Hydra Sorceress Introduction & Overview
The Hydra Sorceress, just like other sorceress builds became much stronger with the introduction of Sunder charms and the new runeword Flickering Flame. The Hydra Sorceress is very similar to the Fire Sorceress build, the main difference being the use of the Hydra skill instead of Meteor. The build easily deals with any game content except for Uber Tristram. It is also a very efficient Magic Finder. The standard Hydra sorc lacks the survivability for Hardcore, however it is possible to have a max level Energy Shield alongside Hydra in order to boost survivability and be fit for HC.
🔸 Easily Soloes any game content even in Player 8 difficulty
🔸 Hell Chaos run and Hell Baal run both within 2-3 minutes
🔸 Hardcore viable in modified skill setup
🔸 Awesome Magic Findind potential
🔸 Very fast teleportation
With a Sunder Charm equipped, you will one-hit normal monsters via Fire Ball, and Hydras can efficiently clear an area without you needing to be present. The build can solo any game content except for Uber Tristram. Great budget and Magic Find gearing options are available, which makes this build a good ladder starter, however reaching the build’s maximum potential requires runewords such as Chains of Honor, Infinity on the mercenary and a Flickering Flame helm, all of which are quite expensive.
Hydra Sorceress Pros and Cons
Pros
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Cons
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Hydra Sorceress Gameplay
Playing solo: Gameplay with a Hydra sorc can be quite challenging. You will need to cast Hydras on enemy monsters/monster packs, then once the maximum of 6 Hydras are casted, attack monsters via Fire Ball. Against single targets, you can choose to attack solely with Fire Ball for quicker progress. You can also cast an enchant on your mercenary to boost his attack rating. In damage gear the sorc is easily able to deal with 8 player difficulty content, so unsurprisingly solo Magic finding is easy. You should always walk instead of run to preserve your defense, and move solely by teleportation. For the most effective gameplay, your mercenary should wear an Infinity runeword weapon.
Playing in a party: As your fire damage is sufficient in higher player difficulties, you will probably be the highest damage dealer of the party. Fire Balls can quickly kill single targets, while Hydras attack everything at once, helping out the party to kill all the surrounding monsters. If your merc has an Infinity, party members will be grateful for the Conviction aura provided by him. If there is no Barbarian around, you can buff your and the parties life via a Call to Arms switch weapon. If you play with party members such as a Convictionist Paladin or a Necromancer casting Lower Resist Curses, your kill speed will improve drasticly, making you able to one-hit monsters in player 8 difficulty even in budget gear.
Playing Hardcore: Normally on softcore you should max vitality points once you can wear your gear. However a standard hydra sorc will die on Hardcore, in order to survive on HC you should have an Energy Shield and mana based build. Max out Energy Shield, put all your stat points on Energy, and wear mana boosting gear. As you will have less spare skill points you won’t be able to deal high damage with Fire Ball. If you want to max out your survivability, you should also put 20 points on Energy Shield’s telekinesis synergy, at the expense of some Hydra synergy points. A mercenary with Insight is a must for quick mana regeneration, and so is a Call to Arms switch weapon. Your mercenary should be an Act2 desert Prayer one, and should always stay alive to provide you sufficient mana recovery. Always have an active Frozen Armor casted on yourself. Â
Hydra 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 for Teleportation and Fire Ball casting breakpoints.
Faster Hit Recovery
- Ideally you should have at least some FHR on your gear. Have at least 20% FHR for an 11-frame Hit Recovery speed.
Faster Block Rate
- There is no need for Faster Block Rate on your gear if you play softcore. If you play hardcore, you can aim for the 15% (7 frame), 27% (6 frame) or the 48% (5 frame) breakpoints.
Hydra Sorceress Skills
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Cold Spells
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Lightning Spells
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Fire Spells
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Hydra 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. If you play Hardcore, you might want to consider putting points on it to reach 75% chance to block.
Vitality
Put all your remaining points on it
Energy
Don’t put any points on it unless you play Hardcore.
You can re-stat your character by the quest reward of Akara’s Act1 Den of Evil Quest, or by using Token of Absolution.
Hydra Sorceress Mercenary
You should have an Act2 Holy Freeze Aura mercenary for Crowd Control equipped with an Infinity runeword weapon in softcore, and a Prayer Act2 merceneary equipped with Insight for Hardcore.
Hydra Sorceress Item setups
Ladder Starter Hydra Sorc Gear
Helm: Lore / Peasant Crown / Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crest
Amulet: Any amulet with +skill, + all resistances or +Faster Cast Rate
Weapon:Â Spirit Crystal Sword / Wizardspike
Switch Weapon: none
Shield:  Spirit Monarch / Moser’s Blessed Circle
Switch Shield: none
Body Armor: Stealth / Skin of the Vipermagi
Belt: Tal Rasha’s Belt / Immortal King’s Belt / Nightsmoke /  Crafted Caster Belt
Rings: Any ring with 10% FCR and other useful stats like allresist, life, magic find, etc.
Gloves:Â Magefist
Boots: 30% FRW boots with additional resists
Charms: Fire Sunder Charm, Any charm with + Fire skill, life, resist or FHR will help.Â
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:Â Insight Polearm
Advanced Hydra Sorc Gear
Helm: Flickering Flame Runeword / Harlequin Crest Shako socketed with +5/-5% Fire Facet
Amulet: Mara’s Kaleidoscope / 2 to Sorc skills 20% FCR crafted amu
Weapon: Eschutha’s Temper +5/-5% Fire Facet / Heart of the Oak Flail
Switch Weapon: Call to Arms Crystal Sword
Shield: Phoenix Monarch / Spirit Monarch
Switch Shield: Spirit Monarch
Body Armor: Chains of Honor in an elite light body armor / Skin of the Vipermagi socketed with +5/-5% Fire Facet / Ormus’ Robe socketed +5/-5% Fire Facet
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Rings: 2*Stone of Jordan / 10% FCR rare of crafted rings
Gloves: Upgraded Magefist
Boots: 30%FRW triple resist rare boots
Charms: Fire Sunder charm, Annihilus, Hellfire torch, Gheed’s Fortune, Small Charms with @all resistances, life, faster hit recovery, Fire Skillers (with +life, +FRW or +FHR optimally)
Mercenary Gear
Helm: Andariel’s Visage / Crown of Thieves (preferably ethereal, socketed with Ral/Um rune)
Body Armor: Ethereal Fortitude in an elite armor
Weapon: Infinity runeword in an elite two-handed ethereal Polearm, preferably Thresher
Magic Find Hydra Sorc Gear
Helm: Harlequin Crest Shako (Socket it with Ist rune)
Amulet: 40-50% Magic Find amulet
Weapon: Wizardspike / Heart of the Oak flail
Switch Weapon: 6*Ist Crystal Sword
Shield: Spirit Monarch
Switch Shield: 4*Ist Monarch
Body Armor: Skullder’s Ire socketed with IstÂ
Belt: Upgraded Goldwrap
Rings: 2*Nagelring
Gloves: Upgraded Chance Guards
Boots: War Traveler
Charms: Fire Sunder charm, Annihilus, Hellfire torch, Gheed’s Fortune, Small Charms with 7% Magic find (and also @all resistances if possible)
Mercenary Gear
Helm: Andariel’s Visage / Crown of Thieves (preferably ethereal, socketed with Ral/Um rune)
Body Armor: Ethereal Fortitude in an elite armor
Weapon: Infinity runeword in an elite two-handed ethereal Polearm, preferably Thresher
Hardcore Hydra Sorc Gear
Helm: Harlequin Crest Shako (Socket it with Um rune)
Amulet: Mara’s Kaleidoscope
Weapon: Wizardspike / Heart of the Oak flail
Switch Weapon: Call to Arms Crystal Sword
Shield: Stormshield / Phoenix Monarch / Spirit Monarch
Switch Shield: Spirit Monarch
Body Armor: Chains of Honor /Â Guardian Angel
Belt: Upgraded Goldwrap
Rings: 2*Nagelring
Gloves: Upgraded Chance Guards
Boots: War Traveler
Charms: Fire Sunder charm, Annihilus, Hellfire torch, Gheed’s Fortune, Small Charms with @all resistances, life, faster hit recovery, Fire Skillers (with +life, +FRW or +FHR optimally)
Mercenary Gear
Helm: Andariel’s Visage / Crown of Thieves (preferably ethereal, socketed with Ral/Um rune)
Body Armor: Ethereal Upgraded Guardian Angel
Weapon: Insight runeword in an elite two-handed ethereal Polearm, preferably Thresher
