Tempest PvP Simplistic Sorcerer Build

rokrdt05

Hello everyone! I wanted to make a post of a PvP Sorcerer build that many people can use with semi-easy to acquire gear and a set up that most beginning and expert sorcs can take advantage of.

This is my Divine Magna-Ge Sorcery Build.
Enjoy!

Few things that I want to point out - This build is at the 501 Champion System Cap for the next DLC. Meaning the stats presented are what it would look like come Orsinium, assuming nothing else changes.

Onto the build itself. (Smaller Note: Lots of pictures inc... what's that people always say? A picture is worth a thousand words?)

Here is what my sorcerer looks like fully buffed I.E. Food, Major Sorcery, Major Resolve, Major Ward, and all Major Regen buffs.

And here she is unbuffed with the exception of the food buff which I kept on.

I will post my gear here for reference then go into explanation and bar set up:

1x Kena (+ Spell Damage), 2x Torugs (+Spell Damage), 3x Willpower (+Spell Damage, +Max Magicka), 5x Magnus (+Max Magicka, +Magicka Regen, +Spell Damage, +8% chance to negate cost of ability)

This is a 5 Light 2 Heavy armor set up. All passives in both trees.

On the Jewelry: 1 Spell Damage, 2x Cost Reduction

Bar Set Up are as follows (sorry no pics):

Bar 1 2-Hander: Trapping Webs (Snare, Spammable), Crystal Fragments, Velocious Curse, Structured Entropy (Major Sorcery, 5% Health), Inevitable Detonation (traded out with Mages Wrath on occasion), Dawnbreaker of Smiting

Bar 2 Restoration Staff: Healing Ward (traded out with Blessing of Restoration on occasion), Boundless Storm, Hardened Ward, Streak, Daedric Minefield, Charged Atronach

Note: I do not use a Destruction Staff anymore. I have replaced it with a 2-Hand Greatsword using two passives (Heavy Weapons - 5% Extra Damage and Battle Rush - 30% Increase to Stamina Recovery for 10secs after a kill) and now make use of Trapping Webs (Undaunted Skill with huge damage and a snare) instead of Crushing Shock. I still build ultimate with Resto Light Attacks and healing/blocking just as quickly as before. I know a lot of people will comment on my regen being really low, but between my Cost Reduction and tri pots I never have resource issues... and if it gets really intense there is always heavy attacking /shrug.

I also want to point out this was on a PvP server with NO Cyro buffs so these stats do go up with more bonuses.

Champ Tree Set Up as follows (too much to screen shot imo easier to type out and don't have the capability to record):

The Apprentice -
Elfborn - 36 Points (12.2%)
Spell Erosion - 31 Points (11%)
The Ritual -
Thaumaturge - 100 Points (25%)
The Lady -
Hardy - 27 Points (10%)
Elemental Defender - 27 Points (10%)
Thick Skinned - 13 Points (5.9%)
The Lord -
Bastion - 100 Points (25%)
The Tower -
The Magician - 100 Points (16%)
The Lover -
The Apprentice - 49 Points (15.2%)
The Shadow -
Tumbling - 13 Points (5%)
Elusive - 5 Points (3%)

Sorry for the long post, I wanted to be as detailed as possible without a vid! Questions are welcome, please keep the criticism constructive.

TheBull

Let me be witness. This build has INSANE burst. I see a lot of sorcs out there doing the curse > frag/curse > frag > to inevitable detonation combo out there and it's manageable. This though, with prox det plus the sneaky trapping webs (5k crits) and dawnbreaker can essentially one shot 28k hp targets.

Awesome build from an awesome player.

Emma_Overload

I love the Trapping Webs in this build! I can guarantee anyone you hit with it will be like "WTF was that?"

rokrdt05

Emma_Eunjung wrote: »

I love the Trapping Webs in this build! I can guarantee anyone you hit with it will be like "WTF was that?"

You have no idea how many people I kill and get whispers asking me about it... even now after many people have started using the ability people still whisper me about it.

It's awesome!

Acts

I approve of this build xD

This is a Sick build. Stats are nearly the same to mine but ur Regen.

rokrdt05

Acts wrote: »

I approve of this build xD

This is a Sick build. Stats are nearly the same to mine but ur Regen.

Yeah, I know regen is lower than what I would normally do but it works out fine with tri pots. Not to mention with Magnus set that 8% happens a lot.

Waffennacht

I've wondered, what's the benefits of tangling webs over... let's say, shattering prison?

Does it not just reduce their movement by 40% (with some damage)? How would that be better than a pure root with damage? (Also the morph reduces speed too)

Im considering trying it (even though the damage is substantially lower than yours)

Next question is: is that your base health or do you have some stats improving it? What traits and glyphs do you run buddy?

Im liking what I see, Im not a dps build but definitely ideas I like. If tangling webs is that much better than shattering prison I'd better check it out.

How's the 1v2 or how well do you do verse NB?

rokrdt05

Waffennacht wrote: »

I've wondered, what's the benefits of tangling webs over... let's say, shattering prison?

Does it not just reduce their movement by 40% (with some damage)? How would that be better than a pure root with damage? (Also the morph reduces speed too)

Im considering trying it (even though the damage is substantially lower than yours)

Next question is: is that your base health or do you have some stats improving it? What traits and glyphs do you run buddy?

Im liking what I see, Im not a dps build but definitely ideas I like. If tangling webs is that much better than shattering prison I'd better check it out.

How's the 1v2 or how well do you do verse NB?

I have not stats into health either via gear or attributes (as pictured above).

Trapping Webs has replaced Crushing Shock (previous spammable ability). Crushing Shock provided interrupts and a cheap skill to spam while doing your rotations... however with a 2H greatsword I can't use CS... hence the Trapping Webs (which does more damage than CS and works well overall since it is magic damage and gets the bonus form Thaumaturge like all other sorc abilities... no longer need to multi spec in ele damage... I believe TW is 50% snare if I'm not mistaken (not on my sorc atm to check) also the synergy of the ability is pretty powerful if an ally uses it.

In your scenario you are asking me to give up my high damage dealing spammable with a snare and use encase which is just a root with a snare or small damage when effect ends.

I 1vX extremely well, opponets tend to drop very quickly specially with LoS and Mines. NB's are no different from any other class... I have the most trouble with Templars honestly with the tankiness and heals (not their damage, just survivability).

Edit Note: Just realized I didn't answer your glyph question lol. I run all magicka enchants on armor, disease enchants on 2H and magicka return on resto staff. I use 1 spell dmg and 2x cost reduc on jewelry.

Waffennacht

So damage from TW is that much higher? The reason Im wondering is that I have been running shattering prison + liquid lightning and I am looking for a nice alternative.

Your reasoning sounds good, that's why im so curious (last time I checked TW was low dmg on my char but doesn't mean it'll stay that way)

I guess Im more curious why you like the snare? What does their limited motion provide you? Does it stop WB as example? Do you combo it with something else?

Thanks for all the info (gees that's high health with no points, im vet 10 and only have 15k health, and that's with points in it)
Thanks for the glyph info too, all very interesting!

Im gonna do some testing later, im sure ill be back with more questions

rokrdt05

Waffennacht wrote: »

So damage from TW is that much higher? The reason Im wondering is that I have been running shattering prison + liquid lightning and I am looking for a nice alternative.

Your reasoning sounds good, that's why im so curious (last time I checked TW was low dmg on my char but doesn't mean it'll stay that way)

I guess Im more curious why you like the snare? What does their limited motion provide you? Does it stop WB as example? Do you combo it with something else?

Thanks for all the info (gees that's high health with no points, im vet 10 and only have 15k health, and that's with points in it)
Thanks for the glyph info too, all very interesting!

Im gonna do some testing later, im sure ill be back with more questions

Yes, the damage is pretty amazing for the ability itself. It seemed to have gotten a ninja buff in 1.6. The snare is actually quite useful because people use their mobility to try and out position you... you limit that option and control the fight... also it helps for runners... Shattering Prison + Liquid Lightning will not compare to the damage that webs does, not to mention most people won't sit in that.

Waffennacht

rokrdt05 wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

So damage from TW is that much higher? The reason Im wondering is that I have been running shattering prison + liquid lightning and I am looking for a nice alternative.

Your reasoning sounds good, that's why im so curious (last time I checked TW was low dmg on my char but doesn't mean it'll stay that way)

I guess Im more curious why you like the snare? What does their limited motion provide you? Does it stop WB as example? Do you combo it with something else?

Thanks for all the info (gees that's high health with no points, im vet 10 and only have 15k health, and that's with points in it)
Thanks for the glyph info too, all very interesting!

Im gonna do some testing later, im sure ill be back with more questions

Yes, the damage is pretty amazing for the ability itself. It seemed to have gotten a ninja buff in 1.6. The snare is actually quite useful because people use their mobility to try and out position you... you limit that option and control the fight... also it helps for runners... Shattering Prison + Liquid Lightning will not compare to the damage that webs does, not to mention most people won't sit in that.

Exactly, that's what I was thinking. Im gonna have to give your idea a try thanks.

Your build looks really good. I hope I don't see a bunch of your builds running around lol
...
The more i look at it the better it gets...

NoRefunds

did you actually test if 2h is better than dual wield? because some of my friends are saying that dual wield gives the same dmg but higher penetration...

rokrdt05

NoRefunds wrote: »

did you actually test if 2h is better than dual wield? because some of my friends are saying that dual wield gives the same dmg but higher penetration...

Yes, I've done some extensive testing between the two. You lose spell damage going to a 2H from DW (with passives applied), however with this build I get much higher tool tip values with the 2H. As far as penetration, that isn't affected by the type of weapon I am using as a magicka user. You would see that more with stamina users and the type of weapon they use. The spell penetration I get is from Light Armor Passives, Spell Erosion Passive in CP tree, and Trait (nirn) on the weapon you are using. There are abilities that affect your spell penetration as well.

NoRefunds

yeah but some people said that 2 nirn swords give more penetration than a 2h weapon with nirn even if it should be the same, not sure if they fixed it or not

rokrdt05

NoRefunds wrote: »

yeah but some people said that 2 nirn swords give more penetration than a 2h weapon with nirn even if it should be the same, not sure if they fixed it or not

Not sure how you could successfully test and/or prove this. Even if you took out all of your CP, the damage done would still be different because of the difference of spell damage and passives. Depending on the build the 2H might out do the DW or vice versa. So I couldn't see how one would do "more" penetration than the other. Stat wise the percentage is the same.

Lylith

gives me hope for the sorc i've had parked since i.c dropped.

i got her to v16 somehow, but i felt like i was fighting with my hands tied the entire time.

thanks for the insights.

FlipFl0p

Nice! I had begun to level a stamina sorcerer as I wanted to go more aggressive and 2H rather than just light armour casting, this build gives me hope for meeting somewhere in the middle so maybe I don't need to start again.

Thanks!

Waffennacht

Wanted to come back and say, thanks to you im a webs sorc too!

Though personally, our builds are pretty different.

Wanted to ask about torug's pact. I see a lot of people use it, is that only when having x3 set bonus because of only one weapon?

I ask because I run DW and therefore Twilight's Embrace gives spell crit instead of torug's spell resist.

I do not own the willpower set, but even if I did I would still be... like 600 dmg below yours. And magnus vs seducer shouldn't account for it, what am I missing? All the little things?

I like combat prayer, i just can't stand healing ward, does not work well with my style

Also do u find a crit to do less dmg than the spell power? I have 2000 sp dmg but 71% crit chance

rokrdt05

Waffennacht wrote: »

Wanted to come back and say, thanks to you im a webs sorc too!

Though personally, our builds are pretty different.

Wanted to ask about torug's pact. I see a lot of people use it, is that only when having x3 set bonus because of only one weapon?

I ask because I run DW and therefore Twilight's Embrace gives spell crit instead of torug's spell resist.

I do not own the willpower set, but even if I did I would still be... like 600 dmg below yours. And magnus vs seducer shouldn't account for it, what am I missing? All the little things?

I like combat prayer, i just can't stand healing ward, does not work well with my style

Also do u find a crit to do less dmg than the spell power? I have 2000 sp dmg but 71% crit chance

It's actually pretty funny because I've changed this build slightly. Instead of Magnus, I am now running 5x Seducer and have put Spell Damage on all the jewelry. I know have more spell damage and regen with a 8% cost reduction bonus. However, I only run 2x Torugs which provides only the spell damage bonus... next patch DW will be greater than 2H and you can run 3x Torugs for the extra health. Not sure how I'm going to do it yet but will see. As for if I would go Twilights or Torugs... I would def go Torugs, I'd prefer the extra spell resist over crit.

I know a lot of people have different opinions on crit chance in pvp and I honestly think it's not worth having at all. I have 32% crit chance and I still hit like a truck. IMO you are better off focusing on other stats like spell damage/Regen/Max Magicka over crit.

A lot of sorcs are moving away from ward, I know some top tier ones who still use it just because of the burst healing it provides without having to spam an ability like Combat Prayer. Combat Prayer is nice for the 8% dmg increase but the healing is pretty small... but if it's working for you that's great.

You'll also find that Willpower is usually BiS gear and a must. The bonuses provided are so high and extremely good.

Waffennacht

Oh, gonna take all that into consideration. I currently get around 2000 spell damage. Im not sure how that translates to actuall damage with an attack. That is something I would like to know.

Like how much does frag (givien all other variables remain the same) do in damage at 2000 spell dmg vs 3000 spell dmg?

I wanna know about your tweaks!

See because I have focused so heavily on crit my resources run out more quickly, so I have been running dark conversion on my back up, along with combat prayer. Both have tiny heals (however it doesn't seem other heals are much better though and the other wards and I don't get along)

That is one interesting thing is with a spammable heal, with such a high crit, my heals usually crit (because of it all, I use 50% crit chance (to compensate for RNG) and 60% (in total) crit dmg) I calculate an Average of 30% increase in damage or heals.

Again to determine which I should do, I would need to know the difference spell dmg does.

I really want detonation and caltrops, those would be in my build but alas not there yet.

I wanna know if you feel entropy is still worth running. My health is low the % isn't much (kinda dis like the DoT but that's cuz of my build) my main reason against it, is as a reformed Pet user, I am NOT going back to having two toggles, my innerlight is enough.

Do you still run boundless? I did until I switched to back up resto staff, Just in combat I never felt it did much (for my dps build, I adored it in my tank build)

A bit of a necro, but I wanna know!

Alucardo

I'm fairly new to the whole magicka-based builds. Generally I ran with Seducer, because I liked knowing I have 100% chance at an 8% cost reduction.
Do you find the 5pc Magnus better helps manage over the Seducer?

ToRelax

Alucardo wrote: »

I'm fairly new to the whole magicka-based builds. Generally I ran with Seducer, because I liked knowing I have 100% chance at an 8% cost reduction.
Do you find the 5pc Magnus better helps manage over the Seducer?

Seducer is certainly the better 5pc bonus. People just choose magnus if they like the 4pc bonus more (spell damage instead of regen).

rokrdt05

Alucardo wrote: »

I'm fairly new to the whole magicka-based builds. Generally I ran with Seducer, because I liked knowing I have 100% chance at an 8% cost reduction.
Do you find the 5pc Magnus better helps manage over the Seducer?

You get 1 Spell Damage over 1 Magicka Regen between the sets (aside from the 5 pc). However, I switched from Magnus to Seducer and went all spell damage on jewelry. With that set up I got more regen and spell damage and gained 8% reduced cost reduction. I'm not saying Magnus isn't viable because it is. I feel like the proc chance is more than 8%, but for my build I wanted to get more stats without suffering sustain and I did that by going to Seducer.

rokrdt05

Waffennacht wrote: »

Oh, gonna take all that into consideration. I currently get around 2000 spell damage. Im not sure how that translates to actuall damage with an attack. That is something I would like to know.

Like how much does frag (givien all other variables remain the same) do in damage at 2000 spell dmg vs 3000 spell dmg?

I wanna know about your tweaks!

See because I have focused so heavily on crit my resources run out more quickly, so I have been running dark conversion on my back up, along with combat prayer. Both have tiny heals (however it doesn't seem other heals are much better though and the other wards and I don't get along)

That is one interesting thing is with a spammable heal, with such a high crit, my heals usually crit (because of it all, I use 50% crit chance (to compensate for RNG) and 60% (in total) crit dmg) I calculate an Average of 30% increase in damage or heals.

Again to determine which I should do, I would need to know the difference spell dmg does.

I really want detonation and caltrops, those would be in my build but alas not there yet.

I wanna know if you feel entropy is still worth running. My health is low the % isn't much (kinda dis like the DoT but that's cuz of my build) my main reason against it, is as a reformed Pet user, I am NOT going back to having two toggles, my innerlight is enough.

Do you still run boundless? I did until I switched to back up resto staff, Just in combat I never felt it did much (for my dps build, I adored it in my tank build)

A bit of a necro, but I wanna know!

I'll update this build when I'm not feeling too lazy... but literally the change I made is replace my Magnus with Seducer and enchant all my Jewelry with spell damage... that's it.

I still prefer ward because it allows me to go back to DPS'ing without having to spam heals on myself non stop as those heals you mentioned do. Not saying they are bad heals, but not as effective for burst healing like ward is.

Bogdan_Kobzar

OMG!!! Thank You @rokrdt05
Unlike the other 99% of egotistical, self-too-superior-to-associate-with-the -rest-of-us-lower-type-folks, you've actually shared AND taught, and all of that without the "go to my twitching, telly-tubby channel" and "Bask in my presence" and "don't forget to sign up as a follower" nonsense.

Looking forward to respeccing and trying this build out!

Waffennacht

rokrdt05 wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

Oh, gonna take all that into consideration. I currently get around 2000 spell damage. Im not sure how that translates to actuall damage with an attack. That is something I would like to know.

Like how much does frag (givien all other variables remain the same) do in damage at 2000 spell dmg vs 3000 spell dmg?

I wanna know about your tweaks!

See because I have focused so heavily on crit my resources run out more quickly, so I have been running dark conversion on my back up, along with combat prayer. Both have tiny heals (however it doesn't seem other heals are much better though and the other wards and I don't get along)

That is one interesting thing is with a spammable heal, with such a high crit, my heals usually crit (because of it all, I use 50% crit chance (to compensate for RNG) and 60% (in total) crit dmg) I calculate an Average of 30% increase in damage or heals.

Again to determine which I should do, I would need to know the difference spell dmg does.

I really want detonation and caltrops, those would be in my build but alas not there yet.

I wanna know if you feel entropy is still worth running. My health is low the % isn't much (kinda dis like the DoT but that's cuz of my build) my main reason against it, is as a reformed Pet user, I am NOT going back to having two toggles, my innerlight is enough.

Do you still run boundless? I did until I switched to back up resto staff, Just in combat I never felt it did much (for my dps build, I adored it in my tank build)

A bit of a necro, but I wanna know!

I'll update this build when I'm not feeling too lazy... but literally the change I made is replace my Magnus with Seducer and enchant all my Jewelry with spell damage... that's it.

I still prefer ward because it allows me to go back to DPS'ing without having to spam heals on myself non stop as those heals you mentioned do. Not saying they are bad heals, but not as effective for burst healing like ward is.

Gotcha, I just suck with ward. I know its prob my timing with it ya know? Ive seen tons of players use it well, I just don't lol. I end up spamming it anyway...

Combat prayer is my Oh no! Heal, have hardened ward right next to it with conversion next to that. Had my first run in with shieldbreaker, combat prayer worked really well till I got feared and non light attack comboed.

In a situation where you are snuck up upon, what would your strategy be against a shieldbreaker user? Im betting usually you just nuke em, but if you are disadvantaged, what would you recommend?

rokrdt05

Bogdan_Kobzar wrote: »

OMG!!! Thank You @rokrdt05
Unlike the other 99% of egotistical, self-too-superior-to-associate-with-the -rest-of-us-lower-type-folks, you've actually shared AND taught, and all of that without the "go to my twitching, telly-tubby channel" and "Bask in my presence" and "don't forget to sign up as a follower" nonsense.

Looking forward to respeccing and trying this build out!

Thank you! I prefer people test something out for themselves and see how they feel about things. Everyone has a different playstyle, so I give what I can and let people play with it.

Makkir

The other benefit of Trapping Webs is the fact it is a spammable ranged attack and I think it averages 300 more majicka cost than Crushing Shock. It's a very attractive skill for those who are not using staves. I have been running it for a few weeks now and yeah a lot of people are like "WTF just hit me."

rokrdt05

Waffennacht wrote: »

rokrdt05 wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

Oh, gonna take all that into consideration. I currently get around 2000 spell damage. Im not sure how that translates to actuall damage with an attack. That is something I would like to know.

Like how much does frag (givien all other variables remain the same) do in damage at 2000 spell dmg vs 3000 spell dmg?

I wanna know about your tweaks!

See because I have focused so heavily on crit my resources run out more quickly, so I have been running dark conversion on my back up, along with combat prayer. Both have tiny heals (however it doesn't seem other heals are much better though and the other wards and I don't get along)

That is one interesting thing is with a spammable heal, with such a high crit, my heals usually crit (because of it all, I use 50% crit chance (to compensate for RNG) and 60% (in total) crit dmg) I calculate an Average of 30% increase in damage or heals.

Again to determine which I should do, I would need to know the difference spell dmg does.

I really want detonation and caltrops, those would be in my build but alas not there yet.

I wanna know if you feel entropy is still worth running. My health is low the % isn't much (kinda dis like the DoT but that's cuz of my build) my main reason against it, is as a reformed Pet user, I am NOT going back to having two toggles, my innerlight is enough.

Do you still run boundless? I did until I switched to back up resto staff, Just in combat I never felt it did much (for my dps build, I adored it in my tank build)

A bit of a necro, but I wanna know!

I'll update this build when I'm not feeling too lazy... but literally the change I made is replace my Magnus with Seducer and enchant all my Jewelry with spell damage... that's it.

I still prefer ward because it allows me to go back to DPS'ing without having to spam heals on myself non stop as those heals you mentioned do. Not saying they are bad heals, but not as effective for burst healing like ward is.

Gotcha, I just suck with ward. I know its prob my timing with it ya know? Ive seen tons of players use it well, I just don't lol. I end up spamming it anyway...

Combat prayer is my Oh no! Heal, have hardened ward right next to it with conversion next to that. Had my first run in with shieldbreaker, combat prayer worked really well till I got feared and non light attack comboed.

In a situation where you are snuck up upon, what would your strategy be against a shieldbreaker user? Im betting usually you just nuke em, but if you are disadvantaged, what would you recommend?

Honestly, when is comes to shieldbreaker I do a couple of things. In a 1vX situation a LoS and kite around while keeping shields up and nuking who I can. In a 1v1 situation I attempt to nuke them as fast as possible. I lose more than I win... but I do have wins against the bads who only depend on this set.

I have yet to beat a stamina dk with reflect with shield breaker on. I have only managed it doing a pet build and I don't do pets lol.

Waffennacht

Thank you for your response! Makes me feel a lot better. Im 0/2 against shield breaker.

One thing I realized (more noticed) that combat prayer can crit, in Cyrodiil, if it crits (two outta three) it actually heals a Ton of health, close to clannfear range. Surge is another heal just not as defensive as could be other heals.

DKs, I haven't died to one with this build yet, found a couple I couldn't kill however. Do you have any cool ideas on shield removal or a way to get thru them? Against this DK he would keep popping a shield and my attack would only get thru his shield, not actually dealin damage to his health.

Webs r awesome, esp when an ally activates the spiders. Omg those will power sets went up in price, like over night.

Im giving up on shattering prison, and Mines. Im going to try and replace them with detonation (when i get it) and caltrops. I like the idea of a streak caltrops combo for anti NB. I am guessing detonation and curse kill each other but I figure if its on my overload bar (where i run streak and caltrops) it wont intefere with curse. Any ideas oj this?

Alucardo

Makkir wrote: »

The other benefit of Trapping Webs is the fact it is a spammable ranged attack and I think it averages 300 more majicka cost than Crushing Shock. It's a very attractive skill for those who are not using staves. I have been running it for a few weeks now and yeah a lot of people are like "WTF just hit me."

Haha it's even funnier when an ally does the synergy and a bunch of spiders run out. My target started killing the spiders instead of focusing on me.
I just wish the projectile was a bit more visible. If we ever get the ability to name change, I'm dying my armour red and blue then calling myself Spiderman.