Lightning Hydras for GROUP 90+ speeds and 105+ pushing

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by HammerofNatsu last updated May 12, 2017 ( Patch 2.5.0 )

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Skills

Magic Missile Glacial Spike
- Magic Missile
This is a Signature spell. Signature spells are free to cast.

Launch a missile of magic energy, dealing 230% weapon damage as Arcane.
Glacial Spike

Cast out a shard of ice that explodes on impact, causing enemies within 4.5 yards to take 175% weapon damage as Cold and be Frozen for 1 second.

Enemies cannot be Frozen by Glacial Spike more than once every 5 seconds.
Hydra Lightning 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.
Lightning Hydra

Summon a Lightning Hydra that electrocutes enemies for 255% weapon damage as Lightning.
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.
Energy Armor Force Armor
- Energy Armor
Cost: 25 Arcane Power

Focus your energies, increasing your Armor by 35% but decreasing your maximum Arcane Power by 20. Lasts 10 minutes.

Only one Armor may be active at a time.
Force Armor

Incoming attacks that would deal more than 35% of your maximum Life are reduced to deal 35% of your maximum Life instead.

The amount absorbed cannot exceed 100% of your maximum Life.
Slow Time Stretch Time
- 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%.
Stretch Time

Time is sped up for any allies standing in the area, increasing their attack speed by 10%.
Archon Combustion
- Archon
Cooldown: 120 seconds

Transform into a being of pure arcane energy for 20 seconds. While in Archon form, your normal abilities are replaced by powerful Archon abilities, your damage is increased by 30%, and your Armor and resistances are increased by 150%.

Each enemy killed while in Archon form increases your damage by 6% for the remaining duration of Archon.
Combustion

An explosion erupts around you when you transform, dealing 3680% weapon damage as Fire to all enemies within 15 yards.

Archon abilities deal Fire damage instead of Arcane.

Paralysis
- Paralysis
Lightning spells have a 15% chance to Stun all targets hit for 1.5 seconds.
Power Hungry
- Power Hungry
You deal 30% additional damage to enemies farther than 30 yards.
Unstable Anomaly
- Unstable Anomaly
When you receive fatal damage, you instead gain a shield equal to 400% of your maximum Life for 5 seconds and release a shockwave that knocks enemies back and Stuns them for 3 seconds.

This effect may occur once every 60 seconds.
Evocation
- Evocation
Reduce all cooldowns by 20%.

Items

Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom

Set Helm

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6.0%
+3 Random Magic Properties
Empty Socket
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.
Vyr's Proud Pauldrons

Set Shoulders

Primary Stats

+91–100 Resistance to All Elements
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+416–500 Dexterity

+416–500 Strength

+416–500 Intelligence

Vyr's Amazing Arcana
Vyr's Astonishing Aura
Vyr's Fantastic Finery
Vyr's Swaggering Stance
Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets
Vyr's Proud Pauldrons
Vyr's Sightless Skull
(2) Set: Archon gains the effect of every rune.
(4) Set: Archon stacks also increase your Attack Speed, Armor, and Resistances by 1%.
(6) Set: You also gain Archon stacks when you hit with an Archon ability.
Tal Rasha's Adjudication

Set Amulet

Tal Rasha's Wrappings
Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Tal Rasha's Guardianship
Tal Rasha's Finespun Cloth
Tal Rasha's Adjudication
(2) Set: Adds 3% to Fire Damage
(3) Set: Adds 3% to Lightning Damage
(4) Set: Adds 3% to Cold Damage
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.
Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer

Legendary Bracers

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 1.0–2.0%
+3 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Increases the potency of your shields by 75–100%.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+18–23 Dexterity

+18–23 Strength

+18–23 Intelligence
Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets

Set Gloves

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8.0–10.0%
+4 Random Magic Properties
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+626–750 Dexterity

+626–750 Strength

+626–750 Intelligence

Vyr's Amazing Arcana
Vyr's Astonishing Aura
Vyr's Fantastic Finery
Vyr's Swaggering Stance
Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets
Vyr's Proud Pauldrons
Vyr's Sightless Skull
(2) Set: Archon gains the effect of every rune.
(4) Set: Archon stacks also increase your Attack Speed, Armor, and Resistances by 1%.
(6) Set: You also gain Archon stacks when you hit with an Archon ability.
Fazula's Improbable Chain

Legendary Belt

Primary Stats

+4 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

You automatically start with 40–50 Archon stacks when entering Archon form.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+85–108 Dexterity

+85–108 Strength

+85–108 Intelligence
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.
Vyr's Swaggering Stance

Set Boots

Primary Stats

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

+416–500 Dexterity

+416–500 Strength

+416–500 Intelligence

One of 33 Magic Properties (varies)

Increases Cluster Arrow Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Multishot Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Elemental Arrow Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Strafe Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Chakram Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Rapid Fire Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Impale Damage by 10–15% (Demon Hunter Only)

Increases Whirlwind Damage by 10–15% (Barbarian Only)

Increases Seismic Slam Damage by 10–15% (Barbarian Only)

Increases Ancient Spear Damage by 10–15% (Barbarian Only)

Increases Hammer of the Ancients Damage by 10–15% (Barbarian Only)

Increases Meteor Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Disintegrate Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Energy Twister Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Arcane Torrent Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Wave of Force Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Arcane Orb Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Ray of Frost Damage by 10–15% (Wizard Only)

Increases Acid Cloud Damage by 10–15% (Witch Doctor Only)

Increases Spirit Barrage Damage by 10–15% (Witch Doctor Only)

Increases Zombie Charger Damage by 10–15% (Witch Doctor Only)

Increases Sacrifice Damage by 10–15% (Witch Doctor Only)

Increases Firebats Damage by 10–15% (Witch Doctor Only)

Increases Tempest Rush Damage by 10–15% (Monk Only)

Increases Exploding Palm Damage by 10–15% (Monk Only)

Increases Wave of Light Damage by 10–15% (Monk Only)

Increases Lashing Tail Kick Damage by 10–15% (Monk Only)

Increases Phalanx Damage by 10–15% (Crusader Only)

Increases Blessed Hammer Damage by 10–15% (Crusader Only)

Increases Blessed Shield Damage by 10–15% (Crusader Only)

Increases Sweep Attack Damage by 10–15% (Crusader Only)

Increases Fist of the Heavens Damage by 10–15% (Crusader Only)

Increases Shield Bash Damage by 10–15% (Crusader Only)

Vyr's Amazing Arcana
Vyr's Astonishing Aura
Vyr's Fantastic Finery
Vyr's Swaggering Stance
Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets
Vyr's Proud Pauldrons
Vyr's Sightless Skull
(2) Set: Archon gains the effect of every rune.
(4) Set: Archon stacks also increase your Attack Speed, Armor, and Resistances by 1%.
(6) Set: You also gain Archon stacks when you hit with an Archon ability.
Manald Heal

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

+4 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Enemies stunned with Paralysis also take 13000–14000% weapon damage as Lightning.
One of 3 Magic Properties (varies)

+37–48 Dexterity

+37–48 Strength

+37–48 Intelligence
Convention of Elements

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 3.5%
Sockets (1)

Secondary Stats

Gain 150 - 200% increased damage to a single element for 4 seconds. This effect rotates through the elements available to your class in the following order: Arcane, Cold, Fire, Holy, Lightning, Physical, Poison.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Starfire

Legendary Wand

Primary Stats

+(6–7)–(8–9) Cold Damage
+27–35 Intelligence
+4 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

Lightning damage is increased by 10–15% for every 10 yards you are from the target up to a maximum of 40 yards.
Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye

Set Source

Tal Rasha's Wrappings
Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Tal Rasha's Guardianship
Tal Rasha's Finespun Cloth
Tal Rasha's Adjudication
(2) Set: Adds 3% to Fire Damage
(3) Set: Adds 3% to Lightning Damage
(4) Set: Adds 3% to Cold Damage

More Details

Head
- Tal Rasha's Guise of Wisdom
- The Swami
- Stat Priority: CHC Int Socket Vit
Shoulders
- Vyr's Proud Pauldrons
- Stat Priority: CDR CHD CHC
Amulet
- Tal Rasha's Adjudication
- Stat Priority: CHD CHD CDR
Torso
- Tal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
- Stat Priority: AS Int Vit Life
Wrists
- Ashnagarr's Blood Bracer
- Lacuni Prowlers
- Stat Priority: Lightning % CHC Int
Hands
- Vyr's Grasping Gauntlets
- Tal Rasha's Grasp
- Stat Priority: CDR CHD CHC AS
Waist
- Fazula's Improbable Chain
- Stat Priority: Int Vit Life
Legs
- Tal Rasha's Stride
- Stat Priority: Int Vit Life
Feet
- Vyr's Swaggering Stance
- Stat Priority: Int Vit Life MS
Rings
- Manald Heal
- Convention of Elements
- Stat Priority: Socket CDR CHD CHC
Weapon
- Starfire
- Serpent's Sparker
- Stat Priority: CDR AS Int Dmg %
Offhand
- Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye
- Stat Priority: CDR CHC Int

Legendary Gems
- Bane of the Stricken
  Bane of the Stricken
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Each attack you make against an enemy increases the damage it takes from your attacks by 0.8%.
- 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.
- Zei's Stone of Vengeance
  Zei's Stone of Vengeance
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Damage you deal is increased by 4% for every 10 yards between you and the enemy hit. Maximum 20% increase at 50 yards.

Kanai's Cube

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
Serpent's Sparker
The Swami

Legendary Wizard Hat

Primary Stats

+128–163 Intelligence
Critical Hits grant 3–4 Arcane Power (Wizard Only)
+2 Random Magic Properties

Secondary Stats

+7–9 Maximum Arcane Power (Wizard Only)
The bonuses from Archon stacks now last for 15–20 seconds after Archon expires.
The Swami
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
Ring of Royal Grandeur

Disclaimer. I realize that a crap load of wizard guides exist but it seems no one goes into the higher grift group build so here I am, giving you the low down.

Serpent Sparker and starfire are interchangeable just use the strongest one and cube the other. So is manald heal and RoRG. I only recommend equipping a perfect swami if you don't have 20 seconds just cube it. If you do have a perfect swami equip it and use tal rashas belt.

if you have a good tal rasha's glove you can use that in place of vyr's hands just make sure you maintain the proper set bonuses.

Your stat needs are pretty simple and explained in other guides too. But you need at a minimum of 62.63% CDR to have a perfect CoE rotation that lines up with your archon.

On your weapon you need 7% AS, along with your chest. I will give you the easy explanation of why. With 7%AS on weapon, 7%AS on chest, along with 10% from your paragon and 15% from gogok you will have your breakpoints. If you go to d3planner and load up your character look at the AS section of stats if you want to delve a bit deeper into your stats. You will properly reach the disintegration point of your beam using the recommended stats I provided for you, no formula required. This is to stack stricken quickly on RG. To reach the next breakpoint when you have already reached the first breakpoint, which would require 4., which is impossible unless you have perfect AS rolls on all your gear and have double slow time bubbles up. So unless you're aiming to reach that break point stick with the minimum.

With fazula 50 stacks is highly preferable and that's what i recommended any lower will suffice until you get the 50 stacks or have a perfect swami so you can cube fazula,

Okay now for wrists decision. IT depends on your play style and how comfortable you are. If you can stay alive i recommend Lacuni over ashnagarr's. If you're having a hard time surviving or are pushing like 105+ use ashnagarr's.

For your ammy if you have perfect CDR rolls on all pieces of gear aside from neck you could roll for more damage instead of CDR but I do recommend to have cdr with ammy. Less room for error that way.

Paragon Priorities

Core

Movement Speed
Primary Stat
Vitality
Maximum Resource

Offense

Cooldown Reduction
Attack Speed
Critical Hit Damage
Critical Hit Chance

Defense

Life
Armor
Life Regeneration
Resist All

Utility

Resource Cost Reduction
Life on Hit
Gold Find
Area Damage

Build Guide

I don't have a youtube video guide as i play on a crap laptop so I will write out the mechanics of the build as best as I can.

This build is for only higher speeds and pushing. Please don't use it for 60-85s... i'd say even when you're geared high enough with high augs you can even use the lightning speed archon build for 90s. If you're doing low grift speed runs please use this build http://www.diablofans.com/builds/88706-2-5-s10-lightning-speed-archon-wizard

You obviously don't use magic weapon: deflection so if you don't have decent gear with decent augs you lose a lot of damage and you lose the extra survivability through the deflection rune. Keep that in mind.

If you're using the ashnagarr's version replace energy armor with magic weapon deflection. I recommend to use lacuni when you have the raw damage for speed 100s, or even if you can comfortably run 90-95. Pushing is a different beast. Better to use Ashnagarr's for survivablity.

When you start off in the Grift wait for the beginning of cold coe rotation and pop archon. You can stay grouped but if you feel comfortable you can go a little ahead and start stacking your gogok with mobs. Once your archon fades, and your getting closer to your second use of archon you want to pop archon somewhere around the time that fire is changing to lightning which is where your huge damage window is. with 100 archon stacks, full gogok stacks you will blow things up. My favorite part of this build is when you can get 150+ stacks of archon and annihilate everything, nothing is more satisfying than going into RG with huge stacks, it's health bar just vanishes.

W/ Lacuni you want to try and stay out of sanc unless you absolutely need the heals and you know you won't die, try to rotate outside the pack and maintain your stacks of gogok and kill trash to gain stacks of archon. If it's a bad map try your best to keep your gogok stacks. if you don't and it falls off you're going to have a hard time maintaining your CoE rotation to line up with your archon. If this happens don't panic either archon off the beginning of the cold rotation and wait for the next rotation to get back into the proper alignment or you can simply just wait until you're near the lightning portion of coe and then pop it long as you will have fully stacked gogok in your next CoE rotation.

I highly discourage the use hydras on trash unless it's low density with the elite up or blue up. The reason behind this is because of a bug; when you cast hydras and pop into archon your beam WILL NOT proc manald heal. Hydras are purely for single target damage purposes. You are the RGK, simple as that, FB WD will be performing the majority of the AOE.

The following is what i recommend for group play if you're a wizard.

FB WD, Zbarb and Zmonk. you could sub out the WD for a impale dh but that DH should run stricken while you replace your stricken with trapped to provide aoe. The reasoning behind this is because DH has more consistent damage and can stack striken faster than you.

If you're pushing or doing like 100s I do not recommend the impale DH unless he is very geared... but even then i would be skeptical. FB WD has so much AoE it's redunculous.

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