Hello!

Writing this blog to document my progress/results of a discussion ongoing in a discord channel regarding the Nova Sorc viability in 2.4.
Below will be constants maintained throughout all builds.
Builds to test will be listed next.
I will list the gear in each build section, but will also maintain a visual gear list on an external site and can provide via PM is desired.
"Scoring" criteria will be average time of 3 runs to clear each location and potions used (as a measure of damage taken).


Comparison Study Constants

• Sorc torch, but 10/10
  
• 10/20/X Anni
  
• No skillers
  
• 1 SC of each res at 11%
  
• Level 90 character with all stat/skill quests done
  
• All gear will be "perfect" possible stats
  
• Any gear that can be socketed, will be with a -5/5 light facet
  
• Will be hitting 105FCR breakpoint for each build
  
• All comparisons will be made on Single Player, Players 1, Chaos Sanctuary & Baal Waves
  
• All mercenary equipment will be superior, if possible

Builds to Compare

• Eschuta + Spirit & Nova Ormus (Build #1)
  
• Infinity + Prayer/Insight Merc (Build #2)
  
• Crescent Moon+Spirit & Vipermagi (Build #3)
  
• Infinity, Ormus + Prayer/Insight Merc (Build #2.1)
  
• Crescent Moon+Spirit & Ormus(Build #3.1)

Results from each build (and potentially a link to unlisted videos of the runs, undecided yet) will be in separate posts on this thread.
As of publishing this post, I am working on the full gear sets in an editor so I can have quick access and quick turnaround of testing.
I also am not firming all of the builds at this time, there may be some changes that I determine need to be made in order to better the build. If that is the case, I will update the specific build in a later reply to this thread, but I feel keeping most of the gear identical across the builds to be a good "stabilizer" of the data. If a gear change is made to boots, for example, it is likely I will make that change across all of the builds.

More to come.

kia

This post was edited by kiacowsmule on Jun 20 2022 11:53am

Build #1 Summary

86/460 stat points into Strength
374/460 stat points into Energy
Fire Res: 36%
Cold Res: 72%
Lightning Res: 71%
Poison Res: 74%

Pre CTA/Memory Buff
302 Life
1249 Mana
Energy Shield: 83% Absorb
Nova: 3,366-4,432 damage

Post CTA/Memory Buff
438 Life
2035 Mana
Energy Shield: 88% Absorb
Nova: 3,556-4,668 damage

Chaos Sanctuary Time (MM:SS.XX)
Run 1: 01:59.13 (119.13s)
Run 2: 02:20.16 (140.16s)
Run 3: 02:12.09 (132.09s)
Average:01:10.46 (130.46s)

Chaos Sanctuary Full Rejuvinations Used
Run 1: 6
Run 2: 7
Run 3: 6
Average: 6.3 (6)

Baal Waves + Baal Kill Time (MM:SS.XX)
Run 1: 02:00.35 (120.35s)
Run 2: 01:50.57 (110.57s)
Run 3: 01:45.76 (105.76s)
Average: 01:52.23 (112.23s)

Baal Waves + Baal Kill Full Rejuvinations Used
Run 1: 7 (Blood Mana curse)
Run 2: 1
Run 3: 1
Average: 3

Conclusions:
This build should probably try to utilize a 20FCR ammy, as it is at 180FCR currently. I think the 200FCR point would be a nice DPS addition (which maybe I'll test later), but you'd be sacrificing a lot of those resistances from the Mara's in that spot currently. Overall, only a few situations when I "panic" potted, but the build felt really solid as a whole. The 105FCR breakpoint is really solid, and with an average of around 4000 lightning damage with nova, there's not much that can withstand more than 2 Nova casts in P1. Although it's helpful, I always find a "pre-buff" item to be clunky - I hated Battle Command'ing, switching to Memory, casting ES, then putting the CTA/Spirit back on for BO re-casts later on. However, that prebuff of ES lasts over 900 seconds (15 min), so realistically, you should only need to do it once and be able to do a full MF/XP clear run in P1. Other than the obvious of adding skillers and resistance charms, there really isn't anything I'd change about this build. It's got a nice mana pool for ES to pull from, just about 500 life which is somewhat comforting as you teleport through Worldstone Keep levels, and the Prayer aura from the Merc is quite nice between Baal waves to help get that life back to 100%. I rate the Eschuta's/Ormus' build highly, and glad I have this as my current setup on Ladder.

kia

This post was edited by kiacowsmule on Jun 20 2022 03:23pm

Build #2 Summary

0/460 stat points into Strength
460/460 stat points into Energy
Fire Res: 71%
Cold Res: 72%
Lightning Res: 71%
Poison Res: 74%

Pre CTA/Memory Buff
348 Life
1252 Mana
Energy Shield: 80% Absorb
Nova: 2,156-2,922 damage

Post CTA/Memory Buff
508 Life
2133 Mana
Energy Shield: 90% Absorb
Nova: 2,311-3,117 damage

Chaos Sanctuary Time (MM:SS.XX)
Run 1: 01:59.68 (119.68s)
Run 2: 02:13.45 (133.45s)
Run 3: 02:02.80 (122.80s)
Average: 02:05.80 (125.80s)

Chaos Sanctuary Full Rejuvenations Used
Run 1: 1
Run 2: 0
Run 3: 2
Average: 1

Baal Waves + Baal Kill Time (MM:SS.XX)
Run 1: 01:49.13 (109.13s)
Run 2: 01:47.97 (107.97s)
Run 3: 01:51.82 (111.82s)
Average: 01:49.64 (109.64s)

Baal Waves + Baal Kill Full Rejuvenations Used
Run 1: 0
Run 2: 2 (Blood Mana curse)
Run 3: 1 (mana burn)
Average: 1

Conclusions:
I was excited to try the Infinity-wielding Nova build for the reason of having the Insight on my mercenary for constant mana regeneration. Stat point distribution was entirely into Energy, thanks to the lower requirements for the gear on this build. For the most part, this build was similar in damage output/timing to Build #1, but for some reason I felt more comfortable face-tanking and tele-stomping super unique groups. I was able to Teleport straight into the middle of Ventaur and Lister's groups and didn't feel the need to hover over my potion hotkeys. I believe the added "All Skills" from the Skin of the Vipermagi helped to boost my Energy Shield damage absorption percentage up 2 more ticks to 90% vs. Build #1's percentage of 88% during the pre-buff stage. While the damage values themselves were lower, I didn't notice much of a difference in enemies death times, and the overall run times were a bit faster compared to Build #1. I'm interested in trying Build #3, utilizing the Crescent Moon runeword to capture -light res as well as the +skills from Spirit. However, I do find the Infinity-wielding Nova sorceress a fun and different take on a classic build.

*Please note the typo in the Build #1 Summary in the Chaos Sanctuary average time. I mistakenly entered 01:10.46, when it should have read 02:10.46.

kia

Build #3 Summary

86/460 stat points into Strength
374/460 stat points into Energy
Fire Res: 71%
Cold Res: 75% (32% surplus)
Lightning Res: 75% (31% surplus)
Poison Res: 75% (34% surplus)

Pre CTA/Memory Buff
302 Life
1189 Mana
Energy Shield: 81% Absorb
Nova: 2,471-3,317 damage

Post CTA/Memory Buff
468 Life
2057 Mana
Energy Shield: 89% Absorb
Nova: 2,636-3,522 damage

Chaos Sanctuary Time (MM:SS.XX)
Run 1: 02:14.54 (134.54s)
Run 2: 01:54.28 (114.28s)
Run 3: 01:57.39 (117.39s)
Average: 02:02.07 (122.07s)

Chaos Sanctuary Full Rejuvenations Used
Run 1: 4
Run 2: 3
Run 3: 4
Average: 3.7 (4)

Baal Waves + Baal Kill Time (MM:SS.XX)
Run 1: 01:59.23 (119.23s)
Run 2: 01:43.34 (103.34s)
Run 3: 01:57.49 (117.49s)
Average: 01:53.35 (113.35s)

Baal Waves + Baal Kill Full Rejuvenations Used
Run 1: 1
Run 2: 1
Run 3: 6 (Blood Mana curse)
Average: 2.7 (3)

Conclusions:
This build isl strong, as could be assumed. One notable factor as I finish the three Chaos Sanctuary runs is the amount of mana used. I am using my full rejuvenations only to recoup my mana, not because I am taking damage, etc. I'm teleporting a lot, and casting 3 Novas per second (at the current FCR breakpoint). That's 44 mana per cast, which is 132 mana each second, then tack on the damage being distributed to mana thanks to Energy Shield; with only 30% mana regen (thanks to the 1 point in Warmth), it's not sustainable without potions. After completing the Baal waves, I found that during the last run I took much more damage via ES, which even shut my ES down and had to be recast. I'm not sure the root cause to this other than monster spawn RNG (auras, etc.). However, I think the Crescent Moon build is, again, on par with other builds. However, as mentioned: the mana usage from simply teleporting and casting Nova through Chaos Sanctuary is high, with no recovery method other than 1 point into Warmth. I'm sure this was similar on the Eschuta's build, but it wasn't as noticeable (the Eschuta's Build #1 had an extra 15% mana regen on the Ormus which may have contributed to me not noticing it as much as I did on this build). With the exception of the Griffon's Eye and maybe the Mara's/Arach, this build is certainly a great contender for a more budget Nova build, while maintaining viability and great damage output for a Single Player run or even an online P1 farmer.

kia