Melee Wizard for GR50+

Rating

by kilee217 last updated May 7, 2015 ( Patch 2.2 )

Regular

Hybrid

BBCode Link

Edit

Skills

Electrocute Arc Lightning
- Electrocute
This is a Signature spell. Signature spells are free to cast.

Lightning arcs from your fingertips, dealing 138% weapon damage as Lightning. The lightning can jump, hitting up to 2 additional enemies.
Arc Lightning

Blast a cone of lightning that deals 310% weapon damage as Lightning to all affected enemies.
Teleport Calamity
- Teleport
Cooldown: 11 seconds

Teleport through the ether to the selected location up to 50 yards away.
Calamity

Cast a short range Wave of Force upon arrival, dealing 175% weapon damage as Arcane to all nearby enemies and stunning them for 1 second.
Hydra Mammoth Hydra
- Hydra
Cost: 15 Arcane Power

Summon a multi-headed Hydra for 15 seconds that attacks enemies with bolts of fire dealing 165% weapon damage as Fire.

Only one Hydra may be active at a time.
Mammoth Hydra

Summon a Mammoth Hydra that breathes a river of flame at nearby enemies, dealing 330% weapon damage per second as Fire to enemies caught on the burning ground.
Meteor Comet
- Meteor
Cost: 40 Arcane Power

Summon an immense Meteor that plummets from the sky, crashing into enemies for 740% weapon damage as Fire. The ground it hits is scorched with molten fire that deals 235% weapon damage as Fire over 3 seconds.
Comet

Summon a Comet that deals 740% weapon damage as Cold and freezes chilled enemies for 1 second upon impact.

The impact site is covered in an icy mist that deals 235% weapon damage as Cold over 3 seconds.
Slow Time Time Warp
- Slow Time
Cooldown: 15 seconds

Invoke a bubble of warped time and space at your target location up to 60 yards away for 15 seconds, reducing enemy attack speed by 20% and movement speed by 60%. This bubble also slows the speed of enemy projectiles by 90%.
Time Warp

Enemies caught in the bubble of warped time take 15% more damage.
Ice Armor Crystallize
- Ice Armor
Cost: 25 Arcane Power

Surround yourself in a barrier of ice that reduces damage from melee attacks by 12%. Melee attackers are either Chilled or Frozen for 3 seconds. Lasts 10 minutes.

Only one Armor may be active at a time.
Crystallize

When you are struck by a melee attack, your Armor is increased by 20% for 30 seconds. This effect stacks up to 3 times.

Illusionist
- Illusionist
When you take more than 15% of your maximum Life in damage within 1 second, the cooldowns on Mirror Image, Slow Time, and Teleport are reset.

When you use Mirror Image, Slow Time, or Teleport, your movement speed is increased by 30% for 3 seconds.
Arcane Dynamo
- Arcane Dynamo
When you cast a Signature spell, you gain a Flash of Insight. After 5 Flashes of Insight, your next non-Signature spell deals 60% additional damage.

The following skills are Signature spells:
Magic Missile
Shock Pulse
Spectral Blade
Electrocute
Elemental Exposure
- Elemental Exposure
Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause them to take 5% more damage from your attacks for 5 seconds. Each different damage type applies a stack, stacking up to 4 times.

Elemental damage from your weapon contributes to Elemental Exposure.

Items

Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom

Set Helm

398 - 472 Armor

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 3.5%
Sockets (1)

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 2000% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
Pauldrons of the Skeleton King

Legendary Shoulders

59 - 68 Armor

Primary Stats

+201 - 230 Vitality
+176 - 190 Armor

Secondary Stats

When receiving fatal damage, there is a chance that you are instead restored to 25% of maximum Life and cause nearby enemies to flee in fear.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Tal Rasha's Allegiance

Set Amulet

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51.0–100.0%
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+330–524 Dexterity

+330–524 Strength

+330–524 Intelligence

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit

Set Chest Armor

Primary Stats

+220–349 Vitality
Attack Speed Increased by 5.0–6.0%
+2 Random Magic Properties
Empty Socket
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Ancient Parthan Defenders

Legendary Bracers

Primary Stats

+4 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Each stunned enemy within 25 yards reduces your damage taken by 9–12%.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+85–108 Dexterity

+85–108 Strength

+85–108 Intelligence
Tasker and Theo

Legendary Gloves

309 - 366 Armor

Primary Stats

Attack Speed Increased by 5 - 6%

Secondary Stats

Increase attack speed of your pets by 40 - 50%.

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
Tal Rasha's Brace

Set Belt

Primary Stats

+81–85 Resistance to All Elements
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Tal Rasha's Stride

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

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.
Nilfur's Boast

Legendary Boots

Primary Stats

+81–85 Resistance to All Elements
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Increase the damage of Meteor by 200%. When your Meteor hits 3 or fewer enemies, the damage is increased by 275–350%.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence
Unity

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Increases damage against elites by 12 - 15%
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 3.5%

Secondary Stats

All damage taken is split between wearers of this item.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Halo of Arlyse

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Your Ice Armor now reduces damage from melee attacks by 50–60% and automatically casts Frost Nova whenever you take 10% of your Life in damage.
Empty Socket
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+220–349 Dexterity

+220–349 Strength

+220–349 Intelligence
Serpent's Sparker

Legendary Wand

Primary Stats

+128–163 Intelligence
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

You may have one extra Hydra active at a time.
One of 7 Magic Properties (varies)

+(32–39)–(39–49) Arcane Damage

+(32–39)–(39–49) Poison Damage

+(32–39)–(39–49) Lightning Damage

+(32–39)–(39–49) Holy Damage

+(32–39)–(39–49) Cold Damage

+(32–39)–(39–49) Fire Damage

+(32–39)–(39–49) Damage
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare

Set Source

Primary Stats

+1.471363E-43 Maximum Damage
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 6 - 6.5%

Secondary Stats

One of 1 Magic Properties (varies)
+1.443337E-43 Minimum Damage

Tal Rasha's Elements
Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
Tal Rasha's Brace
Tal Rasha's Allegiance
Tal Rasha's Stride
Tal Rasha's Grasp
(2) Set: Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. There is an 8 second cooldown for each damage type.
(4) Set: Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 25% for 8 seconds.
(6) Set: Attacks increase your damage by 750% for 8 seconds. Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each add one stack. At 4 stacks, each different elemental attack extends the duration by 2 seconds, up to a maximum of 8 seconds.

+ 3 Random Magic Properties

More Details

Head
- Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
- Stat Priority: Int Socket CHC
Shoulders
- Pauldrons of the Skeleton King
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR
Amulet
- Tal Rasha's Allegiance
- Stat Priority: Int CHD CHC Socket
Torso
- Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AS Socket
Wrists
- Ancient Parthan Defenders
- Stat Priority: Int Fire % Vit CHC
Hands
- Tasker and Theo
- Stat Priority: Int AS CHD CHC
Waist
- Tal Rasha's Brace
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR
Legs
- Tal Rasha's Stride
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR Socket
Feet
- Nilfur's Boast
- Stat Priority: Int Vit AR
Rings
- Unity
- Halo of Arlyse
- Convention of Elements
- Stat Priority: Socket Int CHD CHC
Weapon
- Serpent's Sparker
- Aether Walker
- Stat Priority: Int Dmg % AS
Offhand
- Tal Rasha's Unwavering Glare
- Stat Priority: Int Vit CHC

Legendary Gems
- Bane of the Trapped
  Bane of the Trapped
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Increase damage against enemies under the effects of control-impairing effects by 15%.
- 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)
- No Gem Selected

Melee Wizard build more adopt to fighting champions and bosses.

Skills

Mammoth Hydra - When playing over GR50 most damage is output by hydra which is why mammoth hydra is a must for this build.

Calamity - essential for initiating a fight with stuns and escaping from dangerous situations.

Arc lighting - I chose this over other primary abilities not only because it outputs the most amount of damage but it works very well with second option of Simplicity's Strength gem. With each monster hit you get 2% health back.

Meteor - preferred over blizzard because meteor outputs more instant damage and you can span meteor at a single target unlike blizzard, blizzard damage does not overlap. The only problem with Meteor is that there is a delay between when the spell is cast and when the spell actually hits the target. Which means you might miss the target but as long as you use calamity or slow time before meteor, this problem would rarely occur.

Slow time - preferred over frost nova and magic weapon because it increases damage, slows the movement of monsters (very helpful for meteor), and it slows down projectiles. The two weaknesses about melee wizard are, single units and long range units. Slow time will make it much easier for you to evade projectiles and lock down single targets in one location.

I left one passive as blank because there are lots of options to choose from, glass cannon, audacity, blur, unstable anatomy, etc. Choose one that best fits your situation.

Items

need 6 pieces of talrasha (tasker over talrasha pursuit because of hydradamage)

for shoulders I prefer Pauldrons but its really up to you.

for feet you will need Nilfur's boast to boost meteor damage.

for rings Halo is a must because it syncs very well with APD and its the only means of survival.

for weapon serpent's sparker is prefered but if you don't have one aether walker can be used.

For gems as explained above simplicity's strength sync very well with arc lightning.

I left the third slot empty because there are lots of options to choose from esoteric alteration, gogok of swiftness, enforcer, molten wildebeest's gizzard, Toxin etc.

Paragon Priorities

Core

Movement Speed
Primary Stat
Maximum Resource
Vitality

Offense

Attack Speed
Critical Hit Chance
Critical Hit Damage
Cooldown Reduction

Defense

Armor
Resist All
Life
Life Regeneration

Utility

Area Damage
Resource Cost Reduction
Life on Hit
Gold Find

Paragon Priorities

Core

1. movement speed is always the most important.

2. you can max out primary stats or increase maximum resource if you want to boost the arcane meteor damage. ( I personally don't feel its necessary)

Offense

1. since most damage is done by hydra, attack speed is important part of our damage output

Defense

1. because wizards have low armor I tend to feel like increasing armor gives you more survivalability than resist all

Utility

1. its really up to you

Build Guide

Here is the melee wizard build I have been using lately. I decided to post this build online because I feel like my build is better suited for fighting champion units or bosses.

How to play

1. initiate with calamity

2. cast slow time at the center of enemy pack ( try not to fight less than 3 units at a time)

3. arcane dynamo *5 -> mammoth hydra -> meteor -> arcane dynamo *5 -> mammoth hydra -> meteor -> arcane dynamo *5 -> meteor -> arcane dynamo *5 -> meteor (after you summoned two mammoth hydra span meteor at the strongest unit in the pack)

4. if there are long ranged units attacking you near by either doge the projectiles or, cast slow time on them and teleport near the unit and make sure they are stunned by your frost nova. WHY? because projectiles hurt like hell and melee units will come to you by them selves unlike long ranged units

5. when fighting champion monsters, fight them with white monsters since that will give you most survivalability from APD. Make sure you spam meteor on the champion monsters

DiabloFans