flame Shield for emergencies.
How to fix resource problems
Since you continue to use Frozen Orb very often with this Lightning Spear build variant, mana problems can occur. As soon as you wear the Ring of Starless Skies and Tibault's Will, they should be gone so that you can use Frozen Orb permanently. You only need to use Teleportation or Ice Armor occasionally at first to become unstoppable and gain mana from Tibault's Will.
Skills
Skills for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
Fire Bolt (2/5)
Hurl a flaming bolt, dealing X% damage and Burning for X% damage over X seconds.
Frozen Orb (5/5)
Unleash an orb that Chills for X% and expels piercing shards, dealing a total of X% damage. Upon expiration, Frozen Orb explodes, dealing X% damage and Chilling enemies for X%.
Enhanced Frozen Orb
While Healthy, the explosion of Frozen Orb deals X% increased damage.
Teleport (1/5)
Transform into lightning, becoming Unstoppable and surging to the target location, dealing X% damage around you upon arrival.
Enhanced Teleport
You gain X% Movement Speed for X seconds after Teleporting.
Shimmering Teleport
After Teleporting, you gain X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.
Flame Shield (1/5)
Engulf yourself in flames for X seconds, Burning surrounding enemies for X% damage per second. While Flame Shield is active, you are Immune.
Ice Armor (1/5)
A Barrier of ice forms around you for X seconds, absorbing X% of your Maximum Life in damage.
Enhanced Ice Armor
While Ice Armor is active, your Mana Regeneration is increased by X%.
Mystical Ice Armor
While Ice Armor is active, you periodically Chill Close enemies for X% and deal X% increased damage to Frozen enemies.
Lightning Spear (1/5)
Conjure a spear of lightning that seeks out enemies for X seconds, dealing X% damage per hit. Critical Strikes apply Vulnerable for X seconds.
Enhanced Lightning Spear
Casting Lightning Spear spawns an additional Lightning Spear and increases their Critical Strike Chance by X%.
Summoned Lightning Spear
Lightning Spear Stuns enemies for X seconds when Critically Striking.
Ice Blades (1/5)
Conjure a pair of ice blades for X seconds that rapidly slash enemies for X% damage and have a X% chance to make them Vulnerable for X seconds.
Enhanced Ice Blades
Ice Blades's Cooldown is reduced by X seconds each time it hits a Vulnerable enemy.
Summoned Ice Blades
X% of Enhanced Ice Blades's Cooldown reduction is applied to your other Skills.
Unstable Currents (1/1)
Lightning surges within you for X seconds. Whenever a Shock Skill is unleashed, a random Core, Conjuration, or Mastery Shock Skill is also cast.
Prime Unstable Currents
Unstable Currents increases your Attack Speed by X% while active.
Glass Cannon (3/3)
You deal X% increased damage, but take X% more damage.
Elemental Attunement (1/3)
Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes have up to a X% chance to reset the Cooldown of one of your Defensive Skills. Can only happen once every X seconds.
Precision Magic (3/3)
Your Lucky Hit Chance is increased by X%.
Align the Elements (3/3)
You gain X% Damage Reduction against Elites for each second you haven't taken damage from one, up to X%. This bonus persists for X seconds after taking damage.
Protection (3/3)
Using a Cooldown grants X% of your Maximum Life as a Barrier for X seconds.
Mana Shield (3/3)
Every time you spend X Mana, you gain X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.
Conjuration Mastery (3/3)
You gain X% damage, X% Movement Speed, and X% Mana Regeneration for each active Conjuration.
Inner Flames (1/3)
Your Pyromancy Skills deal X% increased damage while you are Healthy.
Devouring Blaze (3/3)
You deal X% increased Critical Strike Damage against Burning enemies. If they are Crowd Controlled, this bonus is increased to X%.
Permafrost (1/3)
Frost Skills deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Hoarfrost (3/3)
You deal X% increased damage to Chilled enemies, and X% increased damage to Frozen enemies.
Esu's Ferocity (1/1)
Your Fire Critical Strike Damage is increased by X% against enemies above X% Life. Your Fire Critical Strike Chance is increased by X% against enemies below X% Life. Critical Strikes that kill enemies or hit a Boss grant both bonuses against all enemies for X seconds.
Skilltree notes:
- Fire Bolt is not used as an active skill, but you must invest at least 2 points in basic skills to progress.
- With the Harlequin Crest, you no longer need to invest a point in Flame Shield and can put it into Teleportation instead.
- The skill modifiers of Ice Blades are also active when they are triggered by the unique amulet Shattered Winterglass.
- Although this is a Lightning Spear build, you only need one point in Lightning Spear. Your main damage comes from the Aspect of Splintering Energy.
- One point in Align the Elements is sufficient, as the effect can only be triggered once every 10 seconds.
Specialization
Enchantment Effects for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
Frozen Orb Enchantment
Whenever you cast a Non-Basic Skill, you have a X% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at a Nearby enemy.
Fire Bolt Enchantment
Direct damage from Skills applies up to an additional X% Burning damage over X seconds.
The more Frozen Orbs, the better. The unique amulet Shattered Winterglass creates more lightning spears through Frozen Orbs explosions.
Aspects
Aspects for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
Aspect of Ancient Flame
While both bonuses from the Esu's Ferocity Key Passive are active, your Attack Speed is increased by X%.
Aspect of Frozen Orbit
Frozen Orb explodes X additional times at its destination for X% of its damage.
Aspect of Splintering Energy
Critical Hits with Lightning Spear cause lightning to arc from it dealing X damage to its target and up to X other enemies. This damage is increased by your Critical Strike Damage Bonus.
Snowveiled Aspect
Casting Ice Armor makes you Unstoppable and grants X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.
OPTIONAL if you don't use Tyraels Might
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
General tips about your Gear
- Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
IMPORTANT: The main damage of this build comes from the Aspect of Splintering Energy. To scale this damage, you require as much critical hit damage as possible. I am not listing alternative items to the mythic uniques as these are very important. If you don't have mythic uniques yet, you should play the Frozen Orb variant.
Harlequin Crest
Maximum Life
Maximum Resource
Armor
Cooldown Reduction
Gain X% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +X Ranks to all Skills.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Tyrael's Might
Ignore Durability Loss
Movement Speed
Maximum Resistance to All Elements
Resistance to All Elements
Damage Reduction
While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing X damage.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Gloves
- Critical Strike Chance
- Critical Strike Damage
- Attack Speed
- Intelligence
Conjuration Fortune
- Hydra Lucky Hit Chance
- Ice Blades Lucky Hit Chance
- Lightning Spear Lucky Hit Chance
- Familiar Lucky Hit Chance
Worldly Finesse
- Critical Strike Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Overpower Damage
Tibault's Will
All Stats
Maximum Life
Maximum Resource
Damage Reduction while Unstoppable
You deal X% increased damage while Unstoppable and for X seconds after. When you become Unstoppable, gain X of your Primary Resource.
Duriel, Andariel
All Classes
Esu's Heirloom
Evade Grants Movement Speed for X Seconds
Movement Speed
Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
Critical Strike Damage
Resistance to All Elements
Your Critical Strike Chance is increased by X% of your Movement Speed bonus.
Varshan
Sorcerer
Fractured Winterglass
Conjuration Cooldowns are Reduced by X Seconds when a Frozen Orb Explodes
Non-Physical Damage
Chance for Frozen Orb Projectiles to Cast Twice
Resistance to All Elements
Ranks to Conjuration Mastery
Casting Frozen Orb has a X% chance to spawn a random Conjuration when it explodes. Lucky Hit: Your Conjurations have up to a X% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at Nearby enemies.
Lord Zir
Sorcerer
Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop
Resistance to All Elements
Lucky Hit Chance
Non-Physical Damage
Cooldown Reduction
Ranks to Potent Warding
Casting a Pyromancy, Shock, or Frost Skill increases your damage by X% for X seconds, stacking once per element. Casting again refreshes all bonuses if the previous skill was a different Element.
Varshan
Sorcerer
Ring of Starless Skies
Resistance to All Elements
Attack Speed
Critical Strike Chance
Lucky Hit Chance
Ranks to Core Skills
Spending your Primary Resource reduces the Resource cost of your Skills and increases your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
1H Sword
- Intelligence
- Maximum Life
- Critical Strike Damage
Worldly Finesse
- Critical Strike Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Overpower Damage
Focus
- Cooldown Reduction
- Critical Strike Chance
- Intelligence
- Maximum Life
Worldly Finesse
- Critical Strike Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
- Overpower Damage
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
WeaponsEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
ArmorRuby
Weapons: Overpower Damage
Armor: Strength
Jewelry: Fire Resistance
To make your sorcerer more robust, rubies are the best choice for all armor pieces. Diamonds are also a good option as they increase your barrier generation.
JewelrySkull
Weapons: Life On Kill
Armor: Healing Received
Jewelry: Armor
You'll have enough armor even without skulls, but there are no other useful gems since your resistances are already at their maximum.
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build
Tactician
Rare Glyph "Tactician"
Grants X% bonus to all Rare nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage for X seconds after casting a Defensive Skill. This duration is increased by X seconds for each Defensive Skill not on your Action Bar.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Close enemies.
Rare Glyph "Elementalist"
Paragon nodes within range gain X% bonus to their Non-physical damage and damage reduction modifiers.
Additional Bonus: Dealing Fire, Cold, or Lightning damage to an enemy increases all damage you deal to them by X% for X seconds, stacking once per element.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Non-Physical damage by X%.
Rare Glyph "Control"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled targets.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Slowed or Chilled enemies or, instead, X% increased damage to Stunned or Frozen enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Crowd Controlled targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Frigid Fate"
You deal bonus damage to Vulnerable enemies equal to X% of the total amount of your Bonus Damage with Cold, up to a maximum of X%.
Rare Glyph "Conjurer"
For every 5 Intelligence within range, Conjuration Skills gain X% increased damage.
Additional Bonus: Conjuration Skills have X% increased duration.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Conjuration skills damage by X%.
Rare Glyph "Destruction"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased Critical Strike Damage.
Additional Bonus: Critical Strikes increase all damage the enemy takes from you by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Critical Strike Damage by X%.
Rare Glyph "Flamefeeder"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Burning targets.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased direct damage to Burning enemies.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Healthy enemies.
Rare Glyph "Exploit"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Vulnerable targets.
Additional Bonus: Dealing damage to a Vulnerable enemy increases your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Vulnerable targets by X%.
Rare Glyph "Charged"
For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, Crackling Energy deals X% increased damage.
Additional Bonus: Picking up Crackling Energy grants you X% increased damage for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Lightning damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Elemental Summoner"
Your Conjuration Skills have a X% reduced Cooldown or Mana cost. They also deal bonus damage equal to X% of the total amount of your Bonus Damage with Fire, Lightning, and Cold, up to X%.
Changelog
- 08/13/2024 - Season 5 optimization