If you ever want a build that’s stylish and effective at the same time, the Arc Lash Blizzard hybrid is simply for you. This build is going to be predominantly similar to the standard Arc Lash build that you can find on the internet, but Blizzard is going to be a big role on your offensive and defensive status.
During my Diablo IV journey as a Sorcerer, I originally started off as an Arc Lash Sorcerer and I basically stayed that way until I reached to level 100. I’ve always had a desire of wanting to try out a Blizzard build because it was one of my favorite spells to use during the beta.
There were a couple of problems I bumped into. I knew going all out on a Blizzard build would mean I’d have to destroy my entire Paragon boards, and I wanted to still continue being an Arc Lash build without going through such a major change.
Eventually, I wondered if it was possible to create an Arc Lash and Blizzard hybrid build altogether. Surprisingly enough, it is a functional build you can use and run a good amount of the game’s content. It also fits the theme too because Arc Lash is an up close and personal type of build, but Blizzard is also designed for that play style too. I also want to mention that this build is specifically designed for a high level Sorcerer. You absolutely need levels to make this build truly shine.
If you are looking for more Diablo IV content, click down below:
- Diablo IV – 5 Sorcerer World Tier 3 Tips
- Diablo 4 | Ice Shards Sorcerer Build Guide (Endgame Freeze Sorcerer)
- Diablo IV – The Best Endgame Sorcerer Unique Items
The Skills, Blizzard vs. Unstable Currents, & Enchantments
For the skill selection, there are a good amount of different options you can go for. I mostly went for an all around type of set up. I want my character to do good damage, but have good survivability at the same time too. This means you do have some room of choosing what you want to invest your skill points into, but there are some skills you want to prioritize.
Let’s get into some of the basics that you need to do with this build. The skills are mostly going to be what you expect an endgame Arc Lash Sorcerer would be using. You need your 4 tried and true defensive abilities (Flame Shield, Ice Armor, Frost Nova, and Teleport). Since you are an Arc Lash build, you need to have Arc Lash. Max out the skill and take the Glinting Arc Lash upgrade. Last but not least, we will be replacing Unstable Currents with Blizzard.
An intense encounter.
It is possible to replace one of your defensive skills like Flame Shield or Ice Armor for Unstable Currents, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Those abilities are important for maintaining the Sorcerer survivability. It is fun to have both Blizzard and Unstable Currents being active, but it’s just not the way to go when it comes to overall efficiency.
Since we are replacing Unstable Currents with Blizzard; you’d ask yourself what are some of the advantages that you’re getting while using Blizzard? Blizzard is actually an excellent crowd control oriented spell which can be helpful to the Sorcerer’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Blizzard allows you to chill enemies which means they will be slowed, and it can freeze them too. All of these effects help you both offensively and defensively. You don’t have to worry about the cooldown because Blizzard doesn’t have one, and you don’t necessarily need great resource generation or mana pool to spam it frequently.
We also will be taking advantage of the Glacial Aspect in this build, and this means Blizzard will be able to do critical damage towards your foes. The critical damage is mostly caused by the ice spikes themselves which will increase the overall damage for your Blizzard. Without it, you would only have the damage over time function from the spell. You also need to max out Blizzard and get the Enhanced Blizzard upgrade.
Put the Glacial Aspect on your ring.
Hoarfrost is also mandatory to max out. If you are not using any boots that’s giving you skills to Frost Nova, you should max it out for the lower cooldown reduction. But if you do have some nice Legendary boots available, definitely try to max it out while having the additional skills to reduce the cooldown even further. You can use the saved skill points for other skills. For the Key Passive slot, we are choosing Shatter. Shatter will synergize with Blizzard and it will make the crowd control aspect even better especially it has a chance to freeze enemies.
It’s up to you whether you want to go for a one point Ice Armor set up or you want more points into it. Personally, I like having a high level Ice Armor for the massive health absorption. It does make a difference in terms of how durable character is during hectic fights. I also like to use the Ice Armor Enchantment, so having a maxed out Ice Armor feels good for me. Obviously, the other Enchantment is Firebolt, and that is mandatory to have while investing your skill points into Devouring Blaze and you will max it out for the higher Critical Strike damage.
Weapon Set Ups, Aspects, & Affixes
If you choose not to take the same route as I did, definitely improve the damage by putting points into Glass Cannon or you can take advantage of some of the Lucky Hit enhancements that’s available to you. If you plan on making any sort of Lucky Hit build, make sure you use a wand over a dagger. Wands are already built in with a 10% Lucky Hit chance while daggers will have a 20% Close Enemies. Putting points into Elemental Attunement would be the move I’d make if I was trying to incorporate any sort of Lucky Hit mechanic in my set up.
For the weapon set up, you are forced to use either a dagger or wand with your focus. Ever since patch 1.1 became a thing, we need to have a heavier emphasis on cooldown reduction. The patch did not destroy the value of cooldown reduction, it only enhanced it.
You look cooler while using a staff, but your efficiency is much worse.
The staff set up does give you more damage overall, but having inferior quality of life. Fights can feel awkward when you don’t have your ideal spells ready for use. This means you are going to have more moments where you need to run away from fights because you don’t have your crowd control abilities. Also, the focus can give you an additional Legendary aspect to work with. When it comes to the sockets, the Royal Emerald is simply best in slot.
For the Legendary aspects, there are definitely options you can work with, but I believe it’s important to put the Aspect of Control on your amulet. You definitely want a roll that’s near to the 35% damage roll. Obviously, Aspect of Disobedience is mandatory on one of your defensive equipment. I also believe you can either try out Frostblitz or Protecting Aspect for the additional defensive aspect outside of Disobedience. Other aspects that are important for the build are Conceited Aspect, Smiting Aspect, and Rapid Aspect. Definitely try to put these on your equipment.
Last thing I want to mention is you have to equip Raiment of the Infinite as your chest piece. It’s simply the best in slot armor for an Arc Lash build, and this build is still predominantly an Arc Lash oriented character. For your armor sockets, put Royal Topazes. Royal Topazes are going to save you from getting crowd controlled by multiple threats. Skip out the Royal Rubies; they are not worth it in the endgame. For the jewleries, this build was made on the Eternal realm, so I only have access to Royal Skulls, but if you are playing on the seasonal realm, I would suggest players to take advantage of both the Tempting Fate and The Calculated hearts.
The Protecting Aspect saves lives!
When it comes to the core stats that you want to look out for, treat it like how you would make a standard Arc Lash build. Look for items that give you any sort of Critical Strike/Chance, Lightning Damage, Vulnerable Damage, and Damage to Stunned Enemies. Damage to Crowd Controlled is also very good for this hybrid build because of the chilled damage from the Blizzard and the stun effect from the Arc Lash. I would say it’s not worth going for the Cold Damage or Mastery Skill Damage affixes because you are still doing most of your damage from your lightning based abilities. For your armor and defensive stuff, definitely look out for anything that adds Damage Reduction, Cooldown Reduction, Dodge Chance, and Crowd Control Duration.
Paragon & Endgame Content
For the Paragon stuff, you actually have good amount of options of what you can explore. I mostly recommend players to take advantage of both the Flamefeeder and Elementalist glyphs for the heavy damage increased. I believe these are the most important ones that you need to have equipped as you are experimenting how you want to approach your build. Flamefeeder is excellent for your Firebolt and Devouring Blaze set up.
This build will be doing all three elemental damage, so Elementalist is simply going to be a perfect glyph to use. I actually do not have the Frigid Fate board active, but I definitely believe you should consider using it to this build especially nowadays; our Vulnerable damage is much weaker on patch 1.1. Definitely take advantage of those Vulnerable damage increased nodes too.
Now, the next thing I want to mention is how does this hybrid set up go against the standard Arc Lash build? Well, it seems like with this set up, I always feel like I have a Frost Nova available because Blizzard is excellent for the crowd control aspect. It slows down enemies, and it’s also giving me more damage because of the Hoarfrost passive skill. I also feel like with this set up, you do have more range because Blizzard is a range-oriented spell, so if there are some enemies that are far away from you, you can slow them down by casting Blizzard.
Put the Elementalist glyph in the starter board.
Like I mentioned earlier in this guide, you can definitely handle a good amount of game’s content without any issue. This means doing Tree of Whispers, World Bosses, Helltides, and of course, Nightmare Dungeons. I wouldn’t advise trying this build for Uber Lilith. You’re simply not going to go anywhere is all I can comment on.
With that mentioned, this a fun build if you want to stand out from the crowd. You want to use Blizzard while still being able to get up close and personal and whack monsters to death. This build is also nice for having so much emphasis on crowd control, so it seems like you’re generally ready to handle large pack of mobs because of using Blizzard means you don’t have to use Forst Nova as much.
It’s also something that can easily be transitioned if you are currently using a standard Arc Lash set up, and then you can go back to the standard format if you prefer that set up versus the Blizzard variant. So it means you don’t have to completely brick your current build while trying out another one which is one of the cool and convenient things of the Arc Lash Blizzard hybrid build. Other than that, enjoy watching yourself decimate many demons with style.
