Rolling Thunder (Lightning Build)

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by Warpiglet last updated Oct 25, 2014 ( Patch 2.1 )

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Skills

Way of the Hundred Fists Hands of Lightning
- Way of the Hundred Fists
Generate: 12 Spirit per attack

Unleash a rapid series of punches that strike enemies for 190% weapon damage as Physical.
Hands of Lightning

Increase the number of hits in the second strike from 7 to 10 and increasing damage to 423% weapon damage as Lightning.
Dashing Strike Quicksilver
- Dashing Strike
Cost: 1 Charge

Quickly dash up to 50 yards, striking enemies along the way for 370% weapon damage as Physical.

You gain a charge every 8 seconds and can have up to 2 charges stored at a time.
Quicksilver

Increases maximum charges to 3.

Dashing Strike's damage turns into Lightning.
Sweeping Wind Cyclone
- Sweeping Wind
Cost: 75 Spirit

Surround yourself in a vortex that continuously deals 105% weapon damage to all enemies within 10 yards. The vortex lasts 6 seconds and is refreshed each time you strike an enemy with a melee attack. Landing a Critical Hit has a chance to increase the vortex effect up to 3 stacks for a total of 315% weapon damage.
Cyclone

While your vortex is at 3 or more stacks, Critical Hits have a chance to spawn a lightning tornado that periodically electrocutes nearby enemies for 95% weapon damage as Lightning. Each spawned lightning tornado lasts 3 seconds.

Sweeping Wind's damage turns into Lightning.
Mantra of Healing Boon of Inspiration
- Mantra of Healing
Cost: 50 Spirit

Active: Shroud you and your allies with a mystical shield that absorbs up to 62064 damage for 3 seconds. Absorb amount is increased by 15% of your Health Globe Healing Bonus.

Passive: You and your allies within 60 yards gain 10728 increased Life regeneration. The heal amount is increased by 7% of your Life per Second.

Only one Mantra may be active at a time.
Boon of Inspiration

Passive: Mantra of Healing also heals 3576 Life when hitting an enemy.

Heal amount is increased by 20% of your Life per Hit.
Cyclone Strike Eye of the Storm
- Cyclone Strike
Cost: 50 Spirit

Pull up to 16 enemies within 24 yards towards you, followed by a furious blast of energy that deals 261% weapon damage as Holy.
Eye of the Storm

Reduce the Spirit cost of Cyclone Strike to 26 Spirit.

Cyclone Strike's damage turns into Lightning.
Exploding Palm Shocking Grasp
- Exploding Palm
Cost: 40 Spirit

Cause an enemy to Bleed for 1200% weapon damage as Physical over 9 seconds. If the enemy dies while bleeding, it explodes and deals 2770% weapon damage as Physical damage to all nearby enemies.
Shocking Grasp

Exploding Palm arcs up to 15 yards to another target.

Exploding Palm's damage turns into Lightning.

Harmony
- Harmony
40% of your single elemental resistances from items instead increases your resistance to all elements.
Sixth Sense
- Sixth Sense
Reduce all non-Physical damage taken by 25%.
The Guardian's Path
- The Guardian's Path
While dual-wielding, you gain a 35% chance to dodge incoming attacks. While using a two-handed weapon, all Spirit generation is increased by 15%.
Transcendence
- Transcendence
Every point of Spirit spent heals you for 429 Life.

Heal amount is increased by 0.4% of your Health Globe Healing Bonus.

Items

Mask of the Searing Sky

Set Helm

Primary Stats

+626–750 Dexterity
+4 Random Magic Properties
Empty Socket

Raiment of a Thousand Storms
Mask of the Searing Sky
Mantle of the Upside-Down Sinners
Heart of the Crashing Wave
Scales of the Dancing Serpent
Eight-Demon Boots
Fists of Thunder
(2) Set: Your Spirit Generators have 25% increased attack speed and 100% increased damage.
(4) Set: Dashing Strike spends 75 Spirit, but refunds a Charge when it does.
(6) Set: Your Spirit Generators increase the weapon damage of Dashing Strike to 12500% for 6 seconds and Dashing Strike increases the damage of your Spirit Generators by 1250% for 6 seconds.
Aughild's Power

Set Shoulders

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Aughild's Authority
Aughild's Power
Aughild's Search
Aughild's Rule
Aughild's Spike
(2) Set: Reduces damage from melee attacks by 7%Reduces damage from ranged attacks by 7%.
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 15%Increases damage against elites by 15%
Countess Julia's Cameo

Legendary Amulet

Primary Stats

Attack Speed Increased by 3.0–4.0%
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Prevent all Arcane damage taken and heal yourself for 20–25% of the amount prevented.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+128–163 Dexterity

+128–163 Strength

+128–163 Intelligence
Heart of the Crashing Wave

Set Chest Armor

Primary Stats

+416–500 Dexterity
+4 Random Magic Properties
Empty Socket

Raiment of a Thousand Storms
Mask of the Searing Sky
Mantle of the Upside-Down Sinners
Heart of the Crashing Wave
Scales of the Dancing Serpent
Eight-Demon Boots
Fists of Thunder
(2) Set: Your Spirit Generators have 25% increased attack speed and 100% increased damage.
(4) Set: Dashing Strike spends 75 Spirit, but refunds a Charge when it does.
(6) Set: Your Spirit Generators increase the weapon damage of Dashing Strike to 12500% for 6 seconds and Dashing Strike increases the damage of your Spirit Generators by 1250% for 6 seconds.
Aughild's Search

Set Bracers

Primary Stats

+6 Random Magic Properties

Aughild's Authority
Aughild's Power
Aughild's Search
Aughild's Rule
Aughild's Spike
(2) Set: Reduces damage from melee attacks by 7%Reduces damage from ranged attacks by 7%.
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 15%Increases damage against elites by 15%
Fists of Thunder

Set Gloves

Primary Stats

+626–750 Dexterity
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8.0–10.0%
+4 Random Magic Properties

Raiment of a Thousand Storms
Mask of the Searing Sky
Mantle of the Upside-Down Sinners
Heart of the Crashing Wave
Scales of the Dancing Serpent
Eight-Demon Boots
Fists of Thunder
(2) Set: Your Spirit Generators have 25% increased attack speed and 100% increased damage.
(4) Set: Dashing Strike spends 75 Spirit, but refunds a Charge when it does.
(6) Set: Your Spirit Generators increase the weapon damage of Dashing Strike to 12500% for 6 seconds and Dashing Strike increases the damage of your Spirit Generators by 1250% for 6 seconds.
Blackthorne's Notched Belt

Set Belt

Primary Stats

+220–349 Vitality
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

+26–28% Extra Gold from Monsters
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Blackthorne's Battlegear
Blackthorne's Duncraig Cross
Blackthorne's Spurs
Blackthorne's Surcoat
Blackthorne's Notched Belt
Blackthorne's Jousting Mail
(2) Set: +250 VitalityIncreases damage against elites by 10%
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 10%+25% Extra Gold from Monsters
(4) Set: You are immune to Desecrator, Molten, and Plagued monster ground effects.
Blackthorne's Jousting Mail

Set Pants

Primary Stats

+4 Random Magic Properties
Empty Socket
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Blackthorne's Battlegear
Blackthorne's Duncraig Cross
Blackthorne's Spurs
Blackthorne's Surcoat
Blackthorne's Notched Belt
Blackthorne's Jousting Mail
(2) Set: +250 VitalityIncreases damage against elites by 10%
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 10%+25% Extra Gold from Monsters
(4) Set: You are immune to Desecrator, Molten, and Plagued monster ground effects.
Blackthorne's Spurs

Set Boots

Primary Stats

+220–349 Vitality
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Blackthorne's Battlegear
Blackthorne's Duncraig Cross
Blackthorne's Spurs
Blackthorne's Surcoat
Blackthorne's Notched Belt
Blackthorne's Jousting Mail
(2) Set: +250 VitalityIncreases damage against elites by 10%
(3) Set: Reduces damage from elites by 10%+25% Extra Gold from Monsters
(4) Set: You are immune to Desecrator, Molten, and Plagued monster ground effects.
Ring of Royal Grandeur

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Attack Speed Increased by 2.0–3.0%
+27–60 Life per Hit
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Reduces the number of items needed for set bonuses by 1 (to a minimum of 2).
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+24–29 Dexterity

+24–29 Strength

+24–29 Intelligence
Wyrdward

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

+4 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Lightning damage has a 25–35% chance to Stun for 1.5 seconds.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+85–108 Dexterity

+85–108 Strength

+85–108 Intelligence
Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Legendary Sword

Primary Stats

+(32–39)–(39–49) Lightning Damage
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Chance on hit to blast your enemy with Lightning, dealing 279–372% weapon damage as Lightning and then jumping to additional nearby enemies. Each enemy hit has their attack speed and movement speed reduced by 30% for 3 seconds. Jumps up to 5 targets.
Empty Socket
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+128–163 Dexterity

+128–163 Strength

+128–163 Intelligence

More Details

Head
- Mask of the Searing Sky
- Aughild's Spike
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex Socket AS
Shoulders
- Aughild's Power
- Mantle of the Upside-Down Sinners
- Death Watch Mantle
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex AS CHC
Amulet
- Countess Julia's Cameo
- Blackthorne's Duncraig Cross
- Eye of Etlich
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex Socket AS
Torso
- Heart of the Crashing Wave
- Blackthorne's Surcoat
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex Socket AS
Wrists
- Aughild's Search
- Lacuni Prowlers
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex AS CHC
Hands
- Fists of Thunder
- St. Archew's Gage
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex AS CHC
Waist
- Blackthorne's Notched Belt
- Thundergod's Vigor
- The Witching Hour
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex AS CHC
Legs
- Blackthorne's Jousting Mail
- Weight of the Earth
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex AS CHC
Feet
- Blackthorne's Spurs
- Eight-Demon Boots
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex AS CHC
Rings
- Ring of Royal Grandeur
- Wyrdward
- Stone of Jordan
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex Socket AS
Weapon
- Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
- Odyn Son
- Won Khim Lau
- Stat Priority: Lightning % Dex Socket CHC
Offhand
- Stat Priority: None

Legendary Gems
- Gogok of Swiftness
  Gogok of Swiftness
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Gain Swiftness with every attack, increasing your Attack Speed by 1% and Dodge by 0.5% for 4 seconds. This effect stacks up to 15 times.
- Simplicity's Strength
  Simplicity's Strength
  
  Gem
  
  Primary Stats
  
  Increase the damage of primary skills by 25.00%.
  Hits with primary abilities heal you for 4% of your maximum health. (Requires Rank 25)
- Wreath of Lightning
  Wreath of Lightning
  
  Gem
  
  Primary Stats
  
  15% chance on hit to gain a Wreath of Lightning, dealing 1250.0% weapon damage as Lightning every second to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
  While under the effect of the Wreath of Lightning, gain 25% increased movement speed. (Requires Rank 25)

Paragon Priorities

Core

Primary Stat
Movement Speed
Vitality
Maximum Resource

Offense

Critical Hit Damage
Critical Hit Chance
Attack Speed
Cooldown Reduction

Defense

Life Regeneration
Resist All
Life
Armor

Utility

Life on Hit
Resource Cost Reduction
Area Damage
Gold Find

Build Guide

The Ring of Royal Grandeur is a must for this build. If you don't have one, you can farm one fairly easily from the bounty rewards. You are aiming for get the set bonuses from three different sets: Blackthorne's 4-set, Aughild's 3-set, and the Raiment of a Thousand Storms. Blackthornes and Aughilds sets are purely defensive. Blackthorne's immunity to Desecrator, Molten, and Plagued coupled with Countless Julia's Cameo's Arcane immunity and healing eliminates many abilities that hurt. Aughild's and Blackthorne's also add extra dmg reduction against elites by quite a bit.

The Raiment of a Thousand Storms, Weapons, and Legendary Gems provide the dmg you need.

Skills - Must Haves: Sweeping Wind, Cyclone Strike, and Exploding Palm. The main combo that you are aiming for is getting 3 stacks of Sweeping Wind to create lightning tornadoes, pulling in mobs with Cyclone Strike, and blowing them up with Exploding Palm. After that you can choose your own skills to fit your style. Keep in mind that lightning is your friend with this build.

Passives: I chose some very defensive passives. I did so because I hate dying and have found that I can live very comfortably pulling multiple elite packs on higher torment levels. These passives are not set in stone however. They can be switched out for more offensive ones if you feel you need to do more damage.

The great thing about this build I think is that it is a lot of fun and it is very customizable. You can switch gear and skills in and out to fit your own playstyle.

Another nice thing about the build is that you don't need all the gear. One can start small with +Lightning % and +Crit dmg% and build up to the set pieces.

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