Wizard builds /discussions

I hit 60 last night and I'm relatively low on gold (bout 100k atm, farming it quick but still low). I got a decent 2h weapon for 60k or so that does 781dps with 0.9 attacks per second. The build I primarily use right now is the very defensive blizzard + venom hydra + kite4eva build. I'm trying to upgrade the rest of my items with the AH. I don't want to go the 0 vitality build because I believe it will eventually get nerfed and I don't want to put my eggs in that basket.

Right now I'm just setting preferred stats to int >100 and vit > 20, with max buyout at whatever amount of gold I happen to have. Do people have any suggestions as to what other stats I should be looking for? For example does attack speed help blizzard/hydra at all?

@Firebolt145 | Dota 2 stream yayayay www.twitch.tv/firebolt145

Tobberoth Sweden. May 23 2012 02:50. Posts 4511

Profile #

Hmm, still not working too well for me, I've gotten enough gear to get my vit down to 14k, my crit chance is at 15% and my damage with magic weapon venom is at 95xx. For big trash packs I can stay diamonded 100% of the time and constantly spamming frost nova, but still haven't been able to do anything against rares since it seems a ton of properties counter this, such as Nightmarish (if you're running, you're not getting crits), knockback (same), and just basically any form of CC. The frost nova simply isn't freezing the enemies long enough.

EDIT1: Weird, it really isn't working at all for me, surprised that some are saying 5% crit is enough when my 15% (AND deepfreeze) isn't enough to push out diamond armor and frost nova fast enough. I just run in, dia, frost and hold down mouse button for living lighting, spamming diamond armor and frost nova like a madman (I wonder if just holding them down is enough?) and I just... die. My HP is down to 9k now and still.

EDIT2: Gear down to 0 vit. Crit chance still 15%. Not working

. A slight window in crits and you die instantly.

EDIT3: Lol, 0vit 21,5 crit chance, still not working at all. Has anyone actually used this on inferno? I've already spent 300k gold and pretty much gotten a new item in every single slot, it feels ridiculous to farm just to get a single extra % crit chance when it's not working at all even at 21,5.

Last edit: 2012-05-23 03:38:29

N3rV[Green] United States. May 23 2012 03:55. Posts 1827

Profile Blog #

I've been loling all over act I inferno with around 21k hp and barely 6k dps using

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/wizard#bSYXhO!fTg!cYYabY

as my build.

Really all it comes down to is if you can get that first good reset and have it chain. the only thing I've had a problem with elite wise is things like shielding (not immune minions, those are ezpznp cause the immune minions still get frozen).

So maybe you just aren't doing it right?

Never fear the darkness, Bran. The strongest trees are rooted in the dark places of the earth. Darkness will be your cloak, your shield, your mother's milk. Darkness will make you strong.

red_b United States. May 23 2012 04:13. Posts 929

Profile #

so, did force armor get changed or what?

no patch notes... is this some kind of joke?

Those small maps were like a boxing match in a phone booth.

Tobberoth Sweden. May 23 2012 04:16. Posts 4511

Profile #

Nevermind my previous post, I didn't realize I was actually still supposed to play, thought I could be stationary and spam. The crit build does work, but you have to move out of shit like plagued pools.

Another thing, if your fingers get really tired, get Autohotkey and make a turbo script. I can simply hold 2 down and I will be refreshing my diamond armor as fast as possible (100 ms sleep between presses).

Inori Estonia. May 23 2012 04:19. Posts 1664

Profile Blog #

On May 23 2012 04:16 Tobberoth wrote:
Another thing, if your fingers get really tired, get Autohotkey and make a turbo script. I can simply hold 2 down and I will be refreshing my diamond armor as fast as possible (100 ms sleep between presses).

Don't, you'll get banned

Napoleon53 Denmark. May 23 2012 04:41. Posts 93

Profile #

On May 23 2012 03:55 N3rV[Green] wrote:
I've been loling all over act I inferno with around 21k hp and barely 6k dps using

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/wizard#bSYXhO!fTg!cYYabY

as my build.

Really all it comes down to is if you can get that first good reset and have it chain. the only thing I've had a problem with elite wise is things like shielding (not immune minions, those are ezpznp cause the immune minions still get frozen).

So maybe you just aren't doing it right?

Dude.. that was pretty much my build

.. I also used "short fuse" for a while, but realized that most monsters in inferno arent killd instantly anyway .. and with the freeze lock, I think it is better to use "chain reaction". It gives more damage and more hits --> more critical hits. But it is a minor change.

I think your damage is very low?.. 6k... You should probably get a new weapon.

Another thing, if your fingers get really tired, get Autohotkey and make a turbo script. I can simply hold 2 down and I will be refreshing my diamond armor as fast as possible (100 ms sleep between presses).

This could actually be a key thing. I almost broke my fingers using this build :D

Last edit: 2012-05-23 04:42:02

Its just starcraft.

Itsmedudeman United States. May 23 2012 05:09. Posts 8488

Profile Blog #

What do you guys use for your last spell in the crit build? Blizzard?

HaXXspetten Sweden. May 23 2012 05:21. Posts 15716

Profile Blog #

Okay, so this is what I've come up with right now:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/wizard#bRYXOS!gYf!cbYaYY
The instant cooldown reset + FA sure as hell gives a lot of invulnerability, but I kinda feel like the dps could be better. Anything you think I could switch out without breaking everything? Venom Hydra is the only piece of the puzzle that can be swapped I think, and I'm not sure it's the best choice, I just like it since it does decent dps, but more importantely it fires on its own, so that I can focus solely on Lightning/Nova/Diamond Skin. That being said, I still think there should be a better option, 'cuz right now the battles are almost a bit too overly safe, as in I may not die very much, but it's taking its sweet time.

Any thoughts on possible alternatives for right mouse click? Since it's the only spell that uses AP I'm thinking some sort of Meteor maybe, but I'm not sure it's worth it. Anyone?

Last edit: 2012-05-23 05:22:03

Tobberoth Sweden. May 23 2012 05:22. Posts 4511

Profile #

On May 23 2012 04:19 Inori wrote:

Show nested quote +

Don't, you'll get banned

I sort of doubt that, there are keyboard which come with such turbo buttons, are blizzard going to ban people for the hardware they use? I know they don't allow third party help, but it's not like it's a bot or a maphack, it just makes my keys work like turbo keys.

To be on the safe side, I submitted a ticket to battle.net support asking if it's a bannable offense.

Last edit: 2012-05-23 05:30:14

dAPhREAk Nauru. May 23 2012 05:23. Posts 8698

Profile Blog #

hey op, you want to be awesome and put a link to the better (inferno only) builds in the op for immediate satisfaction? =D

or, does anyone know where there is a list?

Itsmedudeman United States. May 23 2012 05:25. Posts 8488

Profile Blog #

Trying to go through act 2 with this build, seems impossible to kill the elites/rares though unless you get really lucky with what their abilities spawn. Sitting at 21k dmg, 5k health, 30% crit

Uberrated Norway. May 23 2012 05:34. Posts 7

Profile #

On May 23 2012 05:09 Itsmedudeman wrote:
What do you guys use for your last spell in the crit build? Blizzard?

I use the improved AoE explosive blast. 18 radius for 225% dmg, with 1.5 delay. I also use the 4 ap per
signature hit passive, giving you really good AP regen as well.

Leyra United States. May 23 2012 05:38. Posts 704

Profile Blog #

Does anyone else get moderately annoyed that you can't control which direction Mirror Images pops you out after casting it?

Tobberoth Sweden. May 23 2012 05:38. Posts 4511

Profile #

Hmm, must say I personally find Diablo on Hell pretty hard to solo with it, it's hard to see when he casts his prisons and if you're caught in one, that's an instagib.

Itsmedudeman United States. May 23 2012 05:59. Posts 8488

Profile Blog #

Honestly, this crit build is not as "op" as people made it out to be. There's so many elites that you just can't kill and there's several weaknesses.

1. Need several mobs to attack, but at the same time this leaves you in danger of dying.

2. You need to stand and tank and attack constantly, if they have a cc you can die if you miss your chain

3. Fast mobs that run around and away (wasps in act 2) will give you a lot of trouble

4. Because you're standing and attacking, it makes it very hard to fight and kill desecrate mobs

Honestly, I had a much easier time with my vitality build in act 1, act 2 they both seem useless, but I feel I'd rather go the life regen/kite build over this

Leyra United States. May 23 2012 06:00. Posts 704

Profile Blog #

On May 23 2012 05:21 HaXXspetten wrote:
Okay, so this is what I've come up with right now:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/wizard#bRYXOS!gYf!cbYaYY
The instant cooldown reset + FA sure as hell gives a lot of invulnerability, but I kinda feel like the dps could be better. Anything you think I could switch out without breaking everything? Venom Hydra is the only piece of the puzzle that can be swapped I think, and I'm not sure it's the best choice, I just like it since it does decent dps, but more importantely it fires on its own, so that I can focus solely on Lightning/Nova/Diamond Skin. That being said, I still think there should be a better option, 'cuz right now the battles are almost a bit too overly safe, as in I may not die very much, but it's taking its sweet time.

Any thoughts on possible alternatives for right mouse click? Since it's the only spell that uses AP I'm thinking some sort of Meteor maybe, but I'm not sure it's worth it. Anyone?

I'm with this guy, this is my exact build, venom hydra is fantastic damage, but vs a moving boss I don't think it's optimal. Some really like Blizzard, but I feel then your single target is not so great.

Vs bosses I'm almost thinking just going back to a mirror image/illusionist build with low ap arcane orb/venom hydra is better. This build very good for clearing to bosses though.

Last edit: 2012-05-23 06:01:41

affinity United States. May 23 2012 06:10. Posts 152

Profile Blog #

I found wizspike to be really great for the crit build, since it has a ton of useful stuff: int, very fast attack speed, and lots of arcane regen on crit.

Also, I'm confused at why people are using mirror image on the crit build: whenever I make illusions, my previous ones get erased.

Tobberoth Sweden. May 23 2012 06:18. Posts 4511

Profile #

On May 23 2012 05:59 Itsmedudeman wrote:
Honestly, this crit build is not as "op" as people made it out to be. There's so many elites that you just can't kill and there's several weaknesses.

1. Need several mobs to attack, but at the same time this leaves you in danger of dying.

2. You need to stand and tank and attack constantly, if they have a cc you can die if you miss your chain

3. Fast mobs that run around and away (wasps in act 2) will give you a lot of trouble

4. Because you're standing and attacking, it makes it very hard to fight and kill desecrate mobs

Honestly, I had a much easier time with my vitality build in act 1, act 2 they both seem useless, but I feel I'd rather go the life regen/kite build over this

I find desecrate mobs and plague mobs to be pretty ok, you just need to keep a look out for it and move a little bit. However, when coupled with walling or other type of hard CC, you really can't do much and it becomes very hard. Same with fast molten/firechain mobs.

As for 1., this isn't really an issue if you have enough crit, as is shown by bosses, as long as you have a single target being hit constantly by your lightning, you can keep the cooldowns down. That said, mobs with shielding/invulnerability becomes close to impossible to kill for this very reason, you simply aren't getting enough crits.

I think this is an OP build for trash and most rares though, especially since you can get the armor quite cheaply and it allows you to farm for the gear you need for other builds.

m3rciless United States. May 23 2012 06:33. Posts 1403

Profile #

On May 23 2012 05:38 Leyra wrote:
Does anyone else get moderately annoyed that you can't control which direction Mirror Images pops you out after casting it?

Yeah this is pretty terrible. They need to make the images come out in such a way that you dont move, it would be so much smoother.

What rune do you put on it? Ive liked duplicates so far just for maximum confusion.

White-Ra fighting!