What Sorc build for PvM

[Occhidiangela]

A couple of comments and questions.

EDIT: Whoops, I gooned up the tags. Sorry. :(

A few suggestions on your merc.  I take it you have a prayer merc, so he will be healing you and himself much faster.  Try insight if you are on the realms, it inceases your mana (you can teleport away without having to constantly drink pots) and it doubles the rate at which prayer heals you (meditation gets prayer synergy per level).

The Insight Rune Word in a four socketed pole arm is indeed a remarkable Mana machine. I was unaware that the Merc's prayer synergy worked with Insight. My Assassin's Defiance merc has an Insight Bec. I think I will keep it that way. I'd rather the Merc not take damage, where possible, than regen it quickly. Yes, lots of monsters seem to be ITD, so be it. YMMV. SInce the Sorc can teleport a merc out of a death blow by keeping an eye on his life bar and how swarmed he is, I'd say your advice is excellent. I may switch to prayer for my Sorceresses Merc, though, just have to find a few more runes and look for a four socketed ethereal pole arm . . . :D

My experience is that when one finds a nice Ethereal Armor for a Defiance Merc, armor with good Extra Def mods, Defiance Mercs get big DR and decent "not be hit" values. :whistling:

Another idea is holy freeze for the cold immunes.  If you can get 63% faster cast, you can cast at 9 frames, great for telekinesis and fireball.  For example, Lister is cold/fire immune.  Kill minions, and then take on lister.  Make sure your merc is alive with holy freeze on (kelpie snare might work too).  start telekinesising lister.  He should get semi-stun locked and VERY slow due to holy freeze.  Use static to its fullest!

Kelpie Snare is a particularly nice weapons, but not everyone finds one. It slows down end of act bosses quite nicely. Aren't the Minotaurs in Hell WSK level 3 and Throne room immune to Holy Freeze, or is it just cold they are immune to? Have not been there lately with an HF Merc, can't remember.

Also, there are Barb mercs.  They are TANKS.  If you can give him an honor colosus sword with a life leech helm (craft one) and some high defense armor, he will whoop.  As always, eth is good.

For a sorceress who can teleport out of a mess, yes. For other chars, I have found Barb Mercs to be a bit equipment dependent, and easily whacked. They really like to charge into crowds.

Trouble with the cold immunes?  What about an act 3 merc?  Spirit crystal sword will help a ton, as well as skin of the vipermagi.  FCR items with + skills are the key here, and your merc will be doing quite a bit of lightning damage.  Only problem is now you dont have a tank.

Yes indeed. With teleport, and a decent connection or an SP game, your suggestion looks to me like a lot of fun. Fill the screen with spells! :w00t:

USE TELEPORT!  Gather the monsters in a group and keep them in that group by teleporting around and cast hydras in the middle of the group.  If you have great difficulty with killing them, consider going back and gaining some levels for your merc and yourself.

Telekill, the old Diablo I warrior tactic, can be sorta replicated if you get a Barb or Act II Merc and teleport next to a monster. The Merc tends to immediately schwack him. Teleport away before the swarm arrives. Rinse and repeat.

Fcr is very powerful when you use fireball, so I suggest you use it in conjunction with orb and hydra.

Ah yes, the revival of the "tweaker" sorceress. :D

Occhi