Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)

Last update: 11/12/2024

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Index

General Notes

General Notes for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Build in Vessel of Hatred

Note: This endgame build has been optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).

Despite the many nerfs, the Lightning Spear Sorcerer is still a useful endgame build in Vessel of Hatred, but it is only playable with very good items. Just like the Frozen Orb Sorcerer, this build is based around the unique amulet Fractured Winterglass, which automatically summons random Conjuration spells and more Frozen Orbs. This means you can start the build as a classic Frozen Orb version until you have found all the important items, and then switch to this Lightning Spear variant.

The main damage of the build comes from the Aspect of Splintering Energy, through which your Lightning Spears trigger more Lightning on Critical Strike. The damage of these Lightning Bolts is based on your weapon damage and your Critical Strike Damage bonus, so the actual damage of the Lightning Spear is completely irrelevant for this build.

Since you can now only have 12 Lightning Spears at a time since patch 2.0.2, Frozen Orb continues to play an essential role in the build's damage.

This build has no weaknesses, either defensively or offensively. However, you have to be prepared to press a lot of buttons to create enough Conjurations and Barriers.

My Season 6 Rating for this Build
Vs. Monsters
Vs. Bosses
Defense
Mobility
Playstyle
Budget
Build vs. Grube

How well does this build perform in the Pit / Infernal Horde?

High Pits are not a problem at all, as the build does an enormous amount of damage, freezes all enemies and is also very mobile.

Build vs. Bosse

How well does this build perform against bosses?

Due to the Lightning Spear mechanic, bosses are more difficult for the build than groups of monsters, but are still manageable overall. They will be staggered within a few seconds and then take enormous damage from your skills.

Ab wann spielbar?

When is the build playable and which items do I need?

This Lightning Spear build requires numerous Unique Items to be truly effective, such as Fractured Winterglass and Mythic Uniques like the Harlequin's Crest and Ring of Starless Skies. For this reason, you should start out as Frozen Orb Sorceress. Switching from Frozen Orb to Lightning Spear requires little effort once you have all the necessary items.

Playstyle

Playstyle for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Zauberin-Skill-Teleportation
Zauberin-Skill-Blitzspeer
Zauberin-Skill-Instabile-Stroemung
Zauberin-Skill-Flammenschild
Zauberin-Skill-Eisruestung
Zauberin-Skill-Gefrorene-Kugel

Playstyle and skill rotation against monsters

As with any Sorcerer build, it is important to have a Barrier at all times. You should rotate skills on cooldowns to generate a Barrier through your Protection passive skill.

Against weak groups of enemies, it is enough to use Lightning Spear and Frozen Orb immediately after Teleport until everything is dead. Against stronger groups, you should incorporate Ice Armor and Unstable Currents into the rotation and save Flame Shield for emergencies.

Vulnerability is triggered by Lightning Spears and Ice Blades in the endgame. Ice Blades are not actively used, but are triggered by Fractured Winterglass.

Playstyle and skill rotation against bosses

Against bosses, you should start with Unstable Currents and Ice Armor and then use Lightning Spear and Frozen Orb continuously until the boss starts to stagger. After that, he should die very quickly. Save Flame Shield for emergencies, again.

How to fix Resource problems

Since you continue to use Frozen Orb very often with this Lightning Spear variant, you may run into mana problems. As soon as you wear the Ring of Starless Skies, these difficulties will be gone, allowing you to use Frozen Orb permanently.

Skills

Skills for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Skilltree

Skill tree notes:

  • With the Harlequin Crest, you no longer need to invest the point in Flame Shield and can instead move it to Teleport.
  • The Ice Blades and Familiar Modifiers are also active when created by the unique amulet Fractured Winterglass.
  • Although this is a Lightning Spear build, you only need one point in Lightning Spear. The main damage comes from the Aspect of Splintering Energy.
  • One point in Elemental Attunement is enough because the effect can only be triggered once every 10 seconds.

Specialization

Specialization for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Icon Frozen Orb

Frozen Orb Enchantment

Whenever you cast a Non-Basic Skill, you have a X% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at a Nearby enemy.

Icon Fire Bolt Enchantment

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 Fractured Winterglass creates more Lightning Spears when Frozen Orbs explode.

Aspects

Aspects for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Icon Aspect of the Orange Herald

Aspect of the Orange Herald

Utility Sorcerer

Lucky Hit: Up to a X% chance to reduce the Cooldown of your Ultimate Skill by X seconds. Can only happen once per Skill cast.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Aspect of Frozen Orbit

Aspect of Frozen Orbit

Offensive Sorcerer

Frozen Orb deals X% increased damage and explodes an additional time.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Aspect of Splintering Energy

Aspect of Splintering Energy

Offensive Sorcerer

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.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Items & Affixes

Items & Affixes for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame 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 Affix
= Masterwork Affix + Greater Affix

IMPORTANT: The main damage of the build comes from the Aspect of Splintering Energy. To scale this damage, you require as much Critical Strike Damage as possible. I am not listing alternative items to the Mythic Uniques because they are very important. If you don't have the required Mythic Uniques yet and still want to play this build variant, you can look at the items from my Frozen Orb build.

Unique Harlequin Crest

Harlequin Crest

Mythic Unique Helm

+800 Maximum Life

+18 Maximum Resource

+350 Armor

+20% Cooldown Reduction


Gain 20% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +4 Ranks to all Skills.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses

Class

All Classes

Unique Tyrael's Might

Tyrael's Might

Mythic Unique Chest Armor

Ignore Durability Loss


+16.5% Movement Speed

+7.5% Maximum Resistance to All Elements

+60% Resistance to All Elements

+20% Damage Reduction


While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing 195 damage.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses

Class

All Classes

Diablo 4 Item Type Gloves

Gloves

  • Critical Strike Chance
  • Critical Strike Damage
  • Attack Speed
  • Intelligence
  • Aspect of Frozen Orbit
Icon Tempering Manual

Conjuration Fortune

Utility Sorcerer

  • Hydra Lucky Hit Chance
  • Ice Blades Lucky Hit Chance
  • Lightning Spear Lucky Hit Chance
  • Familiar Lucky Hit Chance

Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Finesse

Offensive All Classes

  • Critical Strike Damage
  • Vulnerable Damage
  • Overpower Damage

Diablo 4 Item Type Pants

Pants

  • Intelligence
  • Armoe
  • Life
  • Aspect of the Orange Herald
Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Endurance

Defensive All Classes

  • Maximum Life
  • Total Armor
  • Dodge Chance

Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Fortune

Utility All Classes

  • Lucky Hit: Chance to Slow
  • Lucky Hit: Chance to Immobilize
  • Lucky Hit: Chance to Stun
  • Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze

to stagger bosses

Unique Esu's Heirloom

Esu's Heirloom

Unique Boots

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.

Dropped by

Varshan

Class

Sorcerer

Unique Fractured Winterglass

Fractured Winterglass

Unique Amulet

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.

Dropped by

Lord Zir

Class

Sorcerer

Unique Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop

Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop

Unique Ring

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.

Dropped by

Varshan

Class

Sorcerer

Unique Ring of Starless Skies

Ring of Starless Skies

Mythic Unique Ring

+12.5% Resistance to All Elements

+12.5% Resistance to All Elements


+17.5% Attack Speed

+12.5% Critical Strike Chance

+12.5% Lucky Hit Chance

+2 Ranks to Core Skills


Spending your Primary Resource reduces the Resource cost of your Skills and increases your damage by 10%(x) for 3 seconds, up to 50%(x).

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses

Class

All Classes

Diablo 4 Item Type 2H Staff

2H Staff

  • Intelligence
  • Life
  • Critical Strike Damage
  • Aspect of Splintering Energy
Icon Tempering Manual

Frost Augments

Weapons Sorcerer

  • Chance for Frost Bolt Projectiles to Cast Twice
  • Chance for Frozen Orb Projectiles to Cast Twice
  • Chance for Ice Shards Projectiles to Cast Twice

Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Finesse

Offensive All Classes

  • Critical Strike Damage
  • Vulnerable Damage
  • Overpower Damage

Note: Since you can only have 12 Lightning Spears at a time, a two-handed staff is significantly better for the build to improve the Aspect of Splintering Energy. The Tempering Manual for additional Lightning Spears has been removed, making the Manual for Frozen Orb more worthwhile.

Runewords

Runewords for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.

1st Runeword (Chest Armor)

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Yul

Yul

Legendary Rune of Ritual

Gain: 50 Offering


Cast a Skill with a Cooldown.

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Gar

Gar

Magic Rune of Invocation

Required: 25 Offering

Cooldown: 1 Second


Gain X% Critical Strike Chance for X seconds, up to X%. (Overflow: Gain Multiple Stacks)

2nd Runeword (2H Weapon)

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Tam

Tam

Legendary Rune of Ritual

Gain: 25 Offering


Cast a non-Channeled Core Skill.

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Ohm

Ohm

Legendary Rune of Invocation

Required: 600 Offering

Cooldown: 2 Seconds


Evoke the Barbarian's War Cry, increasing your damage dealt. (Overflow: Increased Duration)

Note: If you already have 100% Critical Strike Chance, you can use a Mot Rune or Topazes instead of the Gar Rune.

Gemstones

Gemstones for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Icon Emerald

WeaponEmerald

Weapons: Critical Strike Damage

Armor: Dexterity

Jewelry: Poison Resistance

Icon Topaz

ArmorTopaz

Weapons: Basic Damage

Armor: Intelligence

Jewelry: Lightning Resistance

Icon Skull

JewelrySkull

Weapons: Life On Kill

Armor: Healing Received

Jewelry: Armor

Paragon Board

Paragon Board for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Important notice:

  • Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes.
  • Skill Order: Start with the ESSENTIAL LAYOUT and rebuild it COMPLETELY to quickly access all the important Nodes and Glyphs. Only then switch to the FINAL LAYOUT and add the missing Nodes.

Board 1

Board 1 Glyphe Icon Tactician Tactician

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V1-1
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Tactician"

Class: Sorcerer

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.

Board 2: Frigid Fate

Board 2: Frigid Fate Glyphe Icon Elementalist Elementalist

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V1-2
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

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%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Elementalist"

Class: Sorcerer

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%.

Board 3: Elemental Summoner

Board 3: Elemental Summoner Glyphe Icon Destruction Destruction

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V1-3
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

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%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Destruction"

Class: Sorcerer

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%.

Board 4: Fundamental Release

Board 4: Fundamental Release Glyphe Icon Control Control

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V1-4
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Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Fundamental Release"

Each time you apply Vulnerable, Burning, or Critically Strike an enemy, they take X% increased damage from you, up to X%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Control"

Class: Sorcerer

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%.

Board 5: Enchantment Master

Board 5: Enchantment Master Glyphe Icon Flamefeeder Flamefeeder

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V1-5
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Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Enchantment Master"

Your Enchantments are X% stronger.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Flamefeeder"

Class: Sorcerer

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.

Board 1

Board 1 Glyphe Icon Tactician Tactician

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V2-1
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Tactician"

Class: Sorcerer

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.

Board 2: Frigid Fate

Board 2: Frigid Fate Glyphe Icon Elementalist Elementalist

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V2-2
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

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%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Elementalist"

Class: Sorcerer

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%.

Board 3: Elemental Summoner

Board 3: Elemental Summoner Glyphe Icon Destruction Destruction

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V2-3
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

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%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Destruction"

Class: Sorcerer

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%.

Board 4: Fundamental Release

Board 4: Fundamental Release Glyphe Icon Control Control

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V2-4
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Fundamental Release"

Each time you apply Vulnerable, Burning, or Critically Strike an enemy, they take X% increased damage from you, up to X%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Control"

Class: Sorcerer

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%.

Board 5: Enchantment Master

Board 5: Enchantment Master Glyphe Icon Flamefeeder Flamefeeder

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Diablo 4 Lightning Spear Sorcerer Paragon V2-5
5 4 3 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Enchantment Master"

Your Enchantments are X% stronger.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Flamefeeder"

Class: Sorcerer

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.

Mercenaries

Mercenaries for the Lightning Spear Sorcerer Endgame Build

Varyana

Skilltree Raheir
Icon Massacre

Massacre

You and Varyana stack Massacre together on kills. Certain stack thresholds grant Movement Speed. Massacre resets after X seconds of not killing an enemy.

Icon Cleave

Cleave

Varyana swings two axes in an arc in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Dual Axes
Basic Attack: Double Strike
Varyana slashes enemies with dual axes, dealing X% Physical damage. She has a X% chance to also deal X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.

Icon Hysteria

Hysteria

You gain X% Attack Speed for X seconds whenever Varyana damages an enemy, up to X%.

Icon Recklessness

Recklessness

Varyana's Cleave inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.

Icon Shockwave

Shockwave

Varyana slams the ground for a brutal shockwave in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down enemies for X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Two-Handed Mace
Basic Attack: Heavy Strike
Varyana batters enemies with a mace, dealing X% Physical damage with X% increased Critical Strike Chance.

Icon Crushing Force

Crushing Force

When Varyana deals damage to an enemy, she has a X% chance to Knock them Down for X seconds.

Icon Reprisal

Reprisal

If you become Crowd Controlled, Varyana leaps towards the enemy that inflicted it, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down surrounding enemies for X seconds on impact. This can only occur once every X seconds.

Icon Bloodthirst

Bloodthirst

Varyana enters Bloodthirst, gaining X% Attack Speed, X% Movement Speed, and Unstoppable for X seconds. Varyana's Bloodthirst grants X% Attack Speed to you for the same duration.

Icon Intimidated

Intimidated

While Varyana has Bloodthirst, enemies around her deal X% reduced damage.

Icon Bloodlust

Bloodlust

Varyana's Bloodthirst further increases your Attack Speed by X%.

Icon Whirlwind

Whirlwind

Varyana spins violently in a line, repeatedly dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.

Icon No Escape

No Escape

Varyana's Whirlwind Pulls In enemies every X seconds and gains X% Size.

Icon Taste of Flesh

Taste of Flesh

When you or Varyana deal direct damage to an enemy inflicted with any of her Bleeding effects, you Heal for X% of your Maximum Life.

Icon Earth Breaker

Earth Breaker

Varyana crushes the ground with her mace, leaving a tremor that deals X% Physical damage over X seconds and Knocks enemies Down repeatedly.

Icon Rampage

Rampage

You deal X% increased damage to enemies afflicted by any of Varyana's Crowd Control effects.

Icon Dismembering

Dismembering

Enemies damaged by Varyana's Earth Breaker are left exposed, causing your next hit against them within X seconds to be a guaranteed Overpower. This may only occur on the same target once every X seconds.

Icon Ancient Harpoons

Ancient Harpoons

Varyana launches three harpoons ahead of her, piercing enemies for X% Physical damage. She then rips them back, Pulling In and Stunning enemies for X seconds.

Icon Annihilator

Annihilator

Varyana's Ancient Harpoons additionally Slow enemies by X% for X seconds. During this time, you gain X% Lucky Hit Chance against those targets.

Icon Iron Grip

Iron Grip

Varyana's Ancient Harpoons travel X% farther and reduce enemies' Impairment Resistance by X% for X seconds.

Raheir

Mercenary Reinforcement

Reinforcement

Crater

Mercenary Trigger

Trigger

Lightning Spear

Note: If you are still short of armor, you can take Raheir as your main mercenary and Varyana with Bloodthirst as Reinforcement.

Changelog

Changelog

  • 10/08/24 – Updated for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)