Diablo IV Season 6 Vessel of Hatred – Lightning Spear
Lightning Spear Nerf: What Changed?
To begin with, Lightning Spear has been nerfed in several ways:
1. Limit on Lightning Spears: We can now only summon up to 12 Lightning Spears at once. This significantly impacts Conjuration Mastery, which has a hard cap of 30 conjurations. While in theory, it sounds like a balance issue, it's not necessarily game-breaking. You can still reach effective damage with the right setup.
2. Splintering Energy Change: Splintering Energy’s effect can only trigger every 0.2 seconds, reducing the frequency of applying that extra damage. Despite this, Splintering Energy remains powerful since it scales infinitely with Critical Strike Damage. You can still pump damage to impressive heights, but the build isn’t as overwhelmingly strong as it was in previous seasons.
3. Fractured Winter Glass: Another blow comes with the changes to Fractured Winter Glass. The Conjuration Cooldown Reduction has been swapped with All Resist, which makes it harder to maximize the cooldown reduction for Lightning Spear-focused builds. The added resistance will help in Torment 4 endgame content, but it limits how much you can chain Lightning Spears.
TL;DR: Pure Lightning Spear builds are no longer the go-to for Sorcerers. The nerfs have brought them in line with other builds, but hybrid builds utilizing Lightning Spear and other abilities are still very viable.
Hybrid Builds: The New Go-To
With the Lightning Spear nerfs, the Sorcerer class is shifting towards hybrid builds that blend elements of different skills and aspects. Here are a few hybrid builds that are looking strong in Season 6:
1. Frozen Orb + Splintering Energy
One of the standout builds this season is the Frozen Orb + Splintering Energy hybrid. Frozen Orb was already powerful in Season 5, and it’s even stronger now. Combining Splintering Energy with Frozen Orb allows you to reach the 12 Lightning Spear cap while dishing out substantial Frozen Orb damage.
Key Aspects:
· Splintering Energy: Still a core component, letting your Lightning Spears trigger extra damage.
· Frozen Orb: Provides great AOE damage and allows you to maintain your Lightning Spear output, maximizing damage.
2. Chain Lightning + Splintering Energy
Another excellent option is the Chain Lightning + Splintering Energy combo. If you enjoyed Chain Lightning in previous seasons, this build will feel familiar but with added oomph. You’ll get the best of both worlds: Chain Lightning’s fast damage with the devastating power of Splintering Energy’s procs.
Key Aspects:
· Chain Lightning: Casts chain rapidly between enemies, dealing consistent damage.
· Splintering Energy: Enhances the power of your Lightning Spears to melt enemies.
3. Teleport Bomb Build with Oculus
With the Oculus now dealing double damage instead of increasing teleport size, you can opt for a fun Teleport Bomb Build. By spamming teleport, you can cause enemies to melt around you, combining mobility with destructive force.
Key Aspects:
· Oculus: Increased damage when teleporting, turning your movement into an offensive tool.
· Evade/Teleport Spam: Maximize damage by constantly moving and triggering procs.
New Build Potential: Incinerate and Flame Scar
While Lightning-based builds are taking the spotlight, Burning Builds like Incinerate have potential this season as well. While they’re stronger for leveling, they’ve struggled in endgame content. However, with new aspects and optimizations, builds centered around Flame Scar and Incinerate might offer a fun alternative to Lightning builds.
Key Aspects:
· Incinerate Double Damage: Incinerate has a chance to deal double damage with Flame Scar, making it much more competitive.
· Flamethrower Aspect: Equipping this on your amulet can help Incinerate reach higher damage ceilings.
While burning builds are generally outclassed at endgame, they are peak for leveling, and you can expect more details in my upcoming leveling guide for Season 6.
The Lightning Spear Future: Still Viable?
While pure Lightning Spear builds aren’t as powerful, hybrid builds that incorporate Splintering Energy still pack a punch. You can effectively blend Lightning Spear with other abilities like Frozen Orb or Chain Lightning to create a hybrid that takes advantage of the best aspects of each skill.
The TL;DR for Lightning Spear is this: You can still play with it, but you’re likely going to see more success using it as part of a broader, hybrid build rather than focusing on it exclusively.
Endgame and the Future: What to Look Out For
Frostburn and Azurra have emerged as game-changing items for Sorcerers this season. If the numbers we’ve seen in testing make it to live servers, these items could significantly affect not just Sorcerer builds, but the game as a whole. The lucky hit cold proc on Azurra and Frostburn’s procs allow for obscene damage outputs, especially when combined with high attack speed and proc-stacking strategies.
Blizzard has mentioned they are keeping an eye on these items, so be prepared for potential changes. However, if they remain as-is, they could be the cornerstone of a lucky hit-focused build for endgame content.
Wrapping Up: Creativity is Key in Season 6
While this season’s Wizard may not be the pinnacle of Diablo IV, the Season 6 Vessel of Hatred patch offers many opportunities for hybrid builds, creative playstyles, and new combinations. Whether you’re trying your hand at using the Frozen Orb or delving into a Teleporting Bomb build, there’s a lot of fun to be had. If you’re looking to save time and skip the grind, MMOexp offers a reliable solution to Buy Diablo 4 materials quickly and efficiently. With a wide selection of items available at competitive prices, you can enhance your weapons, upgrade your armor, and fine-tune your build with ease. Good luck, and may your Lightning Strike always be crucial!