Patch 2.4 introduced the 5% synergy for Nova with Static Field, effectively doubling Nova damage.
The relative DPS of the light skills at 63 FCR used to be 1x Chain Lightning, 2x for Lightning, 3x for Charged Bolt and 0.5x for Nova and Thunder Storm.
Here’s why the Lightning Skill Tree is broken by the new Nova:
Synergies - With only 1 synergy requirement Nova now does the same damage as Chain Lightning does with 3 synergies.
Overkill - Nova has a tight damage spread while L/CL does damage like 1-10000. Reliable damage is better in a couple of different ways. And especially with AoE skills that can end up leaving some targets still alive while others are overkilled.
FCR - Nova uses normal breakpoints, while L/CL is slow. This further exacerbates the difference in overkill.
Hit recovery - When you do more than 1/16 of a monster’s max HP in a single blow, there’s a 37.5% chance of putting it into the stagger/hit recovery animation. If you do more than 1/8, the chance is 75%. If more than 1/4, 100%. Nova now reliably staggers cows, which is busted.
AoE - the way Nova hits targets is both faster and more reliable.
With all the negative aspects of Lightning and Chain Lightning (high synergies, low castrate, high damage spread, medium area of effect, no crowd control), they deserve to have the highest damage potential - the best glass cannon.
Nova has no business doing so much damage with so many positive aspects on top. I think the best way to bring harmony to the Lightning Tree is to nerf Nova again. Instead of just removing the synergy and nerfing the damage, there are more interesting alternatives:
3 synergies that each give 2% damage per point.
Add 1 second cast delay and adjust damage upwards. The low cast rate means it can no longer stunlock with hit recovery. It no longer scales with FCR. And the damage should be increased by about 3x to keep the DPS the same at 37 FCR. It will have higher potential for overkill.
Change damage spread from “1200-2000 to 1-3200 instead”.
I would personally prefer the 1 second cast delay for Nova. It fits the fantasy, and it fits the subtree with Static Field and Thunder Storm, which are “starter skills” that are good for Normal and Nightmare where you don’t have mana and FCR. It would let Lightning and Chain Lightning be the rightful endgame builds.
you kinda forget that nova sorcs need to teleport into the middle of the crowd and make themselves vulnerable for attacks, similar like hammerdins, just without the stats of a hammerdin. they have to tag 20 telekinesis and 20 mana shield. Also lightning mastery counts as synergy, since it’s mandatory to pick it. haven’t done the math on this one, but in general classes that have to put themselves in the middle of crowds get a bit (ONLY A BIT, NOT 3x LIKE THE HAMMERDIN; Friendly reminder to nerf his damage by 33% and free his aura slot from concentration) better damage and survivability. Sorc needs to use skillpoints with manashield to achieve that.
I 100% disagree completely with your entire post, no offense.
A 1 second cast delay would absolutely destroy the skill, and cast delays don’t belong in a game like this. Having to work around cooldown rotations is a D3/D4 thing, and feels horrible under every circumstance. With a cast delay, Nova wouldn’t be worth using, ever. Considering you have to jump almost into the mobs to use it.
Lightning Mastery isn’t a “synergy”. Sorceress just has 20 less skills points than other classes.
I’m not sure the argument is valid, the one about Nova having Energy Shield as a “synergy requirement.”
ES and Static Field are pretty much the only skills you would want outside your main damage skill for any build.
ES is useful even when Teleporting, the synergies for L/CL are real synergies because they are not useful on their own.
@iGanc
Don’t worry about disagreeing. I’m glad to hear what people think.
Cast delays in D2 are not really cooldowns. Frozen Orb just has a 1 second cast delay because it makes the skill not scale with FCR. You still spam it. And nobody mixes in other skills between casts, even though you could do that with Blizzard for max dps.
These 1 point skills. You know that. Stop this BS. If you try to debate bro me and turn this into an ego thing you will just lose credibility. Also yes they are required. When you teleport into a mob you need survivability. I swear to god you are doing this on purpose.
You clearly don’t understand trade offs and you ignore everything that doesn’t fit your agenda.
L/CL can be cast from a safe spot. They both need less mana than nova and it is way easier to play early before endgame gear than nova. Nova only outshines L/CL with endgame gear.
Lightning still does about double the DPS of nova on single or lined up targets. (LI or not)
Nova is very strong and feels good to play after a decade of L/CL sorcs. Biggest issue is that immunities are not balanced and so cold and fire elements suck compared to lightning.
Let’s face it. I am the best. Your arguments are as good as your writing skills.
You cannot judge me; I am Justice itself! We were meant for more than this, to protect the innocent! But if our precious laws bind you all to inaction, then I will no longer stand as your brother!
That’s all wrong. You clearly can’t read and/or don’t understand the game.
The full Lightning build is best compared to the full Fire build (Fireball). But Fireball only has 2 synergies, compared to Lightning’s 3.
In order for Lightning to have a purpose, it must deal more damage. It has to reward and compensate for the lack of survivability.
This was the case before patch 2.4. I think It’s good that they made more builds viable, but Nova should have been made viable in a more niche way instead of the goto.
Why do you devolve into this nonsense? You have so much to learn from me. Why would you throw away such an opportunity for betterment of your Diablo knowledge?
Anyway, Nova’s rightful place is the same as Leap Attack with its AoE damage from patch 2.4.
Perhaps the biggest change is that Leap Attack now deals AOE damage to surrounding enemies when landing. This gives the Barbarian a strong multi-target skill as early as level 18. This damage does not scale with your weapon, so it’s perfect for leveling up a Barbarian in Normal and Nightmare difficulties. The AOE damage won’t make as much of an impact on Hell difficulty, but Leap Attack’s primary attack and mobility will remain valuable.
People like Milox and Odin think Energy Shield is a 1 point wonder. They don’t even know that Telekinesis is a synergy. That’s why they play Softcore mode where they can’t die.
Frozen Orb is a starter skill too. It’s a level 30 skill. The reason it’s a starter skill is because of its cast delay which means it doesn’t scale with FCR. And because of its light synergies. And because Cold Mastery basically means cold skills don’t scale past the point of -100 cold res.
Static Field doesn’t increase in damage.
(old) Nova didn’t have synergies.
Thunder Storm has a fixed strike interval.
That’s what makes them starter skills — they are better early on and don’t scale well.
