After reading the patch notes, I will need to review it multiple times again, besides the obvious LS nerf, I think Sorc is fine overall. I think the majority of the changes are positive.
Anyone noticed otherwise (ignoring the LS nerfs which is expected)?
Yeah there aren’t too many big issues. I just think most Sorc players in season 5 were like the old Barb players just being meta chasers. They will find the next broken build
I had an Arc Lash/CL build that could do most content that wasn’t changed at all (if not buffed) and I am sure other Sorc’s had other strong builds. LS was just in a league of its own.
I will say I didnt like the enlightenment nerf, but need to see how hard it is to keep up with change.
I played two variants of LS in S5, but I also played other meta builds from other classes, so I wasn’t emotionally attached much with LS so it doesn’t feel that bad. It’s intentional decision on my part because I know the nerfs are gonna happen.
I’m still waiting for Burn builds to be meta. I guess it won’t happen in S6.
I would have said they would never do it since a good burn build would be too easy to play, but they gave us season 5 of conjurations and have buffed basic attacks.
I have been waiting for an OP Meteor build since season 0 and it still hasn’t happened. Arc Lash has been the most fun I’ve played so far as, but I am going to try an experimental “all in” on non physical damage for the enlightenment buff build. Basically try running chain lightning with that Element Constellation new affix and familiars
And yeah I didn’t bother trying LS in PTR because it was obvious it wasn’t going to last.
CL build will be a nerfed a bit as the heal/mana return from starlight has been nerfed so wont be able to spam CL as much.
I’m not so sure. Meteorite might be good.
on a balance point of view sure, its kinda fine. But the class is even more boring by butchering new playstyles, still no real improvements to the core issue of its versatility problems, the enchant system. And everything is now a piano build butchering ur wrists if u not use macros that autocast.
So for me its sad to say this but its goodbye to my favorite class.
Do you really think so? I feel like without something comparable to the Stalagmite Glyph, they’re pretty much DOA. They have low base damage and you can generate a whole lot more Ice Spikes in the first place by layering on the Blizzards.
I kinda expected nerfs to Lightning Spear (Splintering Energy). What I did not expect was 5 different nerfs in a row and also nerfs to Fractured Winterglass.
I would wait and test Conjuration build with changes before having concrete position, but I really don’t understand Blizzard’s logic here. New spell is Conjuration. New key passive supports Conjuration builds. New unique is Conjuration focused. What kind of logic is to nerf Conjuration builds this much in a season where all Sorc additions are Conjuration focused? They really shot themselves in the leg here and maybe just wasted design time and resources on all this new stuff if nerfs were too severe. But we shall see when changes hit live and will be playtested.
I hope so, otherwise we’re back to ice spikes.
I do not think so. Without lightning arc, all lightning builds and conj builds do not do well.
Paragon mix up from origional ptr notes will be mildly interesting, maybe? Id have to go look through all the changes again.
I didnt really see any specific changes outside of Splintering/Fractured adjustments.
nerfing the lightning spear corcerer is not the reall issue…
…the real issue is that we have to pay the build the devs say fit…every season, every good build gets nerfed
barbs are not millionaries anymore… but TRILLIONARIES.
this is reallty outrageus and shameful.
If you haven’t guessed, I was envisioning a meteorite build with “Ton” meteor barrage rune and a low-CD Starfall Coronet, backed by Elemental Constellation daggers with huge stacks behind them.
That will be cool if it works. Meteor feels like a spell whose time has never quite come.
It’ll probably be better with Chain Lightning (as I am hearing). I might try it with Blizzard. Hydra seems a popular pick, being a conjuration with no cooldown.
So I have had some time now to think on this PLUS watch some reactions from streamers and the forum, etc etc.
I think Sorc will be fine with the obvious need to fully accept that Spiritborn is going to be ridiculous powerful in comparison to any class. As long as someone doesn’t NEED to compare their build to the very favored, it’s fine.
-Frozen orb/Lightning Spear is still going to be strong. The version of the build that was JUST Lightning Spear focused will feel pain. Lightning spear is still pretty strong but you need to hybridize it with something else.
-We get a few aspects and a new key passive that open a lot of doors.
-I have tried to make it work in my mind, I have seen the streamer people try to make it work and… pretty let down by the new familiar skill outside of levelling. GRRRR.
Every season I try my own thing at least a couple times in addition to following online builds. For this season… I am pondering about (for my own experimental build) chain lightning with Axial + Starfall coronet/meteor mixed with Oculus wand focused on teleport double damage tempers. It would need a high lucky hit and if I can get a great roll of Fists of Fate.
The big change to damage is the reduction in the increase intelligence gives to damage. It goes back to the old formula.
Would the Familiar skill summon 1 dagger of each element? 
oh you mean like the nerf to Frozen Orbit aspect? now explodes only once.