Chaining Thunder Diablo IV Sorcerer Build

Chaining Thunder Sorcerer BUILD for Diablo IV

(be the Master of Thunder & Storms that shocks & electrifies enemies while zapping around the map)

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Diablo IV launches on June 6th, 2023 for PC (Battle.Net), XBOX, & PlayStation with a 4 days Early Access (no wipe) for pre-orders (so kind of really launching June 2nd).

Diablo IV’s Open Beta Tests are almost here and I felt motivated to make some Pre-Launch theorycrafted semi-builds that should be good for ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters when the game launches. I also plan to evolve them into FULL builds when the game is released & keep them updated when we get rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Sorcerer Class called Chaining Thunder.

The Beta tests will only let us reach lvl 25 and only let us play in the first Act/Zone (Fractured Peaks) so those builds will be more useful for the actual game launch and ideally for characters around lvl 50+ or 60+. I’ve used 50+ and 60+ skill points when making the builds instead of the full 100 so that they can be used to jumpstart a player’s post-story endgame grind.

I’ve also made spreadsheets for those builds (see the links below) that have shortlisted the active and passive skills + legendary aspect that work well with the build so one can spend the extra skill points on the way to lvl 100 into those other skills.

This build will be updated post-launch to a new & expanded version when I have actual in-game information as reference.

Video Version:

Skill Trees

Below you’ll see ONLY the Active & Passive skills that were selected for this build. For additional skills that can be taken on the way to lvl 100 + alternative skill options, you can check my pre-launch builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Chaining Thunder) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

Some of the skill icon images you see could be outdated & different from what is seen in the Full release version. I plan to replace them once the Beta ends or after the full launch.

Minor Destruction / Basic Skill (Resource Generator/Builder) (Required Points: 0 )

(active) Arc Lash – Unleash arcing lightning that shocks enemies in front of you for 30.00% (X- ?). Every 10 times Arc Lash swipes, it stuns all enemies hit for 2 seconds. Damage: Lightning Tags: Basic, Shock
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Arc Lash – If Arc Lash’s initial swipe Critically Strikes, it swipes and additional time.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Glinting Arc Lash – Hitting a Stunned enemy with Arc Lash reduces your cooldowns by 0.25 seconds.

Major Destruction / Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2 )

(active) Chain Lightning – Unleash lightning that deals 42.00% (X-?) damage and chains up to 4 times. Mana Cost: 35 Damage: Lightning Tags: Core, Shock
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Chain Lightning – Chain Lightning bounces to 1 additional enemy.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Greater Chain Lightning – When Chain Lightning Critically Strikes, it has a 25% chance to spawn a Crackling Energy.
(passive) Potent Warding – Your non-Physical Damage and Resistances are increased by 2%.
(passive) did not pick other Core passives to save points

Defensive Skills (Required Points: 6 )

(active) Teleport – Transform into lightning becoming Unstoppable and surging to the target location dealing 25.00% (X -?) damage around you upon arrival. Cooldown: 10.8 Damage: Lightning Tags: Defensive, Shock
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Teleport – After Teleporting, take 30% less damage for 5 seconds.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Mystical Teleport – For 4 seconds after Teleporting, Crackling Energy deals 40% (multiplicative) more damage.
(passive) did not pick any Defensive passives to save points

Conjuration Skills (Required Points: 11 )

(active) Lightning Spear – Conjure a crackling spear of lightning that seeks out enemies for 6.0 seconds, dealing 15.00% (X – ?) damage per hit. Mana Cost: 19.6 Damage: Lightning Tags: Conjuration, Shock
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Lightning Spear – Lightning Spear has a 10% increased chance to critically strike against Stunned enemies.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Invoked Lightning Spear – After critically striking, Lightning Spear has a 5% increased stacking critical strike chance for its duration.
(passive) Align the Elements – You gain 5% Damage reduction against Elites for each second you don’t take damage from any of these sources, up to 50%.
- (1st upgrade) Mana Shield – Every time you spend 100 Mana, you gain 5% Damage Reduction for 5 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade) did not pick it to save points
(passive) did not pick any more Conjuration passives to save points

Mastery Skills (Required Points: 16 )

(active – did not invest points into it YET but good to have later) Ball Lightning Conjure a ball of lightning that slowly moves forward, continually zapping enemies for 15.00% (X -?) damage. Mana Cost: 50 Damage: Lightning Tags: Mastery, Shock
(1st upgrade for later) Enhanced Ball Lightning – Ball Lightning deals damage 30% more frequently.
(2nd upgrade for later – my pick of the 2)Wizard’s Ball Lightning – If an enemy is hit at least 4 times by a cast of Ball Lightning, a Crackling Energy is formed.
(passive) Regenerative Conduit – Crackling Energy restores 4 Mana upon pickup.
- (upgrade) Shocking Impact – DID NOT INVEST in this to save points
- (upgrade) Static Discharge – Critical Strikes with Shock Skills have a 5% chance to form a Crackling Energy.

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )

(active) Unstable Currents – Lightning surges within you for 10 seconds. Whenever you cast a Lightning Skill, another random Lightning Skill is also cast. Cooldown: 68.5 Damage: Lightning Tags: Ultimate, Shock
(1st upgrade) Prime Unstable Currents – Unstable Currents increases Attack Speed by 25% while active.
(2nd upgrade) Supreme Unstable Currents – While Unstable Currents is active, collecting Crackling Energy increases its duration by 0.25 seconds.
(passive) Coursing Currents – Hitting enemies with Shock Skills increases your Critical Strike Chance by 1%. Resets upon getting a Critical Strike.
- (upgrade) Conduction Critical Strikes with Shock Skills increase your Attack Speed by 5% for 2 seconds.
- (upgrade) Electrocution – Enemies deal 5% less damage for 5 seconds after being Critically Struck by your Shock Skills.
- (upgrade) Convulsions – Lucky Hit: Shock Skills have up to a 3% chance to Stun enemies for 3 seconds.–
(passive) Bonded in Essence – Your Minions gain 15% of your Resistances.
- (upgrade) Death’s Defense – DID NOT INVEST in this to save points

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

(passive) Vyr’s Mastery – Close enemies take 10% (multiplicative) more damage from your Shock skills and deal 20% (multiplicative) less damage to you.

Class Mechanic:

I don’t have much info regarding sacrificing skills as “Enchantments” and if it even is still a part of the game so I’ll leave this empty for now.

Legendary Aspects / Powers

I will only list the Legendary Aspects that have been selected for the build and the slots in which I advise putting those. For in-depth information you can check my pre-launch builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Chaining Thunder) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

Helm: Aspect of The Umbral
Amulet: Aspect of Shared Misery
Chest: Aspect of Might
Pants: Aspect of The Unwavering
Gloves: Edgemaster’s Aspect
Boots: Charged Aspect
Ring 1: Aspect of Splintering Energy
Ring 2: Prodigy’s Aspect
1H Weapon: Elementalist’s Aspect
Off-hand: Aspect of Retribution
2-H Weapon (if you decide to use one): Elementalist’s Aspect

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

For all of my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

For my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Class Skill Trees (can be used as mini-calculator): This Spreadsheet

♦ ◊ ♦ ◊ ♦

This concludes the Chaining Thunder Sorcerer Build for Diablo IV. If you’re interested in the game below are links to the various platforms where one can buy it (you can just click the links to open a new tab):

PC (Battle.Net)

XBOX

PlayStation

Official Website

Reaping Army Diablo IV Necromancer Build

Control an Army of Undead and get bonuses based on the number of summoned Minions

Reaping Army Necromancer BUILD for Diablo IV

(Control an Army of Undead and get bonuses based on the number of summoned Minions)

♦ ◊ ♦ ◊ ♦

Diablo IV launches on June 6th, 2023 for PC (Battle.Net), XBOX, & PlayStation with a 4 days Early Access (no wipe) for pre-orders (so kind of really launching June 2nd).

This build will be updated post-launch to a new & expanded version when I have actual in-game information as reference.

Video Version:

Skill Trees

Below you’ll see ONLY the Active & Passive skills that were selected for this build. For additional skills that can be taken on the way to lvl 100 + alternative skill options, you can check my pre-launch builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Reaping Army) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

The images you see are PLACEHOLDERS due to lack of any real skill icons leaks for the Necromancer class. I will replace them once the Beta starts and I can screenshot the actual icons.

Basic Skill (Resource Generator/Builder) (Required Points: 0 )

(active) Decompose – Tear the flesh from the enemy, dealing 30.00% (X) damage per second and forming a usable corpse with the flesh every 2.5 seconds. Generates: 7 Essence per second
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Decompose – If an enemy dies while being Decomposed, you gain 10 Essence.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Acolyte’s Decompose – You and your Minions deal 10% (multiplicative) increased non-Physical damage to enemies who are being Decomposed.

Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2 )

(active) Sever – A spectre of you charges forward and attacks with its scythe for 42% (X) damage then returns to you and attacks again for ? damage.
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Sever -Sever damages enemies along its path for X% of its damage.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Supernatural Sever – Sever deals X% increased damage for each Minion you have upon cast.
(passive) Unliving Energy – Your maximum Essence is increased by 3.
- (1st upgrade) did not pick to save points
(passive) Reconstitution Your damage has up to a 4% chance to create a corpse at the target’s location.

Macabre Skills (Required Points: 6 )

(active) Corpse Explosion – Release a vile miasma from a Corpse, dealing 75.00% (X-?) Shadow Damage over X seconds. Detonate a Corpse, dealing X damage to nearby enemies. Cooldown: ? Seconds.
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Corpse – Explosion Corpse Explosion’s radius is increased by 15%.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Horrid Corpse Explosion – Corpse Explosion deals 15% (multiplicative) increased damage to enemies that are Slowed, Stunned or Vulnerable.
(passive) Skeletal Warrior Mastery – Increase the damage and Life of your Skeletal Warriors by 15% .

Corruption Skills (Required Points: 11 )

(active) Decrepify – Curse the target area. Enemies afflicted by Decrepify are Slowed by 50% and deal 25% less damage for 10 seconds. Essence Cost: 10 Damage: Physical
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Decrepify – Enemies hit while afflicted with Decrepify have up to a 10% chance to be Stunned for 2 seconds.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Horrid Decrepify – When you or your Minions hit an enemy afflicted with Decrepify below 10% Life, they are instantly killed. Does not work on Bosses.
(passive) Skeletal Mage Mastery – Increase the damage and Health of your Skeletal Mages by 15%.

Summoning Skills (Required Points: 16 )

(active) Corpse Tendrils – Veins burst out of a Corpse, pulling in enemies, Stunning them for 3 seconds, and dealing 20.00% (X-?) damage to them. Cooldown: 11.0 Seconds. Damage: Physical
(1st upgrade) Enhanced Corpse – Tendrils Enemies who are in range of Corpse Tendrils are Slowed by 50% before being pulled.
(2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Horrid Corpse Tendrils – Enemies Stunned by Corpse Tendrils take 40% (multiplicative) more damage from Corpse Explosion.
(passive) Reaper’s Pursuit – Damaging enemies with Darkness Skills increases your Movement Speed by 5% for 3 seconds.
- (upgrade) Crippling Darkness – DID NOT INVEST in this to save points
- (upgrade) Gloom – When you damage enemies with Darkness Skills, they take 2% (multiplicative) increased Shadow Damage for 2 seconds, stacking up to 3 times.
- (upgrade) Terror – Darkness Skills deal 5% increased damage against Immobilized, Slowed, or Stunned enemies. This also applies to Shadow Damage dealt by your Minions.

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )

(active) Army of the Dead – Call forth the deep buried dead. Volatile undead emerge over the next 7 seconds that explode near enemies, dealing 30.00% (X-?) damage. Cooldown: 90.0 Seconds. Damage: Physical
(1st upgrade) Prime Army of the Dead – When Army of the Dead’s Skeletons explode, they have 15% chance to leave behind a Corpse.
(2nd upgrade) Supreme Army of the Dead – Army of the Dead also raises your Skeletal Warriors and Skeletal Mages.
(passive) Hellbent Commander – Your Minions deal 10% (multiplicative) increased damage while you are near them.
- (upgrade) Inspiring Command – DID NOT INVEST in this to save points
(passive) Bonded in Essence – Your Minions gain 15% of your Resistances.
- (upgrade) Death’s Defense – DID NOT INVEST in this to save points

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

(passive) Strength in Numbers – While you have at least 7 Minions, they gain 20% Attack Speed.

Book of the Dead (Class Mechanic):

This build is all about taking as many summons as possible without sacrificing any of them for passive bonuses. As for the types I picked: Skeletal Reapers + Shadow Mages + Bone (or Blood) Golem. One can only pick 1 of the upgrades I’d recommend as follows:

Skeletal Reapers + Upgrade 1 is a good build synergy but Upgrade 2 seems fun too so test what you like more
- Description: Reaper attacks against enemies who are Immobilized, Slowed, Stunned or Vulnerable reduce the cooldown of their powerful wind-up attack by 2 seconds.
Shadow Mages + Upgrade 1 is a good build synergy
- Description: Shadow Mage attacks have a 10% chance to stun for 2.13 seconds. This cannot happen on the same enemy more than once every 5 seconds.
Bone Golem + Upgrade 1 is good build synergy (if you go Bone Golem for taunts) OR Upgrade 1 for Blood Golem will be very good as well
- Description: Each time your Golem takes up to 20% of its maximum Life as damage, it sheds a corpse.

Legendary Aspects / Powers

I will only list the Legendary Aspects that have been selected for the build and the slots in which I advise putting those. For in-depth information you can check my pre-launch builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Reaping Army) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

Helm: Aspect of The Umbral
Amulet: Aspect of Shared Misery
Chest: Aspect of Grasping Veins
Pants: Aspect of Might
Gloves: Fastblood Aspect
Boots: Wind Striker Aspect
Ring 1: Unyielding Commander’s Aspect
Ring 2: Aspect of Reanimation
1H Weapon: Edgemaster’s Aspect
Off-hand: Aspect of Retribution
2-H Weapon (if you decide to use one): Edgemaster’s Aspect

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

For all of my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

For my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Class Skill Trees (can be used as mini-calculator): This Spreadsheet

♦ ◊ ♦ ◊ ♦

This concludes the Reaping Army Necromancer Build for Diablo IV. If you’re interested in the game below are links to the various platforms where one can buy it (you can just click the links to open a new tab):

PC (Battle.Net)

XBOX

PlayStation

Official Website