I am opening a discussion in regards to several item choices in order to find out the best combination for a light sorceress to achieve MB and still maintain a high HP / Resistance / Damage output. I am also doing this since this was never discussed in-depth, and guides in the sticky do not have elaborate explanations regarding their choices, nor is their setup efficient nowadays (Most cases).
MF should also be considered, but as the least important factor.
Cost, in this case, should not be a factor as well, but let us remember that this is merely PvM, and not a character that requires 10,000 FG worth of items to succeed.


Requirements (In order of importance):
117% FCR
Max Block
75@ resistances
High HP
Decent %DR
Decent %MF

I will now post item types as ones which have arisen in my mind to be competitive to fit in the build.
Please note that these are merely suggestions and I have not yet found out the best combination, therefore writing several options is always better than narrowed options with no room for expanded thought. The order of the items written does not reflect any type of importance, it is merely random.

Helmet

Griffon's Eye
Pros:
-Highest damage enhancing helm option (-%ELR mainly).
-Highest %FCR helm, allowing for the additive odd 2% FCR to be completed without further trouble.

Cons:
-Lack of resistance, HP, MF, +1 to all skills only (Which would mean less to warmth, and more cost to teleport. Not a big con, but still notable).

Harlequin Shako
Pros:
- 10% DR
- +2 to all skills.
- 50% MF
- High HP/Mana BCL.

Cons: Lack of FCR and damage.

Amulet

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Pros:
- +2 to all skills
- +5@Attributes, +20-30@ Resistances.

Cons: No %FCR.

Crafted 1-2 Sorc/20% FCR amulet
Pros:
- %FCR

Cons:
- Speaking of a plain 2/20, it may have no resistances, no surmountable HP or any other helpful categories. What's more, the +2 Sorceress skills will not apply to BO, which is an oskill.

Tal Rasha's Adjudication
No, I am not suggesting a 3-piece-TR setup. This is a standalone suggestion as this amulet has proved to have enough attributes to be a competitive amulet.

Pros:
- +50 HP, +42 Mana. (Relatively) Very high stats for a very cheap choice.
- +33% LR (Most important HC resistance IMO, followed by Fire)

Cons: Again, no %FCR. Again, +2 Sorceress skills will not apply to BO, which is an oskill.

Weapon

Heart of the Oak
Pros:
- Good %FCR
- +40@ resistances, +3 to all skills.

Wizard Spike
Pros:
- Highest %FCR, highest resistances, very high mana increment.

Cons: Absolutely no damage increment. This weapon is indeed sub-par however may be useful in HC due to max block setup deriving vitality points in comparison to a full vitality build.

Armor
This is the more complicated area, in which several options are being put on the table, offering several (Equally important) attributes:

Chains of Honor
Pros:
- +Strength, +%8 DR
- +65@ resistances, +2 to all skills.

Cons:
- This armor has it all except for FCR, which is a major drawback when Spirit is not an option for efficient max block builds.

Skin of the Vipermagi

- Highest %FCR
- Decent @Resistances, decent MDR

Cons:
- Only +1 to all skills, and as though the resistances are decent, it would require an Um rune to achieve only 76% (Assuming 35@ inherent resistance) of CoH's resistances addition.

Enigma
A very crude, very inefficient armor for PvM sorceresses, some of you may say (Myself included). The armor has a lot to offer, regardless.

Pros:
- +2 to all skills, +8% DR
- +70 Strength at level 94 (Example). This is a huge advantage for Stormshield choosers, who require 156 Strength requirement and still need to pour dexterity points to achieve max block.
- +94% MF at level 94 (Example).
- +45% FRW (Good to move about in town).

Cons:
- No resistances, no %FCR.

Shield
There should not be much debate here, Stormshield was deemed the best shell builds shield. Offering a massive amount of %DR, and having the requirements to be a max block shield, as well as good resistances, this shield has it all for HC. However, there are a few other options which may be considered after all.

Stormshield
Pros:
- 35% DR
- 35% CtB / 25% ICB

Cons:
- 156 Strength requirement.

Moser's Blessed Circle
Pros:
- 25% CtB / 30% FBR
- 25@ resistances
- 2 open sockets.

Cons:
- No %DR

Whitstan's Guard
Pros:
- Highest block rate + chance. 40% FBR, 55% CtB.

Cons:
- Other than this single pro, it offers nothing else of true consequence.

Belt

Arachnid's Mesh
Pros:
- +1 to all skills, +20% FCR

Cons:
- No %DR, no resistances, no HP.

Verdungo's Hearty Cord
Pros:
- 15% DR, life replenish, +40 vitality.

Cons:
- No %FCR, which is why this, or any other suggested belt will not be much of a competition over Arachnid's Mesh.

Thundergod's Vigor
Pros:
- Biggest 'like' factor revolves around the ability to absorb lightning damage, mainly dealt in lethal doses by Hell difficulty souls. +20 Light absorb.
- +20 Strength, +20 Vitality.

Cons:
- Much like Verdungo, no %FCR.

Rings

FCR/Stat/Resist
Pros:
- 10% FCR
- Possible additions: Strength/Dexterity, Life/Mana, resistances.

Cons:
- No damage addition.

Stone of Jordan
Pros:
- +1 to all skills
- +25% base mana increment. When 2 rings offer 50% extra mana pool, this is appealing.

Cons:
- Lack of FCR / Resistance.

Bul Kathos' Wedding Band
Pros:
- +1 to all skills
- +47 HP at level 94 (Example). Though the life is not BO affected like SoJ's mana increment is, it is still HP.

Nagelring
Pros:
- %MF

Cons:
- Lack of everything survival-based. This ring will eventually come up by someone else, so I have added it beforehand. I don't believe, however, that it can compare with others aforementioned.

Wisp Projector
The same concept as T-God's. Absorbing the deadliest element.
Pros:
- 20% Light absorb.
- 20% MF.

Cons:
- No %FCR, resistances or stats.

Gloves

Magefist
This item is mandatory. Adding +1 to fire skills allows +1 to warmth (+The item's inherent bonus to mana regeneration), which makes it preferable to Trang Oul's Claws on a sorceress any day, at any time.

Only Bloodfist is in any way comparative, but only in a vitality build, in which Spirit is the main shield.

Boots

War Traveler
Pros:
- +50% MF
- +10 Strength

Cons:
- No resistances, relatively low %FRW, no high HP increment (+10 Vitality = +20 Life).

Aldur's Advance
Pros:
- +50 HP
- +50% Fire resist
- +40% FRW

Cons:
- If you wish to consider it a con, it has no %MF, but that is nearly not consequential when survival is the key in HC.

Natalya's Soul
Pros:
- Dual resist: +25% Cold and Light resistances.
- 40% FRW

Cons:
- No HP, stat or %MF additions.


Combination setups are welcome to be discussed.

stop , :-) n1 bulid for hc is my 95%es 9k mana wizz shako / rare gz diadem / enigma / rare gz amu / 2x soj /frosts / gloom traps belt / sikwave or 1.03 craft boots 15%max nc mana / spirit shield gcs 4xlife /59mana scs 20life / 17mana light sorc or orb sorc only little rly little mana burn but it is the best strategy in overal btw sako is rly nice witch 10%dr + enigma 8%dr it imortal stats damage red for dolls dmg the best defending setup

This post was edited by angeloamc on Dec 22 2010 03:41am

Adding this on a second post:

- The complete TR set, although extremely powerful, has no option to be recommended on a max block setup, which would require having a shield without %FCR, thus being unable to reach 117% FCR in any way.

- Any items you wish to add will be welcome, with pros and cons explained.



Spirit is not an option for max block.
Neither is %ES, nor your overly-expensive items.



Please read the title, at least.



This post was edited by Synonym on Dec 22 2010 03:44am

u must spirit in my bulid for fcr

u must english in my jsp for understanding

Refrain from spamming.

A new build I've come up with, quite weak due to the lack of Griffon's Eye, however it does meet most requirements and is suitable for 3-4P game.

Helm: HQ Shako 'Um'
Armor: Enigma MP
Amulet: 2/15%+ FCR/Adds
Rings: 2*10%FCR/15+ Strength. Adds such as dexterity and resistance are quite suitable here.
Boots: A-Advance
Gloves: Magefist
Belt: Arachnid's Mesh
Shield: Stormshield 'Um'

Stats:
117% FCR
Max Block
1,910 HP
50% DR (+3% stack)
75@ resistances (Boarderline, not stacked)
196% MF
15.5K average damage Lightning (6-31K)

However, I am contemplating to restore Griffon's Eye (Um this time), remove the rings and reapply the Sojs.

I'm proud to be asked about this^^

Now, here is why I don't think you will regard my posts as helpful:

It's all about the %DR part... I have played a number of Light Sorcs in SC and especially oin HC lately. And with increasing number of games played in HC, as well as increasing knowledge and skill + a certain experience and routine, I must say I do not think that a high amount of %DR is in any way necessary.

Therefore I'd alway prefer a Base (or low)-STR setup including a Dual RBF'ed (upgraded) Mosar's...

Max Res = almost (reaching 70 of 75 @ Res) done with only Anni/Torch/Anya + clean Viper, clean Mosar's, HotO... rest should be up to SCs, since we don't need additional Mana (Base x BO = enough).
Max Block = easy to achieve with low Dex (especially if some of your other equip has STR, so you can make use of upgraded Mosar's)
Fast Block = same breakpoint as SS anyway
FCR = 25 Griffon's, 30 Viper, 40 HotO = 95, so we need another 22+ from gear to reach it. Possible via Amu, Belt and Rings.
High DMG = Viper: 1 Skill + perf RBF > 2 Skills in PvM; 2x RBF from Mosar's > SS, Griffon's also adds a lot of -ELR.
High Life: No need to stat STR usually = saved points for VIT = Life. Also less Dex needed for MB = more points saved for VIT = more Life. No need for Aldur's = space to use WWs = 15 Dex saved = 30 BO'able Life + 25 BO'able Life compared to Aldur's.
FHR: Using usual setups, we don't have any FHR I guess, which might be a problem. I'd say either lose DMG from RBFs and socket Dex/FHR/adds jewels, or use a crafted Belt and Bloods to reach certain bps.

I'll edit some setups of mine and later post them...

EDIT:

Before I forget... ImO your build(s) all lack cnbf... many people consider it useless on Sorcs, but ImO this is a must in PvP and HC PvM.

This post was edited by aneas on Dec 22 2010 11:15am

yeah, if it's pvm use what you can afford.
if you want to pwnt3hfack, use griffons
if you want to live, sorb like fack

did you use 9 light skillers to get this damage with your gear? full inventory and pvm doesn't mix well..

also.. I think a 2/20/2 circlet and 2 sojs.. would be better.. etc