D2R Energy Shield Fire Sorc

Introduction

The ES Fire Sorc has been a PvM staple that can also PvP effectively. This build revolves around the use of Energy Shield (ES) and powerful fire spells, making it an excellent choice that offers fantastic survivability while maintaining good damage. The dual source of damage is also effective at dealing with resistances and monster immunities. 

Skills

The primary focus of this build is on the Fire Spells and Lightning Spells trees. The primary fire skills you will use are Fireball, Meteor, and Hydra. Additionally, you will be utilizing Energy Shield and Teleport from the Lightning Spells tree. Cold or Frozen Armor should be used for additional cc and defense. 

1. Fire Spells

Fire Bolt (1+ points): This skill serves as a synergy for both Fireball and Meteor, increasing their damage.

Fire Ball (20 points): Your primary damage-dealing spell. Maxing this skill out will greatly increase your damage output.

Meteor (20 points): A powerful area-of-effect spell, useful for taking down groups of enemies.

Fire Mastery (20 points): A passive skill that increases the damage of all fire skills, essential for maximizing damage.

Hydra (1 point): A great utility skill for providing additional damage against bosses and in PvP.

1. Lightning Spells

Telekinesis (20 points): Provides a synergy bonus for Energy Shield, increasing its efficiency.

Energy Shield (10+): The core of the ES build. However, maxing telekinesis is a higher priority. 

Teleport (1 point): A must-have for mobility and survivability 

1. Cold Spells

Cold Spells aren't the primary focus of this build, but you should allocate a single point into each of the following skills for utility purposes:

Frozen Armor (1 point and pre-reqs): A useful buff that provides additional defense and has a chance to freeze enemies on hit.

Gear

Your gear should prioritize +skills, damage, resistances, and energy for maximum ES efficiency. Here is a list of recommended items: 

1. Helm

Harlequin Crest (Shako): Provides +2 to all skills, life, mana, and damage reduction.
Rare Circlet: 2+ or 3Fire skills, 20FCR, additional resistances, mana, life and sockets desired

1. Armor

Chains of Honor (Rune Word): Offers +2 to all skills, damage reduction, and a significant boost to resistances.
Vipermagi: +1 to all skills, resistances and up to 35fcr
Enigma (Rune Word): Provides +2 to all skills, teleport (allowing you to save skill points), and increased run/walk speed.

1. Weapon

Heart of the Oak (Rune Word): Grants +3 to all skills, resistances, and faster cast rate
Eschutas: The highest damage option, socket with a fire facet.
The Oculus: Offers +3 to sorceress skills, resistances, and MF

1. Shield

Spirit (Rune Word): Provides +2 to all skills, faster cast rate, and a boost to resistances.
Stormshield: Offers damage reduction, increased block chance, and a significant boost to resistances. Maxblock synergises well with ES to maintain incredible survivability. 

1. Gloves

Magefist: Grants +1 to fire skills and faster cast rate, and 25% mana regen.
Frostburn: Offers a significant increase to maximum mana, increasing your mana pool for ES

1. Boots

Sandstorm Trek: Provides faster run/walk speed, strength, and vitality and useful poison resistances. 

War Traveler: Offers increased run/walk speed, vitality, and magic find.
Mana crafted boots: FRW, Mana and mana regen is a great option if you can find a pair. 

1. Belt

Arachnid Mesh: Grants +1 to all skills, faster cast rate, and increased maximum mana. This should be used. 

1. Amulet

Mara's Kaleidoscope: Provides +2 to all skills, resistances, and a boost to all attributes.

Tal Rasha's Adjudication: Grants +2 to sorceress skills, life, and resistances.
Rare/Crafted Amulet: +2 sorceress skills, and FCR.

1. Rings

Stone of Jordan: Offers +1 to all skills, increased maximum mana, and additional mana per kill. (Recommended for ES)

Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band: Grants +1 to all skills and additional life per character level.

1. Charms

• Annihilus
• Hellfire Torch
• Fire Sunder to break fire immunities 
• Optional: Gheeds for MF
• Fire skill grand charms
• Small charms with life, mana, resistances, or faster hit recovery: Customize these based on your breakpoints and deficiencies.

Mercenary Equipment

Your best choice for a mercenary is the Act 2 Nightmare Holy Freeze Mercenary, for additional CC.

1. Helm

Andariel's Visage: Offers +2 to all skills, increased attack speed, and life steal.

Vampire Gaze: Grants damage reduction, life steal, and mana steal.

1. Armor

Fortitude (Rune Word): Provides a significant boost to damage, resistances, and life.

Treachery (Rune Word): Offers increased attack speed, resistances, and a chance to cast Fade for additional resistances.

1. Weapon

Infinity (Rune Word): Grants the Conviction aura, reducing enemy resistances and increasing your damage output. This will break most resistances without Sunder.

Gameplay Tips:

1. Keep Energy Shield active at all times. It's essential to your survivability, and its efficiency is increased by investing in Telekinesis.
2. Prioritize casting Meteor and Hydra when facing large groups of enemies.
3. Fireball is your primary damage-dealing spell, so use it frequently for both single-target and AOE damage.
4. Use Teleport for mobility and escaping dangerous situations. Remember that the Enigma Rune Word provides the Teleport skill, allowing you to save skill points.
5. Don't forget to use Frozen Armor for additional defense and crowd control.
6. Positioning is crucial, so make sure to keep distance from enemies and utilize choke points when possible.
7. Don’t forget to enchant your Mercenary. 

Conclusion

The ES Fire Sorc build is a powerful and versatile choice for D2R. With the right gear and skill allocation, you'll be able to dominate safely while maintaining high damage and mobility. 

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