Sorc chain lightning nerfed too much

PC General Discussion
1

Sorcerer’s chain lightning was nerfed too much between betas. Summary of changes:

  • Chain lightning base damage 42% → 36% (14% reduction)
  • One less bounce (4 hits → 3 hits vs single target == 25% damage reduction). Also reduces amount of crackling energy spawns which contributes to lower DPS overall.
  • Greater CL +25% to +10%

The nerfs compound. Take all these into account vs single target, and you get 45% damage reduction overall. The total damage/cast vs single target like Ashava is ~50% weapon * 3 since it’s hitting 3 times.

Meanwhile, charged bolts gets a damage boost, costs less mana, and has true AoE damage capability thanks to the upgraded CB passive.

Meanwhile, Twisting Blades rogue, which was probably same tier as chain lightning in last beta, is just as good as it always was.

My concerns would be addressed if chain lightning remained at 6 jumps by default. This brings single target hits up to 4, and the nerf becomes only a 27% damage reduction (base damage and greater CL) vs single target–much more palatable and more in line with Charged Bolts single target damage.

4 Likes
2

Idk man, I built a chain lightning sorc for server slam and I still cleared rooms in seconds… soloed every boss, even level 30 stronghold Kor Dragan.

2 Likes
3

Still the most effective build for the class (or at least I think so), Pyro is fine when done right, Light works even without gear

It’s the Ice-blades that got literally buried and need a bit more love…

1 Like
4

I agree, it feels way to weak now, I hope later on it becomes much more powerful, but right now it felt weak and consumed a lot of mana.

1 Like
5

You don’t spec Crackling at early levels. I played Spark, Chain Lightning and Lightning Spear Crit & Stun build. Everything died.

Shock Sorc is fine.

6

I found the change to be quite good. The earlier betas made the class a little too overpowered, especially if you concentrate on crit. chance and damage boosts on gear along with any boost to Crackling Energy chance. I also always got the class enchantment from the dungeons that gave you Fortification the first time you hit an elite creature.

In the earlier betas I went Arc Lash → Reduced cool downs; Chain Lightning → +25% chance of Crackling Energy on crit.; Teleport → Crackling Energy hits two extra enemies; Lightning Spear → Crackling Energy adds +20% damage up to 100%; Ball Lightning → Once Ball Lightning hits 50 times, its next cast stuns; Unstable Currents → +25% attack speed while active → While active, Crackling Energy pulses and consumes no charges. Unfortunately you couldn’t get high enough level to get all the skills this time around.

In the Slam I did much the same and it went well. Spark → Each Spark has a 3% chance to form Crackling Energy; Chain Lightning → +25% chance of Crackling Energy on crit.; Teleport → +30% damage reduction for five seconds after Teleporting; Lightning Spear → Crackling Energy adds +20% damage up to 100%; Ball Lightning → Once Ball Lightning hits 50 times, its next cast stuns;

For me that worked a treat. I also took a melee and poison Rogue through which worked well. Invigorating Strike, Flurry, Shadow Step, Poison Trap, Poison Imbuement.

Edit: Oh, one other thing. For both I used skulls in the weapons and got lucky with rings that gave +10 health after kill and +7 health after kill. The extra healing makes things much easier.