interesting. But endless fury would be nice too

Necro + Willpower + Chudan solid setup for sure.

Spell Strategist though?
In group v group basically useless (unless you've managed to get tab targeting to work better then 99% of people). Solo I can kind of see it working, but still serious reservations, the amount of times a LA (or a skill) hits your non-primary target is very high, which would cause an entire wasted rotation. If it messes up your first rotation/target that could easily mean death for you if not able to even the odds quick enough.

Apologies if you've already answered these concerns in the video, but Spell Strategist for the mess that is Cyrodiil, or even BG's, seems like a really unreliable choice.

CyrusArya wrote: »

HansProlo wrote: »

interesting. But endless fury would be nice too

Fury is a solid option, I just personally feel ele drain brings more to the build. This really is more of a glass canon spec and I just want my frags and curses to hit hard as possible.

Have you considered running Spinners and Innate Axiom? I run that combo on my sorc and my frags, fury, and curses absolutely MELT people in no CP.

Looks like a solid setup

@Taylor_MB @HansProlo
I am finding a lot of success with Spell Strategist in both Open World and BGs. There is definitely a risk/reward factor though. Spell Strat was practically designed for mag sorc, as I touch upon in the video. It’s just very conducive of a focused single target playstyle. Especially one where the goal is to pack as much damage as possible in a small window. Spinners would be a safer choice, more reliable but with a lower ceiling on the burst potential. Your concerns are valid though, and for that reason I wouldn’t recommend spell strat to people who aren’t very well versed on the class’ damage profile. But I find I can pretty reliably stay on my designated target. Also do keep in mind that even without the proc, this build still has very high damage. Spell Strat just takes it to the next level.

The setup works great in solo and small scale PvP, but in a more organized or GvG setup it wouldn’t be optimal. But then again I don’t think single target burst has much of a place there anyways. In those settings, I’m gonna assume more of a support role with a build tailored to crowd control and healing.

Aurielle wrote: »

Have you considered running Spinners and Innate Axiom? I run that combo on my sorc and my frags, fury, and curses absolutely MELT people in no CP.

Spinners and Axiom is a solid build for sure, that’s what I run on my mDK alongside Bright Throat/Axiom. However, Spell Strat is more damage than Spinners. Also, light attacks are a big component of Sorcerer dps. And while Axiom will increase the matriarch heal, it will not provide a larger damage shield whereas Necro does both. While we can debate the damage set, I think it’s hard to top Necro on builds that can utilize it.

Betty_Booms wrote: »

Squishy and melee attacking heavys for stam? Why not run dark deal and stay at range for heavies and resource return?

Spell strat can be very useful for focusing in BGs. After all the most effective way to take down a group is to focus targets.

Mages fury is bread and butter to a sorc. If you are running with a group and someone else is setup for executes then fine. But if you arent running mages fury im not sure how you are securing kills effectively.

Not a bad idea with Chudans but where are you getting your major expedition from now. That skill has saved my ass so many times.

I do run dark deal, it’s essential to the build. Staying at range however is a luxury that isn’t always available, especially in an open world small scale context. My point about the heavy attacks for sustain is that sword and board provides a means to restore stamina, something traditional resto back bar Sorcs don’t have access to.

Fury is a solid skill, but it is more expendable than the other ones I have chosen. The only context where I run it is in BGs. You can easily secure kills without fury if you A.) build enough damage and B.) are capable of lining up burst and maintaining pressure properly. But again, Chudan provides for an extra slot and fury could be the choice to replace boundless storm. I just like ele drain better personally. And on the point of mobility, streak is plenty.

RinaldoGandolphi wrote: »

Looks like a solid setup

Thanks! It really feels great. Although I might end up swapping to triune or protective jewlery. I’m just reluctant to do cus I don’t wanna lose any damage.

CyrusArya wrote: »

Recently came back to my Sorcerer, and while initially my motivation was to find a build that was similar in design and mechanics to my Magplar, what I ended up piecing together feels quite a lot stronger than any variant of the ‘plar. Sorc can be quite powerful this patch, but it does require some adjustments and adaptations from conventional styles of play and build schemes. This setup in particular has tremendous damage and solid defenses, and is viable for both solo and group play.

As always, I love to play builds that have unique and exclusive synergy with the class in question, and adaptive builds that make use of newly developed changes in recent patches. This Sorc, just like my Magplar, has both of those qualities.

https://youtu.be/_2U02Lrv8IE


Build:
High Elf Sorcerer
64 magicka/0 health/0 stamina
x5 Necropotence (x5 Body)
x5 Spell Strategist (Jewlery/Destro Staff)
x2 Willpower (Sword&Board)
x2 Mighty Chudan (Undaunted Helmet/Shoulder)
Mage Mundus
Clockwork Citrus Filet and Spell Power potions

Abilities:
Front- Crystal Fragments, Force Pulse, Flame Reach, Elemental Drain, Summon Twilight Matriarch Greater Storm Atronach

Back- Haunting Curse, Streak, Dark Conversion, Hardened Ward, Summon Twilight Matriarch Temporal Guard

Theory:
The build is pretty straight forward. It revolves around stacking a massive amount of stats and damage, with sturdy defenses to accommodate a strong ward. Mighty Chudan let’s us drop Boundless Storm and pick up Elemental Drain in its place, further amplifying the damage. Sword and Board is very powerful on Sorc, because unlike classes such as Magplar and mDK you can access the strength of blocking without being completely reliant on it to function, as you have both a burst heal as well as a strong damage shield. Sword and Board heavy attacks also restore stamina, which in turn restores magicka via Dark Conversion and this is an extremely unique and powerful synergy for the class as well. All of this paired with massive burst damage and Sorcerer mobility makes for an extremely powerful PvP build.

This is a strong combination of the different things that make other typical Magsorc builds strong. You get excellent survivability if you can put Reach + Ele drain on a target + spell power pots with a matriarch. I'm surprised to see you use haunting, not sure if that 50% is really worth it on a Twilight, I tested it on a dummy and it was like a 500 dps increase, twilight typically does like 2k/sec.

I'm assuming you're using Atronach to keep stamina pressure off you when you need it? I guess my one question would be are you just letting NB's escape? With this build any decent NB has unlimited amount of time to reset the fight / escape, not that most good NB's don't already have that, but a 6 second curse, no boundless, & no light make it tough. You have streak, but eventually the cost will be to high, which I suppose you can run exchange for and if they open on you while you're exchanging you can just heavy attack s/b to get that right back during break free immunity.

I definitely see how you could kill people with this - if you Atro + Reach + Frag + Pulse while Curse is going off and either the Atro or the Reach actually stun them and they don't see the frag coming they will die with so much penetration and spell damage and I'm sure you get implosion procs with pulse / atro / twilight damage.

What weapon enchants are you running?

CyrusArya wrote: »

Minno wrote: »

I wouldn't swap out the traits on the jewels. Unless you need the health/stam or dying left and right with less than 19-21k resists. Knowing you, you don't need either

Thanks for the vote of confidence man. I do think once I get the stones however I will swap over to triune. Its just more stat density and the larger health means a larger shield.

MalagenR wrote: »

This is a strong combination of the different things that make other typical Magsorc builds strong. You get excellent survivability if you can put Reach + Ele drain on a target + spell power pots with a matriarch. I'm surprised to see you use haunting, not sure if that 50% is really worth it on a Twilight, I tested it on a dummy and it was like a 500 dps increase, twilight typically does like 2k/sec.

I'm assuming you're using Atronach to keep stamina pressure off you when you need it? I guess my one question would be are you just letting NB's escape? With this build any decent NB has unlimited amount of time to reset the fight / escape, not that most good NB's don't already have that, but a 6 second curse, no boundless, & no light make it tough. You have streak, but eventually the cost will be to high, which I suppose you can run exchange for and if they open on you while you're exchanging you can just heavy attack s/b to get that right back during break free immunity.

I definitely see how you could kill people with this - if you Atro + Reach + Frag + Pulse while Curse is going off and either the Atro or the Reach actually stun them and they don't see the frag coming they will die with so much penetration and spell damage and I'm sure you get implosion procs with pulse / atro / twilight damage.

What weapon enchants are you running?

Thanks, yeah I really am enjoying this spec a lot. I run Atro cus its the only good ulti available to the class. Nightblades are a pain, but tbh dodge roll+cloak is a chore to deal with regardless. Streak works ok to counter that, but a NB that doesn't wanna die will be tedious to kill on a Sorc regardless.Too much of the kit is countered by dodge roll and cloak. I have made an adjustment however and swapped to Daedric Prey from Haunting Curse on @Irylia's suggestion- thanks for that. While it's less consistent burst, the damage amp to Atronach is palpable. And the build has so much damage with just force pulse weaves alone, you aren't as reliant on curse in the first place.

ah right just seen you were using Prey in the video but Curse in the build text, I meant I was surprised to see you using Prey, it really helps with Atro damage that much aye?

CyrusArya wrote: »

MalagenR wrote: »

ah right just seen you were using Prey in the video but Curse in the build text, I meant I was surprised to see you using Prey, it really helps with Atro damage that much aye?

It does. 40% damage buff on the zap, which adds roughly 2k damage to the channel. That's a lot of pressure. And I run a shock glyph to answer your previous question.

Shock + Spell Damage back bar?

MalagenR wrote: »

It does. 40% damage buff on the zap, which adds roughly 2k damage to the channel. That's a lot of pressure. And I run a shock glyph to answer your previous question.

Shock + Spell Damage back bar? [/quote]

Yup

ToRelax wrote: »

So have you tried Spell Strategist back bar with an infused staff with damage enchant and willpower front? I feel that lets you control Spell Strategist much better and maximum burst is slightly higher as well. I've only done this with resto, but if you don't use resto skills anyway, you could place ele drain on back bar (even go Ice if you feel like blocking), and put Hardened Ward on front to retain the larger shield. Just don't know well this works with light attack > curse > bar swap, since destro attacks take longer.

Spell Strat back bar was the first thing I tried. It works great in duels but is not very intuitive when outnumbered or in hectic fights. It’s much smoother on the front bar. Also keep in mind that you lose a line of spell damage if you throw it on the back bar. But ice staff is a very valid replacement for sword and board, but I prefer the former for the greater resists and stamina return.

Would vamp add any advantages to the build (current toon is already a vamp) since it is not running mist. Extra regen may be nice, but not sure if the disadvantages outweigh the gain.

Thanks

Minalan wrote: »

Nice footage!

I think this is a really good build, but without harness it's hard to watch your magicka running that low all of the time.

Thanks man. Yeah, the sustain is rough. But ultimately it comes down to what level of sustain you can manage at, and how much raw damage you want. Overall I don’t think this is the safest or most optimal setup, but it is the one I have the most fun on.

Liww wrote: »

interesting build, I like the idea of battlefield mobility whilst blocking on your bb as a magsorc tbh, I hadnt considered staff/shield outside of magdk yet. very cool.

Thanks! You don’t really block as much on this build as you might on a Magplar or mDK, but it can come in handy. Sword and board also has a few select benefits outside of blocking such as higher resists, an extra enchant, and the ability to return stamina with heavy attacks.

Feannag wrote: »

Would vamp add any advantages to the build (current toon is already a vamp) since it is not running mist. Extra regen may be nice, but not sure if the disadvantages outweigh the gain.

Thanks

I personally do not like vampirism on any class that doesn’t need it. So pretty much nothing besides Magplar.