Crit / meteor build

[Quark]

A good summary overall. Here's a few points I'll add in.

- +Arcane Power on Crit
You want at least one item with +Arcane Power on Crit. This adds a lot of synergy and flexibility. Even only 5-7 AP on crit helps a LOT.
I am not 100% on this, but I think AP on Crit can only show on Wizard specific items (Wiz hats, off-hand sources, wands).
Since limiting yourself to wands and sources can be restricting, you really want this to be from a Hat.

Class specific affixes can show up on any item in a slot that has class specific gear. IE a shield can have +AP on crit, a non-Wizard help can have -AP cost on Disintegrate, shield can have +% Damage on Spectral Blade, etc.

I've heard of people not only outgearing Spectral Blade with +AP on crit, but replacing it with Energy Twister / Wicked Wind. Just like Meteor it's a build enhanced by you being stuck in melee range. I don't have the gear to try this out yet.

Hardcore play would take a different approach. I haven't put a lot of thought into how I'd approach it. The issue with very mobile ranged monsters is a real problem in Act III and IV, and probably requires a partner to handle with complete safety. IMO it's way too fun to play this guy banzai. I don't see myself playing this build hardcore. Especially given the gearing necessary and questionable escape mechanisms.

This is somewhat the build I've been forced into on Hardcore Tourney Wizard, which is why I was amenable to it when I heard people were doing it for real. That char won't last because of the defensive skills I'll lose eventually (and I can't AH snipe +LoH and +Crit%), but I saw the viability of it.

Good complementary partners are:
- barbs and monks built to move monsters around (for the ranged ones)
- high single target piercing / DPS builds to complement the strong AoE by focusing on the most dangerous monsters (ranged and bosses)
- buff / debuff builds to amplify already high damage.

Rolling Energy Armor / Prismatic Armor + Barb War Cry / Impunity + Monk Mantra of Healing / Time of Need is an amazing amount of defense. I find the build to be more survivable, and more fun, in coop with normal melees since they're usually using group buffs that boost defense.