Rules of this comparison:
all builds must achieve 95es
all builds must have meditation
all builds must reach 75 psn res
all builds must include sunder
all builds must include cube and 2 tome in inventory
and for the purpose of an easier/fair comparison, all builds must include eth treks as boots
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The builds will all be listed like this:
nova dps: 0res / 33res / 50res / 95res (sundered)
*static field % dmg of current life: 0res / 33res / 50res / 95res (sundered)
mana: total after self-BO
life: total after self-BO
def
light res
mdr
*
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1.
viper + 3/10 amy + CTA/splendor
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/snkos0cenova dps: 28,276 / 28,276 / 28,726 / 15,128
static: 26.45% / 33.25% / 38.1% / 26.75%
mana: 3,223
life: 1,319
def: 3,393
light res: -65
mdr: 13
2.
ormus + 2/20fcr/20@/35pr amy + 3es CTA
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/s9ogn0g2nova dps: 28,728 / 28,728 / 28,728 / 15,370
static: 26.45% / 33.25% / 38.1% / 26.75%
mana: 3,187
life: 1,281
def: 2,354
light res: -80
mdr: 0
3.
3/3/3 20fcr 2os orb + 2/20fcr/20@/35p amy + 8x facet armor/shield + 3es CTA (no infinity merc)
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/cfkqv0cnnova dps: 31,873 / 25,863 / 22,766 / 14,571
static: 43.75% / 35.5% / 31.25% / 20%
mana: 3,305
life: 1,354
def: 2,597
light res: -80
mdr: 0
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Conclusions...
Setup 3. has the highest nova dps vs 0res to 25res mobs
Setup 3. has the highest static dps vs 0res to 33res mobs
Setup 3. struggles more against immunes and high light res mobs
Setup 3. falls between the 2 other setups in terms of tankyness
Setup 2. has a linear 1.6% nova dps advantage over setup 1.
Assuming that static is approximately 60% of your dps, this 1.6% nova increase means 0.64% effective total dps
Setup 2. is the most fragile
Setup 2. and 1. have the same static dps, while setup 1. has 0.6yd larger radius
Setup 1. has the best defensive stats by far
Setup 1. is the cheapest and most easy to assemble
Playing setup 3. with an infinity merc is
doable but requires playing vita instead of ES, and it's extremely bad QoL due to your mana expenditure being much higher than your mana regen. Much more fragile, less static dmg than the other setups, overall not a good idea.
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Addressing the question: eth Treks or crafted mana boots?
If everything is perf, then
eth Treks + upd viper + upd mages = 2.29 times the total defense of crafted caster boots + non-upd viper/mage
treks = more psn res, more fhr, more vita
caster boots = more mana, potentially more of the following : light res, 10frw, mf, gf, life rep
There is no general consensus... treks are better vs physical attacks and psn dmg, while caster boots offer a bigger mana pool and some potential minor bonuses
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Addressing the question : should I use frostburns?
To use them, you would have to remove mages, which would force you to switch the 3/10 amy to a 2/20 amy, and replace a soj by a fcr ring. And also use a +3es CTA instead of CTA/splendor.
If we assume that we replace them by perfect rolls of 110 mana on amy and 90 mana on ring, then the final result is at best +556 mana.
A 95 ES sorc already feels immortal without this bonus. And this extra mana makes no difference against the 3 dangers on this build : Souls/mana burn, psn dmg, Blood Mana curse.
So, in my humble opinion, it makes no sense to sacrifice 2 skills (-9.71% dmg) and make the build much more expensive.
This post was edited by SinsOfTheSun on Sep 29 2025 11:36pm