Scorcher Sorcerer BUILD for Diablo IV [RDY-4-Launch]

(Set the World on fire and watch it BURN as you listen to the agonizing screams of your scorched foes)

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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 Launch is almost upon us and it’s time for some Ready-For-Launch full Builds/Theorycrafts that should be good for both ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters as well as late endgame. I also plan to evolve them further when the game is released & keep them updated when we get rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Sorcerer Class called Scorcher.

I’ve also made spreadsheets for those builds (see the links below) that have shortlisted the active and passive skills + legendary aspect + unique item + gems & sockets + suggested stat rolls + paragon boards that work well with the build which you can use to tinker. Alternatively, I’ve added build calculator links (mostly needed for the paragons)

This build will be updated post-launch to a new & expanded version when I have more 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 + alternative skill options, you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Scorcher) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

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

Major Destruction / Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2 ) Use Fireball ONLY until you get Firewall BUT keep the 1+1+1 points in it to boost the enchantment

Defensive Skills (Required Points: 6 )

Conjuration Skills (Required Points: 11 ) Not Taking any Active summons

Mastery Skills (Required Points: 16 ) Not taking an Active Mastery skill

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

Enchantment (Class Mechanic):

I’d recommend mix-and matching two of the following Enchantments (you’ll need at least 1 point invested or from gear in the skills):

• Obvious Synergies
  • Fireball – When you kill an enemy, they explode in a Fireball for 50% of its damage. NOTE that you’ll need to either remove a point from a passive or get +X Ranks to Fireball from an item. (my 1st pick)
  • Fire Bolt – Direct Damage from Skills applies up to an additional 99 burning damage over 8 seconds.(my ideal 2nd pick)
  • Meteor – Lucky Hit: 8% chance for a Meteor to fall on enemies. (my alternative 2nd pick) NOTE that you’ll need to either remove a point from a passive or get +X Ranks to Meteor from an item.
  • Flame Shield – Flame Shield automatically activates when you take fatal damage, Can only happen once every 120 Seconds.
  • Hydra – After spending 300 mana, a 5-headed Hydra appears for 5 seconds.
• Still good to try
  • Frozen Orb – Whenever you cast a non-basic skill, you have a 20% chance to launch a Frozen Orb at a nearby enemy. NOTE that you’ll need to either remove a point from a passive or get +X Ranks to Frozen Orb and if you wanna make the most out of it you’ll actually spend 2 more points to get Greater Frozen Orb.

Unique Items

In Diablo IV apparently (I have multiple sources that confirmed this) we can equip more than one unique item at the same time (not so ‘unique’ if we can get decked out in full uniques I guess). It seems that the one unique per build idea that Unique inherited from the Mythical gear they supposedly replaced was scrapped even before the closed beta tests. My top pick will be the following one but check the notes under the Aspects list for some additional picks:

Melted Heart of Selig (Amulet)

[4 – 25]% Resistance to All Elements

Gain +100% Maximum Resource. In addition, when you take damage, drain [3 – 6] Resource for every 1% of Life you would have lost instead.

[10 – 18] All Stats
+[12.5 – 19.5]% Core Skill Damage
+[16.5 – 23.5]% Damage while Healthy
[7 – 14]% X Generation (Struck’s note: I’m 100% sure X here stands for each class’ Primary Resource: Mana, Essence, Spirit, Energy, Fury)

“Do not allow your passions to become obsessions. Fuel the fire that burns within you, but it is madness to allow yourself to become ash to please an uncaring universe.” – Last words of Master Selig

Sockets & Gems

There are various possible good/viable choices for the gem slots. I’ve shortlisted what works by slot. I’d recommend picking one of those:

Weps: Weps: Emerald, Amethyst, Saphire, Ruby, Diamond, or Skull.
Armor: Ruby, Diamond, or Skull.
Jewelry: Diamond unless you need specific resistance more than all.

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 RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Scorcher) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

• Helm: Aspect of The Protector / Harlequin Crest (see notes below)
• Amulet: Exploiter’s Aspect / Melted Heart of Selig (see notes below)
• Chest: Frostblitz Aspect
• Pants: Aspect of The Unwavering / Iceheart Brais (see notes below)
• Gloves: Accelerating Aspect / Exploiter’s Aspect (see notes below)
• Boots: Aspect of Fortune / Esu’s Heirloom (see notes below)
• Ring 1: Prodigy’s Aspect
• Ring 2: Incendiary Aspect / Accelerating Aspect (see notes below)
• 1H Weapon: Elementalist’s Aspect
• Off-hand: Aspect of Engulfing Flames
• 2-H Weapon (if you decide to use one): Elementalist’s Aspect

NOTE 1: Incendiary Aspect stays in the Ring 2 slot ONLY until you get the Melted Heart of Selig Unique Amulet. After that discard it & put Accelerating Aspect in the, now empty, Ring 2 slot, then put Exploiter's Aspect in the, now empty, Gloves slot to make room for the Unique Amulet.
There are three other alternative picks for Uniques you could use if you get those first: Esu's Heirloom (Boots), Harlequin Crest (Helm), & Iceheart Brais (Pants)
See the other other notes below:

NOTE 2: How to re-arrange if using any of the alternative Uniques (I made it as painless as possible):
- For Esu's Heirloom (Boots): Aspect of Fortune gets removed from the Gloves slot to make room for the Unique Boots
- For Harlequin Crest (Helm): Aspect of The Protector gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Iceheart Brais (Pants): Aspect of The Unwavering gets removed from the Pants slot to make room for the Unique Pants.

Paragon Boards:

Use the links below to check the paragon boards selected and the nodes I’ve taken. One link is for what the boards will look like at lvl 87 without any paragon points from renown (so more paragon points will be obtained on the way to 100 as well as from renown). The other link will be what the boards will look like when fully maxed out on paragon points.

• LVL 87 & no Points from renown: Click THIS LINK
• MAXed out points: Click THIS LINK

Suggested Gear Rolls to look out for (NOT in order of priority):

I’ve shortlisted 42 different affixes that work well with the build of almost 300 total. I’ll highlight in Orange the ones I think should get higher priority

Bonus to All Damage

Critical Strike Chance / Critical Damage Bonus

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Pyromancy/Fire Skills

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Mastery/Ultimate/Core/Basic/Defensive Skills

Damage with Mastery/Ultimate/Core/Basic/Defensive Skills

Lucky Hit Chance

+ Ranks to Mastery/Ultimate/Core/Basic/Defensive Skills

+ Ranks to Firewall/Frost Nova/Fire Bolt/Fireball/Flame Shield/Teleport

Lucky Hit Chance with Fire/Burning Damage

Fire/Burning Damage Bonus

+ % Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Fire/Burning Damage

Resistance to All Elements

+ % Chill Application

+ % Fire/Burning Damage to Elites

+ % Critical Strike Chance with Fire/Burning Damage Against Elites

+ % Damage for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction from Elites

Damage to Close Enemies

Critical Chance / Damage Against Close Enemies

Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies

Critical Chance / Damage Against Crowd Controlled Enemies

Damage to Vulnerable Enemies

Critical Chance / Damage Against Vulnerable Enemies

Vulnerable Damage

Damage while Healthy

Barrier Generation

Chance When Struck to Gain N Life as Barrier for X Seconds

Lucky Hit Chance while You Have a Barrier

Damage Reduction while You Have a Barrier

Life as Barrier On Kill

Critical Strike Chance Against Burning/DoT affected Enemies

Damage to Burning/DoT affected Enemies

+ All Stats

Damage vs Injured Enemies

Damage vs Healthy Enemies

Weapon Damage (not sure if there are any bonuses to that as rolls)

Mana Generation / Regeneration/ On Kill

Movement Speed

Attack Speed

Intelligence

Resource Cost Reduction

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

For all of my Diablo IV RDY-4-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

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

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

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This concludes the Scorcher 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