TABLE OF CONTENTS
Frost Nova Sorceress Introduction & Overview
The Frost Nova Sorc is a very strong build for farming areas where monster density is high. If you like the caster playstyle, this build will be ideal for you, as gameplay is quite action-packed. For maximum farming efficiency, you should use the Teleport and Frost Nova skills, teleport right in the middle of monster groups, and spam Frost Nova until everything is dead. Since Frost Nova consumes a high amount of mana, our character needs to have quick mana regeneration and high mana. The ideal build and gearing for this purpose is an Energy Shield based Sorceress, where most of the damage you receive is taken from your mana. The build is Hardcore viable, but on HC you should probably not teleport in the middle of monster groups, instead you should wait for monsters to approach you, and kill them from a distance. Against Bosses Static Field can be used additionally to quickly lower their life.
🔸 Easily Soloes any game content
🔸 Hell Chaos run and Hell Baal run both within 2-3 minutes
🔸 Harcore viable
🔸 Budget builds are viable
🔸 Great for Cow farming
A key aspect of the build is the mercenary. Since the damage taken is mostly withdrawn from your mana, and Frost Nova also consumes a lot of mana, you need very quick mana regeneration, which is only possible if you or your mercenary wear an Insight weapon. However if your mercenary dies, you will quickly be out of mana and at high risk of dying, so having good Merc survivability is more important than your own defensive items.
Frozen Orb has a one second cooldown, during which you can cast Static Fields for lowering monster life around you. This tactic is extremely useful if you play in player 8 difficulty. While the Frozen Arrows only deliver around 2k damage, a monster hit directly by the orb will almost certainly die by a single orb. Frozen Orb sorcs are viable ladder starters, as even at lower levels the skill delivers a lot of damage. The build is also an extraordinary magic finder, as it can have up to 1000% Magic Find in a combination with very fast teleportation speed.
Frost Nova Sorceress Pros and Cons
Pros
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Cons
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Frost Nova Sorceress Gameplay
Playing solo: Once you have a Cold Sunder charm, you will quickly decimate any monster that comes your way. Teleport on targeted monsters or monster groups, and just spam Frost Nova. Make sure to cast Energy Shield and Frozen Armor at the beginning of every run. Also cast Battle Command and Battle Orders if you have a Call to Arms switch weapon. Always use teleport as movement, and switch to walking instead of running to always preserve your defense. The Frost Nova Sorc excels at high density area farming, like Chaos Sanctuary, Baal, Cows, or most Terror Zones. Magic finding is viable too, however there are more efficient Cold Sorc builds for that purpose. A fun attribute of the build is that it is almost always at full life and full mana in case you use an Act2 Prayer mercenary with an Insight weapon.
Playing in a party: At lower player count, you will be able to play the same way as soloing. However at higher player count the build lacks sufficient damage, it takes long to kill monsters. On the other hand your party can greatly benefit from your presence, as every monster will freeze if being hit by Frost Nova, making them easy targets for your party, and limiting their attacking efficiency as well. Your mercenary should be built like a tank to survive any situation, so it will always provide Insight aura for the party. Other benefits of the build are the same as for other Energy Shield based Sorcs, it has quick teleportation speed and can get to any location safely. If you have a CTA and there is no barbarian present, you should provide Battle Orders for the party.
Playing Hardcore: Hardcore requires a more cautious playstyle, you should not teleport at the middle of monster groups, instead you should attack from a distance. A unique feature of this build is that you won’t have to watch your Health and Mana globe, as both of them will be full almost all the time. On the other hand you should always look out for your Mercenaries life, if he dies, you risk dying too. Prayer aura from your merc will constantly heal you, you won’t even need to use potions for the most part. Have full rejuvs stacked in your belt for emergency situations, and prepare for the worst. Overprotecting yourself in hardcore is necessary, since you might get Cursed or be under an effect of an aura. Your gear should be sufficient to defend you even under such conditions.
Frost Nova Sorceress Breakpoints
Note: Each second in the game consists of 25 frames or “ticks”. Your breakpoints decide how many frames it will take until you can attack/cast a skill/recover from a hit/ block a new hit.
Faster Cast Rate
- Aim for 63% (9 frame) or 105% (8 frame) Faster cast rate.
Faster Hit Recovery
- Faster Hit Recovery is not needed for this build.
Faster Block Rate
- Faster Block Rate is not needed for this build.
Frost Nova Sorceress Skills
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Cold Spells
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Lightning Spells
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Fire Spells
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Skill notes: *Cold mastery is capped at level 37 (-200% Cold Resistance), so don’t put more points on it once you reach lvl37 geared.
*Max out Energy Shield first for optimal survivability.
Frost Nova Sorceress Stat Points
Strength
Allocate enough Strength points to be able to wear your gear.
Dexterity
Allocate enough Dexterity points to be able to wear your gear.
Vitality
Don’t put any points on Vitality.
Energy
Put all your remaining points on Energy.
You can re-stat your character by the quest reward of Akara’s Act1 Den of Evil Quest, or by using Token of Absolution.
Frost Nova Sorceress Mercenary
You should have an Act2 Prayer Aura mercenary equipped with an Insight runeword weapon for optimal mana recovery.
Frost Nova Sorceress Item setups
Ladder Starter Frost Nova Sorc Gear
Helm: Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crest
Amulet: Any amulet with +skill, + all resistances or +Faster Cast Rate
Weapon: Spirit Crystal Sword / Wizardspike
Switch Weapon: none
Shield: Spirit Monarch / Moser’s Blessed Circle socketed with Pdiamonds
Switch Shield: none
Body Armor: Skin of the Vipermagi (preferably upgraded)
Belt: Tal Rasha’s Belt / Trang Oul’s Belt / Nightsmoke / Crafted Caster Belt
Rings: Any ring with 10% FCR and other useful stats like allresist, life, magic find, etc.
Gloves: Magefist / Trang Oul’s gloves / Frostburn
Boots: 30% FRW boots with additional resists or FHR
Charms: Cold Sunder Charm, Any charm with +skill, life, resist or FHR will help.
Notes: Aim for 75% all resistances. You can use magic and rare items in any of your gear slots, and can also use them for your Mercenary.
Mercenary Gear
Helm: 3*Perfect Diamond socketed helm / Tal Rasha helm socketed with Perfect Diamond
Body Armor: Any useful rare body armor
Weapon: Insight Polearm
Advanced Frost Nova Sorc Gear
Helm: Nightwing’s Veil socketed with +5/-5% Cold Facet
Amulet: Mara’s Kaleidoscope / 2 to Sorceress skills 20% FCR crafted amulet
Weapon: Death’s Fathom socketed with +5/-5% Cold Facet
Switch Weapon: Call to Arms Crystal Sword
Shield: Spirit Monarch
Switch Shield: Spirit Monarch
Body Armor: Ormus’ Robe +3 to Frost Nova socketed with +5/-5% Cold Facet
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Rings: 2*Stone of Jordan / 2*10FCR rings with +resists, life, and/or mana
Gloves: Trang Oul’s Gloves
Boots: Natalya’s Boots
Charms: Cold Sunder charm, Annihilus, Hellfire torch, Gheed’s Fortune, Small Charms with @all resistances, life, faster hit recovery, Cold Skillers (with +life, +FRW or +FHR optimally)
Note: Aim for 105% FCR
Mercenary Gear
Helm: Crown of Ages socketed with Um runes
Body Armor: Ethereal Upgraded Guardian Angel socketed with Um rune
Weapon: Insight runeword in an elite two-handed ethereal Polearm, preferably Thresher
Magic Find Frost Nova Sorc Gear
Helm: Harlequin Crest Shako (Socket it with Ist rune)
Amulet: 40-50% Magic Find amulet
Weapon: The Oculus socketed with Ist rune
Switch Weapon: Call to Arms crystal sword
Shield: Spirit Monarch
Switch Shield: Spirit Monarch
Body Armor: Skullder’s Ire socketed with Ist
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Rings: 2*Stone of Jordan
Gloves: Upgraded Chance Guards
Boots: War Traveler
Charms: Cold Sunder charm, Annihilus, Hellfire torch, Gheed’s Fortune, Small Charms with 7% Magic find (and also @all resistances if possible)
Mercenary Gear
Helm: Crown of Ages socketed with Um runes
Body Armor: Ethereal Upgraded Guardian Angel socketed with Um rune
Weapon: Insight runeword in an elite two-handed ethereal Polearm, preferably Thresher
Hardcore Frost Nova Sorc Gear
Helm: Harlequin Crest Shako (Socket it with Thul rune)
Amulet: Mara’s Kaleidoscope
Weapon: Heart of the Oak Flail / Wizardspike
Switch Weapon: Call to Arms
Shield: Stormshield Monarch socketed with Thul rune
Switch Shield: Spirit Monarch
Body Armor: Ethereal Guardian Angel socketed with Zod rune
Belt: Thundergod’s Vigor
Rings: Wisp Projector / Raven Frost / Dwarf Star
Gloves: Trang Oul’s Gloves
Boots: Rare 30% FRW triple resist boots.
Charms: Cold Sunder charm, Annihilus, Hellfire torch, Gheed’s Fortune, Cold Skill Grand Charms with +Life, Magic Small Charms (with +all resistances, +life or +mana)
Note: Aim to overprotect yourself for situations when you get cursed with spells such as Lower Resist and Amplify Damage or get under an effect of an aura such as Fanaticism or Conviction.
Mercenary Gear
Helm: Crown of Ages socketed with Um runes
Body Armor: Ethereal Upgraded Guardian Angel socketed with Um rune
Weapon: Insight runeword in an elite two-handed ethereal Polearm, preferably Thresher
