I've returned to d2 after ~15 years and tried a few chars already:

94.8 Java (loved her until I tried sorc and now java feels too slow on tele)
~90 summoner necro
~85 tesladin - sold dreams 5 mins after making them, was fkin awful
~89 light sorc - changed her into nova recently

In p1 she feels great, with BO im reaching 641 life & 2353 mana with:

-52 infi scythe
viper 35/9 (not socketed yet, waiting on inputs)
griff socketed with facet -25 +17 104def(162)
Mara 30
Magefist
10fcr/20str/11@r rare ring
1 soj
Eth Sandstorm trek (70LR/13/13)
CTA 2/5/4
Spirit Monarch 32 (just for +skills)
skiller +12life
skiller +26life
gheed 40/10/154
sunder 70
7/17 mana SC x2
7/11 LR SC x5
7/11 FR SC x2
15life 11LR SC x1
Anni 20/17/7
3frw 11LR SCx1
6mf 8LR SCx1
19/14 torch

Need some advice, got 105 fcr right now due to magefist - will getting it from other sources help me much with survivability?
Dmg feels ok at P1, kinda slow on bosses, feeling quite vulnerable at baal not mentioning clone.
What do i need to do to make this build work well at P3-P5? Right now it feels lacking in damage, P8 with java was a breeze but this fkin fcr is killing me.
Should I roll another char? Or is there some potential left for my sorc?

If u get a decent 2sorc 10fcr ammy u can replace one ring with another soj

Merc needs to use insight and preferably cure helmet and u should have pretty much infinite mana

ideally you want to be using a magic +3 light 10 fcr amu and 2 sojs. helps you reach 95 es without stacking inventory with skillers.

max out both es andtelekinesis if you haven't already. use insight merc if you aren't already.

survivability shouldn't be an issue at all. you don't even need those mf res charms, poison res is the only thing you need to think about.

single target damage is rough indeed, and in higher player count games you'll benefit from using static on elite packs more than you probably are doing at this point.


e: oh and just use a lidless on switch. you're wasting a lot of str points just to get +1 bo. your highest req item is sands, and many people even opt out of that and go for a lower req rare boot to get a higher mana pool. and yeah you should 5-5 your viper.

This post was edited by Dolphy on Jan 29 2024 07:37am

I made eth spirit monarch for that purpose to limit str req, 5-5 this viper or look for one with more dmg red?
I have eth 9LL andy 501def on merc socketed with 15ias/36ed jewel, eth forti 29@r 2673def & eth cv insight 249ed lv13 meditation.

I was hoping to get another 20% fcr on amu or amu + ring combo and get a huge mana boost from frostburns - wouldn't that be best?

Also, how much value does my rare ring (10fcr 11@r 20str) have?

You need 105 FCR. That’s it.

Viper
Griffon
3/10 FCR amulet
Arach
Magefist

The max Str on gear you need is around 60-90 depending on your boots. No reason to use spirit on BO switch. That is tons of Str needed and ultimately lowering your total life/mana pool

cost aside, wouldnt frostburn give me +xxx mana? if i can replace magefist getting 20%fcr elsewhere it should feel amazing

also, wont the crap merc die all the time with no LL from andy if i give him cure?

This post was edited by inflames123 on Jan 29 2024 09:32am

frostburn is never worth it on a pvm nova sorc. 3/10 + mages and double soj is the way to go

coh provides ll for your merc

What will bring me most 'op' feel for this char? adding in a soj, 10fcr amu with 3 light & switching some items on merc or another investment?

Also what other class u recommend to join my current army? maybe a hammerdin? or a smiter?

you have the full build listed just go do it man. This build can’t be beat to death anymore.

And no one can answer what character you should make next except you

already got it, just before spending runes/fg on stuff I'd like to know absolute BiS options to finish this up, right now it feels ok but nothing op about it wondering if there's some hidden potential in it somewhere that I might have missed.