Hi guys,
Fairly new to hardcore, 2.5 ladder will only be my second go at it. Managed to RIP a few characters first time round when I built them as I normally would in softcore (had a full tals + spirit monarch sorc), so hoping to avoid that this time!

Initially I was thinking of building an 'immortal sorc' similar to this video guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJJpw4ODqgE
Based on items like Gerke's sanctuary + vipermagi, and running max block + fully specc'ed ES & Telekinesis. Have never really run ES before due to the old mana burn bug, but now that it's fixed ES looks like a great way to easily boost survivability.
Since running ES takes up a fair few skill points, spell wise I was looking at using Orb or Nova, with my personal preference being frozen orb, and farming Alvl85 places like ancient tunnels, stony tomb, arachnid lair etc to avoid cold immunes.


Now with the upcoming ladder having terror zones, it feels like it will be important to build a character capable of farming most if not all zones, so now i'm rethinking my plan..

Will it be necessary to go something like orb/fireball? Hard to juggle what to sacrifice.. max block / ES / 105fcr breakpoint, feels like something has to go to enable a hybrid sorc to work.

Does anyone have suggestions for how to build an efficient PvM sorc that can run all areas while still being quite tanky?
Bear in mind I probably wont be able to afford infinity / griffons etc

Would love to hear your opinions

Cold Sorc with Static and a beefed up Merc with Reapers Toll/EboTD would be my go to, or a Light Sorc.

Hybrid sorc sucks

hybrids are terrible

(bliz) you can either stay bliz or move to light when you have infinity

shako+ um
coh ap
spider
hoto
dual sojs or dual bks
tang gloves
hotspers
ber'ed storm shield + um
maras 30 res or 2/20 caster craft

you will not reach fcr bp do not worry about 105 fcr bp or if your lightening 117 fcr for lightening keeping the character alive is most imporant
you can add more fcr with upgraded 35 fcr vipermage + um

merc
ap or sa fort
eth ral'ed andys
ecv or eca infinity
base aura holy freeze

since your hc its a little different
torch anni
20 hp scs with useful mods like 11% fire res or 11% light res

make sure your max block
make sure you are near max physical damage resistance of 50%
es is a pvp skill, elemental is not pvp
since your hc you want to always dump into vita and never at any point use es this is a tragic noob mistake even when es has been upgraded its just not enough protection

if you walk outside at any point while playing hc have 56 bo bc ba on from a dedicated bo barb with enigma and a merc with insight so you can teleport to dangerous areas like throne and look for dolls

Orb+fb can works really nice, same good as others on p1 or low multi. I prefer it over Blizz because you can farm everything and you don't depend on merc that much.
But she will be quite expensive (Infi, DF, etc) and you won't put too much mf on it (200-300 or less).
However if you be able to get that new charm (when it will be released) then there is no point to go in to hybrid.
Everyone are excited about Blizz soso but with fireball you can easily reach around 150-160k dps (-100%fr vs non-immunes and -15%fr vs immunes).